Behind the Scenes of "An Evening Dedicated to Hope"

This Friday and Saturday holds great anticiaption for the team members of LAMb International and Possibilities International. We are gathering at two different locations to share our heart about the orphan care ministries and other humanitarian ministries we partner in together in Central Asia. Over 35 people are coming from out of state. We will have adults and children from Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekastan here as well.

Something incredible has happened in the planning of these two evenings for which David and I are extremely humbled. In a casual conversation with a friend of mine, Robin Wientge, I mentioned we were thinking about doing this. Her daughter has been in Ukraine for almost a near now working in orphanages and schools. She asked me to let her help....she gathered a crew and they got to work on planning incredible decorations. See the pictures below, which give just a small glimpse of what's ahead. I was thrilled beyond words.

A few days later, two friends of mine, Kay Carlise and Phyllis Haynes, talked to me about the upcoming "events" as we now call them. They asked what we were serving and I told them desserts. Kay said, "how are you doing those?" I replied, "Haven't got that far yet." She and Phyllis enthusiastically responded, "we will take care of that! " WOW!

THEN, a few days later, while having dinner with two missionary friends, Rick and Jane Taylor, we shared about the "events" and the luncheon I was planning for 40+ people coming in on Saturday afternoon. "Let me do the luncheon for you," Jane told me. WOW! WOW!

AND ONE MORE, another friend, Tish Lay, offered to help me clean the house and get it ready! WOW! WOW! WOW!

All the other details that are coming together are being done by Lynn and Ruby Johnston, John and Julie Wright, Randy and Kim Gebele. I have simply mentioned things and people step up! What a team they are!

I sit here this very snowy afternoon, extremely appreciative to my friends who captured our vision. This weekend David and I will be hosting the Wright family in our home, managing two major events, hosting 40+ for lunch. I should be running around with much to do...yet, I am sitting here enjoying this wonderful afternoon relaxed and ready for whatever God will do.

We want to say thank you - thank you for all your help as your partner in HOPE with us for the orphans and needy of Central Asia.....

In the workroom of our church, Countryside Community Church of Lebanon, Ohio, the creative minds Dee Dee Stone, Debbie Jayne and Robin Wientage, plan the evening's theme.

Robin wraps "gift of HOPE" boxes.

An artist's work in progress...I don't know how people think of such awesome things!

A glimpse at the table decorations.

The details:

An Evening Dedicated to Hope: Highlighting the Orphan Care Ministries in Central Asia

This is one mission event you don't want to miss. It will like no other you have ever been to.

Friday, January 30 – 7 P.M. Crossroads Community Church 3500 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 513-731-7400

Saturday, January 31 – 7 P.M. Living Hope Community Church1150 West Spring Valley Pike, Centerville, Ohio 937-433-2773

HOPE TO SEE YOU THERE!

Upcoming Events WE ARE SOOO EXCITED

An Evening Dedicated to Hope: Highlighting the Orphan Care Ministries in Central Asia

This is one mission event you don't want to miss. It will like no other you have ever been to.

Friday, January 30 – 7 P.M.
Crossroads Community Church 3500 Madison Rd. Cincinnati, Ohio 513-731-7400

Saturday, January 31 – 7 P.M.
Living Hope Community Church1150 West Spring Valley Pike, Centerville, Ohio 937-433-2773

HOPE – that is all orphan children living in Central Asia have. HOPE that tomorrow will be a better day. HOPE that just their basic needs will be met. HOPE that someone somewhere will hear their cry and respond.

We invite you to join us as we share that cry of the orphan and how you can partner in hope. You can make a difference. You can touch a generation to change generations.

LAMb International and Possibilities International are partnering together to meet the needs of children in orphanages and difficult family situations…needs like…
·Nutritional care
·Basic medical care, eye glasses, dental care, physical therapy
·Clothing and shoes
·Tutoring and other educational assistance
·Spiritual Guidance

WHO YOU WILL MEET:

Lynn and Ruby Johnston – Founders of LAMb International (Saturday only)

John, Julie, Emma and Bekah Wright. John is the Director of the Sponsorship program for Possibilities International.

David and Jayne Schooler, LAMb missionaries to Kyrgyzstan

WHO WE ARE:

LAMb International, the sending mission organization for the Schoolers is committed to helping children, families and adults grow and develop into healthy individuals, spiritually, physically, socially and mentally. LAMb’s defining Scripture: Ephesians 4:12,... “for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…”

Possibilities International, the sending mission organization for the Wright family is a Canadian based charitable organization that presently works in Canada, Central Asia, Guatemala and the Philippines. They desire to care for the hopeless, helpless and hurting children and elderly, and passionately connect North Americans to this cause! PI seeks out those who live on the edges of their society, bringing them hope, joy, laughter, love and a future!

What about the needs of people beyond orphans?

There are thousands of families and senior citizens living in extreme poverty in this area of the world. LAMb and Possibilities International are reaching out to families, senior citizens, people in homes for disabled men and women to help with basic needs.

You will hear how you can partner in hope for them as well.

You will see pictures and hear stories that will not only touch your heart, but change you. For more information or r.s.v.p., contact David or Jayne Schooler at 513-228-2303 or jayeschool@aol.com

The Wrights Are Coming for a Visit

We are so excited with the news that our Kygyzstan friends, John, Julie, Emma and Bekah are coming to help us share the word about the orphan care ministries in Central Asia. They will be here in Lebanon, Ohio the weekend of January 30-February 1.

Emma is on the far left, John in the center in red and Julie and Bekah just in front of David.

The details for this upcoming event are still in the planning stages, but to get a little taste of the excitement, visit their blog......actofkindness.blogspot.com. Email us if you want more information on attending this fun-filled evening.

How We Feel About our Time There

Dear Friends,

I have posted a very short video with a song from the Kay Warren ministry. It really says it all about how we feel about what God has done in our hearts.

(permission pending for use of the song)

It is December Already

Dear Friends,

Time has gone so quickly since we arrived home, but our hearts and thoughts are never very far from our friends in Kyrygyzstan. We talk every day of our plan to return in mid-March.

Life has been incredibly busy here. I am in the final stages of finishing a new book and have been privileged to work with six other outstanding authors. It is entitled Wounded Children, Healing Homes: The Impact of Traumatized Children on Adoptive and Foster Parents. We are excited about this resource as it is intended to validate the journey of some families and offer resources and hope.

David has been extremely busy with many hours of personal counseling and teaching opportunities. As the time nears for our return overseas, we will update you more on the plans ahead. Please pray for our friends that you have met along this journey who lived and minister there.

More to come, the journey continues....

Now That We Are Home

David and I have been home three weeks tomorrow. It has been so wonderful to reconnect with our family and friends. We have been able to see our grandson score two touchdowns and we lost count of how many times he sacked the quarterback. We have watched our five year old granddaughter cheer and hear some first words from our 18 month old granddaughter. We have seen many old friends and have been able to share stories. Reconnecting has been wonderful.

We are both back to work. I am training in Akron this week and David leaves to teach in Virginia on Sunday. We count it such a privilege to be able to do what we can. We don't have a clear direction yet on the extent of our ministry here, it has not yet been revealed.

We reflect daily, actually many times a day on our time in Kyrgyzstan. We truly miss the people and the work. That place has become part of us. The people that we met are new friends that we care deeply about. We are making plans to return in mid-March as God leads.

Please continue to watch the blog as we will update it on the events happening there and most importantly, the needs of the people there.

Thank you for all your support as the journey continues....

Sights from our last week in Tokmok

One might say the theme of our last two weeks in Tokmok was "Good-bye - for now." We spent the week being with many of the people that we have come to cherish as friends.
A Week with Ruby and Lynn
Part of that last week was spent with Lynn and Ruby Johnston, the founders and directors of ILDC, International Leadership and Development Center, a ministry under the umbrella of LAMb International. It was so incredibly exciting to have them with us as we prepared to go home.
We visited the home for invalid men. It was our fourth time there, but their first. They launched the "Cabbage and Potato" Club, as you will see from the pictures. We were excited to see a brighter place. The ministry of John and Julie Wright, and Larissa, who ministers there every week is evident. The spirit of heaviness is gone and the light of God is there. You can see it and feel it!

David and the potatoes for the Cabbage and Potato Club for the home for invalid men.



John Tsai, President of Mercy Foundation helps unload cabbage for the men.

Ruby Johnston and Natalia, our translator meet a new friend.

This is Larissa, who has been ministering to the home for invalid men for a number of years. She has brought a bright light into a very dark place.

We join the medical staff and some of the men for this photo. The head doctor in the blue coat was so appreciative of the work that has been done at the home as well as the gifts.

Meeting with the Government
Also, during that last week, we all had the opportunity to visit with a number of national government leaders. Ruby and Lynn followed up that initial visit after we left and we are so excited for the doors that are opening to training in child welfare in Kyrgyzstan. More later on that as the details are formalized.

Teaching at the Professional Institute
During the last two weeks there, David has the opportunity to teach an extended seminar to the 2nd year students at the Professional Institute. It was an a very fulfilling experience for him as he met with these dedicated young students. I also had the privilege of teaching three days a week in the English classes. What an incredible joy it was!

David's class of 2nd year students at the Professional Institute.

These are some of my favorite students. I know you are not supposed to have them, but I did. I told them so, but not to tell anyone else! We are staying in touch by email.

The Club of Leaders

David had the privilege of speaking on a number of occasions to this group of fine young people. They formed a group which they call "The Club of Leaders." Our last week there we took them all out to dinner for "shasleeck."

This is an incredible group of young people who want to make a difference in their country.

Our Last Night at the Tokmok Orphanage
Our last night with the Tokmok kids was Friday night, September 26th. We arrived about 7:00 with a cake and brownie feast that Ruby Johnston had prepared! The kids sang and danced for us, we all enjoyed the cake...and David and I got a lot of hugs and some tears. John and Julie introduced us to these precious kids and they have become very important to us. Natalia will be working with them on a regular basis to learn English and Altayni, whom you have met earlier on the blog, will be tutoring a number of them to help them with their studies.

Ruby's cake and brownie feast was a BIG hit! She is filling up Maksat's plate!

We have come to love everyone of these precious kids and pray God's protection and blessing over them.

ONE OTHER BIG HIGHLIGHT

Melody Turned 6

We heard that Melody was saving a for new bike....and being the grandparents we are at heart, we couldn't resist helping that savings account meet its goal.

I share with most everyone that comes to Kyrgyzstan, that they can't leave until they meet Melody and Davina. Just before we left, we had the awesome privilege of being at her 6th birthday party and it was quite the celebration.


Our last week was so busy connecting with people, these pictures only capture a small bit of what it felt like to say good-bye -----FOR NOW! We told each one would we see them in the spring!