The Mountain View
I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where
does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven on Earth.
November 2008
Pastor's Ponderings....
Dream, Dream, Dream
Romans 12:10-11; 13. Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another
above yourselves. Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor,
serving the Lord. Share with God's people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
At our Visioning and Planning Retreat on October 4, we were asked to write down
one ministry we love at Mountain Vista and one dream we have for the new
building. The responses were powerful and descriptive of what God is doing
through the people of our church.
Listen for the beautiful images of hospitality, welcome, acceptance and love in
the ministries and the dreams of Mountain Vista:
1. "One Ministry I Love at Mountain Vista":
• Family Promise, hosting homeless families.
• Singing & Music Ministry.
• "Music Ministry without which I probably wouldn't find time to play at all."
• Choir, Praise Team, Broadway.
• A/V Ministry.
• Openness.
• Family Feel & Pastor's Passion.
• Opportunities, Support, Love, Quality Relationships.
• "It's my extended Family. It's the foundation that helps me through everything."
• "It's not just a 'community of faith,' it's a 'community of family' and love."
• It is a ministry of "open arms."
• Worship, play, and vent together.
• "The fellowship & love you feel from everyone including all the youth & children."
• "The close, loving family atmosphere that surrounds me and makes me feel a part."
2. "One Dream I Have for the New Building at Mountain Vista":
• Host homeless families through Family Promise in our own facility.
• To welcome more who need open arms.
• Bring more people into our family & sustain each other in Christian love.
• Pre-school.
• Adult Education (Disciple Bible classes, Adult Sunday School)
• To see a vibrant, busy, large church with a great Spirit.
• To provide a quality relationship with God & others—growth in our understanding of what's #1 in our lives.
• A community Gathering House for families & friends.
• A place for all-church fellowship.
• To provide Multi-Cultural & Ecumenical opportunities for the community to come together.
• To fill every classroom every Sunday with Sunday School Classes of different formats.
• Room for growth as well as being able to have multiple things going on at once requiring the need for two "Halls."
• That we will be able to fellowship frequently and enjoy the growth our family continues to experience.
• That it will allow us to reach people outside of the walls we build.
• That we would outgrow it in 3-5 years.
• That it will so quickly be fully utilized that we’ll start talking about the next building.
Keep loving and keep dreaming!
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Steve
PASSING THE BATON
In the recent Olympics we were able to watch athletes
perform at very high levels of skill. Even to the point of setting a new world
record for gold medals. The level of ability, skill and endurance was awe
inspiring.
One thing that caught my attention was the comparison that was always made to
times and ranking of how present athletes compared to athletes from previous
Olympic competitions. It seems that present day athletes often have improved in
their abilities and endurance.
This continued improvement points out a reality that is easily overlooked at
times. We get too comfortable and caught up in the "that's the way we have
always done it," type of thinking. This not only restricts the chances for
others to step in and develop their skills, and more importantly impedes their
growth in the Christian walk.
All that being said, the point I am trying to make is that, after careful and
thoughtful consideration, it is time for me to step aside and let someone else
take a turn writing articles for the Newsletter.
I have enjoyed writing and have especially appreciated the comments, questions
and critiques. I would also like to add that all of the personal episodes that I
wrote about were actual events in my life. Nothing was made up.
Now it is time to pass the baton to someone else. Thank you for all the support
I have felt during the last several years.
Peace
Duane
Praying for:
The Adams Family
The Wilson Family
Barb McClellan
The Coates Family
The Anderson and Reynolds Families
Kelly Fayerweather and Family
Jim Wilder
The Hayes Family
All those in need.
help wanted
Volunteers Needed at Mountain Vista:
Get Involved: Share in the responsibility of maintaining our church. Many
opportunities are available. Sign up to be a Sunday school teacher, bring
refreshments, altar flowers, clean facilities, serve as ushers, get on a
committee, plan events. The list goes on. Join in!
Contact the church office if you can help 280-4148
More help is needed with the candle dance and the Christmas service this year. If you have an interest in participating, please contact Sam Stevens.
Teachers needed:
Sunday School Teachers Needed: 2 teachers needed Rotating Sundays for month of
November Age group: 7-9 yrs / 2nd, 3rd, & 4th grades Time: 9:45 am service
Adult Sunday School Teachers Needed: Every other month schedule beginning
November 2nd.
Junior High School Sunday School Teachers: 2 needed Rotating Sundays for months
November & December Age group: 14 - 15 yrs / 8th & 9th grades Time: 11:15 am
service
Those interested in volunteering as Sunday School Teachers please contact
Lindsey Hardcastle by phone or email- lindsey.hardcastle@imail.org
Sunday school teacher meeting scheduled for Sunday November 2nd following the
11:15 am service. Please plan to attend. If you cannot attend please let Lindsey
Hardcastle know. Call or email lindsey.hardcastle@imail.org
GIVE THANKS!
Dear Jane,
Please know that you and your volunteers are a vital part of our program. Without you, we would not be able to succeed in our efforts to love and help homeless families. We are so grateful that you are willing to take the time to serve families by offering care, meals and countless other forms of support. Your compassion and concern has helped these families immensely during their times of need.
Thank you again for your wonderful service because it truly
helps homeless families achieve lasting self-sufficiency. It is a privilege to
share in this ministry with you.
With great appreciation,
Rev. Jenneifer Hare-Diggs & Tony Milner
Family Promise
Letter From Our New Bishop:
United Methodists throughout the Rocky Mountain Conference,
God wants to work wonders through us. Are you ready?
In July I was consecrated a bishop in our church and assigned to the Denver
Area. You and your church are part of an area that includes 262 churches in the
Rocky Mountain Conference and 128 churches in the Yellowstone Conference, spread
across the states of Colorado, Utah, Wyoming and Montana. I moved to Denver from
Seattle over Labor Day weekend, and began my ministry with you on September 1.
My husband, Clint, will be traveling back and forth between Seattle and Denver a
good deal while he completes an important environmental clean-up project in
Skykomish, Washington. Our three sons, Walker, Micah and Axel, are in and beyond
college. Walker has returned to the Seattle area, having finished his
undergraduate degree at Harvard. Micah is beginning a year of study abroad in
Jaipur, India, and Axel is a sophomore at the University of Washington.
God has been faithful to the human family and to the created world throughout
all time. God continues to be faithful to us today. God loves us, cares for us,
forgives us when we stumble, and offers us grace upon grace. Thanks be to God
for all these mercies!
But God is also on a mission. And God has called and empowered us to be
missionaries in partnership. Each and every one of us is an ambassador of the
gospel of Jesus Christ. In a thousand ways every day, God offers us the
opportunity to share the blessings we have received. In how we treat the people
around us and our care for our pets and other living creatures. As we light
candles and sing praises, read the scripture. In our volunteer work, tutoring
students, cleaning the church building, serving meals, visiting the sick and
imprisoned. In a thousand ways every day, our lives matter in God's mission for
the world.
I am writing to you today to pledge that as your bishop, I want to be in
partnership with you to strengthen the ministry of the United Methodist Church
in this widespread Denver Area, by strengthening the faith and the faithful
witness of every single one of us United Methodists. So, in the days and months
and years ahead, I will be working with all of you, trying to open pathways of
faith development and formation among us, so that we will be strong disciples in
mission and ministry.
Are you ready? Great things are going to happen among us as we open ourselves to
the wild winds of the Holy Spirit in new and unexpected ways.
God wants to work wonders through us.
I’m ready if you are.
Your sister in Christ,
Bishop Elaine
Lay Leader Letter
Gratitude
As I contemplated what to write about for November there were actually several
ideas that hit me. I hate to be so predictable and I hope this message doesn't
seem like a cliché, but November is the month in which we celebrate
Thanksgiving, so I thought a message about gratitude might be in order.
As individuals, I'm sure we all feel grateful for many, many things in our
lives. Regardless of what trials we may be experiencing, there is always
something for which we can be grateful. But I would discourage anyone from
counting their blessings by comparing their life to the lives of others. A sort
of "there but for the grace of God go I" tally on our good fortune. God's grace
is extended to one and all. For example, I personally do not believe that I am
more "blessed" because I have advantages and abilities others may not have. Nor
do I feel less blessed because I lack certain talents or possessions that others
may have.
A portion of a text known as the Desiderata (found in an old church in Baltimore
and dating back to 1692) counsels, "If you compare yourself with others, you may
become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than
yourself." So when we count our blessings, let it be an accounting of our own
blessings so that we may see how rich and fulfilling our own lives are and how
much we have to be grateful for and more importantly, how much we have to share.
It occurs to me that true Christian charity – true unconditional love – begins
with an attitude of gratitude. There are moments in our lives when we become
acutely aware of how good our life is. How much we are loved. How many people
there are for us to love. That we enjoy good health. Have a good job. A happy
marriage. Great kids. A comfortable home. Plenty to eat. That we are educated.
That we are able-bodied. The list goes on an on. In those moments, what is our
reaction? Is it a desire to share? When our hearts are full, we are more capable
of loving and giving of ourselves; our time, our treasures, and our talents.
This is what God has asked us to do. If we profess a belief that God is the
source of all good gifts then we must also believe that God has called us to be
the hands and feet of Jesus in the world.
By the standards of our society, some people have very little to give. Yet I
submit that a heart filled with gratitude has an abundance to give. The means by
which we live is not a measure of our ability to love. This Thanksgiving, may we
all truly ponder the things for which we are thankful. May we be captivated by
our gratitude, motivated by our love of God, and moved to share our blessings
with others . . . . whatever those blessings may be.
Happy Thanksgiving!
Steven
Trustee News
The Trustees have been very busy trying to stay on top of the current building
issues while anticipating the additional responsibilities of the new
facility…..Isn't it such a wonderful time in the history of our church?
We are gathering information regarding a new sign to be located on 90th South.
We hope to have a proposal to the congregation in December.
We have made a decision to replace the carpet in the existing hallway with tile and if anyone would like to contribute money or talent it would be much appreciated.
This winter you won’t have to walk into the building and get dripped on by melting snow…. We approved the purchase of roof prisms, which will be installed. These will help with the snow melt and ice falling from the existing structure. Thanks to Chris Weis.
I know you have all seen the new "sound" station….what a nice structure. Thanks to Michael Wilson and Scott Moulton for their carpentry work…
As always if you have questions or concerns please contact
any of the trustees or me….
In Christ's Love
Carole Molyneux
Trustee Chairman
Santa’s CHRISTMAS COOKIE Shop and Boutique
It is time once again for our annual Christmas Cookie Sale. This is a bake sale where cookies and candies are sold by the pound. The buyer walks around a group of tables filled with platters of cookies, candies, pastries, breads, choosing his/her own assortment and placing them in a box, which is weighed when the buyer is done. There will also be a variety of crafts available and a wall hanging to be raffled.
This event will take place on Sat., Dec. 13, 2008, from 8 a.m. - 3 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Building Fund.
We are in need of lots of donated cookies and candies. We are asking people to donate in multiples of at least 3 dozen per type of cookie or candy. The sign up clipboard will be available in the clipboard cabinet at the back of the sanctuary. We would like all kinds of cookies (no chocolate chip, please) with different textures and colors. Cookies/candies that sell best are "pretty" and small to medium in size and not gooey ones that stick to everything else in the box and not any cake like products. Pull out your favorite recipes for cookies, candies, breads, etc. and get to planning. Please bring your goodies to the church on a cookie platter or in a Tupperware container (remember to put your name on all containers), Friday, Dec. 12th between 4-7 p.m. so we can set everything up the night before. If you have craft items to donate, also bring them at this time with a suggestion on price for the items.
How can you help even more? Come to the event on Saturday and tell all your friends, neighbors, and relatives about the event so they can come and buy all the cookies/candies they will need for the holidays. These boxes of goodies are a great idea to take to the office, give to neighbors, and relatives.
Gift certificates will be available for purchase in early November. A $5.00 gift certificate gets your friend 1 lb. of goodies. Hopefully when they come in to redeem it, they will also add to it.
We look forward to seeing you on Dec. 12, to deliver and Dec. 13, to buy, making this event a great success!
If you have any questions, call Patti Chauza @566-9644.
NOTICE:
Newsletters by EMAIL only?!
In January, to save on the tremendous volume of paper, Mountain Vista will begin
sending out the Newsletter by E-MAIL!
If you would still like to receive a paper copy, please call the office @
280-4148.
e-mail: office@mtnvistaumc.org
EVENTS:
November 1st
9:00 a.m. till 1:00 p.m.
Please mark your calendar……Mt Vista United Methodist Church will be having a
"Clean-UP" day. Please plan to come and help clean inside the church and
outside…..
If everyone comes it will make the task very easy…..
November 2
Daylight Savings ends–Set your clocks back!
Sunday November 2nd following the 11:15 a.m. service - Sunday school teacher meeting. All teachers please plan to attend.
November 2 - 3:00 p.m.
EMMAUS Gathering & Potluck, Park City UMC
November 4th Election Day
Mountain Vista will NOT be a polling location.
Friday, November 7, 2008
Church Women United
A multi faith gathering of Christian Women
Mark your calendar and plan to attend CWU’s World Community Day Celebration
(1st Friday) 9:30 - 1:00, (including lunch) at Mt. Olympus Presbyterian Church,
3280 East 3900 South
(Just west of I-215 on East Side at 3900 Exit)
Theme: "God's Wisdom Sets Us Free"
Cost: Registration: $1 Lunch: $4.00
Community Outreach: Please bring Un-expired Canned
Goods for Crossroads Urban Center Food Pantry
Free-will Offering: Used for CWU National Programs:
Checks need to be made payable to: "Church Women United" Lunch
RSVP: To Barbara Stone at 262-1109 or Sally Hoffelmeyer-Katz at 272-5356 by
Monday, Nov. 3rd
November 8th, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Very last day to have a picture taken for the Church Photo Directory.
llpalady@yahoo.com
November 9
Watch for a special Nothing But Nets Donation opportunities this month! Malaria
Kills. Nets Save lives. November Ninth "Nothing but Nets" Sunday. Plan to give
generously on this mission Sunday to provide long-lasting, insecticide-treated
mosquito netting for those all over Africa dealing with the life-and-death
struggle of malaria spread by nocturnal mosquitoes. Please make checks payable
to "Mountain Vista UMC" with "Nothing but Nets" in the memo.
November 10, 7-9:00 p.m. - Night of Nativities
Ten Thousand Villages - 1941 So. 1100 E.
Come see the beautiful and unique nativities!
November 14-16 – Youth - Rejuvenation 2008
November 16 - Our new BISHOP is coming!
On Sunday, November 16, Bishop Elaine J. W. Stanovsky will bring the message at
the 10:30 service at First UMC in Salt Lake …followed by a pot-luck lunch.
She will go to Christ UMC in Salt Lake for a reception. In
the evening she will return to First UMC for a time of sharing. Each Utah church
is invited to present …stay tuned for the time and details.
Sunday, November 16 - Pianist John Nilsen (who performed at Jurisdictional
Conference) will be performing at Mountain Vista for all 3 morning worship
services.
Family Promise Dates!
November 16-23 – Mt. Vista UMC at Hilltop House. Please sign up as soon as
possible to provide food & fellowship for homeless families.
November 22 – 9-2:00 p.m. Craft Day!
Come make crafts for the Cookie Sale & boutique! Meeting in the kitchen
November 22 & 29, 10 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Boy Scout Gift Wrapping Booth in the large meeting room – fund raiser.
INTO THE FUTURE!!
December 6 & 13, noon - 2:00 p.m.
Girl Scout Gift Wrapping Booth in the small meeting room– fund raiser.
Sunday, December 7, at 12:15 p.m.
Mountain Vista Church Charge Conference and Potluck!
December 13, 8:00 a.m.- 3:00 p.m.
Cookie Sale!
December 24th - Christmas Eve Services
3:30 Children's Service
5:00 Candlelight Service
7:00 Candlelight Service
EMMAUS
Gathering November 2, 2008 - 3:00 p.m. at Park City UMC
Men's Walk Feb 26-March 1, 2009
Women's Walk March 5-8, 2009
Gathering March 15, 2009, 3:00 p.m. at Community United Methodist, Washington
Terrace
http://www.utwte.org/
Emmaus 4th Day Reunion Groups
Monday 7:30 p.m. Women’s Circle of Friends @ Reinhard’s
Monday 7:00 p.m. Women’s Reunion @ Mtn Vista
Friday 7:00 am Men’s Reunion: @ Jim’s Family Restaurant (7609 S. Redwood Rd.)
Saturday 8:30 am Women’s Reunion @ Espresso Connection (4465 S. Redwood Road)
MISSION WORK
You are one of God's children; I see the resemblance!
REACHING OUTSIDE OUR COMMUNITY:
Collecting:
Eyeglasses in good condition for future Mexico, Central and South America
Mission trips
Soup labels for Red Bird Mission
Donations for "Nothing But Nets" $10 per mosquito net
Donations for Pakistan Mission trip – Pac My Bags
OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD
The kick off for the Shoe Box Ministry of Operation Christmas Child at Mountain
Vista has begun. We have the wonderful opportunity to provide the hope and word
of God to children all over the world.
Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate
situations around the world through gift-filled shoeboxes and the Good News of
God's love. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoeboxes have been packed,
shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in
this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the true meaning of
Christmas—Jesus Christ.
The Steps are Easy:
1. Shoebox: Use an empty shoebox (standard size, please) or a small plastic
container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required.
Most importantly, pray for the child who will receives your gifts.
2. Fill with Gifts: Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight
to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the flyer.
3. Include Your Donation: Please donate $7 or more for each shoebox you prepare
to help cover shipping and other project costs.
Please begin to collect shoeboxes and bring them to the church. Brainstorm about how you might involve others in your community, work place, or social groups. Most of all pray for the children who will be receiving this wonderful gesture of hope.
If you have any questions please contact Lesa Stone,
255-4324.
Shoe Box National Collection Week is November 17-24.
OUTREACH IN OUR COMMUNITY:
Hello! I am the new US-2 United Methodist missionary serving in Salt Lake City
for two years. I just moved here from Ohio in August. I would like to visit and
talk about our work at Crossroads, as well as some of the upcoming legislative
issues and how it affects our faith. I'm sure many of the congregants are
already familiar with Crossroads, but since I'm new here, it would be nice to
get acquainted.
Thanks! ~Sarah Martindell
social justice advocate - Crossroads Urban Center
(801) 364-7765, ext. 130
Love Fund – Provides onetime assistance for families and individuals in need. In October we helped three families with gasoline and one with food pantry. Thank you for your help replenishing the fund.
Collecting
We are collecting pink yogurt lids for breast cancer research in addition to box
tops, pop tops, aluminum cans, recycled paper and Cream of Weber milk lids.
Please save 2-Liter Plastic Soda & Water Bottles for School Science Projects.
Thanks a bunch! Tracy
CROSSROADS URBAN CENTER
Thrift Store: 1385 W Indiana Ave (850 S.)
Pantry: 347 S. 400 E.
Foods for the month of November are stuffing and canned vegetables. All food
items needed!
Thrift store items for November is bedding (blankets, sheets and sleeping bags)
Please bring items to the church and they will be delivered to Crossroads.
Sandwich Ministry
St Vincent DePaul Food Kitchen
Sandwich Sunday for this month is November 16th. Please sign up on the
clipboard to make sandwiches and bring to the church on this day. If you are
able to help serve on Monday, November 17, please sign up for that as well.
As always, Thank You in advance for all the wonderful ways you show God's Love in all that you do. If you have any questions, please contact Lesa Stone, 255-4324.
Kids
Acolytes needed for all services! Contact Linda Hartney for information.
Angel Choir (ages 3-8) Angel Choir Wednesdays at 4:30 p.m. Contact Robin Smugala.
LIVE B.I.G. Sunday school classes 9:45 Join the fun! (Teachers needed, contact
Lindsey Hardcastle)
Teacher Meeting Nov. 2, after 11:15 service
SCOUT NEWS
Girl Scouts:
Girl Scouts - Troop 2120, Mondays 7:00 p.m. Sept.– May
Girls kindergarten through high school
Girl Scouts are back! Cookie sales are "ONLY" 2 months away! So start planning
your order today.
Brandee Fox (573-3515)
Cub Scouts
Cub Scouts - Pack 4012, Tuesdays 7:00 p.m. Aug.– May
Boys age 7-11 (1st –5th grade)
Kristin VanStaveren (282-5378)
Pack meeting 7 pm @ church.
Contact Kristin if joining or want info 282-5378.
Wolves Mike Vanstaveren 1, 2nd Tuesday small room
Bears Chris White 1, 2nd Tues Kitchen
Webelos Jim Goodrich 1, 2 Tues Large room
Pack Mtg. whole church last Tues of each month.
Boy Scouts:
Boys 10 1/2 – 17, Troop 1012 meets year-round, Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.. in the
sanctuary. (no meeting the last Tuesday)
Court of Honors 1st Tuesday of the month every 3 months.
Dec, March & June.
The Boy Scout Troop will be Santa's helpers with a gift wrapping booth at Mtn
Vista Nov 22 & 29 from 10:00-4:00.
The Troop will be working on the following Merit Badges: Astronomy, Camping,
Climbing, and Hiking.
Sheila Anderson: sganderson3@msn.com.
Check out the website
http://troop1012.scoutdata.com
Hello Mountain Vista!
Here are some of the updates that have been happening with the youth. We recently had a trip to the corn maze for some fun. I have never been to a corn maze before so I didn't quite know what to expect. Being the control freak I am, I wanted everyone to "stick together" so we could figure it out as a group. It turns out this is nearly impossible in a corn maze. About 10 minutes in, we were split into 4 or 5 groups. It was a blast!!
Sweden planning is continuing to come along. We have been trying to sell self-charged flashlights for fund raising. We also met at Samantha's gym in sandy and played for night and also raised funds. Thanks to all who helped and came!
Rejuvenation is coming up and we are very excited to share the event with our friends from CUMC. I'll let you all know how that went next time I write. Thank you all for your help with prayer, accountability, and support!!
The truth is you all have a roll to play in this youth
group!!
God Bless!
Jason ><>
Jason’s office hours: Mon: 1 pm to 6 pm, Tues: 1 pm to 6 pm, Wed: 2 pm to 8 pm,
Thurs: off, Fri: 1 pm to 6 pm
jstevens4584@gmail.com 598-1151
If there are any parents or youth that DON'T receive e-mails about youth
activities, please send me your e-mail address!
We also have a Youth Blog: http://mvumcyouth.blogspot.com/
If you missed checking out the youth mission trip web site:
http://www.cumcyouthmissions.blogspot.com/ read on….
Paseo De Pedro
Today the youth led the kids here at Casa Hogar in Peter's Walk (Paseo de
Pedro). Associate Editor Luke Peralez has been planning since his visit here
last year to help lead this walk through Peter's faith journey. He shares the
Paseo de Pedro experience below.
Well, everything went well. It took a lot of preparation and patience but we
finally got our wish of presenting Peter's Walk to the children and staff here
at Casa Hogar!!! Even through some of the confusion and attention span loss
(some of the little kids) I think that we provided a very holy and enriching
experience. We led everyone through different rooms of the school that is
on-site here at Casa Hogar. This proved to be very hard trying to move around
twenty-eight (and twenty-two) people that were blindfolded. Even though many of
the kids were not as focused as we hoped, I think that many of them will look
back and realize how much of an amazing experience this was. It was one thing to
go through and experience it but to be able to be a part of helping with it was
such a privilege and definitely something that none us will forget.
I (Luke P.) read the part of Peter for the very first group. I was really
nervous because I did not know if everyone would be able to understand what I
was reading. I think that me and Eric Hutchinson (who was "Peter" for the 2nd
group) did a pretty good job. Me and Drew Frisbee also sang the song, “Were you
there when they crucified my Lord”. Everyone did a really good job and we all
hope and pray that we may continue to have more amazing experiences like this
with the remainder of our time here.
Dios bendiga (God Bless),
Luke
YOUTH
Sunday:
11:15 am - 12:00 pm - Sr. high Sunday School
11:15 am - 12:30 pm - Jr High Sunday School
2:00-3:00 pm Young Women’s Dance Ministry - Sam
6:30–7:30 pm – Jr. High Praise Team - Jayme
Wednesday:
7:00- 7:30 pm - Youth Activity Lesson (Jr. and Sr. High) Jason
Nov 14-16 - Rejuvenation 2008 - Grand Junction, CO
Sweden Mission! August 1-14, 2009! Grades 9-12
This is an evangelical and relationship building effort.
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth." ~Psalm 46:10
The AJ Dummer Story – part 4
A little girl in the same room had a mobile attached to her bed and when that
music played AJ would always respond to it, even when he was still very weak. To
think about it now I guess that classical music with no words spoke to him. The
song that spoke the most to me at time was, "Angels Among Us." Oh I believe
there are angels among us. Sent down to us from somewhere up above. They come to
you and me in our darkest hours. To show us how to live, to teach us how to
give. To guide us with a light of love.
I decided that song was directed at me. I remember looking at everything
differently seeing God in every little thing that happened. Even when the little
baby across the room died, I felt the presence of God. It was so sad that they
didn't or couldn't feel Him. They couldn't let their daughter go. It took along
time for the parents to say goodbye.
I remember just before they took AJ for his next surgery to try to repair his
broken heart, I looked at one of the Doctors I said, "Is he strong enough?" She
said with tears in her eye "I don't know but I know he can’t go on like this."
All I could do for the next two weeks was hold his hand. Prayer number one was
answered I was getting to know my son or he was getting know me.
We met a lot of people while at St. Louis Children's Hospital. There were
parents of children who had been in bad car accidents, and other children like
AJ that where born broken. We'd talk to each other a lot and it was a good
support system. One family we really got to know was the Shadel's. They had a
son Michael. AJ and Michael had the same basic heart defect and they were going
through the same surgeries.
To have Michael's parents there with us riding the same rollercoaster - the good
and bad days; hearing you may go to the general floor which was one more step to
going home; to having a bad blood test that would keep you in the ICU another
night. They were a gift from God. The boys keep us going because if AJ was
having a bad day Michael usually had a good day so we could be happy for them.
The boys definitely had a cheering squad.
A few weeks later and after a few trips back and forth from the ICU to the
general floor we were finally on our way home. It was Memorial Weekend. Like
every Memorial Day Weekend in St. Louis it was hot and muggy. We had not turned
on the air yet at home. AJ's homecoming was unexpected this early. When we tried
to turn on our central air conditioning we found out that it had a slow leak and
had ran out of Freon. Luckily an angel once again appeared and he came on a very
busy holiday to make sure our home was safe and comfortable for our son. So
Prayer number 2 was answered, he got to see his room.
My mom started collecting angels and became one herself. She moved in with us
and took the night shift. We were home for one month with feeding tubes and
oxygen tubes and really had some hope that he was going to be staying, but
before July rolled around, I knew we were headed back to the hospital. Sure
enough on July 6th we packed up and returned to Children’s Hospital for another
surgery. The Doctors seemed optimistic this next surgery would work but when we
got back home in August I knew our time was limited as his energy level just
never returned. AJ was gaining weight like he needed so he could have his final
corrective surgery at age 2, but his heart was not able to keep up.
His smile was still the same and he knew who his mommy and daddy were for sure.
He continued to be a very happy baby, he got to eat some baby food, we had a
picnic and he spent an afternoon by our pool under an umbrella. Prayer number 3
was answered.
September arrived and a trip to the cardiologist came with bad news "If
something doesn't change the outcome won't be good," the Doctor told us. My
response was to take AJ out to eat and we went to have his pictures taken. He
seemed fine for a few weeks. He met the rest of our family. I really wanted him
to know his grand and great-grandpas and grandmas. For some reason that was
really important to me. So my Aunt and a cousin drove my grandparents 300 miles
to see yet another great grandchild. A week later Scott's parents and grand
parents came from Minnesota to St. Louis for a visit and Prayer #4 was answered.
Shortly after meeting the last of our family he just didn't seem to be
comfortable for a couple of days and then he went into heart failure while at
home. AJ took a helicopter ride over St Louis for his last trip to Children's
Hospital. We did a lot of praying as we drove to the hospital and were relieved
that he was still with us when we arrived. One Doctor that we had asked months
before, if they really thought they could help him came to us while we were
waiting to see him. He told us "You asked me once if we really could help or we
were just experimenting, I don't think there is much more we can do for him, A
few days later another Doctor offered a heart transplant. After a lot of
listening and praying we finally had to believe that his job here on earth was
done. AJ's time was up. The leaves where changing, cool breezes were here and it
was time for AJ to 'go home.'
In the movie fried green tomatoes, a lady dies from cancer-I think. I remember
the nurse saying "A Lady always knows when to leave." AJ told us he was ready
when the ventilator would be turned down to an 8 which was very little support.
He would be doing just fine at that level of support, but anything lower than
that was just too much for him to handle. I guess that is when we decided to
truly be parents and we chose what was best for our son. Instead of what was
best for us I had the nurse bring an adult size bed in his room and I lay with
him.
Due
Dates
For the Sunday Bulletin: Information due Wednesday of each week.
For The Mountain View: Articles due the 20th of every month. Articles on
disk or e-mailed (office@mtnvistaumc.org) preferred.
Charge Conference Reports deadline: November 23.
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