A group of psychologists at Princeton University has confirmed what is already now being widely accepted - "Memory and cognitive power (the ability to learn, memorize, make judgement) don't necessarily decline with age as traditionally thought.  The study found that adults continue to grow new brain cells throughout life. Those late-generated cells, they found, may allow older people to bolster their learning and memory capabilities, or even to stave off declines.  Such capabilities were never envisioned under the old theory, that cells stopped forming - and actually started dying - by age 40."

 

Physical exercise, as well as mental exercise, and social involvement, can have a positive affect on our total well-being, especially in our second half of life. (Use it or lose it?)  Here are some opportunities from within our Second-Half church membership that can provide all three. These results were taken from completed questionnaires that were mailed out recently and then returned:

*A gentleman would like some company riding bikes, hiking, or exploring new places. * Several indicated they like to play cards, board games, or dominoes. * A lady needs friendship, someone to talk to. * One would like to learn how to play tennis. * A lady would enjoy having someone to do visitation with. * Some indicated they may be interested in forming a Second-Half 'singles' group.

 

Let us know what's missing in your life, and we'll share it with others.

In respect of your privacy, and unless you ask, we won't publicize any names or personal information.  So if you would like more information on any of these needs or requests, please call me at 726-5616, and I'll provide you with what you need to contact them.  Will you consider the possibility that you could make someone's life a little more meaningful and enjoyable?  It'll be good for your health (and theirs)!

 

 

Laretta K. Shrader

"The best opportunity most of us will have to reach another people group is by reaching someone who is an international student in our own country. " Thus read my article in the Guidepost in January.

 

I went on to say, "More than 400,000 international students now attend college in the USA.  Over 80 students from 20 countries have been identified on the AWC Campus.  The world has truly come to us.  Each Saturday evening and Sunday morning, for the next several weeks, there will be someone at the kiosk in the Main Lobby with information on how you and your family can be involved with welcoming an international student to the U.S. This might very well be the only way a student gets to spend time in a private home while in this country.  Your involvement can be as little or as much as you wish-dinner in your home, a trip to the Territorial Prison, a ride to the bank in town, these are all things a student will appreciate.  We hope to find 8-10 families at FCC who will become part of a pilot program of an outreach to international students.  Claudia Garrido, a member of FCC from Chile, works in the office of International Students at AWC.  Through this contact we will match these families with interested students.  Hopefully the ministry will evolve from there."

Betsy Brown and Claudia Garrido-Gonzalez have headed up this outreach.  Below is what Betsy shared about her relationship with her student.

 
"Many of you at FCC have noticed that the Missions Ministry has been actively seeking families to develop friendships with AWC students from countries other than our own. It has been a slow process and sometimes discouraging, because our lives are all so busy, and we hesitate to make commitments that look as though we could not easily keep them. The AWC students, also tentative, have been slow to say they would like a friend from this country.  So I have a story I would like to share with you.

A little over a week ago we still had unmatched students and a couple of matches that just didn't come together.  Claudia Garrido-Gonzales, our AWC coordinator, and I decided to put the last student on the list with me.  So I promptly emailed this girl from Vietnam, knowing little more than her name.  I told her that I would like to be her friend while she is a student here, and that I would be looking forward to an email back from her so we could plan to meet.  Her answer came back that evening.  Her first words were, 'It's wonderful that I now have a family.'  After she went on to tell me about herself, she said, 'I would like to be with you frequently because in my dorm, I nearly live alone and sometimes I (am) really sad. You know what.  You look like my grandmother.  She was dead when I was 6 years old.  I am really happy when I have you now.  Thank you!!'  I am smiling through my tears that this could be true.  We have gotten together several times since those first emails.  She is an honor student, and she invited me to a family party for honor students. Several other 'families' and their students went also.  Sunday she came to church, and later we went out for frozen yogurt, again in a group with other families.  The girls and the families have bonded.

 

The AWC term ends next week, and graduation for some of 'our' students is on the 15th of May. Most will not have their own families here to see them take that step into their future. I hope those of you who know any of them will consider attending.

 

There is not much I can add to encourage any of you more than the words shared here.  I know there are other students who will be looking for the hands reached out in Christian love and friendship in the next school year.  And for those students and families that have not come together as they had hoped, we can try again.  The rewards are worth it.  I pray that our Christian witness in the lives of those we touch will be like the ripples of the pebble tossed into a pond, ever widening to spread His love." -- Betsy Brown

 

I appreciate so much the time both Betsy and Claudia have expended on this project.  We will begin, again, to ask for volunteers to reach out to an international student at an International Emphasis Weekend here at FCC in July.   Please prayerfully consider becoming involved at that time. 

Because He Lives, Laretta K. Shrader

 

P.S.  We are going to have a plethora of International Workers visiting soon. 

 - Linda Stanton, of Kulpahar Kids' Home in India, arrives in Yuma on May 8, and she will be here until December 1. 

 - The Robertson Family, of Mountain View Christian School in Indonesia, arrives on May 25 and leaves on July 31. 

 - The Ridgley Family, of North Burna Mission in Thailand, arrives on June 1 and leaves on August 5. 

All will be doing some traveling to see family and other supporting churches.  But while they are in Yuma, I urge you to invite them to share with your small group, or invite them individually to dinner.  There will be a church-wide celebration on July 18 and 19 of the work these dedicated servants and others are doing around the world.  Please pray as all travel and for their time with friends and family.