Spring News April, 2013

MKM
The talks they shared with me stayed with me through a semester abroad at Oxford, through work around the world, and back at Grad School. They said, I care about you in a way that felt real. It was like they knew we often feel a bit lost and frequently find ourselves unprepared when other people seem to have it all together.

If you are Christs then you are Abrahams offspring, heirs according to the promise. Galatians 3:29

Missionary Kids Ministries / 909-338-4838 / www.mkministries.org

Through An MKs Eyes

From One Of Our Kids
Every story starts with the background. Growing up as a pastors kid, entertainment and money were really tight. We took a summer vacation one time in 18 years where we got a family trial deal at a sports club. We had access to tennis, pool, jacuzzi, and more. Another time, we stayed in a hotel with a pool and table tennis. Usually, our vacations were spent at friends houses.

TAXES DUE APRIL 10 Immediate Need at MKM

We need help once again paying the property tax bill in April. If you would like to contribute to this, please send a check on donate through our paypal at: missionarykidsministries@gmail.com
Beauty: There's something awesome

about being in a house that was literally cobbled together out of love and community. Theres a story behind every element in the house, of how someone donated materials and MKs or church volunteers built it. Its also got a " mountain cabin charm". The view out of the windows is trees, mountains. It brings an incredible change in mood and energy levels that makes the connections that MKs build with each other that much stronger.

Privilege: The impact this ministry

MKM Retreat Home Cedar Pines Park, Ca When I became a student at Biola, people said, We go on retreats up in the mountains. Theres a Jacuzzi, pool table, food, fellowship, snow in winter, hiking and jet-skiing in summer. My first response was How much does THAT cost? When I found out it was completely free I went on one of these retreats. The kid side of me felt valued. It was like \a piece that had been missing as a kid was given back to me in the form of an extravagant gift.

A Feeling of Home: The house is

completely covered in knick-knacks; every wall has pictures, posters; every ceiling has a shelf on the wall. Memories from around the world are everywhere. MKs and TCKs often have memories that we wish we could share with people but there isnt the time or place. Whole portions of our lives seem distant and misunderstood. The permanence of physical things and the fact that some of them date from long before we were born is comforting.

Breakdown of the Impact of The setup of the house is missionary MKM Being out in nature; the style. It says, people here understand,
mountains gives you a sense of and provided a place for us. The usual resource, and healing, a feel of being rules like you cant have 9 beds in one valued. room do not apply here. If you can find a space on the floor, you can stay Care: Each retreat, uncle Dale and there. Its a mission field mentality and Aunt Sharon give an impassioned makes us feel at home. speech about missionary kids. They invite those who may struggle to come talk with them.

had on me was that it provided a place where I felt privileged . I know growing up all over the world, visiting 38 countries by the time I was 18 is a privilege all its own. But I was also around business/diplomat kids who went on ski trips, did water sports, and had expensive toys. These things were never part of my life. At the Wisner's I went wake boarding for the first time because they asked someone to bring their boat. When they didnt think he would make it, they did everything they could to organize a replacement! I remember saying to them, we get to ride jet-skis; thats more than we expected from the world! You dont need to work so hard so we can go boating too! MKs have goal-oriented parents that care for and love their children, but things like wake boarding/jet-skiing are not usually on the menu! It was incredibly touchinghealing, to see someone work hard to make me happy.

Security: Finally, this house is open

to you if you ever need a place. If you are at the edge of your rope, on the verge of a breakdown, or just need to get away from the world for awhile, MKM is open to you, with all the care and beauty that is involved.

MKM
MISSIONARY KIDS MINISTRIES PO Box 9286 Cedar Pines Park, Ca 92322
PHONE: 909-338-4838 WEBSITE:

BIOLA MK LOSES HER MOTHER

Going Back To A Place We Loved

Thoughts From Sharon
March 30th, Dale, Dawn and I went to a wedding in Arizona for Dales niece, Aubrey Ritchie. We stopped by the Maricopa reservation where we worked at the Laveen Indian Childrens home (1969 to 1973). We planned to see Willy, a friend who had visited us in California. He had turned his life over to God in recent years. We went to see Doris first. She told us Willy had gone home to be with the Lord a few months ago. Were thankful he came to know God and that we had a chance to visit recently. Dale, Sharon, Doris and 4 of her 21 grandchildren!

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E-MAIL:

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PRAYER REQUESTS
Additional Monthly Support still needed - $500.00 Paint for inside of house/help to do it RE-APPLYING FOR THE LOAN We are in process - re-applying for a house loan. After the generous gift from the foundation in December, the money has been in an acct at the loan officers request. Please pray for finances during this time as are still short on monthly support. Repair for Jet Ski and Boat Motor Karrisa Jackson, family and Jackson Village in Africa

Three years ago, Karissa Jackson came into our lives when she attended her first retreat here at MKM. She and Dawn bonded immediately and have kept up on facebook and look forward to seeing each other at retreats. Karissas family has lived in Africa since she was a little girl. The village where they work is called Jackson Village. Africa is their home; the village is their family. They have an adopted African daughter as well.

The Rest Of The Story!

(From One of our kids) Conclusion: What the Wisners have put together is a set of resources, community, and care that all work together to have an impact on MKs where many of us are most vulnerable. You just feel cared for. I think for every extravagant thing that is provided, kids have a guide to w hether its provided out of guilt or out of love, and with the Wisners, its all love. If you ever wonder about what the point of this house is, its that it allows hundreds of missionary kids every year to feel loved in ways that many of them dont feel while away from home; through beauty and privilege provided by people that care about them and understand them.

March 22, Karissas mother, Karen Jackson passed away. Karissas sister, Katelyn and their other daughter were home at Jackson village in Cameroon while her father had flown with a very sick Karen to South Aftica. The logistics after Karen passed away were very difficult. Karissa had to obtain a visa to get back to her family while her father had to deal with visas in Africa, death certificates and flying Karens body back to Cameroon. Karissa had a great support system at Biola, and family friends who surrounded her as well during this time. Karissa is on her way to Cameroon to be with her family for a service at their village. They will return to Grass Valley, Ca for a memorial there soon. Please keep them in your prayers.

Doris was special. She lived in the girls home and I was close to her when we worked there. In 1974, we had left the reservation and found out that Doris was expecting a child. She had no place to go. We took Doris into our home in California. She had her baby, Delvina Sharalynn. We were raising support to go to Malaysia and we had to leave shortly after Delvina was born. Doris returned to the reservation. Doris has 7 children and 21 grandchildren. We were able to meet some of them and her husband, Abel, who has been a strong Godly influence in her life (her other two husbands passed away). She shared some of the hard things she has gone through and how grateful she is for those who have sown into her life over the years. She is teaching her children and grandchildren to live for God.

If you would like to donate to the Jacksons, email us for information.

It was great to go back and visit and see fruits of our work there so many years ago!