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By Cathy Kissner — Fairplay, Colorado … Who would have thought in December 2019 that by Spring 2020, we would be holding church on Zoom and school online for the gamut of education, from the doctoral level to kindergarten? Or that Zoom meetings would be a daily occurrence for those working from home. Who could have imagined that many would be ordering groceries from their favorite store and having them delivered to their doorstep or that we would be sewing and wearing face masks?

Our normal has shifted. Now, technology offers the main safe method of contact, whether that be for church, school, work, or just keeping in touch with family and friends.

Learning to worship by Zoom has been a gigantic step for some in our faith community, but big steps have been taken and some quick learning has occurred. Let me introduce you to Fairplay, a small mountain community at an elevation of 9,953 feet, the fifth highest elevation for an incorporated town in the State of Colorado. This little church has an average attendance of 5-9 members, one of whom is tech-savvy. With his help, the little Fairplay Church has moved into the 21st Century of technology. “He has been very patient as he guides us through the ins and outs of this program. We now have Sabbath School and church service together each week. What a blessing that is,” commented Cherie, one of the members there. “Now we can see each other and actually visit and have our service.”

Prayer meeting is also being held regularly Cherie also commented, which was in hibernation “for many years due to their widespread locations around Fairplay. Using this Zoom technology, we are happy to see and talk to each other on Wednesday evenings and plan to continue this when life returns to how it was before.”

It will be a new normal from now on. They plan to alternate leadership for the prayer meeting. “This online gathering has helped so much, since we missed seeing each other regularly. It is so good to see and hear each other’s news using Zoom. God is so good and gives us the answers to our prayers in amazing ways,” Cherie concluded.

Cathy Kissner is RMC Adventist Community Services director; photo by Katy Young

By Ashley Herber — Loveland, Colorado … For most of us, self-isolation means staying home with family, but that is not the case for many of Campion Academy’s international students. Before last Friday, there were 14 international students staying in the dorms, two girls and 12 boys, as well as others staying with local host families. Thanks to the help of friends in Brazil, the Brazilian students were all able to go home over the weekend. Duda De Oliveira, a sophomore, said, “I feel really excited to go home, but at the same time I’m sad to leave the deans that were taking care of us.”

There are now only three Chinese international students staying in the dorm. To help pass the time, Rain Li, a senior from China, said, “I play video games with other people, watch videos, and have class.” Mrs. Fagan cooks for the students and they are able to go outside on center campus to enjoy some fresh air.

Gregory Lang, a freshman from China, commented, “It is definitely weird because you never see anyone. We have to clean every day. We have breakfast, lunch, supper, and online classes and a lot of homework.”

Being away from home is especially hard right now. Before she left to go home to Brazil, Duda De Oliveira reflected, “It’s really sad. Everyone else is with their family. We are here with the deans, and the deans are taking care of us really well, but I miss my family and I wish they could take care of me. If something happens, I won’t be there. My mom is a nurse and she has been in contact with a doctor who had the coronavirus. I thank God she has no symptoms, but it’s hard and I wish I could be with her.”

Yan Silva, a sophomore from Brazil, shared with me before he left that “it’s sad and hard because I miss my family so much.”

Jarrod Lang, a freshman from China, said, “I miss home and I’m feeling homesick.”

The Chinese students don’t know what this summer will look like, if they will be able to go home or have to find housing. Some students are still trying to get a ticket home where they will have to be quarantined. Other students who were able to go home, like Airi Nomura, a sophomore from Japan, are now having to do online school through Campion while dealing with a huge time difference. Please keep these students and their families in your prayers during this difficult and uncertain time.

Ashley Herber is Student Editor at This Week at Campion; photos supplied

By Jessyka Dooley — Denver, Colorado … Like all good summer camps, Glacier View Ranch is home to a flock of flamingos, plastic flamingos that is. We’re also game for pulling pranks that spread love, joy and cheer. We call them, “gutenpranks,” and this is where the flamingos connect! These majestic birds hibernate up in the Rocky Mountains from September till May but are very active during the summer months.

At Summer Camp, a burst of pink can be found steadily migrating from one summer camp cabin to the next as campers pull a “gutenprank” by “flocking” each other’s cabin “yards” with the flamboyance of flamingos.

Because of COVID-19 keeping families at home, the flamingos awoke from their winter slumber early to migrate around the Rocky Mountain Conference, bringing joy to families! The Youth Department began by flocking the front yard of two GVR campers from last summer. They continued the fun by transporting the flock of flamingos to another friend’s home… and thus our flamingo friends have made their way around Erie, Arvada, and Fredrick!

Be on the lookout as more flamingos have heard the news and are making their journey to other parts of our greater Front Range community!

Jessyka Dooley is RMC associate youth director; photo by [selfie] Jessyka Dooley

Note #1: The Youth Department asks that families who participate in (or find themselves participating in) the gutenprank tradition of flamingo flocking continue to use proper social distancing, sanitizing, hand washing, and other precautionary actions as directed by the State of Colorado and CDC.

Note #2 from the NewsNuggets editor:  Flamingos tried to land on our lawn in Longmont. They changed their mind by seeing in the window HRH Prince Orek, our usually quiet and friendly canine. He was given a lecture. We welcome all flamingos on the Front Range.

By Rebecca Berg and Karrie Meyers — Littleton, Colorado . . . For the Mile High Academy and Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church communities, Easter Sabbath was extra special because MHA Junior Leilani Exson was baptized. However, due to current COVID-19 social distancing restrictions, her baptism took place with only a limited number of people present in the church. However, many tuned in via Littleton’s live streaming Facebook page and in the last three days there have been over 700 views.  During a special prayer Littleton’s Senior Pastor Andy Nash described for viewers the visualization that the church pews were filled with angels instead of empty.

“This just seemed like the right time on so many levels for Leilani’s baptism,” said Pastor Nash. “Leilani is a joy-filled and inspiring young lady that I have been honored to teach in my Bible class at Mile High Academy. And even though the church was empty, all of Heaven was with us last week on Silent Sabbath. It is a day we remember Christ resting in His tomb. But we also celebrated Leilani’s choice to symbolically rest in the watery grave and come up baptized in the salvation of her Savior.”

Leilani started her baptismal studies in January of this year with MHA Chaplain and Upper School Teacher Rebecca Berg after expressing an interest in growing closer in her relationship with Christ. Her excitement to be baptized grew as she continued with her studies. But then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and with it came the news Leilani’s dad, Warren Exson, was leaving on an extended trip. The family reached out to Pastor Nash and the Littleton Church.  It was unanimously decided to move forward with her baptism on Easter Sabbath. There in attendance with Leilani were her mom, dad and two brothers.

While her Mile High Academy family couldn’t join her on her special day, a video presentation was filled with greetings and well-wishes for Leilani.

Mile High Academy gives a journal to each of its students on their baptismal day. The purpose behind this journal is to provide a spot to write remembrances from their walk with Christ. The journal symbolically represents a link. The link of being included as a part of the chain of the followers of Christ.

“Leilani is an unbelievably special person,” said Mrs. Berg. “Her love for God is apparent and although she is often quiet, she was persistent and bold about doing the baptismal studies and taking the steps toward baptism. God has given her a spirit of love and newness. I know all the teachers at Mile High Academy, her friends and family were unbelievably proud of her and the step she made.”

To watch Leilani’s baptism, please visit Littleton Seventh-day Adventist Church’s Facebook page.

Rebecca Berg and Karrie Meyers

By Karrie Meyers — Highlands Ranch, Colorado … Connections with people are critical to our wellbeing, both physically and mentally. During this unique time of social distancing, finding ways to remain connected can be challenging. But last week Mile High Academy students, Carter (3rd) and Elli (1st) Leno, found a way to bring cheer and connect with their elderly friends through their participation in Mile High Academy’s Partnering for Eternity (PFE) grant program.

Parents Casey and Erika Leno run the ThriveCare Assisted Living centers in the Denver area. There are approximately 25 residents living in four total assisted living homes. Carter and Elli’s PFE mentors are residents.

“Part of our mission at ThriveCare is to provide a place for the elderly that is more than just a facility; it’s a home,” said Erika. “When we heard about Mile High Academy’s PFE program and the inspiring way it connects students with elderly, we knew we needed to get our kids involved. When you take the time to show kindness and love to another person, you receive so much more back. It’s a wonderful thing to experience.”

Carter and Elli visit the residents each week, sometimes playing games, reading stories or just talking about their day at school.

“It warms our hearts when we see the kids interacting with the elderly,” said Erika. “Many of our residents don’t have regular guests so there are lots of smiles and happiness when the kids come for a visit. The kids have really taken the initiative to interact with them.”

Unfortunately, COVID-19 and the regulations of social distancing enforced by the CDC has changed the ability to conduct face-to-face visits.

“Instead of making COVID-19 feel like another restriction, we are trying to find creative ways to show our residents they are loved and that the kids still want to talk with them,” said Erika. “It’s the little things that make a big difference in the lives of the elderly. They appreciate and love having a friendship with the kids.”

Carter and Elli started brainstorming ways they could still connect with their friends.  “We had extra paper so we decided to handmake cards,” said Carter. They got to work. At first, Carter and Elli started making a card for each of their mentors. By the time they were finished, they had made 27 cards in total, enough for each one of the residents at the four different homes. And while they weren’t able to personally deliver the cards, they were able to watch through the windows to see the reactions of their friends.

“I got to wave hello to them and make silly faces with them,” said Elli.

Mile High Academy’s Partnering for Eternity (PFE) grant program is a service-oriented, tuition assistance scholarship program. Students enrolled in the PFE program are paired with elderly adults in the MHA community and spend time each week visiting, reading, playing games and doing light chores. Not only does this program bring joy to the adults, but it’s also key in fostering the value of intergenerational relationships as students learn from the wisdom and mentorship of the elderly.

“Mile High Academy’s PFE program was launched with not only the purpose of brightening the day of the elderly but to also serve as a platform for mission work in the community,” said Angelika Feldbush, MHA’s PFE Coordinator. “Our program is successful thanks to the amazing, caring and God-sharing students and families we have at MHA. We can all take pride in the fact our students are doing God’s work by spending a little time with the older generation and serving as a light in the community.”

For more information about MHA’s PFE program, please contact Mrs. Feldbush at [email protected].

Karrie Myers; photos supplied

By Doug Inglish — Denver, Colorado … If you love something, you can endure a lot to be near it. I definitely loved my job as a pastor of a church on an academy campus. I had a terrific group of elders, I loved having all the students with us in worship services, and the interaction with the teachers was great. So, for ten years I, a true-blue fan of the Chicago Cubs, lived in the land of the Cardinals.

It was not easy. While they stacked up annual playoff appearances, I talked about another year of ‘rebuilding’. They took home a World Series trophy; I marked off the 98^th year without one. And even my closest friends took fiendish delight in reminding me of their success and my futility.

One day, I turned the tables on a tormentor. “You know, my marriage is more important to me than any sports team, but being a Cubs fan is good for our relationship because it makes my wife more secure,” I declared. “Think about it: she knows I’m around for good. If I was the kind of person who bailed when things got tough, I would have been rooting for the Yankees before the end of the 70s. But here I am, still faithful to a team that last won it all 41 years before I was born. She knows, in a way that few people can, that I’m with her to stay.”

It was a solid argument, and he had to concede the point. And about ten years later, he sent me a congratulatory text just minutes after the Cubs ended their 108-year drought in 2016.

The unspoken point I made to my friend was that it’s easy to be faithful when things are going your way. But when things get tough, that’s when we learn whether we are really faithful, or just fair-weather fans. This is something which my friends in Missouri, after being shut out of the series themselves since 2006, are now learning. I’m nice enough to not rub it in, but not so nice that I don’t feel some satisfaction in their education.

I know I’m being about as subtle as a monster truck rally here, but these are tough times. There is little doubt that we are in a recession, and nobody knows how deep it will go. Some of the headlines even reference the 1930s. I can’t even estimate how many of our members are unemployed, underemployed, or uncertain they will remain employed. How deep and long is the drought? We don’t know, and the uncertainty is part of what makes the times so tough.

This is when we find out if we are faithful. Not when we have a steady income and no reason to think it’s going to be interrupted. We learn the truth about ourselves when we are afraid, when we are stretched thin, when our lives are disrupted.

Whether you are sheltering at home, laid off, or trying to navigate the new way of working, I hope you are all seeking encouragement from reading your Bible, praying, and doing church however possible. And if you or a loved one have fallen ill, then now more than ever, I hope you find comfort in those places.

And I hope you find out something very important about yourself. I hope that you learn that you are truly faithful. Faithful in seeking a relationship with your Father. Faithful in your giving. Faithful in your witness.

It’s not always easy. I know, I’m a Cubs fan. I learned that faithful means even if you have no rational hope in spring training, even when you’ve been eliminated, even when you hear the taunts from the perennial winners, you swallow hard and wear your team’s cap. Without apologies. Without excuses. You wear it with pride.

I pray you are okay, and I pray you stay okay through all of this craziness. But more than anything, I pray that no matter what comes your way, you are faithful.

Doug Inglish, RMC Planned Giving and Trust Services director. Photo by Chris Briggs on Unsplash

“Around the globe Christians are taking time to go back and reflect on the life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ.” – Ed Barnett, president Rocky Mountain Conference