NewsNuggets Page 38

By Rachel Williams and Elizabeth Boden – Grand Junction … Hiking, rock climbing, rappelling, CPR, and water ecology were included in the 2022 outdoor school activities for 5^th – 9^th grade students from Adventist schools in Grand Junction, Delta, and Cortez. The school was held at New Beginnings Ranch, September 25-28. Attending this year were 29 kids and 12 adult volunteers.

One of the first activities was hiking to the top of Lone Cone Mountain. Part of the group stayed at the base of the mountain to study the flora of the forest, while a smaller group climbed to the summit. The Lord was with them during their climb, blessing them with sure footing as rain on the decent made the rocks slick and the ground muddy. All arrived at camp safely, though tired.  It was truly a great experience and a blessing to be able to enjoy God’s creation.

The group enjoyed stories and worship by the fire before a good night’s sleep, excitement building as they looked forward to rappelling and rock climbing the following morning. Breakfast came early at outdoor school, with many activities to fit into the schedule. Tuesday morning, the decision was made about who would get to climb first. As kids separated into groups and headed off, many helpers were there to guide the way. Rock climbers and rappelers were in the hands of Dr. DuWayne Carlson, Brian Montag, and David Hanes; those interested in water ecology went with Joel Reyes; and those wanting to learn CPR and first aid gathered with Brandon Hart, RN.

A pond at the New Beginning Ranch was perfect for water ecology, with students examining living organisms under a microscope and being taught about the benefits of water. The CPR class was filled with valuable information on assessing an emergency, the ABCs of CPR, how to avoid getting injured while helping someone else who has sustained injury, how to treat a burn, and how to help a person who is choking.

At the end of the first aid class, Brandon Hart held a Q & A with many students interested in what it’s like to work at a hospital and deal with medical emergencies. “Safety first, when climbing or rappelling,” was explained as a great opportunity for kids to be able to receive instruction and on how to accomplish it. The students were blessed to have quality instructors to facilitate activities like rock-climbing and rappelling.

On the final day, everyone was involved in camp clean-up, and most tasks were completed quickly. Rachel Williams and Elizabeth Boden reported, “We had a few students go above and beyond what was asked of them. What great examples they were. We opened each day with worship by the fire and closed each evening with worship, stories, S’mores, and time with friends.

There are not enough words to express appreciation to Dr. DuWayne and Karen Carlson for their dedication to keeping the Ranch open and providing a wonderful learning opportunity for children to learn about God’s world.”

— Text and photos by Rachel Williams and Elizabeth Boden

Diane Larkins and Darlene Westbrook – Sheridan, Wyoming … The Sheridan Seventh-day Adventist Church invited “Creation Truth” from Noble, Oklahoma to present a series on “Creation vs. Evolution,” September 29-October 1. (With a traveling museum loaded with life-sized dinosaurs and fossils for the community to view, the presentations covering the six-day literal Creation week, the flood in Noah’s day, and the amazing handiwork of God through astronomy were well illustrated.

A large supply of books were available for children and adults on the topics presented.

Some 30 guests attended. Among them was a customer of Better Life Natural Foods, a store operated by the Sheridan church. At the outset, she said she could only come the first night, but she continued to come, attending for all three nights, and bringing three friends with her. Five other customers from the store also attended.

A Christian scientist gentleman wandered in as the displays were being taken down, packed up and moved into the trailer. He had been taught in his science classes that creation took place over long periods of time. The museum and lectures meant a sharing time of biblical truths that added up to the literal six-days of Creation.

A woman and her son attended one night, expressing her wish that she had come each night. During time spent with her, it was obvious her life was tumultuous. It gave opportunity to pray with her for healing of her past hurts and give her hope for the future.

The event continued Sabbath with Matt Miles, director of Creation Truth Foundation, who spoke at the Sheridan Church for the worship hour. During a sermon entitled “Our World View,” he detailed how our Christian worldview should be shaped by Scripture, changing the way we think, act, live and believe. The congregation was blessed and energized.

Would the Sheridan church welcome them back another time? The answer was “Yes, yes, absolutely!”

— Diane Larkins and Darlene Westbrook, evangelism and communication coordinators respectfully. Photos supplied.

Creation Truth is an independent ministry and is not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Julia Hansen – Ward, Colorado … Glacier View Ranch was blessed to host the RMC Women’s Ministries group on its campus, September 23-25. Jana Thurber, RMC Women’s Ministries Director, coordinated the weekend’s program on, which brought over 100 women and teen girls from throughout the Conference. “When God Enters Your Story…You Become God’s Wonder Woman!” was a retreat theme, based on Ephesians 6:10-18 we can become “strong in the Lord and in his mighty power” when we wear his armor.

The main speaker, Sharon Leach, delved into the wisdom of Jesus’ grandmothers.  She began Friday night with “The Shady Lady of Jericho” – how God used Rahab for his purposes. The Sabbath morning program started with “The Showdown at the Not-So-OK Corral” – recounting Abigail’s wisdom and grace. And the evening continued with the theme, “A Fresh Start” – looking at Mrs. Noah and her family’s story. The retreat ended Sunday morning with testimonies from both Sharon and Benjie Leach on the evidence of God’s leading in their lives.

Jana Thurber shared that, “Sharon used creativity and humor to drive home new spiritual perspectives from the Bible stories of women in Jesus’ lineage. We were all blessed by our speaker’s insights on how God masterfully used Jesus’ grandmothers to further his purposes.”

A heavenly worship and praise atmosphere was created by the incredible Praise Team put together by Suzie Sendros. The praise team included Melissa Clouzet, professional vocalist, Melanie Goetz on piano and vocals. Vickie Kahler and Tamara Mallory also were vocalists, and Heidi Sorensen played violin. We were blessed by the spiritual atmosphere created by their music. And were consistently brought to the throne room through their leading in songs of praise and adoration to our Most Holy God.

Dick Stenbakken, the Saturday evening presenter, displayed his collection of authentic pieces of the Roman warrior’s armor. He demonstrated the different pieces a warrior wore, and how they were used as protection. He explained how each piece tied into the “Armor of God” spiritual application.

The Elk Room hosted four separate areas for journaling, reflecting, praying, and snacking. It was creatively set up and decorated. The arrangement of the place and its activities involved the members of the RMC Women’s Ministries Team members. Gratitude goes to Alicia Knutsen, Amber Fellers, Ardis Stenbakken, Carol Spahr, Elizabeth Arroyo, Jackie Hayes, Jerilyn Pester, Jill Anderson, Judy Kelly, Marlene Poole, Marta Wells, Mary Perez-Gonzalez, Mona Fellers, Raelyn Wortman, Stefanie Deapen, and Valerie Johnson.

The break-out presenters, special workshop speakers, and teen leaders covered pertinent subject’s women could choose from. These topics of interest included Stefanie Deapen’s, “Lets ‘Meat”, Jill Anderson’s, “Totally Titus Two Women”, and Alicia Patterson’s presentation on “Fearless Females Finding Courage in A Fearful World.” Mary Phillips, a health coach, spoke on “Seeing Yourself as God Sees You!” How a healthy mind creates a healthy body. Jessyka Dooley and Vanessa Alarcon engaged participating teens with a time of learning about the Armor of God by using Sour Patch Kids candy and other candy, and then ‘internalizing’ their lessons.

Additionally, professional counselors Marta Wells, Sandy Eickmann, JoAnne Jones, and Lynnette Cunningham, were available to attendees for private counseling appointments.

The weekend was packed with activities, interspersed with rest and private time, and an

opportunity to walk around the lake and stop at designated places to journal about each piece in the Armor of God. The camp directors commented that, “The Prayer Walk was such a blessing and wished the seven stations could stay up to bless the next camp attendees.”

The Saturday evening main session provided time to experience a miracle! One attendee had not intended on coming but, from the nudging of a friend, decided to come. She shares her testimony in the “Miracle on the Mountain,” which follows this report.

Many women participated in a Service Project which involved the making of Gift Bags for women and children in women’s shelters around our conference. Gratitude goes to all the attendees who donated items for this project. As the gift bags were creatively put together, individual prayers ascended to God that he would provide just the right recipients to receive the “customized bag” being delivered to them.

Karen Dooley, together with the regular GVR staff, as well as other volunteers, made sure the women had delicious food to eat, including those who had special dietary needs.

Nancy Buxton, Mid-American Union Women’s Ministry Director, gave her support, friendship, and prayers to the RMC team.

Among the volunteers was a group of Campion Academy students who arrived at check-in, dressed in white shirts and black pants, to assist the women with bringing in their luggage.  This made many participants feel special.

“God truly blessed our Spirit–led fellowship together in the mountains,” commented Jana. “God was present in the awesome prayer room. His presence was felt while fellowshipping with Him on the prayer walk around the lake. And in the many conversations and interactive workshops and presentations we knew He was there with us. We hope more of our RMC women will be able to join us for next year’s retreat, September 22-24, 2023.  We are beginning our planning soon and you won’t want to miss out on a great weekend together at next year’s refreshing mountain retreat at Glacier View Ranch!”

–Julia Hansen is GVR director of Guest Services. Photos by Mic Thurber.

TESTIMONY: “Miracle on the Mountain” by Tristan Bergondo, RN – Cheyenne, Wyoming.

Sharing Women’s Retreat weekend up at Glacier View Ranch proved to be powerful in ways I could not have imagined! The story of how our Heavenly Father wrapped these beautiful sisters and me in a profound blanket of love, grace, and provision, was something I was privileged to be a part of! In my own personal spiritual journey, I have pleaded with Him to show me, in tangible ways, His true and unconditional love and grace.

Growing up as a fourth generation Adventist, I have questioned the personal reality of God and His love that is claimed to be unconditional. The following story fills my heart with the personal conviction that He does care about me, He cherishes me and each one of His creations, simply because we are His children. Only He knows the desires of our hearts and can provide the reality of His power in current day to day stories that we may experience when our eyes are opened! This story is one I will cherish forever.

As a little girl, I dreaded the weekends my mom left with her friends to spend a much needed get-a-way at Glacier View Ranch, nestled in the beautiful Colorado mountains. Only as I have become a mom, do I realize how much she needed these weekends to refresh in the beauty of music and in listening to heartfelt testimonies. I have not been to one of these weekends in years but was excited to attend with my beautiful sisters and “mother-in-law” that I affectionately call my “mother-in-love.”  I lost my mom at the tender age of 24, one month before I was married to my Platte Valley Academy high school sweetheart and best friend. My heart was overwhelmed with emotion as I walked the same halls and sat in the same sanctuary as my mom did 30+ years ago.

While listening to one of the evening testimonies, laughter erupted among the women during a story shared by the speaker. As the laughter died down, I noticed a dry, barking, wheezing cough of a woman struggling to catch her breath. I watched as she made her way to the back of the auditorium and went through the doors. A sister next to me, a fellow RN, looked at me and as nurses, we both stepped out to check on our fellow sister.

There was a flurry of activity when we arrived. She was sitting in a chair, already surrounded by sisters who also wanted to help.

It was a miracle unfolding as medical devices and even much needed asthma medication began appearing, brought to our newfound team by the fellow sisters attending the weekend: a pulse oximeter, an oxygen tank, a nebulizer machine, an inhaler, and other vital medication … multiple nurses as well as an anesthesiologist who began to coordinate efforts, in a life and death story we had not anticipated!

One minute we were relaxing, listening to a humorous testimony and the next, we were all filled with the adrenaline that comes from realizing the seriousness of a fellow sister struggling to breathe at the elevation of 8800 feet.

Emergency medical staff were called and arrived with an ambulance to take our new friend down the mountain. Later, we were told that had she not been given the care prior to the ambulance arrival, it is likely she would have not survived, not to mention what would have happened had she been alone in her room when she suffered her asthma attack.

Our Heavenly Father is so BIG! The ways He works to show us His faithful love soothes the ache in my soul to know Him better, as the Faithful Father I crave. The Father that will NOT leave, that WILL show up and loves me no matter my attitude or appearance. I look forward to the embrace of His strong arms wrapped around me, but until then, I will hold tight to the profound ways He shows me His true and unconditional love, just for being his girl.

Greg Hodgson – Denver, Colorado … I was feeling a bit anxious as we waited in the rain at the Poland/Ukraine border for our partners to come across. The leaders of the Seventh-day Adventist clinic in Kiev had agreed to meet Roger Cabbage, founder of GA 2020, a non-profit which supplies water filters to developing countries, and I at the border and then travel with us to Lviv, Ukraine for further meetings.

With no commercial flights available into Ukraine, the next option was to fly into Poland, drive to the border crossing, leave our vehicle in an empty field turned into parking lot, and walk across the border into Ukrainian territory. It was a relief when we saw the smiling faces of Olena Vladovska, COO of the clinic, and her husband Vlad, as they made it through the border controls.

Global Health Initiatives (GHI), the international mission department at Centura Health, had taken steps in 2019 to create a new partnership with Clinica Angelia in Kiev, the capital of Ukraine. While established only a few years ago in 2016, this facility was growing, and we were anxious to establish international partnerships with supporters outside the country. A GHI clinical trip had been planned for the spring of 2020, but COVID brought a halt to that effort. Then Russia invaded Ukraine on February 22, 2022.

Communications with Dr Yury Bondarenko, CEO of Clinica Angelia, were sporadic during those first few months of the war, but we were able to glean enough information to know that the staff were safe, and most had relocated to facilities near the border with Romania.

Their first concern was to provide food and supplies to the people still living in Kiev, as well as to facilitate the transfer of refugees to the border. Once these efforts were established, Yury and team started, at the end of March, to focus on providing health care to various communities, especially those cities and towns which were liberated from the Russian occupiers. Donations to GHI and to our partners at AdventHealth enabled the Clinic to purchase and rehab two vehicles which now house mobile medical and dental services.

On October 4, 2022, Clinica Angelia received an award from the Ukrainian Parliament in recognition of their dedicated service to the Ukrainian nation which, according to Yury, made them happy and inspired to do more. [Rusian Stefanchuk, Chairman of the Ukrainian Parliament is pictured with Yury Bondarenko]

It was an incredible blessing to be able to meet with Yury, Olena, and Vlad. Our meetings highlighted the opportunities available to provide additional medical aid through the mobile clinics, and the need for additional mobile facilities and equipment. The staff at Clinica Angelia have all made huge sacrifices since the war began yet have resisted the urge to flee the country. They instead, decided to stay and help in any way they can.  They are heroes and deserve our continued prayers and support.

–Greg Hodgson, Director, Global Health Initiatives. Photos supplied

Dorie Panganiban – Crownpoint, New Mexico …  As one of six sites participating in the 2022 Native Impact Evangelism on the Book of Revelation, La Vida Mission hosted and led the Crownpoint, New Mexico 10-night “Message from the Metal Man” Bible prophecy revival.

Reporting in Navajo Mission, Dorie Panganiban, La Vida Mission Outreach co-coordinator, said that two local community members were baptized as a result of this outreach.

Joseph, who was baptized, asked Dorie after his baptism, “People will know about my baptism, so what shall I say and do if someone ask me that they too want to get baptized? Because I know of at least three friends of mine who would.”

Not all went well Initially, “strong wind and bad weather prevented us from setting up our canopy tents outside, as originally planned for better distancing between attendees” for the presentations by Pastor George Tudose. On the first evening, two canopy tents were blown away and destroyed by the wind, Dorie reported.

“After many prayers and much consideration, and after carefully weighing the pros and cons of meeting outside or inside, the Lord impressed most of us to agree on meeting inside our small church and it worked very well,” she added. Commenting on Impact, Pastor Dale Wolcott, Native Ministries coordinator for the Arizona Conference, said that the Crownpoint site had “the largest number of community members of any of the sites, the highest for any site, any night”.

A prayer commitment, preparation for the meetings, ongoing friendship-evangelism, Bible study, and home visits brought a good group of interested community members to participate in the Impact meetings and to make a commitment to accept Jesus Christ.

La Vida Mission, located near Farmington, New Mexico, is an independent ministry not affiliated with the Rocky Mountain Conference.

— Dorie Panganiban is La Vida Mission outreach co-coordinator. Photos supplied.

Miloš Tomić – Arvada, Colorado … On September 20, nine volunteers from Arvada Adventist Church, Arvada Indonesian Adventist Church and North Hills Adventist Church from California met in Warsaw, Poland, and headed toward the Ukraine border. The week they spent there was very demanding physically, mentally, and especially, emotionally.

The refugee center in Mlyniv, Ukraine that works with orphans and widows of war had a blown heater boiler, damaged chimney, and no firewood for the upcoming winter. This guaranteed them a harsh and cold wintertime. The Arvada team made sure that none of these things is an issue anymore, and the kids will have warm rooms to enjoy.

An Adventist church in Poltava on the east side of the country has been serving 1500 refugees a day. “You read it right–fifteen hundred people come for help every day,” reported Miloš Tomić. Every day! The city of 300,000 people has been hosting 400,000 refugees. “You are reading those numbers correctly, as well. Hygiene products–especially baby supplies–are in high demand. Our team brought them a truckload. That truckload was gone in two days,” he continued.

Many refugees came to personally thank the volunteers. Most of the refugees would briefly thank us for the things we brought for them and then, often in tears and at length, thank us for being there. “You care for us. It seems that everyone started forgetting us. But you didn’t.” Those are some of the words that summarize what really makes a difference. Filling their stomachs and clothing their bodies helps. but touching their soul–that’s what really counts.

“Our Arvada Indonesian church is already planning a new trip very soon. More people from North Hills Church are also hyped up and on board to help, and Arvada will do more as well,” said Arvada pastor Gordon Anic.

If you would like to support our Ukraine refugee aid project, let us know by emailing [email protected] Together we can do it, they say.

— Miloš Tomić is Arvada Adventist Church associate pastor. Photos by Arvada Team.