Of course, we telephoned him immediately, seeking more information. Yes, they did go to counseling. No, the breach is irreparable. Yes, the papers are already filed (in sixty days the divorce will be final). Yes, I'd appreciate your support. No, it wouldn't do any good to talk with Amy. Yes, I'll tell you the story from my point of view.

Yes, our two children (girls, ages 5 and 2) are shell-shocked but we're trying to minimize the damage.

Welcome to never-never land, I'm thinking. Divorcing parents never minimize the damage to their children. Divorce is a contract with selfishness. Children realize this better than their parents do. How can they ever forget that their home was destroyed by their parents' egomania? The lesson is indelible.

In the weeks since this bombshell burst, Grace and I have discovered that we have been grieving. It's been a near-classic grief experience. The first stage in the experience was the shock of being told. Then came anger about the effect on the divorce on our grandchildren. Guilt followed. If only we had read the signs and contributed what advice we could, if only we had been more loving and accepting, if only commitment and faithfulness were added to toothpaste like fluoride, we would all be protected as we brushed.

The final stage is acceptance. I'm not there yet. I don't know if I ever want to accept it. This raises an interesting question. Both Grace and I love our son and daughter-in-law. How is it possible to continue to love them while at the same time to disapprove of their conduct, especially as it impacts innocent children? We see some profound spiritual problems with both parents. How can we begin to talk about these things with them without offending them or aggravating the pain they are feeling? How can we get a hearing for Jesus with them without seeming to pressure them or to be taking advantage of their difficulties?

It seems so clear to us that what is lacking in both parents is a lively, heart-felt, warm, trusting relationship with Jesus. We want them to have this so badly. If we could give it to them, we would, but we can't. This kind of relationship must come from within them. We can't transfer into them what we feel inside. Only Jesus can do this. How can we be of service to the Lord here? How can we talk with them in such a way that they begin to love the Lord? How can we midwife a new spiritual birth? Thanks,

I would like to explain a little bit about what I have been doing and what has been happening since I started in January. First, let me explain that while I want our youth ministry to grow, the number of students attending our events and meetings is not at all my top priority right now. I believe it is more important at this time for me to develop relationships with those who are currently attending and to develop a strong core with these students so that in the future we have something solid to build on. I also believe that it is important for the congregation to be involved and supportive in order for our youth ministries to be successful and to grow. To let you know what is currently happening, the high school group has continued to meet on Sunday nights from 6 to 8 PM or so. So far, these meetings have been very similar to what EPIC has been used to in the past - games, a time of worship, a speaker (usually myself), and a small group discussion time. Right now I am trying to stay very flexible and am I am trying to work with the students and adult leaders to see if there are areas that need to be changed or adapted, or if we should stick with what has been done over the past several years. One change that we may try out soon is to bring MAC and EPIC meetings back to First CRC. In April we are hoping to have a trial month in the new multi-purpose room. If everyone in the church agrees that the trial went well we may begin meeting there on a regular basis.

Earlier I made reference to how vital it is for the congregation to be involved and supportive of our youth ministry here. You may wonder what you can do - let me tell you. First, PRAY!!! We can't pray enough for the youth of our church and community. It's not easy to be a teen these days - they need our love and our prayer. Second, find ways to show them that you appreciate them. Talk with them at church, ask them how they're doing, go to their games and band/choir concerts, show them that you care and that you are interested in their lives. If you're a parent, encourage them to be involved in our church/youth group. But more importantly, encourage them in their Christian faith. If you are looking to help out with the youth ministry - GREAT!!! Please do. We are always looking for more help in both the junior high and senior high ministries, whether you want to help provide transportation for an event or help out at our regular meetings and events. If you have ideas for our youth ministry, please let me know about them. There is no limit to the ways you can help out our youth ministry, so if you have any desire to assist us once in a while, let me know so that I can keep you in mind. I desire and need your support!!!

You most likely know that the church has a website. You can check out the website for what's to come in the next couple months. We keep it updated with all of our upcoming event information. Some upcoming events to make mention of are: Acquire the Fire Rally in Tacoma (April 26-27), and the 30 Hour Famine (May 10-11).

Again, I want you to know how excited I am to be here, and that I look forward to serving the Lord together with you in the months and years to come. If you have questions, concerns, suggestions, complaints, or anything else you want to talk about, please let me know. Thanks for taking the time to read what I have to say!!!Yours in Christ,

-Louis van Belle Why restart the Communicator? This was the question on the minds of all the volunteers who jumped in on this project. The few of us saw bundles of material that we thought needed to be published. I think we saw also an opportunity to, well frankly, have some fun. The conclusion we came to is that the communicator died an untimely death and that there is lots of potential.

Our goal with this publication is to work on connecting this congregation in ways that are currently missing. There is the web-page, but it is different than we are hoping to do. There is no denying that we should co-publish on the web. However, I believe there is still a place for hardcopy publications of this type.

Our Reformed heritage is a rich and deep one. I believe that it is getting lost. In this publication I hope we can connect with the past and enliven the heritage for the coming generations. Our denomination has a bad rap for being the "frozen chosen." I hope we can dispel those rumors. The Reformed heritage is rich, deep, and joyful. I hope that we can bring this out in this publication.

This publication will continue to do the news, current happenings, current books in the library, people profiles, etc. However, I want to go beyond this. I want meaningful dialog within this congregation. I hope to start thematic discussions in the coming issues. (Please submit your ideas of themes you would like to see discussed.) I also hope for this publication to be a platform for others in the congregation to contribute according to their various gifts. I see possibly short stories, poetry, and other artwork being contributed. (Please submit anything you would like to see published.) Finally, this publication will be a community. Some issues we may send out in a mass mailing. With web co-publishing, the whole world can see what our church is up to.

Lastly, I want to address the name of this publication. Hopefully this is the last issue with the name "The Communicator." I think it is drab, boring and pragmatic. As I said, our Faith is anything but that. A publication from our church, which will end up in the surrounding community, needs show the joy and depth of our faith. I would like for a name that would show this. Unfortunately, with me being an engineer, I can't think of any good names. I turn this to the other 200 creative members of the congregation. Help us find a new, appropriate name to this publication. If your suggested name is chosen we will give you a box of Krispy Kreme donuts. I'll even pick them up hot and deliver them to the location of your choosing (on a mutually agreed upon date).

-Sondra Chamberlain When I first started volunteering with MAC ministries three ago I didn't understand what Jr. High Youth ministry was all about. I didn't even like Junior Highers! Things have really changed. God has given me an abundance of patience and a huge heart for Junior High ministry.

Think for a moment back to your Jr. High days. Who were your friends? Were you considered popular? Were you considered a nerd? Guys, did your voice crack at all the wrong moments? Girls, did you have to wear the right clothes in order to be accepted? Would any of you like to turn back time to Jr. High? I can hear the majority of you saying, "NO WAY!"

The Jr. High years are probably the toughest years to get through. At that age you don't really know where you fit in, you don't have confidence, and you are constantly evaluated by your peers. It's hard!

Some may say that Jr. High ministry is just total chaos. It may look like that to the outsider but when you are dealing with a generation that has grown up on the internet, doesn't remember the Gulf War, probably owns his or her own cell phone or pager, watches DVD's instead of videos, downloads music instead of purchasing it, is bombarded with twisted messages of sexuality, watches MTV and R movies, listens to music with increased sexuality in the lyrics, and lives in a world of increased violence; Jr. High youth ministry has to be a bit wild and crazy to compete with all those things that these kids are faced with daily. It's important for youth ministries to be creative!

Through the creative aspects of MAC (games, special events, etc…) the leaders have the opportunity to build friendships with the kids and through those friendships the leaders are given the chance to speak Biblical truth into their lives.

-written by Steve The day after Thanksgiving, I was driving a two-ton flat bed truck loaded with bales of cardboard, with Don, the passenger who knew where to take it. We were just getting going - about 2 miles out when the road took a long 80 degree sweep. Nearing the end of the corner, the truck started feeling mushy under us, and I realized that the back outside tires had left the pavement. At that point it was too late - the back end tipped the whole truck which slid on its side, and then rolled over completely to land on its wheels again.

When the truck turned upside down, the cab came down, crushing my back I was thrown over the steering wheel with my head and shoulders. Now as everything came to a standstill, one thing was obvious - I could not breathe! My back and chest were being crushed together and there was no room for me to inhale, like being squeezed in a vice with no place to find relief!

Even as panic and despair threatened to overwhelm me, a thought popped into my head - undo your seatbelt! My right hand shot down hitting the button and immediately I pushed myself toward the driver's door. Partly bent, partly standing, I faced the highway looking through the smashed window of the driver's door. Longingly I hoped help would be on its way. I gasped for breath, but it came only in painful short gasps. How long could I survive with so little air? Oh God! Help me!

Suddenly a man appeared walking toward me. He was about 6 feet on my left, had a stocky build, was in his 50's, and had a meticulously well-kept short beard, and moustache. "Can I help you?" he asked.

I tried to say something, but as I stammered to answer, he said "turn the truck off." I looked back to search the dash for keys or something; the man repeated, "turn the truck off." Just then a hand reached up and pulled the choke and the engine died. Oh joy. Don's still alive!

I turned back to face the man but all I could see was the top of his head, since the bottom of the window was about 6' off the ground. I grasped the windshield wiper arm for support, but was unable to move. I heard the man say, "Let me help you;" and at that he took hold of my arm which was holding the windshield wiper and lifted me out, but I felt no extra pain. I kicked my feet around to free them from the cab, and before I knew what had happened, he was setting me down on the road on my side, for it was too painful to try to sit up. At the same time my passenger (Don) was being laid down beside me.

We didn't hear a car or a person's voice again until the EMT's arrived about 10 minutes later. After the first car arrived, a lady started asking questions. Soon another car arrived, with a man asking more questions. They started cutting away my shirts, and asking questions about my feeling and pain; "and how," the lady EMT asked "did you get out of the truck?"

When the ambulance finally got there, it was with excruciating pain that four men moved me onto the stretcher. My back was so swollen, I looked like the Hunchback of Notre Dame. I could hardly breathe, much less move. I was taken to The Dalles hospital first, and after X-rays and consultation, the doctors decided to ship me to Portland (OHSU) to get fitted with a body cast, thus immobilizing the three broken vertebrae's.

In the hospital, after a week of pain, medications, and near sleepless nights, I was improved enough to return home to be cared for. During a sleepless night a couple days after coming home I began to relive the scene of the accident.

The man that had carried me out of the truck stuck me as most peculiar. He never drove up, not a car or truck or any vehicle came up or down the road; I did not see or hear one, and I had been eagerly awaiting one; the man just appeared. When he took a hold of my arm and lifted me out of the truck, I felt no additional pain. He was laying me down on the side of the road before I even realized what had happened - in seconds.

The truck window is about 6' off the ground - how could one person lift a 200 lb. injured man, over his head, without causing any more pain, or injuring him more?

And all of this was accomplished in just seconds? How could Don be instantly placed beside me with his dislocated arm, cracked shoulder blade, and leg broken in two places? The man left as quickly as he came without a word.

Later as I mulled it over once again with Don, I found out it was not he who had turned the engine off. He had been knocked unconscious; but when I saw the hand out by the floor board, I assumed it was him. I found out too that this particular truck had no way of being turned off from the inside. What an encouragement though it gave me at the time seeing and believing that Don must be alive! But just whose hand was that?

When the paramedics came 10-15 minutes later they were totally puzzled as to how we had gotten out before they arrived on the scene.

I believe angels are alive and working in our lives. We just don't have the opportunity to see them. When the extraordinary things in life happen, they are life-changing, and I believe they are part of the Lord's plan. He allows, intercepts, and intervenes in events to bring about His purpose for His glory.

Everyone has probably asked himself; "Who am I? Why am I here? Where am I going?" When the hard things in life happen, it causes us to stop and reflect on our priorities in life, What is God's purpose for me? Why did He allow this accident? What does He want me to learn from it?

Through it all I'm learning how important friends are - they are the extensions of God's loving hands. I'm learning that when others are in need, I am God's hands to those I minister to, and I can better to have empathy and compassion for others because of what I'm going through myself.

P.M.B. Services

PO Wewak, E.S.P.

Papua New GuineaPacific Island Ministries PO Box 1765

Grass Valley, CA 95945 USA

2002 - Please pray with us

In 28 villages there will be schools starting the last week in January. These are early elementary classes in which PIM has direct responsibility for teachers' salaries or where PIM has begun schools and trained teachers who now receive government salaries. Every year there are fewer government licensed teachers who are willing to teach in Sepik River villages; therefore many kids don't have a chance to go beyond where our schools stop. Pray for God's leading for how we can do more for these children. The P1M method is working for keeping teachers in the villages. Success hinges on at least 3 things: 1. Choosing the right people to train for the village teaching jobs 2. Working in a Christian context and encouraging them through courses and village visits, and 3. Supporting them through their struggles and problems. A few villages will have PIM literacy classes to target teenagers and adults who have been left behind in years past because of no elementary school in their village.

Last week Etewe Gabi held the year's first Sunday school teacher-training course and many others are planned.More news - January 2002

In July of 2001 Doug's mom went to be with the Lord. She had cancer for 2 years and died at home. She is greatly missed but since she suffered much near the end we are thankful she is at peace now. Many of you know that our daughter, Michelle married Brian Hawkins in 2000 when we were on furlough. They are expecting their first child in July of this year. Meanwhile Michelle is trying to finish her teaching degree. Doug said he's too young to be a grandpa but I am sure we will have fun being grandparents. I hope that I will be able to visit Michelle and family sometime this year. Sam is now 19 years old. (It's only been a year since I have seen him but it seems much longer.) Still undecided on a career he has quit at Cornerstone University, and attends a community college this semester. Last spring he had surgery on one knee. The pain, which was the reason for surgery, is still there and all the doctor says is to wait longer. Also, he has a shoulder that pops out of joint so easily that he cannot do anything active. We are hoping that he will find some medical help for these problems. Chris, just turned 17, has an interest in the technical occupations. Since he has no interest in other college courses, once he graduates on June 18 he will probably pick up some technical courses in a Grand Rapids school.

Joel is active in as many sports activities as he can find but he does well in his academic subjects, too. In Christ,

Leah Heidema

Pacific Island Ministries

PO Box 1765

Grass Valley, CA 95945

Ph 530-272-8170, TAX 530-272-6832

Orneal Kooyers

-Ingrid Crozier: The choir will present the Gospel Mass by Robert Ray ("He Never Failed Me Yet") on Sunday April 28 at 6:00pm. They are doing the work in conjunction with the Shoreline Christian High School choir, directed by Glen Hoogerhyde and Overlake Park Presbyterian Church choir directed by Norm Jonkman.

The Gospel Mass is a unique blend of texts you would find in a regular mass, such as the Alleluia, and the Sanctus mixed with the story telling gospel-style words.

The composer Robert Ray grew up in a black Baptist church (so you don't need to be looking for the "Ave Maria" part of the Mass,) and went on to be classically trained in music. So his work combines the complexity of classical with the life and rhythm of black gospel.

-Ervie Klungel Life began at the dead-end of a dirt road which had no name and no number. It was September 16, 1926, and the Floyd River was at flood stage. Now if you are not familiar with Northwest Iowa, you won't recognize the Floyd River, but it is in Sioux County, the home of many a Dutch immigrant including the family Schuller.

In his autobiography, Robert H. Schuller often repeats that he came from the dead-end of that dirt road without an address; therefore, he had to journey from nowhere to somewhere and that is what he writes about in his life story My Journey, published in 2001, by HarperSanFrancisco.

R. Harold Schuller (In those days he was called Harold because his mother preferred that name to Robert) grew up on a farm near Orange City, Iowa, went to a country grade school, and to high school in Newkirk. Before he even began school he knew his life's goal to be a preacher. There are many interesting events that bring him to that goal always before him and approved by his family. Much planning went into attaining goals - a vision for a large church, conferences for church leaders, television as a tool for his message, the crystal cathedral and so on.

The stories of his life were very interesting and vividly portrayed - the tragedy of losing the farm in a tornado - falling in love with Arvella - the joys of family - tragedy when a daughter loses a leg in an accident and a son has a divorce, - beginning the church in an open air theater, - and on and on. These were things I liked about the book. Besides I could identify well with NW Iowa, going to college about the same era, etc.

-Jan Vander Linden "Anytime children see other children who look, talk or act differently, their first question usually is 'What's wrong with them?' My hope is that this little book will help children understand that kids with disabilities are not to be feared, pitied, or ridiculed, but are to be embraced, challenged, and included. It is one way to teach our children that no matter how we are born, we are all God's unique children" So says Maria Shriver author of What's Wrong with Timmy, a book recently donated to our church library. Look for it in the picture book section.

Another book found in the children's section is How Did God Make Me? With simple illustrations, realistic photographs, and story like text this book will help instill appreciation for the miracle of birth.

10. Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don't know where it's been! (Judges 14:5-8)

9. David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons!

8. Abraham! Stop wandering around the countryside and get home for supper!

7. Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego! Leave those clothes outside, you smell like a dirty ol' furnace!

6. Cain! Get off your brother! You're going to kill him some day! 5. Noah! No, you can't keep them! I told you, don't bring home any more strays!

4. Gideon! Have you been hiding in that wine press again? Look at your clothes! (Judges 6:11)

3. James and John! No more burping contests at the dinner table, please. People are going to call you the sons of thunder! (Mark 3:17)

2. Judas! Have you been in my purse again?

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