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April Newsletter

SHANNON’S CORNER
April 2020

God is good all the time.  All the time God is good.  This is one truth of God that has been engrained into my core.  I don't have to think about it.  I don't have to process it.  I just know it's true.  In this time of uncertainty, I know that God is good.  It is who He is.  I can see His goodness and kindness in each an every day.  I want to share with you God's goodness that I have seen this past month.

Kite flying
God's goodness in his creation all around me.  It's spring time, seeing the robins, cardinals, blue jays, the tulips, the trees budding and some are blooming.  Seeing the bunnies hopping around and the squirrels jumping from branch to branch.

God's goodness in allowing me to stay healthy, physically and emotionally by getting out and walking and just being in His creation.  

God's goodness and kindness in growing me in my spiritual walk with Him through a variety of ways.  God has given me space to rest, refresh and renew myself in Him.  Some passages that I have been reflecting on are Psalm 46:10, "Be still and know that I am God..."; Habakkuk 3:16-19, "...Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior..."; Isaiah 61:1-4, "...you are anointed...to bind up the brokenhearted...restored...they will rebuild, restore and renew the places long devoted..."; and Isaiah 54:2, "Enlarge the place of your tent..."


Safe Place Ministry Training on Building Resilience in Spanish
God's goodness in allowing me to grow in my professional life as I participated in a Member Care Foundations course with 1700 Member Care Providers around the world.  Participating in a number of webinars to learn how to best care for those whom we are serving.  Learning from their expertise and years of experience has been very beneficial for my growth in Member Care.

God's goodness and kindness as I stay connected with our missionaries in the Dominican Republic and leadership.  How God has as far as I know kept our kids and staff healthy so far from the virus.  Hearing their stories and how God is working in their lives has been very encouraging to me.  Here is a link to watch a video regarding how our ministry is doing in the Dominican Republic https://vimeo.com/408182202.

Walking and a trip in the woods
God's goodness in allowing me to be a help to two of my sisters.  Being able to help babysit my niece and nephews has been such a delight and joy.  Playing and having fun has been very life-giving to me during this time.  

God's goodness and kindness in being able to help with our house parents who have been constantly caring for our children in our Arks a way of processing, reflecting, and making sure they have a plan of self care.  I have been working with our one home director to help create activities for these precious people.  Pouring back into them what they are pouring out into the lives of the kids who they care for and serve.

"Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior."
Habakkuk 3:18

PRAYER REQUESTS
Praise the Lord for his gifts to me!
 Praise the Lord for his blessings he pours out on us during this time of COVID-19!
Pray for Kids Alive Home Office leadership and staff.
Pray for our staff at Palo Blanco as the first-grade teacher who unexpectedly passed away recently and for her three daughters who are left behind.
Pray for the Dominican Republic during this COVID-19. 
Pray for our new missionaries who will be arriving to the DR in 2020: Audrey, Anne Peyton, Rachel, and Shelton.

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