No Bunnies Allowed

Short Order Update

What started with a reflection on Good Friday evening, ended visually thinking about our Savior's resurrection today.
One highlight in life for me is serving the Lord's Supper to my family. I cherish every time I am allowed to do this. Good Friday at New Harmony Church provided another such occasion. Carefully chosen songs, a time of freedom for families to take the Lord's Supper together.

Saturday night found us in the living room, flickering candles our only light. We listened to several songs Michelle carefully picked to focus our attention on our crucified, buried and risen Savior.

Resurrection morning culminated in a time of wonderful worship with our church family. When we arrived home we baked cookies where a marshmallow, representing Christ (a little weird, I know), is inserted in a croissant wrap and baked. The mallow melts and "disappears," and the croissant is left empty, just like the tomb on Resurrection Sunday. We each tasted vinegar (like Jesus did on the cross) and salt (for the tears shed during this time). We crushed walnuts (for Jesus' bruised body). We talked about the significance of each visual to this weekend a couple thousand years ago.

There were no bunnies (except some chocolate ones), no hunt for eggs in the yard (but we ate some filled with marshmallows!), no baskets filled with pink "straw." We even decided from here on referring to this weekend as "Resurrection Weekend, and Resurrection Sunday," since "Happy Easter!" generates a much different image after a trip to Walmart.

Thank you to our Pastor, David Gidcumb, for your part in planning these events that our family enjoyed AS a family. We appreciate you!


Not Fair
Not everything inside prison is nastiness and bad. According to Christian Post "Unconditional" was shown inside two Florida prisons last weekend. "Unconditional" is the story of a former maximum security inmate. Why not pray that God will use this story to soften hearts of men and women who are in prison? Why not pray for their "abandoned" children as well?

Cook's Short Order UPdateP

lease help us help these children by becoming our partners. We take you very seriously. We are currently at 30%.


Please... pray
- as we seek to keep our family time precious
- as we prepare to be at a Home School conference this weekend
- as we recruit at several churches this month
- as we seek to be good stewards of every resource God gives us


Praise the Lord!
- for a wonderful celebration of our Savior this weekend
- for a wonderful church to call "home"
- for a good time of sharing with the "Basics" of First Baptist of Salem, MO
- for 2 new financial partners last month
- for warmer temperatures which means less need for wood!
- for so much work being accomplished at camp by volunteers crews!


Looking Ahead
- Several church presentations this month
- Father/Daughter banquet at CDO
- Spring!!!

We can stop now

Short Order Update
I was sitting in a nice warm office, but my toes were cold. There was a slight draft under the door. I wore my chacos thinking this was going to be a really nice warm day!

A few weeks ago, in response to a prayer need we mentioned, a mechanic with a heart contacted us to "look" at our van. I thought, "I don't have time to travel that far for you to "look" at our van. Shame on me for not trusting the Lord.

What the mechanic meant was, "I'd like to look at your vehicle and see what all of my time I can donate, and if I don't need to buy you a new van I can probably donate parts as well."

We now have adjusted rear brakes, new front brakes and rotors, new front bearings, new blower so we have heat!, and several other things tightened and adjusted that were causing other problems. So "now we can stop" worrying about our safety on the road. Friend, thank you!

Please pray for us. We are having difficulty keeping up with everything God is allowing to break, AND be ready for the summer schedule. God has a plan, and we want to graciously submit in joy to His plan.


Not Fair
Depending on the population concentration in your area, or lack thereof, there are, give or take, 9000 children of prisoners within 50 miles of your current spot in any direction! So, as you sit at your computer and read this update, thousands of American children have 1 or 2 parents, and possibly relatives as well, who are incarcerated. Many don't understand where Mom or Dad is. Many don't understand WHY Mom or Dad is not present. Most just don't understand. AND, they think they are alone.

That's not fair.

Your partnership helps us reach these kids with the hope, grace, truth of the Gospel!


Volunteers Needed
We need the following positions filled for this summer:
- Support Staff
- Counselors
- Asst. Counselors
- Angel Counselors
- Games Director
- Worship Leader
- Nurse
- Kitchen Help
- Maintenance
- Life Guard
- Graphics Director
- Photographers
- Videographers
- Sorters/Editors


Please... pray
- as we seek partners to take up our support (currently 30%)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer (colleges and high schoolers)
- that God will provide for our needs (faithfulness, balance)
- that we will never neglect our family in this work

Praise the Lord!
- for a sweet time at a concert provided by a friend
- protection in travel and warmth and health
- windows that keep out the wind and rain, let in the sun's warmth
- lungs and bones and muscles that still work quite well
- for our van being worked on by a generous friend!!!


Looking Ahead
- Sharing at First Baptist, Salem, MO on March 28
- Presenting at Anutt Community Church in April
- Presenting at a home school conference in April
- 2 1/2 months till Summer Camp!!!

2013-02-26

Cook's Short Order Update

Just a Note:

I'd met this person only through emails and second hand accounts from Michelle from her interactions. During Camp David's recent Banquet For Hope we finally got to meet face to face. What struck me was not meeting, but a comment shared later in the night. This person has their own life, their own schedule, their own cares and concerns, yet, encouraged me by stating that they were regularly praying over one of our concerns. We are so glad to have partners in ministry who pray for us. This is what we need and desire. But don't let it stop there. How can we pray for you?

God provided! Even though God allowed a nasty storm the night of the Banquet For Hope, God provided in His way. Donations were up on several levels, including more campers sponsored than last year at this time! Praise the Lord for providing!


Not Fair

We are finding through experimentation and formal studies that continued interaction between incarcerated parents and their children is vital to the health of people on both sides of the prison bars. Imagine this scenario: "When I left for prison, my 5-year-old daughter didn't understand any of the legal aspects. All she knew was that one day I was there and the next day I disappeared from her life. She felt abandoned." (Pat Nolan, VP, Prison Fellowship

That's not fair.

Intervention is THE key to keeping children of prisoners out of prison themselves. Camp David of the Ozarks offers intervention to children of prisoners during a free week of camp in the summer. Can you help us help Camp David provide this intervention?


Please... pray

- as we seek churches to take up our support (currently 30% support)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer (colleges and high schoolers)
- that God will provide for our needs
- that our dryer will be fixed under warranty
- that we will be faithful


Praise the Lord!

- for God's provision through the Banquet For Hope
- for safety for many who traveled that night
- for great volunteers to help make this event possible

Looking Ahead

- Lining up college and church presentations
- Presenting at a home school conference in April
- 3 months till Summer Camp!!!

2013-02-22

Praise the Lord!

- for a good attendance at the Banquet For Hope last night - approx 200 guests
- for good initial numbers from pledges and donations
- for safety for all on the roads

More coming on Monday

2013-02-18

Cook's Short Order Update


Just a Note
So thankful for warmer weather! We like winter, sort of, but we love spring!

What a busy week. Basketball tourney started Friday evening about 90 minutes away, and lasted all day Saturday. Caleb had some great time on the floor, gaining some points and rebounds for his team. It was a long day, but we were able to connect with a few of our summer staff and spend time with the camp's intern, Bekah Kessler. We finished off the weekend playing and singing some worship songs as a family. It's Monday now, and we are hard at it. Pray that we will always be a blessing to those we bump into and that Jesus will blaze through.


Not Fair
I read recently of a woman, mother to 8 children, who spent 3 weeks in a prison in New York because she couldn't post the necessary $75 bail money. We are too willing to cast judgement on this female, stating, "She should be more careful," both in reproduction and in life choices. Did you know that during her 21 days in prison she knew nothing of the status of her children? Did you know that during her 21 days in prison her children knew nothing of their mother's location? Just that she had been taken away.


That's not fair.
Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts. We are currently at 30%.


Please... pray
- as we seek churches to take up our support (currently 30%)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer (colleges and high schoolers)
- that God will provide for our needs (finances, wood for our furnace, rest, balance)
- that we will be faithful


Praise the Lord!
- for a fun weekend as family and a new friend - thanks for hanging with us Bekah!
- protection in travel and warmth and health
- windows that keep out the wind and rain, let in the sun's warmth
- hearts that still pump blood to our bodies
- all the volunteers we need as Door Greeters at the coming Banquet For Hope!


Looking Ahead
- Banquet for Hope – CDO’s annual fund raiser - this Thursday
- Presenting at a home school conference in April
- 3 months till Summer Camp!!!

2013-02-13

Cook's Short Order Update

A week late but...

Just a Note:
Busy. Not cliche or complaining, just reality.

Last week found us in Arkansas at the Ozarks Sectional 3CA camp conference. This is a refreshing time of networking with others in camp ministry, praying, learning, worshipping together, for the purpose of helping each other serve our camps better.

Our big "take-away" was when Ozark Sectional President, Scott Shaw, shared his testimony, ending with the charge, "Don't just try harder. Do something different!"

We are so proud of our kids while we were gone. Caleb and Nate stayed "home alone" and did quite well, fixing themselves a small banquet for one meal. So, Michelle is no longer cooking for them! Just kidding.

We are grateful that we can leave our children in the care of the Father and know they are well taken care of. We also appreciate a good friend for caring for Seth and Kaitie. Thank you!


Not Fair:
Did you know that some prison inmates, even those convicted of violent crime, are not all lifelong violent criminals? Many are very decent people who just made one choice that tipped the incarceration scales. Imagine what knowing that mom or dad is guilty of a violent crime may do in the mind of a child. Imagine what knowing that YOUR mom or dad is "that prisoner" could do in the mind of a child.

That's not fair! Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts.


Please pray:
- as we seek churches to take up our support (currently 30%)
- as we recruit volunteers for this summer
- that God will provide for our needs (finances, wood, rest, balance)
- that we will be faithful

Praise the Lord!
- for new supporters last month
- protection in travel and over our children last week
- walls and a roof to keep us warm and dry
- breath in our lungs


Looking Ahead:
- Banquet for Hope - CDO's annual fund raiser
- Camp starting in 3 months!

2013-01-23

Cook's Short Order Update


** Just a Note
------------------------------------------------------------
Sunday we had the honor, not only of presenting our ministry at our home church, New Harmony, but also of sharing the time with our ministry founder, Ben Smith. Ben spoke on things that have happened in the last year, like the new office building at camp and the blessing that the body of Christ is. Michelle and I recounted things from this past summer that impacted us. We want to thank our Pastor, David Gidcumb, for allowing us this time.

It was encouraging to get feedback both during the presentation and at our display table. We appreciate those of you who have chosen to be involved in our ministry through prayer and donations.
http://www.campdavidozarks.org/about-us/that-aint-right


** Not Fair
------------------------------------------------------------
Children whose parents are incarcerated have many questions and many things they don't really understand. Just because Mom or Dad got arrested for doing something wrong does not mean the child understands. Often, when a parent is arrested in view of a child, the child is not told where the parent is going. The officers may not know at that point. These children are left wondering and confused.

That's not fair.

Please help us help these children by supporting us with prayer and gifts.


** Please... pray
------------------------------------------------------------
- for strength and discernment: we feel stretched in many directions
- that we will be able to schedule presentation and recruiting visits in churches
- that we will always be a ministry to our children
- for wood for our furnace


** Praise the Lord!
------------------------------------------------------------
- that Bryan is with us for a few more days
- for encouraging friends and times at our church
- for time to present our ministry in our home church
- fun time in basketball for Kaitie and Caleb this weekend
- a new regular supporter joined our team - THANK YOU!


** Looking Ahead
------------------------------------------------------------
Our latest update letter should be in the mail this week!
Banquet for Hope - CDO's annual scholarship fund raiser
Time