cccs

2010-08-30T11:46:00.000-07:00

Dear friends; My heart is so full and grateful to receive what is happening all over the world with the CCCS projects. August 15 is the due date for the second report of the projects and already before that date we have pages of news to share. We want you to know what your gifts are doing, not only for the children but the directors and teachers who are working with them. The encouragement to the teachers helps them feel a part of making a difference in their world, sharing the love of Jesus and giving children the chance to grow intellectually. We are working in the poorest countries and we can see the growth and change. Guatemala, our first country, has grown from one small boarding school to 5 schools and 11 additional scholarship sites, all run by Christians, many educated through the scholarship program.
Bangladesh: From Monotosh Banargee living in Bangladesh we read: “We are thanking God and you because we are able to run our education program. Six primary schools in Jessore, Bagerhat, and Gopalgon district are running well although we face lack of funds, especially during the rainy season. We pray for funds to purchase land for more schools, and we ask your prayers for us so that God gives us knowledge and strength to do His work. We thank Pastor Elieo Bairgee of POBLO for his faithful support.”
El Salvador: Mariana Mendez from Pasaquina, El Salvador was raised by Rev. Ciro Mejia in Guatemala so she could finish high school. Upon graduation she became a teacher and married Rev. Mauro Recinos. They returned to Pasaquina and in thankfulness started Monte Sion Lutheran School which goes through the 9th grade and three village elementary schools. Her husband died several years ago and this has become her life, caring for over the 200 children she serves in these rural villages. Marina cares for the whole child, providing medicines, snacks, school supplies and the transportation for the teachers who travel to the villages. She enclosed many thanks yous and I will include only one as most stories are similar. “My name is Jesús Adonay Rivera and I am 12 years old. I live with my grandmother and I have a scholarship to go to the colegio. Thanks to God and to you I am studying in Monte Sion School. May God bless you.”
Guatemala City: A Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church started in 2000 and has focused on children. With CCCS help they have started “Kids Club” and meet with the children every Saturday. Areceli Bonilla, a social worker and member of the church, works with the parents and mentors the children who have CCCS scholarships. In the last three years Dr. Elry Orozco has taken over a Kids Club in one of the poorest barrios, Amatitlan. He mentors over 50 children with scholarships who now the opportunity to go to school. (My daughter Ann, a physician, is at Amatitlan this week with her son Andrew and 9 from Messiah Church in Seattle, doing a Health Clinic and a Vacation Bible School)
Sierra Leone: Eric Quee, director of the CCCS scholarship program in Sierra Leone, rejoices for the new motor bike donated from the KS LWML to give him a way to get from village to village to visit the CCCS schools. He reports 15 schools in the Kono Dist, 7 in the Kailahun District, 3 in Bo Dst. and 92 teachers for a total of 2861 pupils making an average of 31 students per classroom. Their request is for better buildings for the students, teaching and learning materials and funds to support teachers to attend training colleges.
Venezuela: Maturin, Christ the King 9th grade school is celebrating its fifteenth year. It started as a pre-school and the CCCS has watched it grow. Alaska, the daughter of Luis Aristimuño, the director, is among the students who went from pre-school to graduation from the 9th grade. To continue with a scholarship program for that many years, accountability is essential.
In 2006 David and Luz Maria Ernst began a pre-school in Caramuco, a growing area of the State of Barrinas. Their pre-school has received wide community support and at their graduation the President of the Community Council and Director of all the pre-schools in the area were in attendance. David writes that the public schools for first grade are full and they are dreaming and praying to open an elementary school. For the CCCS our joy is that all the children are being taught the love of Jesus.
The above are tiny snippets of projects in only 5 countries and there are now 21 with 18,000 children.
Your prayers and support have made this possible. We thank you.

Edie Jorns, Project Director, CCCS
Mark 10:14 “Let the little children come to me.”

Thailand Update

2010-06-21T05:51:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends,
Here in Cambodia this computer has a mind of its own. I will not fix anything. Just think of being in a strange country and not knowing anything.

I have learned two important words, AU Koon, which means ‘thank you’. The people appreciate that you can say that much. Many People here know some English, especially those in the gift shops. Today at the airport, a two year old came up to us and said, "Hello, hello."

Wednesday we flew into Cambodia. We spent the morning visiting the daycare by the slum and touring the flats that had been rebuilt after the slum fire this past February. The people are very appreciative.

We left Bangkok after lunch in the airport. We, Edie Jorns and I, ate at Auntie Anne’s pretzel shop. They played American popular music in the restaurant, just like Lukas and I listen to in the car at home, only Lukas would have made me switch it when Taylor Swifts song came on. I had just heard Paul and Jessie's wedding dance song in another shop as we passed by in the airport and I got to really missing my kids!

We had just flown in from Northern Thailand the day before and now we were on the plane again to Cambodia. That is the way you have to do things when you have lots to see and not much time. We stayed at the Le President Hotel. There is lots of new construction since I was there two years ago. Most of the buildings have a beautiful style architecture, a kind of European influence. LOTS AND Lots of motorcycles!!! They are using more cars also and parking is done with leaving the car in neutral so that they can move your car down to get another one out. It is like a huge sliding puzzle. I was glad that I did not have to park or drive.

When we arrived, our host Pastor Vanerith told us that his wife had just given birth to a baby girl on Tuesday. He took us to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia office and gave us an update on their activities. It is really exciting. They just had ordination for several pastors and deaconesses a few months ago. These were students that we had in our classes two years ago.
After we had a wonderful supper, served family style of typical Khmer dishes, Pastor took Jeff and his wife Cheryl and me to see his new baby daughter. They were in kind of a clinic, where they had some support but not what we think of as a neonatal unit. Mother and daughter, little Ruth, were doing fine. Grandma was staying there with them.

Yesterday we drove down to the south of Cambodia and visited two churches. It took all day because of the road construction, but it was worth it. We saw lots of the country side, houses built on stilts, children in uniforms riding bikes to school up dusty county roads, two to a bike, skinny cows, rice paddies, and lots and lots of motorcycles.

At the first church we visited, about 30 people there waited for us in a cement church that also serves as a school. Many of my former students were there and we had a great reunion. I gave out many of the crosses that our children had colored. Three of the people gave their stories of their faith and ministry.

After a wonderful lunch at a restaurant that was built over a channel, we went on to the other church. It was nearly dusk when we arrived and we learned that 70 people had waited to see us but had to leave as we were hours behind schedule. We had a great visit with three former students. They asked when I could return and teach again. I said that only the Lord knows His plans. We arrived back at the hotel at about 9:00.

This morning, we went to a high school that had been used as a torture center during the 1976-1979 reign of the Khmer Rouge, a communist revolt. We saw a movie explaining the sad time where 2,000,000 Cambodians lost their lives at the hands of their own countrymen. We then traveled to the killing fields where the soldiers put to death and left tens of thousands in mass graves. It was very somber.

It gives perspective. The Cambodian church is really growing as the people search for joy and meaning in life. This afternoon we got on the plane again and traveled to Seim Reep, Cambodia. We will visit the Ankor Wat tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers. It is a full trip. I can’t wait to tell you all about it and show my many photos. Much love, Dawn

Thailand Trip Update

2010-06-16T08:14:00.000-07:00

Hi All,
I am once again on a hotel computer. This time it is free with helpful tech support.

Our guide, Pastor Jeff Ehlers has packed our days full.
Last Sunday we attended Bible class and witnessed the daughter of teacher Goi Fischer as she became God's child in holy Baptism. We had a potluck at the church and enjoyed Thai food.
We went shopping in a covered market where I got some souvenirs. Then we went to see an upscale mall and toured the areas of the buildings burned during the riots last month.
On Monday we met with Dang, the head of Concordia Welfare and Education foundation, Thailand and had a great discussion on missions in the LCMS and how it works best. Wish the Mission leaders from St. Louis LCMS would have been there!!!! Then we ate lunch and took a river tour down the river that flows though Bangkok.
They to the Airport to fly to Chaingrai, in northern Thailand. by bus it would have been 12 hours.
We spent the night at a YMCA international hotel and at breakfast met Tim and Michelle Miller, missioneries in Thailand for the last 20 years. LCMS used information about them in their world mission for kids pages. It was an honor to meet them.
Then we went north about an hour stopping to tour the temple of the giant scoripian. Then back in the vans to the training seminar near the golden triangle. This Lutheran training seminar was attended by over 20 men and woman interested in learning more about the Lutheran faith and to become better church leaders. We gave some toothbrushes and pencils and crosses colored by our school children to many there. They were greatly encouraged that we would come from the US to say that we are praying for them.
They we went on a boat tour down the Mekong River where we had a short shopping stop over in Laos. You could buy pickled cobras in a bottle and opium pipes. I handed out crosses colored by the childern to the village children and they kept coming back for more, inviting their friends to also come. I can't wait until I am home to post pictures.

We flew back to Bangkok and got to our hotel at midnight. Today we tour the Bangna Slum and the daycare we serve there then it is back on the plane to go to Cambodia. We will tour the Ankor Wat (another in country flight) and see several Christian churches. I have seen so many temples (hundreds of them) that it will be refreshing to tour Christian churches!!!

I'll write again when we have internet. Thank you for your prayers. We are all healthy, considering our hetic pace. Can't wait to get home next Wednesday.

Thanks for your prayers, they mean more than you know!
Much love,
Dawn Mueller, CCCS Board Member

Monday and Tuesday in Thailand

2010-06-09T06:34:00.001-07:00

Dear Family and friends,
Wish that you were here to see everything for yourself!
I just got finished with an ESL class with three teenage Thai girls. Their teacher, Ar, invited me in their class. I also had a few minutes in Robin's class, both times giving the students a chance to practice English conversation. The Thai people are so friendly, even though I only know four phrases, I can get by.

Our first stop yesterday was to visit with Goi, who taught the preschool at PhongPhet. In April she had her first baby and we got to meet little Calah. On Sunday I will get to see sweet Calah's Baptism.

My friend, Dang and her friend Oi and I also went to the summer palace of the king. Rama V had it built for a summer home. Think the King and I. They would travel up the river and get away from the big city. There are houses for his wives and their children and places to meet with the government officals. It was very beautiful and I will post photos on facebook later.

We later went to a park where they have display homes showing how different Thai families lived. The structures were made of teak wood, on stilts with a large deck. The homes would have two buildings, one for sleeping and visiting and a seperate one for cooking, like a summer kitchen. Dang said that she remembers visiting her grandmother in a traditional Thai home. Again, perhaps I can post some on facebook.

When we got back, I went with Robin for her weekly walk with one of her students. This woman is a hairdresser and each Monday night, she and Robin talk a walk around Beverly Hills. In the midst of lots of traffic and four story buildings, there is a new ritzy subdivision going up. They look at the progress of the huge houses. They have been doing the walk for years. The mansions are amazing. Most are very modern, Frank Lloyd Wright style. One very cool thing is that they transplant huge, 20 foot tropical trees in the yards. Robin said that they grow, due to the humid climate and high water table, they put down roots quickly. After the walk, Robin and I caught a late supper at the Pizza Kitchen and had one of the best Pizza's ever!

Today was a special day. Dang took me to BangNa Slum and the Daycare near there. They have about 40 kids enrolled. There were 8 new students about 2 1/2 years old. Many of them were crying, missing their parents. I gave them each a cross colored by the students of my school that say, "God loves you" in Thai. Then the little ones colored a cross for me to take home. We stayed and helped with with lunch. After the kids eat, they get a shower, three little kids at a time, get a dish pan of water dumped on them. This helps to cool them off and some are not bathed at home. Then they go up to the sleeping room, All 25 kids in the same room, the littlest ones in a crib, the rest with a pillow on the wooden floor.
While the kids slept, I had a chance to encourage the staff. Dang translated for me as I told them that they had the most important job in the world, to bring Jesus to these little ones. In April, the deaconess who had served as a teacher returned to the states. Sarah had done most of the teaching. I wanted them to know that Jesus will be with them as they continue to tell the good news.

In February the Slum had a huge fire. Twenty homes were destroyed, displacing 25 families. It was indeed a miracle that no one was hurt or killed. The firmen had put their hoses on the second floor of the daycare to fight the flames. Dang, Moaw and Leck, showed me the new buildings. We were able
visit some of the people whose homes were being rebuilt. Two of the ladies were very grateful and thank me for their prayers.

On the way home we stopped at a shoping mall that had 8 stories. It was amazing. They had several icecream shops with beautiful displays! I almost tried some but I was still full from lunch.

When I got back to Concordia Gospel Ministries Center, I had a chance to check my email and facebook. It is great to be able to connect with home.!!!!

Now it is late and I am ready to sign off. Keep praying for me and the people of Thailand.
Your sister in Christ,
Dawn

CCCS Thailand Days 2-3

2010-06-07T07:13:00.002-07:00

Family and Friends,
I am staying at nice apartment on the third floor of the Concordia Gospel Ministries building in Bangkok. It is divided into three sections. On the bottom layer there is a lobby in the center that goes to the rear of the building. There are two small classrooms for teaching English which are used by Robin and Ar. Ar and her husband Joe, run the CGM center. The office is on the side of Ar's class room and the kitchen extends beyond Robin's classroom. Each section has a stairway that goes all the way up to the third floor, so that there are three stairways in the center, one from the kitchen, one from the office and one from the lobby. It is 18 steps from the front of the lobby to the rear and 7 steps across the lobby. I hope that you can understand that it is quite small, but the high ceilings and big windows make it seem larger. The dimensions are the same for each section. On the second floor, there is the worship area for Journey Into Light church. This is where we had our seminars two years ago. This extends over the section for the lobby and Robin's teaching rooms and the kitchen area. Over the office and Ar's area is the office for the Lutheran Heritage Foundation. This is the group that translates Christian reading material into Thai.
The third floor has two apartments, each with the same dimensions as the lobby. One is Robin's apartment, one I am using. I am not sure but think there is one more apartment that can be reached from the stairway from the kitchen. I don't want to be nosy so I'm not going to explore. There is a small courtyard off the kitchen where you can wash dishes or cook outside. Clothing can also be dried here as nobody has a clothes dryer.

The apartment where I am staying has a bedroom that overlooks the parking lot. There are windows and doors that go out to a small balcony. robin warned me not to open the doors without looking for snakes. Even though it is the third floor, one time years ago, python had been found on the balcony! It is hot and humid, but I have an air conditioner in the bedroom. There is a very large bed, desk, easy chair, TV wardrobe with dresser, and fan.
It is very comfortable.

There is a table, washing machine, Microwave, ironing board, refrigerator, etc. for me to use. There is also a sink and some dishes.

The bathroom is very unusual. The toilet is right in the middle of the shower area. I suppose that you could clean the potty while you shower! You have to remember to move the toilet paper so that it doesn't get wet when you shower. The hot water heater only heats water for the shower. You turn it on a minute before your shower and it heats quickly.

Saturday, I awoke and took my time getting stuff settled and unpacked. I ate a breakfast bar from Robin and then came down to join her in her classes. She allowed me to take some time telling who I was. I gave each of the students, a cross that had been made by Unity school in East St. Louis. I showed the kids photos of the Unity kids and told them that they had been praying for them during the trouble undergone by the Thai government at the end of May. It was great fun to be able to tell them about the kids I teach. I sang the Shrinking Song for them. They colored some crosses for me to take back to Unity School.

In all, I was able to take part in five classes, three for Robin and two for Ar. I especially enjoyed working with the little children and the pretty girls that were excited to hear that I had a handsome 15 year old son at home!

After class, Robin and I went shopping to two big shopping centers. The closer one is called Big C. It is like a super Wal-mart and shopping mall put together. I bought a new blouse, tank top and pair of shorts for about $18. I also bought some bananas and bottled water and some kleenex. Robin bought some ingredients for a Mexican style supper and we went to her room to eat and watch a movie. I was falling asleep during the movie, but she kept rewinding it so that I could watch the whole thing. It was called, "While You Were Sleeping," I guess I took the title too literally.

I was able to talk to my sweet heart for a little bit which made me have sweet dreams.

I awoke on Sunday moring very refreshed. I straightened my room and took a shower. I also had time to pray my usual Sunday morning prayers for all of the pastors, schools, family and friends. I ate another breakfast bar and some bananas.

Bible class was held in Ar's English classroom. It was lead by Dennis, who is the husband of Boom, the director of the Thai Lutheran hour office. It was a great study on Matthew 8 the healing of the Centurian's servant. There were about a dozen people there. Dennis speaks English so it was translated into Thai by Pastor Sompong, who also translated two years ago for Tim and me.

Then we had Sunday School, there were two kids, the grandson of Pastor Sompong and another girl. They also colored some crosses for me to take home to Unity School. I went upstairs to worship. My friend, Dang, who had picked my up from the airport, translated for me. It was great to have a liturgy that I could follow. It was a communion service and everyone went to the front of the church and made a circle for communion. It was good to see people that I remembered from 2 years ago.

There was supposed to be a potluck, but plans changed at the last minute. some had brought food, so the pastor's wife went to get some more cooked rice and we had lunch. Robin had made a cake with strawberries on top. It was very good.

After lunch, Pastor Sompong and his wife and a friend of theirs took me to the river where we caught a boat tour. On the way, we saw lots of venders selling wonderful things, turtles, sunglasses, jewelry, food, and so on. The boat held about 50 people with about 20 visible life jackets. To embark and disembark, you simply step over the side of the boat. I was glad that I didn't loose my shoes in the river. There were two stops, both where you could buy special Thai sweets, candy and cookies. Both places had areas where you could watch them make the special treats. Pastor's wife bought some candy that looked like little fruits but was made from soybeans. They tasted sweet.

Pastor Sompong explained that there were many temples beside the river so that people could bring offerings to the monks more easily. In the United States you see many steeples with crosses, here you see many spires of temples.

It was cloudy and soon the clouds opened up. On the boats they put down the plastic sides from roof. At first I thought, leave them open, it would be great to get a little wet. Then it poured. The two young men who walked on the narrow sides of the boat to put down the clear plastic sides were drenched. I was thankful that their bare feet stayed firm and they did not slide over board.

When we got back to Pastor's truck, there were about two inches of water in the truck bed. We emptied it and then returned back to the CGM center where I have been working on this email ever since. Poor Robin just returned from the dentist, Imagine a Sunday 5:30 pm appointment. and said that her root canal went quite well.

I better sign off. More tomorrow.
Thanks for all of your prayers.
Dawn

CCCS Thailand

2010-06-07T07:13:00.001-07:00

Dear Family and Friends,

I am safe and sound in Bangkok. I have been here almost 40 hours and having a great time.

It took a long time to be able to relax. Lukas and Jacob kept asking on Wednesday, "Aren't you ready to leave yet?" There seemed to be just one more phone call, one more e-mail, one more telephone call, one more snail mail letter, one more write up for a meeting that I would be missing, one more meeting....and so on. Finally at 5:30 pm, on Wednesday, we were able to leave town for Chicago where I would catch my plane to Thailand on Thursday morning.

Tim and I packed up the car and headed north. It was supposed to be one last hot date before we parted for almost three weeks. To save time, we ate supper on the way. We hit the drive though at Culver's, very nice butter burgers for Tim and a wonderful salad for me. They gave us an extra strawberry shake which was fantastic. I was very tense, from the hectic last 10 days, with the wrap up of the school year and trying to think of everything that I would need. One special moment that helped me loosen up a bit was reading funny cards at a gas station. Most had goofy photographs of animals, babies or old people with great punch lines. Finally we reached the Comfort Inn near the O'hare Airport. Morning came quickly.

At the airport, we followed sign to International departures. The signs were very emphatic that you must drop off the passenger before you park. So we got out at terminal 5. While Tim was parking the car, I discovered that my airline leaves at terminal 1 in a different building. When Tim met me, we took the tram to the proper terminal. There were lots of people at the All Nippon Airways desk. Tim helped me with my heavy suitcases and calmly made out the labels to attach to my checked bags. All of the passengers that were supposed to travel the day before were there because the was a problem and their airplane had to turn back to Tokyo. They were rescheduled to fly with us. I was assigned to sit in the business class section. I understood them to say that they were taking two planes that would leave at almost the same time for the same destination. I thought that I would board the second plane that was supposed to board its passengers 5 minutes later. Boarding time was delayed a bit. Finally everyone got up to board. When the area was almost empty, I asked when the second plane was supposed to board, I was told that there was only one plane, and that I was to board immediately. I'm glad that I asked. Otherwise, I might have missed the plane all together!

Business class is amazing! The seats are so spacious! When I was seated, I couldn't even reach the seat ahead of me without leaning forward a great deal. My seat mates helped me figure out how to set up the personal screen and how to put up the table. In the pocket ahead of me there was a pair of blue terry cloth slippers to put on with a note on the bag that said, "Please feel free to take home." There was even had a shoe horn and bag for the slippers so that your other belongings wouldn't get dirty. They brought everyone a knit sweater and a comforter so that you wouldn't get cold. The pillow was large and had a real cloth pillow case. The food was awesome too. They brought a special drink to everyone, I'm not sure what it was but it was great. For dinner, they brought an appetizer of some kind of bean paste with a tomato and artichoke with a little stick to eat it. The main course was served with a personal table cloth, two silver spoons, two forks, a knife and chopsticks. There was a salad, two rolls, pasta with mushrooms, and smoked fish with scallops and shrimp. Fresh fruit followed for desert. Hot tea was then brought with a green cube. It looked like green fudge, but tasted a little like fish. The stewardess said, "If you want anymore food, just let us know and we will bring it."

There were dozens of movies from which to choose, I think that I watched four, Mama Mia, What happened to the Morgan's, a video of building the skywalk at the Grand Canyon, and Rain Man. I started watching Big Fish but we landed before I finished. It was hard to sleep even though the seat folded down into a bed! The were buttons to press to position your seat, even one that when pushed gave you a back massage.

They even had packaged toothbrushes and tooth paste and mouth wash in the bathroom for after your meal. I ordered noodles for my other meal and ice cream for desert. It took a couple of hours but finally into the second movie, I finally said to myself, "Relax, You are on Holiday!"

At Tokyo, I found the new gate easily and enjoyed looking in a few shops. I read the USA Today that I was given on the airplane. I rode economy class in the second airplane, in tight quarters. I got to sit by the window, but only got up once so that I didn't disturb the man next to the aisle. I watched a few more movies, finishing Big Fish and also watching one that I had watched with Tim, the Bucket List, two years ago on our previous trip.

Once we got to Bangkok, I found the immigration station and showed my passport. I found the baggage claim and loaded my heavy suitcases. My friend Dang was to pick me up. Like a fool, I had left all the contact telephone numbers at home. God is good and Dang found me with no trouble. It was 24 hours since I left Chicago. About 11:00 p.m. Thai time.
We drove to the Concordia Gospel Ministries where I would be staying. My friend, Robin who teaches English as a Second Language, helped me get settled in.

I soon went to bed.
Time to sign off,
Dawn

2010-05-14T20:07:00.001-07:00

CHILDREN’S CHRISTIAN CONCERN SOCIETY

Staying in Touch May 7, 2010
It was an exciting weekend when the CCCS had their annual Board Retreat at the new Kansas District Retreat Center outside of Herington, Kansas. It’s new, it’s beautiful, it is perfect for a group like ours as well as individuals. Many, many worked hard with Laborers for Christ to build this building on a lake in the middle of Kansas. Yes, it is quiet, close to the small town of Herington where there are two Lutheran Churches, one in the town and one in the country. It will be a blessing to many.

The significant thing to me is how Lutherans can work together to do the Lord’s work.
Laborers for Christ do a specific task to help while the CCCS has a different task. It takes us all. In June Dawn Mueller, the CCCS liaison to Cambodia and Thailand, and I are going with the Garuna Foundation to these two countries where the CCCS has new projects. Dawn and I are taking the large Sunday School pictures from Concordia Publishing House with us as how they covet Christian Materials. The Garuna Foundation has the goal of training Pastors and teaching Lay people. Several times a year they go to these countries with teams on teaching engagements. Since the official formation of the Thailand Lutheran Church in 2004 the membership has grown to over 500 baptized members and the number is growing. The newly formed Evangelical Lutheran Church of Cambodia was officially accepted by the Government in January of 2009. The Church will adopt their new constitution on May 14th of this year. They have a formal membership of over 1200 baptized members. They are starting schools and the CCCS has accepted the challenge of helping with school fees and uniforms. Christian Education is the CCCS mission.

Rev. Amos Bolay is the newly elected President of the Unified Lutheran Church of Liberia and the Chairman of their CCCS committee. The CCCS programs are managed by a four member committee and all are volunteers. All the CCCS funds are strictly used for the schools and scholarship beneficiaries. Ten Lutheran Schools and 14 scholarship sites totaling 4,500 students are being served. Last month the Orphan Grain Train delivered a container with text books and other educational supplies to the schools. This is possible because the language of Liberia is English. Rev.Bolay sent many pictures of the students using the books and of the new shelves which proudly display them.

It was gratifying to see in the May-June issue, page 6, of The Lutheran Laymen a picture of volunteers working at the CCCS supported Lutheran School in Puerto Barrios, Guatemala. Christ the Savior Lutheran School was the second project of the CCCS in Guatemala and is serving over 250 students. The principal of the school is a former student from the Zacapa Boarding Home which was the first CCCS project.

Through the Lutheran Hour Overseas projects the CCCS is able to provide funds for materials in the 6 Little Bible Schools in Cuba. Without the Lutheran Hour, outreach to Cuba would be almost impossible. Through the Lutheran Hour the CCCS also provides funds for Christian Education in Paraguay and Uruguay. Uruguay, with only 6 % Christian, is the most secular country in South America.

It takes us all working together. We thank each of you for your part. Our best way of “sharing the love of Jesus with children around the world through Christian Education” is telling others one by one. Call the CCCS office, 785 357 7688, for more information or brochures and materials to share with others or you can check the web-site www.cccskids.org.

As Rev. Ciro Mejia, the first National Lutheran Pastor in Central America, states in every letter to us, “Dios es siempre permanente fiel.” (God is always, permanently faithful) We thank you all.

Edie Jorns, CCCS Projects Director

Staying in Touch, September 2009

2009-09-14T10:52:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of the CCCS. We give thanks for all of you and your part in making this
work in the Lord possible.
It’s been an exciting month since the second reports of the year come by the 15th of August. Then Nury de Milian, the CCCS Director in Guatemala had a speaking engagement in Michigan and stopped for a few days in Kansas delivering the CCCS reports from Guatemala in person..
How encouraging it was to learn of her visits to almost all of the 14 CCCS sites
and see in person the lives being changed in so many children and their families. Because of her visit I am writing this time all about Guatemala, our first CCCS country.
It’s humbling so see the growth which has happened since the first CCCS project of a boarding home, The Lutheran Home for Students was built in 1968.
Carlos Figueroa, the director of the Boarding Home in Zacapa begins his reports always with a Bible Passage: Isaiah 66: 18 We give thanks for Carlos, a former scholarship student as he has faithfully guided the students for now 17 years. Carlos gives thanks for their Chaplain, Andre Wandscheer who quotes Isaiah 55:11 and gives thanks for the new gifts of Bibles, which are hard to keep in stock and quickly disappear. The 60+ students at the boarding school, although they all come from difficult situations and different places, will be leaders someday in their church and country. Carlos writes they can see differences in the students behaviors, being made through the influences of the daily Word of God and the Christian surroundings. Carlos continues ”although our work is challenging, with the help of all in the church and the staff at the home, plus the daily love of God shown them they are encouraged” One student was even named “Mayor of the Day” in Zacapa.

Fifty four years ago the first Lutheran School , El Divino Salvador in Zacapa, was created with the help of the LWML. It is a well-respected school with as many as 600 students. The CCCS provides scholarships to over 60 of the students who otherwise could not attend school. Orlando Canales is the director and has received many awards, including a Kellogg Fellowship to visit schools in the US for training.

Retalhuleu: Director Hector Rene Donis: We received handwritten thank you letters from each child of this new project. Retalhuleu is in an incredibly poor area. Especially was it heart warming to receive letters from some of the parents. . One student wrote: “The scholarship is opening my future and I don’t want to disappoint you”.
Gualan: Since 1978 the CCCS has provided scholarships to children in their community. Two pastors have graduated from this scholarship program: Rev. Tiburcio Giron, and Rev. Luis Jasinto who is the present pastor. The dream of Pastor Jasinto is to have a Lutheran School in Gualan and this is finally happening. They dedicated the school in July of this year with a big celebration and it will open in January . All of the teachers are former scholarship students. . They ask for prayers
La Union: This newest project started after the landslide last year, when most of the homes were destroyed. Many of the students at the Zacapa boarding home have come from La Union and the churches in Zacapa, Gualan and Puerto Barrios gave much assistance after this disaster. For years they have wanted a church in La Union and one of the former boarding school students who is now a teacher in LaUnion with the mentorship of Rev. Jasinto has begun the first Lutheran Church. Celbin Rudy Carbajal Estevez , a former student is helping with the scholarship program.

Guatemala City: Exciting news comes from A Mighty Fortress Lutheran Church, which has started a new church in Amatitlan; Holy Cross Lutheran Church and a new scholarship program. This area is one of the poorest and most of the work being done with the students comes from the teenagers at A Mighty Fortress. Under the leadership of Rev. Abdiel Orozco most of the young people from A Mighty Fortress attend a Bible Study on Thursday PM and on the weekend work with the children at Holy Cross. Rev. Orozco reports that these young people are responsible in their studies, one even received a national award for his art. Many are growing in music ability and provide the music for the church services. Arecelli Bonilla is the Director of the Scholarship Program.

Two other churches in Guatemala City have CCCS projects: Linaje de Dios and Cristo Rey. Beatriz Catalan and Claudia Sosa are the directors of the two projects and meet for Bible Study weekly with the students. The students are chosen first from the members of the church, the greatest need, and those who apply themselves most to their studies.
Puerto Barrios: This report came on a CD ad well as a thank you from each child. Christ the Savior Lutheran School began in 2002with 55 students. The director is Rev. Byron Paz a former student at the Zacapa Boarding School. The CD has pictures of all 290 students and many activities. One picture shows students each holding an article of food they gathered for the La Union landslide victims.

Other sites include the over 200 student Mayan School, Dr.Martin Luther in Chajabal, and the 90 student school Redeemer of the World Lutheran School, in Santiago Zamora and another project in Chiquimula, led by the former CCCS student Rev. Tiburcio Jiron, . The project at San Marcos, El Buen Samaritano, has added a project for deaf children this year, which is meeting a great need.

To read these reports, see pictures of the children and read their letters is emotional . How exciting to see what the Lord has done in these past forty years since the beginning of the CCCS. As of last year, Guatemala has no US missionaries and all is done by nationals. God’s Word is reaching children in almost every part of the country, as the boarding school has students from 20 parts of the country.
.
The CCCS now has projects in 18 countries . Just today we received a new request from a Lutheran Church in El Salvador. We have requests now from Cambodia, Kenya, Haiti, some of the poorest children in the world. Cambodia especially has little Christian influence. If any of you would like to help us reach a new country, sponsor a classroom or a child through your church, an LWML, or Sunday School, just call the CCCS office, 785 357 7768. to get information on how you can help. We have thousands of thank you letters we would be so happy to send you one.
Edie Jorns, Director of Projects CCCS.

Staying In Touch, June 2009

2009-06-23T08:53:00.000-07:00

Dear friends of the CCCS,
This letter is to remind you again what your prayers and support are doing.
Jim and I leave in the morning for the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) convention in Portland, Oregon where we will take a CCCS display. LWML is one of my favorite organizations as it was started with the goal of reaching others for Christ. The difference they have made is amazing. If it weren’t for the LWML perhaps the CCCS would not be in existence. In 1955 they gave $5,000 to build a 6 grade school in Zacapa, Guatemala. Because of the existence of this school, the possibility of a boarding school (which started the CCCS) would perhaps never have happened. The boarding school has served students now for 41 years, and the Lutheran School (Colegio Divino Salvador) is still serving almost 600 students. How exciting!
Gloria Canjura, one of the first students in the boarding school, will be at the convention along with her daughter Marcella who is one of the Young Women’s
Representatives from the Northern Illinois District. We are already seeing 2nd
generation students which is a blessing.
On July 26, a former student at the boarding school, Rev. Luis Jasinto, will
be dedicating the fifth Lutheran school in Gulan, Guatemala. It’s been a
work in progress and will finally begin January, 2010 as the school year in Guatemala is from January to October. The LWML has also been a help in building this school as well as many others who have played a part.
Mark Kempff, former missionary in Venezuela, forwarded a letter from Gustavo Arturo Maita who is a former CCCS scholarship student from Christ the King Lutheran School in Maturin, Venezuela. His letter gives thanks for his 9 years as a scholarship student which led him to study for the ministry. He now is studying in the Lutheran Seminary of Juan de Frias and is doing a practicum through serving in many different Lutheran churches. A quote from his thank you letter states, “I pray to Jesus that He continues blessing the CCCS in their ministry as so many children in our world cannot study and do not have the way to learn God’s Word to know Jesus as the only way to the Father.”
We still are amazed about our trip to Paraguay, South America. Victor Verruck, the Lutheran Hour Director in Ascuncion and also the coordinator of the CCCS projects, took us to nine different project sites to show what the CCCS funds are making possible. One is the 470 student Santa Cruz Lutheran School in Hohenhau where the CCCS provides 25 scholarships. Another most impressive site was the “Little Bible School”where 60 Guarani Indian children gather at the edge of the National Forest of Paraguay every Saturday. Mirta, a volunteer from “Christ Lives” Lutheran Church, speaks Guarani and coordinates volunteers who prepare Bible stories, crafts, snacks and games for these children who are learning of Jesus for the first time. Victor kept saying as we visited the projects, “We can do this because of the funds the CCCS is providing,”.
Again we feel humbled the Lord has given the CCCS these opportunities.
Edie Jorns, Project Director CCCS

2009-06-08T10:42:00.000-07:00

Well, we are off and had a great southerly wind behind us as we peddled 56 miles. This is one of our shorter days, but it was a good way to start off. We have 5 riders this year trekking across Kansas. On Saturday night we were blessed to be invited over to CCCS's Vice President's home for a wonderful steak dinner, right in the city where great steaks are made, Garden City. On Sunday we attended Trinity Lutheran at 8:00am dressed in our biking attire, with our bikes parked on the front steps of the church. We then took off for another 60 mile day. One of the bikers, Joe Harwell, mentioned to me as we were pedaling to the next town, that the heat was almost as hot as it was in Liberia when he and I traveled to the country in February. Keep us in your prayers as we continue on this Kansas journey for the kids of CCCS.
We will see you in the next blog with some pictures of us. God Bless.

Serving Christ Through Children,
David W. Saving

2009-06-01T11:20:00.000-07:00

Make a Smilebox slideshow

2009-05-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Dear Everyone,
This will probably be our last message. We left with Miriam on a bus to IGUASU Falls at 12 AM this morning on a 6 hour bus ride. Now they tell us that this part of the world is so dry that there won’t be as much water going over the falls. Oh well.
All three of us keep asking ourselves: how can we tell the story? We have seen so much and have met so many incredibly Christian and passionate people that we are ashamed at times. They want encouragement so badly as their passion is so great and their work so hard.
Today we visited two preschools. One was directed by a Lutheran woman and it was run so well. Victor gave her a packet of Bible story pictures and she was so thrilled. She does such a good job with the children and most of her children have mothers in prison.
We take buses and cabs everywhere as the people we work with have no cars. We took a cab to the first place and it cost $6, which is a lot here. Last night Victor kept saying he had a surprise for us but he never lets us know. We were to meet him at 6 PM at the CPTLN office. He had rented a van and 7 of us crowded in. We had no idea where we were going, and when we got to a dead end there were 40 children waiting with a bunch of parents. Victor goes there on Tuesdays for a Bible Class and they have a Children’s Class each Saturday. The children were attentive as Victor told the Bible Story etc. Then I was able to teach a song and tell them my usual, as how important each of them are as Isaiah 43·1 says that God knows their name.
They all smiled. Anyway after it was all over, Victor told us Taxis won’t even enter this place as it is so dangerous as this is where the people live who are the garbage collectors. He walks when he goes there as they won’t hurt him.
We have learned a lot about how the CCCS can be a better help. They appreciated all the tooth brushes, etc. but Jim says never again is he going to lug three huge 50 pound bags around. We need two taxi’s to go anywhere even with two of them now stuffed into the third one.
We will arrive in Kansas City mid-morning on Saturday. Love to all, and eager to be home.
The time has flown. Jim and Edie

2009-04-27T08:38:00.000-07:00

Hi everyone,
We´re finally in a hotel which has a faster and better internet. We´ve had some long but exciting days.
We’ve talked about how we can possibly share the story of what we are seeing in Paraguay. We were met at the border from Argentina by the CCCC project director in Paraguay, Juan Hamann, from Hohenhau and the CPTLN Project Director from Ascuncion, Victor Varruck. Both are outstanding men. They drove us in a pick up to Hohenhau and told us to be ready at 7 AM to go to the school after getting in at about midnight. We asked if they could wait until 8 AM, so at
8 AM we went to Santa Cruze School, a 12 grade which serves 460 children. This school is most modern, well run, and has existed for 16 years and was built with the help of the LWML or Synod from America. It is running completely on its own, and its director, Sonia, has been with the school the whole time. She is a loving, organized and effective director. They had a large program, and then we met with the well organized CCCS committee. Then we met with each scholarship student in the church and took their pictures. Many of the parents were there, and a widow with tears in her eyes thanked us for helping her three children. We were most pleased with how they were running everything. Then Pastor Norbert Gert took us with Victor to the first site. Eighty-six children are in this two room school, which has classes morning and afternoon. It is a public school which allows the church to have classes each Friday. I was surprised they allow the church to do this, but they have a good relationship. Victor said they are using CCCS funds to provide some of the supplies needed. It was amazing, and we gave, with careful explanation, Nancy´s bracelets to each child. They were thrilled.
We stayed with a family in San Bienavntura that night, and at 8:30 this morning we were at the Sunday school room behind the church with 38 children for their Bible School. It was amazing. The Bible School was from 8:30 until 11:30 with songs, great organized classes, etc. We were amazed at the teachers and their lessons. Then we had a great dinner before we left for the next Bible school. This was so incredible I can´t describe it. The church had two teachers and a member of the community. These children were Guarani and spoke the Guarani language. Poorest of the poor cannot describe it. Forty children (ages about 3 to 15) were sitting quietly on home-made benches waiting for us. Several girls under 15 were there with babies, one nursing. A Guarani dad was helping and gave legitimacy from the community. They sang and had folders with stories and coloring pictures for each child. Although many of the children were attending the small school, most could not even sign their names. They had a snack and played games afterwards behind the school. I have never seen any situation with children so depressing. The teachers from the church have such love, but they are not well-trained and need prayers. Victor is helping and using CCCS funds to provide materials. The main teacher, Mirta, invited us to her home for ¨Merienda¨ afterwards. Then back to Hohenhau for the evening church service. I was able to give a short talk about the CCCS goals, purposes etc. after the service. The Pastor´s wife and another member came up afterwards with a picture of Jim and me standing behind the CCCS booth at the Minneapolis LWML convention with them. That had such a memory as that was 10 years ago, and she recognized us as spoke at the church. She even had a picture of us. The world is so small. We leave early in the morning on a bus for Ascension with Victor as a guide.
Marilyn is great. It will be hard to describe to anyone what we have been through, but we are again humbled by what the CCCS funds are doing.

Love to all, Edie, Jim and Marilyn

2009-04-16T14:03:00.000-07:00

Staying in Touch

Greetings to all of you with thanks for your support in reaching so many children with God’s love and the opportunity to help them grow in knowledge and faith in our Lord Jesus. .

Jim and I are leaving today for Panama, Paraguay and Uruguay. We know it is in the Lord’s will as our visas arrived this morning at 10 AM. Even though we had applied
over a month ago as per directions, as the time grew closer they wouldn’t guarantee they would arrive on time as the countries don’t always cooperate. So with passport and visas in hand and with board member Marilyn Stewart we should be in Panama Tomorrow.
We will visit the four sites in Panama, the three in Uruguay and the large school
Santa Cruz in Hohenhau, Paraguay as well as the four Little Bible Schools in Asuncion.
We are excited as the CCCS directors are making us feel so welcome and even though we only know personally a few of them we are so looking forward to meeting
these fellow Christians who are working with the children.
We ask your prayers our visit will strengthen and encourage them and that our visit will be a blessing.
The CCCS retreat April 3, 4 and 5 was a blessing with almost all of the board members attending. It was a meeting of spiritual growth and enthusiasm. David, Angela and Beth the CCCS team in the office had it well planned. The Project Committee and liaisons were able to bring everyone up to date on the projects. Dave gave us each a taste of his trip to Liberia and Sierra Leone. He was so encouraged by what he saw, not only the many children but the teachers and Pastors who were making it all possible..
This week we had a notice from Chad that the CCCS Chad team was going to visit the large schools in Kelo and Zoumandang, while attending the celebration of the translation of the Old Testament into the Zima language. Zima is one of the three languages most used in the southern part of Chad.
Again thanks to all of you who are a part of reaching so many children with the Gospel. The Lord is faithful. Edie Jorns, Project director CCCS
1 Cor: 15 58

2009-03-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

In Sierra Leone and Liberia I had the great opportunity to see how dedicated the teachers and national leaders are in making a significant difference in the lives of CCCS sponsored children. Along with taking the teachers photos I have met over 1500 students and staff from all places across these two countries. I have had the opportunity to meet every child at the schools by taking their picture, hosting children’s lessons, and praying with them. CCCS is making a difference by bringing hope to these children! It has been a blessing representing you, our sponsors. It has meant so much to them to know that people like you and I are praying for them. CCCS is bringing the Gospel to remote places in this world; what a honor to witness this fact firsthand. Now I have arrived in Kenya and will be seeing some new possibilities for bringing education and the Gospel to children here. I look forward to my next few days visiting the slums of Nairobi where there are children who have no place to lay their heads because both of their parents have died from AIDS. Continue to pray for our students, because they so appreciate your faithfulness and support.
In His Service, David W. Saving, CCCS Executive Director.

2009-02-23T08:59:00.000-08:00

Dave Saving (bottom right) with villagers, school kids, parents and Rev. Amos Bolay with a gift from the villagers.

2009-02-23T08:19:00.000-08:00

I have Arrived in Sierra Leone- Feb. 20.

My last day was wonderful in Liberia, spending the day with church children in Monrovia celebrating with a “Children’s Camp.” Children from all of the Lutheran churches came together to share in songs, skits, soccer, lunch and a movie. We was blessed to have the whole day just enjoying the children and giving me one more opportunity to share the Gospel through my “Trick Illustrations”. That evening we headed back to pack up my things and then Universal House of Prayer Lutheran church gave me a brief farewell. The leaders of the church gave me their custom African gown with an official name tag written David Sumo Saving, which means “Chief”. They said whenever I return to Liberia that I should wear the name tag and all will salute me. The Liberian’s and Leona’s have been so gracious and have been taking care of me very well. Today is Sunday, February 22, 2009 and I had the privilege of being a part of installing five students into pastoral ministry and the ordination of two others. Following worship I met with the National Educational Committee then followed up with meeting the National Lutheran Church Committee also. It has been difficult in communicating with the States due to sporadic Internet capabilities, however I am sitting in an Internet cafe which has given me the chance to talk with you. I leave tomorrow to travel back into the remote parts of Sierra Leone where we have schools. I hope to have more once I return on Saturday. God Bless and know that the scholarships that we offer are in deed making a huge difference for these children in Africa.
God Bless, David Saving

2009-02-18T09:23:00.000-08:00

The Journey Continues into the schools of Monrovia!
Every day we have been greeted by the women and girls of the villages with both food to eat and hot water boiled on an open fire so we can have a warm shower/bath. In one sense it reminds me of how our Lord in His greatness still bathes us in the baptism of His word and water, reminding us that every day is a new day to walk with Him. Today we had the privilege to be greeted and entertained by two schools. One that had over 500 students packed into this chapel that was only the size in America to hold 200. Even though our cultures are so different, we have so much in common such as wanting to show us their best and making us welcomed with gifts. In the afternoon I spent three hours with 70 teachers looking at what a Lutheran Christian School can do to change the community and even their city/village for Christ. What an honor to stand before teachers who work hard every day to make their school a “School of Excellence.” The lack of resources, class size, and facilities doesn’t keep them from bringing hope for a brighter tomorrow in this country of Liberia.
We settled in for the evening after finding out that the Open Air Film would not happen due to some complications, a group of friends and neighbors of our hosts Rev. Amos and Rose Bolay sat on the porch and talked politics; they discussed how Liberians looked to us Americans as leaders in the world for freedom and Democracy. They are a group of people who are very much involved in following what is happening outside of their country and how the United States leads the way for freedom. Tomorrow we are helping out in a creative way to evangelize a community by offering haircuts and a Christian film to children who surround one of the Lutheran Schools. May you continue to pray for the Lutheran people of Liberia as they grow in leading their villages and communities to know what brings eternal Hope. God Bless, David Saving

2009-02-17T11:18:00.000-08:00

Hello Friends in the U.S. all the way from Liberia, Africa.
We just got back from being in the bush of Liberia. Today we traveled ten hours back to the Capitol of Liberia where Joe Harwell and I will be traveling out to schools on one day journeys. The past three days we traveled to Kolahun, which is located in the Northeast part of Liberia. From there we traveled to Wuhelehun which is an even more remote village. There we gathered with the village to celebrate our oneness in Christ and to see where the school was. This school has 98 children and three teachers. What a blessing to Joe and I as we saw first hand what your donations are going toward. You can see in the pictures that there is not much there except wonderful people who depend on our gifts to help them teach their children. Before we could do anything with the children we greeted the chief of the village who gave us his blessing to be there. From this one picture you can see that we were gifted with their best chicken and much rice that they grow right there. It is part of their custom for their guests to receive a special gift from the village and so we took the rice and our new found chicken friend back all the way to Monrovia, ten hours for tomorrow nights meal, chicken and rice. So far Joe or I have not picked up any strange side effects from the food and we have enjoyed every meal of rice and whatever kind of meat they have for their sauce they add to the rice. On the way home our African friends were stocking up on essential foods for their tables back home and Rev. Amos Bolay, pictured purchased this African Porcupine for our dinner coming up for my send off trip to Sierra Leone, this coming Thursday. As for our Saturday event, I had the opportunity to lead a three hour workshop teaching the basics to Lutheranism to over 200 people, many of them pastors, deacons and elders from the surrounding villages. Then on Sunday morning we had the privilege of being a part of a wonderful worship with plus 250 people there. I was humbled to be able to share the message with them and left that day knowing that the Joy of our Lord runs deep in the faith of our brothers and sisters here in Liberia. It was hard leaving this war torn village where many of the village homes were destroyed by fire and with evidence still showing of all the bullet holes in the homes of these innocent people who fled to Guinea just four years ago to save them and their families lives. It has been a struggle for them to get back on their feet, but by the Grace of God they are moving forward. Two tremendous events that happened on Saturday and Sunday night was an outdoor Movie that we showed in the middle of the village square. Of course there is no electricity, except for those who have generators, and we were one of them to show the movie of Jesus to over 2,000 children and adults. I of course pulled out some tricks to entertain them while they were setting up. It is my prayer that even with you not being here, you will have a better understanding of how CCCS dollars are making a huge difference in the lives of whole villages. You and I are blessed in such an incredible way financially, however our Liberian friends in Christ have a special faith that can never be replaced. I look forward to sharing more with you soon, if the internet will allow. God Bless your care and heart for these children. For my life has been blessed that extends all the way into eternity because of what our Lord is doing in Liberia.

Serving Christ Through Children, David W. Saving, Executive Director www.cccskids.org

2009-02-05T06:40:00.000-08:00

CCCS welcomes Poblo Rodriguez from Guatemala the weekend of Feb 6th. Poblo will be helping CCCS with the new scholarship committee in Guatemala. Welcome, Poblo!

2009-01-28T11:39:00.001-08:00

A LWML Mission Grant History entry for 1955-57 simply reads, “School, Zacapa, Guatemala $5,000.” The application is perhaps lost to archives; the stories behind the initial need perhaps forgotten. But the seed money sewn in a remote Guatemalan village half a century ago took root in six grades at Divine Savior Lutheran School. When two Kansas agricultural missionaries arrived in 1964, they built upon this seedling, adding a boarding school with the aid of a Kansas LWML grant. Construction was completed in 1968. A collection of rural Lutheran Kansans founded Children’s Christian Concern Society (CCCS) to sustain the boarding facility and support students from the surrounding countryside through scholarships.
This is where ten year old Gloria Canjura learned of a loving Savior far away from her remote fishing village. With CCCS support, her dream of becoming a teacher became a reality. She recounts the impact of Children’s Christian Concern Society upon her life.
“The CCCS scholarship project is the story of my life. I lived and grew up with my grandparents until I was 10 years old in a tiny village on the Atlantic coast of Guatemala named the Barra de Motgua.
My grandparents were part of a tiny Lutheran mission where the missionaries came about every two months. I never had a chance to go to school. It was during one of the missionary visits that I met Sr. Jorns and that was my chance to leave this tiny community. It was at this moment when I started my new life. The Jorns family invited me to be a member of their family [and attend school]. It was in 1968 when through love of me and other children that had no possibility to attend school that the CCCS project for children began. Now 40 years have passed and the CCCS continues advocating, serving, teaching and sharing the love of Jesus in 19 countries around the world. Thousands of children, thanks to [the CCCS], have changed their lives. Because of this valuable gift, the work of God is being brought to so many children who do not know Him.
The CCCS projects signify to me a blessing, a gift of love, and an opportunity for me to help change lives. Thanks to the CCCS, many leaders, teachers, and pastors are serving and guiding others to the love of God all over the world. I feel truly honored and blessed to have been one in the first group of students.
Today, I am a teaching preschool at Grace Lutheran School in Chicago, where I can teach children of the love of God. I am married to Rev. Hector Canjura and have four adult children.”

2009-01-28T11:25:00.000-08:00

There are many exciting happenings as David Saving, Executive Director, prepares for his trip to
Africa from Feb. 9-March 10th, 2009. He will be visiting CCCS sites in Sierra Leone and Liberia and exploring the possibilities of supporting the educational needs of orphaned street children through a Lutheran mission in Kenya. Check this blog to read his travel log during his trip!

Children's Christian Concern Society

2008-12-23T17:36:00.000-08:00

http://cccskids.orgWelcome to Children's Christian Concern Society's blog. Since 1968, CCCS has been sharing the love of Jesus with Children around the world through Christian education. CCCS now serves over 17,000 children in 19 third world countries at 193 school sites! Please visit our website at www.cccskids.org to learn more about this incredible ministry!