Sometimes, we have trouble sleeping and in the old days, someone might suggest that we try “counting sheep”. It that doesn’t work, we might try a drink of whiskey, melatonin or a sleeping pill. If not, we might just worry and fret and even curse God.

     As usual, we had to reflect on the month of January and all the things that we have been blessed to be a part of so we could publish the newsletter. Our life is pretty crazy as we make an effort to devote our time, gifts and resources to reach those that are “broken-hearted and crush in spirit” (Psalms 34:18) in our community praying that they might come to faith in Jesus Christ. At the same time, there is an underlying rhythm that expands our understanding of what it means to “count sheep”. We are fortunate to be able to pray and send financial support every month to our co-laborers in the harvest fields of Africa. We just received a testimony from our coordinator in Burundi who organized outreaches in January and witnessed 558 come to faith in Jesus Christ and who are now being taught to be true disciples. Jesus said our Father in heaven and the angels would rejoice over each one. We know that it is the work of the Holy Spirit that brings people to salvation and the Holy Spirit directs all believers to do their part to make that possible. So, as we choose to be bread broken and wine poured out for those in our community, always with the motive to seek and save those that are lost, we do that with a sense of an underlying rhythm. The heartbeat of our Father in heaven. That even though we are 11,000 miles from Burundi and will possibly never meet any of those 558 until we are made perfect in Christ Jesus (Hebrews 11:39-40), during January, 24 hours a day, on the average, one of those children came home to the Father every 1 hour and 20 minutes. And that is just one of the 11 coordinators that are serving the Lord in these countries. We call them “lost sheep”, but Jesus doesn’t see them as “lost”, He sees them as “missed” by our Father.

     “May I never boast except in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, through which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. Neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything; what counts is a new creation. Peace and mercy to all who follow this rule, even to the Israel of God.” (Galatians 14-16)

“Therefore, as it is written: ‘Let him who boasts boast in the Lord.” (1 Corinthians 1:31)

“Those that hope in the Lord will renew their strength and soar on wings like eagles.” (Isaiah 40:31)

What does “counting sheep” mean to you?

What does “counting sheep” mean to Jesus, who knows everyone by name?

    If you would like to make a donation, they can be made on line at www.myegiving/hvm or the “electronic giving” on the home page of the www.harvestvisionministries.org website or through PayPal to harvestvision21@msn.com. If you would like to donate electronically but do not have access to the internet or would like someone to assist you, please call George Henson at 360-421-8811 or Kylee Walker at 360-540-0890. You can also mail donations to Harvest Vision Ministries, PO Box 733, Sedro Woolley, WA, 98284. All donations are tax-deductible and help advance the gospel of Jesus Christ and build His Kingdom.

    Thanks to everyone that came and supported these young people with Harvest Kids and a special thanks to the kids that came from the Kid’s Club that meets at Carolyn’s home on Peavey Road. It was a bit rainy but the kids got lot’s of the cans crushed that had been donated. They will be taken to the recycle place this week and that money used to support vulnerable children in the Comfort Africa program in Uganda and to pay the teachers for the Wambuti pygmy tribe in the DRCongo. The kids then played a game of Simon Says to emphasize what Jesus had taught about who is the greatest in the kingdom being the child that simply listened and obeyed and was not distracted. Afterwards, the kids counted their change and, along with the money that had been made selling the hazelnuts, they had $88, enough to purchase 8 more mosquito nets for the orphans that live at the Nalidi Grace Primary school in east Uganda. The kids colored while others, including the adults, wrote down their birthdays for the birthday board and picked their color to add their handprint to the wall.

    Thanks to the women who provided and served lunch for the kids while Lynn from Child’s Evangelism Fellowship set up for her time with the kids. We are so thankful for her dedication to reaching children throughout our community with the gospel. Her lessons are inter-active to keep the young people interested and she is continuing to share the story of Esther from the bible. The scripture the young people were asked to memorize was “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” (Philippians 4:6). We are thankful that Amber, Nancy and Bobbie were able to spend some time learning how to use the Silhouette machine which we will be using to make decals and other items to support the various ministries that we are involved with. Thanks to Armando and Jason for taking a generator out to Carolyn’s Kid’s Club because they had no power, to Cathy for finishing up the evening building us a new display for the birthday board and to Dale for shelling some more hazelnuts that will be available at the Harvest Home for people that want to purchase them to support the Harvest Kids.

      The next Harvest Kids meeting is scheduled on the 4th Saturday, February 22nd, from 10am-1pm at the Harvest Home, 9467 Pierce Lane, Sedro Woolley. For information: call 360-421-8811 or 360-421-8812.

Here we are! The start of a new year and a new decade.

    Even though many things are new. One thing that we know is not new is that the enemy is the same and comes to kill, steal and destroy and he always targets the young and weak. We were blessed to be a part of the recent March for Life event in Olympia and are looking forward to the “40 Days for Life”, pro-life prayer vigil, that will go from Feb 26 – April 5th. Please check out the website to volunteer for times that you may be able to come and pray.

    “Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: ‘Every boy that is born you must throw into the Nile, but let every girl live.” (Exodus 1:22) “When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under.” (Matthew 2:16)

     The Lord prompted us to cancel our mission trip to Mexico after Christmas to focus on infants and children.

We want to thank everyone that donates the aluminum cans that the Harvest Kids get to crush and recycle to help vulnerable children in Africa. The kids recently used their change to finish building a primary school for vulnerable and orphaned children in Uganda and have now raised enough money for 11 of the 60 mosquito nets for orphans that live at another school in another part of Uganda. We are so thankful for the work that Child’s Evangelism Fellowship does throughout our community, meeting with kids after school at the school (when they are able to find volunteers) as well as teaching with our Harvest Kids and other clubs throughout the community. We have been blessed to take parents and children to the rock climbing gym, skating rink and Children’s Museum. Reggie Hunter from the Upper Skagit tribe  shared about how he finds the wood and makes walking sticks, cutting off branches, sanding and sculpting each one before he seals the stick with varnish. We were able to relate all this to the story that Jesus told in John 15 about the vine and branches. The kids read the scripture verse and answered  the questions. Who was the gardener? Who was the vine? Who were the branches? What is the fruit? What did Jesus mean when He said, ‘Fruit that last?’ Afterwards, everyone enjoyed coloring different sheets related to the vine and the branches while the kids picked out sticks that Reggie had donated. They used saws, files, sand paper and drills to shape their own walking sticks before applying the varnish.

   Many thanks to our Harvest Vision team that put substance to our desire to provide a safe, fun night of fellowship for children and their families at the Children’s Museum in Burlington. Lot’s of prep work to invite people, prepare and set up refreshments, provide transportation and ensure we had information available about different opportunities for people to share the love of Jesus and stay connected as the family of God. Some Christian men and women came just to welcome and encourage those that came with children. A special thanks to those that speak Spanish and were available to translate when needed. A big thanks to the many that support the Children’s Museum that provides this beautiful and clean facility, with a great staff and environment that is filled with safe, interactive learning experiences for families in our community.  We had 30 children and almost as many adults greeting, meeting and sharing their lives with each other, many meeting each other for the first time. We are praying to provide many more opportunities for these and other families with children to get together and share their life’s faith journey with one another. 

    We are privileged to be friends with a wonderful elderly Christian lady in our community who has opened up her heart to the children in her neighborhood. What started with bringing some kids into her trailer to share Jesus with them has now evolved into 4 days of Kids’ Club every week. She has put a cover outside her trailer to provide a game room for the now 22 children from age 3-12. Nineteen of them have accepted Jesus and some of their parents in just these last few months. We are hoping to help her when she feels called to take them as a group outside her home when the Lord directs, so we are collecting booster and car seats. These young people love Jesus and want to share it with other kids that they meet in their neighborhood and their schools. If they meet someone in their neighborhood, they can invite them to come to the Kid’s Club and meet “Grandma Carolyn”. Why can’t we have a home open in every few blocks of our community?
     Consider this. Children and youth can legally share their faith with others in their school, which is their mission field. We have the legal authority to come alongside them after school and provide a place and support for them to bring in their harvest using that facility to encourage and strengthen them. Sadly, Child’s Evangelism Fellowship only has volunteers to stand with these young people at 2 of the 30 public schools in Skagit and Island county? Where are you, men and women of God? For information contact locally, call Lynn Griffin at 360-333-7025. If you live in a different area, contact Child’s Evangelism Fellowship in your community.