BUSY TUESDAY IN ARIZONA

Ah-h-h. A day without any plans until dinner that evening! What can we come up with? Remember the Children's Home that I wrote about in a Blog a couple weeks ago? The one that did not and still does not use any government funding in establishing this home some 56 years ago, nor in maintaining it as such a home all of these years. It was founded by a pastor and his wife and is now run by one of their children with other children and grandchildren involved. Their funds to support it are not from any solicitation of funds on their part either. It is more than 85 % from donations from people and sources outside of the family and the home though word of mouth and prayer. I will tell a little more about that as you look through the pictures. We were touched by the children who sang for us at a concert here in our park one Sunday evening and by the stories that were told that evening. So much so that Gary decided to ask if he could give a graphite pencil art class for the children some time. Well, the previous week Gary had been asked by the home to come out for a tour. He was told then that they have a lot of volunteers for various things and that they could not use him this quarter, but were interested in him for next quarter and for next year. Now that presents a problem as we will be leaving here at the end of March for a commitment in Oregon beginning May 15th and we do not know where we will be next winter. So I decided that I also wanted a tour of the facility and we decided what better time than now? This home is Sunshine Acres in Mesa Arizona which also includes a church, a medical facility and school for many of the children up through 8th grade. They have housed more than 1300 children over all of these years and they can stay up through age 18 and many return more than once when their home situation warrants it. Some have even returned as adults to work for the Home! Take a minute to enlarge these pages of the story that they hand out when you visit them. You will get just a little sampling of their love for the children, the tough road that they traveled with this and the many answered prayers!! It was amazing how the needs were provided and many, in ways that were not even asked for. The purchase of the 150 acres with three "shacks" was done in the early 50's by Jim and Vera Dingman who moved with their two daughters to Mesa from North Bend, Oregon just prior to the great depression. They were forced to leave Oregon because of Jim's asthma. From the time of their ministry beginning in Mesa, through to present days the love, sacrifice, devotion and miracles thrill the hearts of many who hear the story! I couldn't begin to tell you all of the stories that they told us, nor were they able to tell of all of the miracles and answered prayers that they experienced over the years. You will have read a smidgen of it in the printed pages from their book of introduction. Now I will point out a few of their blessings, the few that I remember! One volunteers who had such love for the home, left the funds through her will for this administration building of offices and meeting rooms. There is a maintenance building where their vehicles and equipment are taken care of. In this facility the boys get the opportunity to learn the basic maintenance for this equipment, to change tires, oil and other basics. They also have a 4-H group who have cows and other animals to show in the annual fairs. Since Arizona heat causes the cows to loose their hair, they have to be housed under ground during the hot season in an air conditioned special barn so that they will look nice for the show! The cows go down into this barn on a gradual ground ramp at the end of the building. Remember Ben Johnson, an actor in the John Wayne movies? Well, he visited this home and after seeing the animals that they were raising said that they definitely needed a horse barn, while drawing out a checkbook. You guess it, he funded the whole thing! It was a beautiful barn and was very clean! The children keep it this way! Plus they put chicken wire up under the rafters to keep the birds from roosting! You see, they are raised with chores to do both outside and inside every day. And they are done well, as you can see from the pictures! There is no way that the house parents could do all of the work required here. Our lovely tour guide was not sick this day even though she looks a bit green!! We are not sure why two of our pictures were so green, but I am so glad that it was only two pictures. This is one of the seven group homes that houses ten children with two to a bedroom and a set of parents who have a separate apartment in the home for their private time. It is a very taxing job and they work five days on and two off. So there are several sets of parents living on the property who come in for the two days off, rotating homes and days. We heard a story of one of the homes that had been built to the point of needing only a roof to finish it. It sat this way for several months. Some gentleman coming through asked when it would be finished and he was told that it would be when they had the funds for it. He called back later to say that he was a contractor and that he would be out with a crew and the materials the next week to finish it! And so the stories go on and on! The children who do not attend public schools are fed in a school cafeteria during school hours with assigned seats to avoid conflict.

When they are at home for meals, they eat together in the kitchen at large tables.

And the children are responsible for cleaning up after the meals.

After seeing these living areas, I am sure that you are wondering about such grand living space and furniture. But it is all donated and is not solicited!. Some of it comes from showrooms that must get rid of the furniture after each showing of a home or condo. I know that it is more beautiful then either you or we would have, but one can not turn down such generous donations, eh?

They also have computer rooms for study. Oh! I forgot to tell you that many of the children being taught at the home's school are taught there to bring them up to their proper grade level. Many have been so deprived and neglected even where education is concerned also.

Now take a good look at all of these bedrooms and the bathroom and see how clean they all are. They must be left this way before they leave for school because they never know when a touring group might be brought through! We should have been so industrious with our boys!! Note the decorating also. A grand-daughter of the founders is very adept at interior decorating and uses her talents here. I'd say that they all should get A+ in housekeeping, wouldn't you?

They had one pool table in one of the homes and were in the process of putting one in another house. There was also a playground and a basketball court that had bicycle ramps also installed. I doubt that they had much spare time, but they had enough things to keep them occupied in their free time.

There is a boutique and another store on the property where they make some of their money. But they were not open this day for us to shop. We will have to stop back out there for that. They will be having a barbecue open to the public soon We will attend that so that we can meet some of the children. Can you tell that we were quite smitten with this home and with their mission?? It is very well run and we whole heartily agree with their mission and believe as they teach, that with the love of Jesus Christ all things are possible!!

Many of the children ask to come back even after they are placed back with their natural parents or relatives. And some come back as adults to work at the home. The guide told Gary a story on his first tour about three children who went to their parents for a spring break or such, only to have a knock on the door only part way through their time away. When the door was opened this child asked if he could come home!!

I am sure that there are more homes across our country similar to this, but I doubt that they have the successful mission that this one has.

After a stop at the store on our way home, it was not long before we would leave home to attend our monthly dinner with our Sunday School Class. This night was a catered Luau and very delish for Gary and I since we had been dieting for a week. We really behaved ourselves and ate sensibly!! I think that I figured that there were 120 attending. Some class!! The pastor had his neighbor or who was from Hawaii speak and show slides of the islands. They also found children from local classes who did the original Hawaiian dances that tell stories through the moves. Some then did Philippine dances which also told stories followed by the hula dances. Believe it or not, they even had class participation regardless of age!! Not this old back!!

I appologize that this is so long, but I felt that it is well worth it! Enjoy!

Take care and stop back. We hope to go to the Grand Canyon next. But we can not be sure because of the weather!! Yes, we have had record colds here also.