11/27/2016
Our ministry was given an honor and privilege to visit and give financially to the Four Heroes Elementary School in Lakewood, Washington the day before Thanksgiving. This school was named in honor of the four officers who lost their lives in November of 2009 to a senseless murder doing what they were called to do .....protecting their community. One of the officers was my sister, Tina DeLong Grizwold. So, you can imagine the ties my heart has for the community and school. We Were given a personal tour of the new school by Principal, John Mitchell, offered wonderful refreshments, and given shirts with the school logo. We were also given time to interact with the children...the best part! We felt so warm and invited. It too was another opportunity for continued healing for me especially. A very high percentage of these children (K- 5th grade) come from broken, struggling, low income households. A person could focus on those facts or a person could do what Principal, John Mitchell and staff focus on instead. "We don't refer to these children as high risk. We like to say they are children with hope." The words have lingered in my mind since he spoke them. We are all broken. I can't help but think of the hope our Father in Heaven gives us through Jesus Christ if we would but surrender to the One whose body was broken for us all...past, present and future. And, because He made the ultimate sacrifice, we are given the Hope for eternal life and a life well lived here now on earth. Yes! These children have hope and so do we all who know and love Jesus Christ