PRESSPAUSE SERVES THE LITTLE LIGHTHOUSE

TREES!  Felt trees with lots of buttons, leaves and fruit.

It might seem like a toy, but it is a critical tool used at the Little Lighthouse of Tulsa, OK,  the internationally famous school for children with severe disabilities. Children ages 0-6 attend the school at no cost to their families. Parents of all the major religions, and sometimes no religion, wait patiently for their child to be accepted as space allows.

PressPause Financial Coordinator, Laura Francis, was made aware of this expensive item and took it upon herself to provide trees for the children of the Little Lighthouse that struggle to see, breathe, and walk.  Helping them learn to "button up" is a huge step in their progress.  Laura purchased all the necessary parts and spent hours learning to make buttonholes on her new sewing machine. 106 butttonholes and 54 buttons later NINE trees were complete.

The trees will be delivered this week to a very appreciative and surprised therapist, at no cost to the school. Rather than having to share ONE tree with so many kiddos, the teachers now have TEN.

PressPause enjoys celebrating with the staff and parents as the children that were given no hope of a productive life learn to "button up."

Sometimes the love of Christ is delivered in unusual ways! 

STONECROFT SERVES

PressPause has been BUSY serving!

After hosting several events taking Stonecroft speakers into Tulsa businesses these past couple of years, we found ourselves right in the middle of SERVICE.

The Little Lighthouse, a school for severely disabled children, ages 0-6, has been the focus of our efforts.  The school enrolls 60 children per year, without charge to their parents. The waiting list for future students is long. Families that come to the school are of all faiths and denominations, some no church involvement at all. ALL are extremely grateful for the miracles that occur in that fabulous place.  Tiny bodies wracked with all kinds of ailments improve dramatically.

Funding is provided by school  fundraisers and generous donations. There are no government grants or subsidies.

Laura Francis, PressPause financial coordinator, led this effort by volunteering in a classroom for 3 yr olds for the past 3 years.  PressPause has made bibs for the children, paint shirts, craft trays, curtains for the classroom, provided toddler books in Spanish and Laura often cleans the room so the teachers can attend meetings. 

She has provided "kitchen utensils" for the class, aprons for the teachers and helped them cook every Wednesday.  Our most recent addition to the classroom is a hand-made and designed vest with pockets on the front and back that hold heavy bean bags.  Slipped on a struggling, wiggly child, it brings calm and peace to his little spirit. We will be providing more of these very effective vests soon.

Everything has been donated and we work from a "wish" list given to us by the teachers and therapists.

The friendships developed with the staff and the children are rewarding for all involved. We have recently been invited to host their "graduation" dinner for the parents of the 6 yr olds that will soon be mainstreamed into the public schools. PressPause volunteers will provide and serve a delicious meal while parents hear a speaker tell of Jesus and His love for them and their child.

Stonecroft Serves at the Little Lighthouse!

PressPause Returns to the Little Lighthouse

Sharon Braner, Janet Renfro, Carolyn Reiger,
Patty Clay and Laura Francis

On May 10, 2012 PressPause returned to the Little Lighthouse of Tulsa, OK.  to serve dinner to the parents of the graduating class.

The Little Lighthouse has been serving children with special needs from birth to age six since 1972. Upon graduation these children move into the public school system, private schools or are home schooled. Leaving the security and expertise of the Little Lighthouse can be a traumatic transitional time.

Twenty seven parents (thirteen daddies) all new to Stonecroft, attended.  Seven staff members encouraged the parents as five PressPause volunteers cooked and served. 

 Marty Hight of Tulsa gave the group tips on how to become an effective advocate for the children in the next phase of their education.  Her delightful humor and personal family stories were encouraging.  Marty shared how her strong faith in God gave her strength and joy in rearing her now 12 year old special needs child, Avery.  Full of confidence and sporting a big smile, Avery joined her mom as she spoke.

Marcia Mitchell, founder and CEO of the school welcomed the group and encouraged them to stay close to the faculty and staff who dearly love each child.  Her strong faith is the foundation of the school as it welcomes people of all faiths or no faith into the state-of-the art facility.  The Little Lighthouse is a Tulsa treasure that is changing  lives locally and has become an international resource as delegations from other countries visit the school.

Eighteen copies of the Gospel of John were picked up by the parents.

The volunteers of PressPause consider it a privilege to serve the parents and staff of this remarkable place.

 



Sharon Braner & Ellen Langland

May 3, 2012, National Day of Prayer, was the day and Tulsa First Baptist Church, Tulsa, OK was the setting.  The ladies of First Baptist invited PressPause Chair Sharon Braner to be the speaker for their spring luncheon.  Sharon shared her Stonecroft talk "What is Your Life Singing Today?"  Lots of laughter and musical memories were shared and Jesus was presented as the only ONE that can change our hearts, attitudes, emotions and life.

A former Stonecroft Village Missionary attended along with approximately 50 ladies that have never been involved with any Stonecroft Christian Women's Club.  New friendships were formed and plans to work together in the future were discussed.

The ladies agreed to sing the "song of redemtion" when they left the meeting, praying that when others look at them they would see Jesus first.

MOM'S PANEL AT REDEEMER COVENANT CHURCH

Julie, Dorea, Sharita, Holly, Sharon

Redeemer Covenant Church of Tulsa, OK invited PressPause to it's campus Sunday, April 22, 2012.  The event was the Mentoring Mom's Spring Luncheon organized to celebrate their nine month program. Women of all ages and stages of life attended. A few babies accompanied their mommies.

Stonecroft's Mom's Panel presented the "Top Ten Things I've Learned or Am Learning" about parenting.  Sharita Bent shared her lessons of life with a toddler, Holly Tumpkin gave tips for moms of elementary age children, Julie Wilson talked about life with teenagers, Dorea Potter covered life lessons with college age kids and Sharon Braner gave lessons about being a mom of married children with children of their own. Dorea also presented the list of lessons learned by Caroline Casselberry who is on a mission trip to Honduras.  Caroline's story involves raising teenagers alone after the death of her husband.

A vital relationship with Jesus was presented as critical and  the source of patience, love and wisdom no matter what stage of parenting.

Forty ladies attended the event, thirty-four were first time guests at any Stonecroft outreach meeting. Several Stonecroft booklets, "A New Beginning," were shared as were the Pocket New Testaments, Gospel of John.  Contact numbers and e-mails were exchanged as new friendships were formed.

Carrie Storms organized the luncheon and heads the mentoring program at Redeemer. Amy Clark invited the panel to participate. It was a lovely day of encouraging women of all ages to connect with each other and their God. 

PressPause and Human Trafficking

First Baptist Church of Bartlesville, OK was the setting for Tulsa OK, PressPause p.s.46.10 Thursday April 5, 2012.
The "Adults on Mission" group invited Stonecroft speaker Sharon Braner to give a PowerPoint presentation explaining  modern day slavery known today as Human Trafficking. 38 members and 6 guests attended.  All were Stonecroft first-time guests.
Information was shared and a Q&A time  followed.  Jesus was presented as the deliverer from the bondage of sin that reigns in all hearts that have not surrendered to Him. He alone "sets the captives free."
Contacts were made and new friendships formed. Prayer and encouragement followed the presentation and  everyone left with a new awareness of people suffering in our communities that need our help.

PressPause p.s.40.10 Presents Human Trafficking

PressPause p.s.40.10 held an informal discussion on the topic of Human Trafficking September 26, 2011.   The Broken Arrow, OK  IBC Bank graciously offered the use of their community room for the gathering.  PressPause Chair, Sharon Braner gave a PowerPoint presentation with the help of Janet Renfro, new PressPause Board member. 

Fifteen women gathered (two of whom were new to Stonecroft) to hear the details of the fastest growing  crime that is enslaving hundreds of thousands of men, women and children annually.  Emotions surfaced as the statistics of many folks and the personal stories of a few women trapped in this modern day slavery were revealed. The group discussed child pornography, prostitution, teen Internet use, etc, and opportunities to reach out to people involved. 

Jesus was presented as the source of freedom from the slavery to sin and guilt, and the power to live righteously.  Those held against their will, the perpetrators of this crime, as well as we ourselves, are offered new life in Him.

The ladies left with a list of "how can I help,"  opened eyes, and a prayer for direction.

We agreed that it is painful but critical for us to  look beyond ourselves to see others that desperately need Jesus.