1st Annual Walk

1st Annual Walk-a-Thon held on

Saturday August 4, 2001.

God is good! Our Walk-a-Thon held on August 4th, 2001 was awesome! Over 80 people showed up in roller-blades, strollers and walking shoes. The heat dropped to the 80's and the sky was beautiful. (Special thanks to those who prayed about the weather.) Family and friends sat at tables on the trail handing out bottles of water and encouraging those making the hike. The hot dogs donated by Ricobene's were most excellent! Our cooks, Michael & Robert Wirtz, did a great job at the grill. We were blessed with special music from Joy Richards, Anne Richards and Dawn Shanahan. Many of you were unable to attend, but were so gracious in giving towards this event in time, prayer, cookies, water and monetary donations.

When we first came up with this idea, our purpose was to do something constructive together. By supporting two ministries that had impacted Jessie's life, we hoped to give other children a chance to know Christ as their Savior and to help teens and young adults get off the path of drugs they are on. Our goal was modest: to reach just a few of God's children.

Through everyone's generous support, we will be able to send 14 teenagers from Chicago City Church on Garfield & LaSalle to Phantom Ranch Bible Camp next summer. We will be able to help the Benedicts expand their ministries through Bethel Indian Bible Church in Tahlequah, Oklahoma. How God must smile when we help His children.

From the bottom of our hearts, we say to everyone of you, thank you for giving those less fortunate a chance.

It was in Jessie's memory and for God's ultimate glory that we walked, laughed, sang and raised funds so that others may come to know about the friend they can have in Jesus, so that when their days are ended here, they will be reunited with their Father in heaven.

2nd Thessalonians 2:16- "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word."

I spoke to Olen Johnsen at Phantom Ranch Bible Camp. Matt, a youth minister (and Chicago Public School teacher) at a church near the "Taylor Homes" in Chicago has been in touch with Olen talking about ways to get his children to camp. The funds have not been available.

It has always been my experience that whenever I have funds to donate, and I pray that God give me direction to where I should send it, He always makes the need very clear to me. Our goal was to get the funds available to inner-city children. How much more inner city can God put in my face? My prayer now is that God sends the children who He wants and needs to go and that nothing gets in the way. Last year, Phantom Ranch distributed over $2500.00 of scholarship funds to nearly 30 campers. We have topped that. How exciting it is to see God put your donations to work so quickly!

Jessica's best friend, Karolyn, worked at Phantom Ranch this summer. Many days were hard for her and she wondered if it was worth it. She recently received a letter from a camper who was in one of her groups. The girl wrote, "...I also wanted to thank you for your great testimony. It had a big impact on me.... So the night I got home from camp, because I wanted to be just like Jessica and a few other things, I rededicated my life to the Lord. Now I feel much closer to God and stuff. I am so much happier too."

I am convinced that while children are having fun at a good Biblical summer camp, God can and does change lives. As a parent, I watch my own children struggle in our world as we know it today. We need to continue helping children less fortunate learn that God is real. He is there for them. At camp, they learn more about their personal relationship with Christ. God is one who can and does change the lives of those who might otherwise stay on paths of drugs and crime. we don't know what the future holds for any of us. We need to make sure we do our part now while we can.

As we were cleaning up after the walk-a-thon, I accidentally let loose a couple of helium filled balloons. I turned to my friend Chris and said, "Oh, no! That's not good for the environment." I was quite upset and angry that I had been so foolish. I had been busy for many hours and knew there was still yet more to do. She grabbed my arm to stop me from my business-like pace and said, "Patty, look at the sky." We stood there, watching the balloons float upward and higher into the most beautiful blue sky I had seen all summer. I was immediately overwhelmed with the thought that if Jessie was watching, she was smiling, saying, "Thank you for giving others the chance to experience what I did when I was with you." What a way to end the day!