Mari Isaacson

Well, I arrived. It was quite an adventure really…. it rained the first day of travel and snowed, REALLY snowed the second! Needless to say, there was a crack in the U-Haul and LOTS of my stuff got wet. Mostly washables, but also some of my non-replacable materials. The rest was protected by Containers. Thank you Rubbermaid!! Still, it is just another reminder that THIS WORLD IS NOT MY HOME, I’M JUST A PASS’N THRU!!! I am very grateful for two of my sisters and a friend (of my older sis), who helped me make the big move from Moses Lake to Edmonton. They also helped me unpack all the wet and damaged boxes and most of the rest as well. Wow.

So, I have been moved-in since the 29. of May, but I haven’t been around since then except for a few days. It doesn’t look like I will be settling in very fast either… I will be on the road most of the summer doing/supervising 5-Day clubs around Alberta. It will be so good to get back with children again!!! CYIA here in Alberta is the first two weeks in July. We are still praying for a few more summer missionaries to teach the clubs. God has opened many doors this summer but we need the helpers. PLEASE PRAY! Thank you

I will be gone 1 1/2 weeks this summer because of the wedding of Roland Pingist to Britany Robinson, a former PBI student. Most of you know that Roland is one of my “kids” from Austria. He’s not a kid no more! Their wedding is 17. of July. They would appreciate your prayers for all those traveling long distances to go to the wedding on Prince Edward Island. Some are coming from Austria! This opportunity opens the door to see one of my best friends from childhood. She lives in Nova Scotia. After the wedding she will be joining me on PEI for a few days before taking me back to NS. It is exciting while I have never been in either place. FUN!!

There is still so much I need to do before CYIA. I would greatly appreciate prayer for:

* a good car within my budget

* I got my Canadian License but had to give up my US one in exchange. An old DL was necessary to establish I have been driving for a while regarding car insurance. I am really glad I had one from 20 years ago… sometimes it pays to hold onto things… sometimes… Pray for good insurance once I get my car.

* I am grateful also that I held onto my  Canadian Social Insurance Number (SIN) from the time I worked at PBI in Three Hills. I DON’T hold onto everything, but it appears I have held onto the right things… Do you think someone was orchestrating that as well?

* getting some REST! I am not sleeping so well… the story of my life. I have found some natural oils that help, but there is just still so much going on with this transition, SO MANY THINGS, that I am finding it hard to just relax. I would greatly appreciate your prayers for that.

* I was able to visit supporters here in Alberta but didn’t get to see them all in the time-frame I was hoping. I am so grateful for each of my supporters. Please pray, as I still need MORE REGULAR SUPPORTERS. Right now I have only around 80% of my support. Would you prayerfully consider becoming a regular supporter? The work here in Alberta is so important. The children of Alberta need to hear about Jesus Christ as well. Will you help? Please feel free to contact me with your questions or look under the category SUPPORT TEAM.

* make contacts and look for a church. It has not been so easy without a car. There are many churches here in Edmonton to choose from, but I need to find the one that is right for me. One where I will be spiritually fed and also can serve by using my spiritual gifts. It would be good to find a few friends here in the city as well. I feel the loss of a good friend close by for almost a year now. I am grateful for all the friends the Lord has given me, I just wish they weren’t all so far away… even the ones here in Alberta.

Please pray for CYIA as well. Christian Youth In Action is the training for teens (and adults) who want to learn how to do 5-Day clubs. They will be trained and then be able to put their learning into practice by helping out with the 5-Day clubs here in Alberta this summer. This is the opportunity to reach many children for the Lord.

Thank you so much. I hope to write you more in a few weeks.

blessings,

mari

Dear friends and family.

Wow, it’s hard to believe that a week from Friday, early in the morning, 2 of my sisters, a Suv, a U-Haul and I take off for the Canadian Border. Then head up to Edmonton, arriving the next day.

Furlough has been fantastic! Everyone I have come in contact with has been very encouraging and friendly. Furthermore, I have had special, extra time with my family for which I am grateful. The Lord is good! Still, I am SO looking forward to unpacking my bags… boxes to be exact!!! I am excited about joining the Alberta CEF Team and be a part of CYIA and the summer ministries.

Mourning is a natural part of life. I know too that I will mourn my leaving Austria. Due to Furlough, the grieving process has not been completed. Reality has not had a chance to set in. Oh, it has come from time to time in little glimpses, but… not really. Now I am sitting here at  Conference and I am experiencing the pangs of reality. This is the last place I would have expected it. But then grief never comes when welcomed. It is not something one can control.

Leaving Austria was bitter-sweet and now my moving to Alberta is proving to be the same. Still, I am not going back, I am going forward! Your prayers, especially during this time are so appreciated. The next few months are going to be a challenge. Thus I am excited about what God is going to do.

God has given me Psalm 37, 1-8 for my move up to Alberta. It starts out, “Do not fret”! That is followed by “Trust in the Lord”! Other vital elements are… dwell, delight, commit/trust, rest and wait. Then again “Do not fret!” For emphasis it is said a third time, “Do not fret- it only causes harm. God wants us to replace our fears with total trust in Him. He wants our committment and delight. He also wants us to learn to rest and wait on Him! These are elements for peace and success that I want to learn for Alberta.

Here are some prayer and praises:

Praise:
- that God is the One who goes before and prepares the way!
- for providing a new home in the basement of a Christian family
- for the finances for my move and a vehicle that have come in
- for the new people who have joined my support team

Prayer:
- that I will take Psalm 37, 1-8 to heart and let God’s Word really make a difference in my life
- for the rest of the finances for the move and vehicle come in
- for protection in traveling for us and my folks
- for settling in
- for making new friends and finding a new church family
- for the grieving process
- for a real passion to reach Alberta’s children for Jesus!

Thank you so much for all your prayers and help. Blessings!

Together for the children,

mari

There was this one youngster in the Good News Club who just couldn’t sit still very long. I was sharing with the group about Jesus dying for our sins. It is always good to give examples, so I did… “have you ever told a lie?” The boy looked at me and almost defiantly and replied, “no!” So I looked directly at him and asked him again. “No” was his response again. He didn’t even bat an eye or look around. So, I gave other examples like: telling a lie, taking a cookie without asking, disobeying your parents, and others. All of which he replied in the same way. NO. Now either this boy was being really ornery, or he really believed what he was saying!

People want us to just talk about the LOVE of Jesus, but how can we really comprehend His love when we don’t know or understand what He did for us on the cross?

In today’s world children on the majority, have a dismal life without Jesus. They are ignored, despised, harassed, made to stumble, abused, starved, and used for all types of horrors. It is alarming how many children are the victims of trafficking and “grooming” where “groomers” over indulge them with gifts, drawing them away from their secure environments, thus making them dependent then arranging gang rapes on these children so that they are forced to do as they are told. The problem of drugs in elementary schools is large and increasing. Drug dealers prey on young children and often force these 8 and 9 year olds to sell drugs for them. Some statistics in North America alone:

-       1,500 children die from abuse each year. There are 140,000 injuries to children from abuse each year. There are 1.7 million reports of child abuse each year.

-       More than 2 million cases of child abuse and neglect are reported each year in the United States. An estimated 150,000 to 200,000 new cases of sexual abuse occur each year

-       Among school children who come out of the eighth grade, 52% have tasted alcohol, 41% have smoked cigarettes at least once and 20% have given weed consumption a try

-       In 2007, 250 children were kidnapped and only 86% were recovered.

-       the largest consumer of Internet pornography is 12-17 years old?

-       Child pornography generates $3 billion annually

-       Websites offering illegal child pornography 100 thousand

-       Daily Gnutella “child pornography” requests 116 thousand

In the World:

-       Over half a billion children are struggling to survive on under $1 per day

-       250,000 children and young people are infected with HIV/AIDS every month

-       130 million children lack access to education and 246 million children are child laborers

-       8.4 million children are trapped in slavery, trafficking, debt bondage, prostitution, pornography and other illicit activities

-       500,000 young people under 18 are exploited as child soldiers and 30,000 children die each day from preventable diseases

These are just a few I was able to get from the internet, but you get the picture. I hope.

Children are the most open, attentive, loving, giving, devoted, forgiving creatures on this earth. They are a gift to be treasured and nurtured. They are a promise of hope for every Generation.

What does God have to say to us about the children? Matthew 19, 13 the disciples were trying to hinder the children from being brought to Jesus. Perhaps they believed that children aren’t that important; so don’t bother the master with them. Jesus replied in verse 14, “Let the children come unto me and do not hider them, for the Kingdom of Heaven belongs to such as these.” In chapter 18, Jesus instructs that we need to become like children to enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus goes on to say in Mark 9, 37 “whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me. What’s with that? Perhaps our view of children needs to be revolutionized?

This is why I do what I do, work with children and tell them about the love of Jesus. CEF, Inc wants to save them and teach them how to stand firm in the Word of God and their personal relationship to Him. They need hope in the midst of all the evils in the world wanting so desperately to destroy them. St Augustine said: “hope has 2 beautiful daughters, their names are anger and courage.  Anger that things are the way they are and courage to make them the way they ought to be.”  It isn’t courage alone that will save the children, it’s hope and we have to bring hope to the children.

You can be involved in this vital ministry as well. I need more people to join my team of supporters so that I can move to Alberta at the beginning of June. I still lace around $1000.00 in support a month. I know these are difficult times but would you prayerfully consider joining the team whether monthly or a one-time giving. “Little is much when God is in it!” You can send your donations in to CEF, Inc for Mari Isaacson account #E3AT 4541 PO Box 348, Warrenton MO 63383. Thank you.  

There was a boy who loved Jesus and would share Jesus with all his friends at school. Well,the teacher called the parents to inform them of this thinking the parents would discourage their child. Just the opposite was the case. The parents were so proud of their child and let him know it. Children are great little missionaries, if we only give them the chance. Please help me tell the children of Alberta about Jesus.

God bless you!

Mari Isaacson

As I reflect on 2009, I must admit it was definitely a year to remember!!! let me share some of the highlights with you.

In Austria we had more snow than we have had for a long while. Furthermore, it stayed the entire winter. That too is an unusual occurrence. I think God did it just for me seeing as I love snow so much. Seeing it was my last winter in Austria. I loved it!!!

I got to spend a few days in Venice with one of my co-worker friends. It was awesome. It was something I had been wanting to do for years, but couldn’t find anyone to do it with. Then out of the blue, Margit suggested we do it before I leave. So, there you have it! God is good!

Everyone has a birthday once a year… but how many people get to celebrate the BIG 50 on Easter Sunday. What an awesome privilege!!!

When it comes to packing for a vacation it might be difficult knowing what to take, but how do you pack when you are not only moving out of your present home, but also out of the country? It was a big chore deciding what to keep, what to sell, what to give away and what to throw away! I am very grateful for the help. My church even had an action for some of my stuff. It was quite an event!

Taking a boat trip on Woertersee in Kaernten is something I have always wanted to do. Well, it ended up being one of my birthday presents from some dear friends. We made a day of it and had lots of fun. Ha, we even experienced a real dozy of a storm on the last leg (hour) of our trip. Making memories!

How do you say goodbye to co-workers, dear friends, dear places, dear things (my kitties), then children in the different clubs… all after 19 years. Believe me, it was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. Infact, I believe I started the mourning process already a few months ahead. Out of the blue, I would break down in tears… sometimes alone, but mostly while in church or during some activity with friends. I definitely left part of my heart in Austria!

Then there was the actual leaving Austria. Something I never thought I really would do. Something I prolonged as long as I could. Sigh.

Then there was vacation with Tabea Eggeler in Canada and the US. I was so very grateful that I didn’t leave Austria alone. The three weeks with her were a blast!

Meeting my future boss and a new co-worker in Alberta was a blessing. The other two workers I was already acquainted with from times of furlough spent in Alberta.

Our sister get-to-gether on Orcas Island for a few days. Tabea was there for that as well and fit right in. It was so much fun getting together with my sisters. Something that only happened once before the entire time I was in Austria.

In all the years I have been with CEF, this was the first time I spent a whole month in Warrenton, MO. It was great.

Sharon and I took our traditional trip to Branson and stayed with friends there. We really got to see a lot this time around. The highlight was going to see the Titanic museum. I was glad I was one of the survivors!!!

I had never heard of Stream-cleaning, let alone be apart of such a crew. Therefore I jumped at the opportunity to do it in MO. What an experience. You wouldn’t believe all the crazy things we pulled out of the river and transported in/on our canoes… it’s amazing some of our canoes didn’t sink! What fun!

Spending a few days in Georgia with a dear friend was a real blessing as well. We went contra dancing which was a first for me. Contra dancing is like folk/country dancing… it has it’s own style. We got our exercise that night!

Being in Arizona for the first time was quite an adventure. It included a trip to an Indian school where I was about to challenge the children about missions. Then we got to spend a few hours at the Grand Canyon! Wow. It was spectacular!

I spent more time with family in 2009 than I have with them in almost all the years I have been in Austria! I am so very grateful for my family. Thank you, Lord!

Learning how to blog has been a great challenge of 2009! I am still getting the hang of it!

Then seeing supporters and friends I have not seen in a very long time was a real blessing. There was the joy of seeing other supporters and friends who I usually see each furlough as well. I am so very grateful for each one! I wouldn’t be where I am today without them!

Being a part of the Missions Conference at my folks church in Moses Lake was a real blessing.

For the first time in a very long time I was able to spend two whole weeks at my home church in Edmonds. It was fantastic! This church has seen me thru thick and thin and I am eternally grateful to them!!

I had the privilege of going to the play, “Pride and Prejudice”. It’s one of my favorite stories. It was great.

Being given a trip to Disneyland (hotel and entrance fees for 3 days) by a friend I haven’t seen in 21 years was two wammies in one! I didn’t know Disneyland could be so much fun. It really depends on who you go with. Thank you Bry. It was special.

Jury Duty has always intrigued me. But it’s something I never really thought I would be chosen for. Well, I was called but not chosen since I am not nor ever was a resident of the city in which I was called. Sigh. I couldn’t have done it anyways since I had speaking engagements during that time and wasn’t even in the appointed county. Well, let me rephrase… I am glad I didn’t have to cancel those important meetings.

I got to be in the Christmas program at my parents church. I was even an angel. What a privilege to be a part of that. I was indeed greatly blessed!

Christmas with family for the first time in years was definitely a major highlight. It was awesome. Thank you, Lord.

To end the year, one of my sisters had a Murder Mystery Party and I was invited. What a riot! The theme was oriental so we dressed accordingly. What an evening! It was a crazy group and we had lots of fun. My character was NOT the one who done it!

To top the evening/year off… or welcome in the New Year, we watched over an hour of fireworks. Everyone brought more than enough. Jim made a great bonfire which helped us keep warm. The fireworks and fellowship was great.

Well, these are the major highlights. God has done some pretty awesome things this year. I am so grateful He has used me to speak to many this year about Him. Thank you too for your encouragement in my life. You have made my year much richer!!

Happy 2010!… can you believe it, only 11 months till Christmas!?!?!

Yes, there are differences!!!

There are so many things we take for granted. Isn’t that true?!?!?!

Would you believe that I have been experiencing a lot of culture shock since returning back to the states. Yes, the US is my home country, but I have been living ‘abroad’ (Canada & Europe) for almost 25 years!! Therefore, I thought you might be interested in some of the “cultural differences” I have been confronted with in the last 3 months. Some of it is quite amusing.

- different Holidays

- coffee!!!! I miss my european coffee!!

- church services (size, how the service is done, who gives the sermon, music, those involved in the service, special music, choir…)

- Traffic!!! (Traffic signs, traffic light functions, traffic rules,… I must say here, Americans are much more polite in traffic!!!)

- LANGUAGE!!!

- Food!

- Cars!! (size! stick vs. automatics!)

- gassing up the car! (my first time gassing up here in the US I didn’t know what to do!!! No joke, I stood there for 5 minutes before a voice from nowhere about scared me out of my wits… that voice then went to apologize for scaring me… I was rather embarrassed… the voice by the way was from an intercom. The lady in the store could see what I was doing.)

- prices!!!

- buildings

- greetings or lack thereof… in Austria we greet each other on the streets, when we enter a shop or business…

- locks on the doors… you lock in the opposite direction!

- clothing sizes, shoe sizes…

- store and mall sizes

- worth of the $

- power wattage

- plugs and sockets

- toilet paper and kleenexes…would you believe it, when I first moved to Austria, the toilet paper was like sandpaper, now it is even nicer and thicker than the tp here!!! Family and friends used to send me tp…. now perhaps I should get some of my austrian friends to send me some… what do you think!?!?!?

- Health food stores

- Postage

- How dates are written

- How time is kept (normal or military… in Europe its always military)

- Bedding!

- Europeans do MUCH more walking

- whether cats are indoor or outdoor cats

- cleaning your teeth in public… Austrians always hide their mouth while doing it!

- Table manners (how to use your utensils, what to do with your hands – for example, Austrians hold the knife in the right and the fork in the left. When the knife is not being used to cut the food, it is used to push the food onto the fork. There is no ‘hands in the lap bid’.

- attitude towards nudity. I won’t even begin to explain that one, sorry…

- not recognizing places I grew up in due to the many changes

- not knowing where to go to fax something, photocopy something, get passport pictures, find a computer battery….

Well, the list could be longer… give me time!  If I am having such problems with the US being my home country, imagine how it is like for foreigners!

23. September 2009

Many years ago, I was in the corner of Burgenland, a provence of Austria which borders Hungary and former Yugoslovia. It was a very interesting corner, being at the time where the east was still under communist rule. There we were, standing there by the bobwire fence which kept us out of Hungary. Not too far away was a tower with a guard. Though he was some distance, we could still see the rifle he was more than ready to use. Then to our right there was no real fense so it was tempting to walk right into Yugoslovia. Yet, who was to know what was lurking in the woods just a couple hundred feet away. But interestingly, there was another strip of land between the two countries called No-Mans-Land. Nothing real special. Not very wide. Nothing really happening… you would think. Just a transition area. But, if you found yourself there trying to escape from one of the communist countries, it could prove to be very eventful… Nor very safe. You see, it was loaded with landmines.

Transitions. There are all kinds. Some more interesting and eventful than others.

I am in Transition.

You may be asking what that means…

After working 19 years in Austria with Child Evangelism Fellowship I have left that beloved country. I never thought I would actually, but God does tend to edit our plans when they are different than His. His ways, I must clarify, are never demanding… He has a way of loving bringing us along to the point where we realize that His way is indeed best.

In Austria, I was a Local Director for the Provence of Kaernten (Corinthia). Now I never really wanted to be a Local Director… I knew from day one that I wasn’t really cut out for the job. Nonetheless, there was no one else to do it so I did it… 17 years! God always enabled where I was lacking and the work got done. In case you don’t know exactly what CEF does, let me explain. We do Children’s Ministries: Good News Clubs, camps, retreats, party clubs, 5-Day clubs, rallies, and lots more dealing directly with children… mostly ages 5 to 12. Then CEF is also involved with teen work, getting teens involved in working with children. It is really exciting really. I am grateful for all the teen who have helped me thru the years. Most of them started off in the clubs! Some of them even went on to teach children themselves! We also have phone,  internet programs and mailbox club for the children. Then we have Seminars, Teacher Training, Children’s Ministries Institute and other means to help adults who work with children. CEF then offers a wide variety of materials: Bible Lessons, Missionary Stories, Songs, Memory Verse Tokens, and more to aid in working with children.

In 2007 God used my furlough to plant the seed of change in my heart and mind. The people at the Home Office were suggesting I look for change due to the growing health problems I was experiencing as a result of years of stress due to a job that was continually taxing me to my limits… and beyond. Then out of the blue I get two different invitations to join the CEF team in two totally different places… would you believe New Hampshire and Alberta, Canada?!?! But at that point, I wasn’t ready to leave Austria yet…

It took many different things in the year that followed to bring me to the point that I was willing to leave Austria if that was God’s will. When I finally did say “yes” to leaving, I knew it was the right thing to do. I knew it was time for a change. What’s more, the opportunity that opened up to me would finally enable me to use my gifts and abilities and work with children. I would get out of being a Local Director and start using the creativity God has given me with my writing, drawing, singing, and more. Talk about exciting… moreover, I would be much closer to my family. After being away the last 25 years or so… long story… it would be great to be more a part of my family again.

So, on 11. July 2009, I left my beloved Austria after many goodbyes and tears. When I think of the 21 years God let me be in Europe, I am amazed and very grateful!!! Right now I am in the states… on furlough for I am in desperate need of raising more support, both one time gifts and regular giving before I am able to start my new position. I will share alot more of this transition time in the weeks and months ahead. I love to write, so we shall see what comes of this blog…

By now you are probably wondering where I am headed after this transition period… Well, I won’t leave you in suspense any longer… I have answered the second invitation I received from Alberta, Canada. I will be joining their team next spring, when everything goes according to plan. I will need more than one miracle for that to happen, but God is in the miracle business. I do hope and pray that you, my reader, will be encouraged to pray for me in reaching that goal. Your prayers for my ministry during this transition and also in Canada are vitally important. I can’t do it without you. God uses the prayers of His people!!!

Well, I think I have written enough to start this out. I look forward to connecting with you thru this blog… thank you for sharing this time with me.

Yes, I am in transition… but then aren’t we all?!?!?