Helping in Haiti

Members of The Family are in Haiti, sharing the Lord's Love and comfort with those who need it so desperately. Please keep them, and the people of Haiti in your prayers.

Spending time encouraging the children.

Praying for an injured woman in hospital.

Here’s the link to video footage if you’re interested

Recent Activities

I have been rather delinquent posting about our activities.

It started with Christmas.

We were very busy participating in numerous events of all kinds during this holiday season. We collaborated with several charities such as Noah's Ark Children's Hospice, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Help a London Child, and more. We had quite a few touching moments, especially involving children, when we were able to help spread the Joy of this Season. Some of these children are life limited, meaning they are not expected to live very long, due to some form of sickness. Others had severe handicaps and others were just normal people, but nevertheless, needing love and inspiration, just like you and me! We were able to share the special Christmas songs that tell about the joy of the birth of Jesus, distribute hundreds of various forms of Christmas literature and audio material and in general share together the special joy of the season.
I hope to be able to share a couple of the moments that stuck out to me and helped make this a very special time indeed, as soon as I have a little more time!

Our personal Christmas was shared with our son Tim, who came over for a visit from Italy. It was his first time to England so we had fun showing him some of the sights during the time he was here. We also had a family of 5 stay with us during this time. They included 3 young children, so our house was full of children's laughter and merriment during this holiday time!

For New Year 's Eve, we once again had our Candle Light Ceremony. This year our house was open to guests from about 3 PM until after midnight. Neighbours, friends, General Members, Active Members and full time Members visited through out the evening and into the New Year. Besides abundant food and drink, we had several bonding and inspirational activities together, ending with the Candle Light Ceremony. This Ceremony is a Family tradition for many years now. We all sit around a large white candle which represents Jesus. One by one we each lit our own candle, placed it in the middle next to the large candle and shared three things: 1.What we were most thankful for this past year. 2.What goal or vision we would like to accomplish this coming year 3.A verse or meaningful quotation that applies to us regarding the new year ahead. This simple ceremony was inspiring and meaningful as we shared our own thoughts and listened to those around us. It was a happy, but also meaningful way to see in the New Year!

We thought we would have some down time after the New Year, but we just seem to be staying very busy! Another thing that is helping us to step outside of our comfort zone (which is good for growth!) is that we are moving to another house. There is probably no need to explain how much this involves, especially since we are closing a rather large house and have a lot of furniture and household items to find new homes for, not to mention all else that is involved with moving.

Hopefully, after the move is complete (and we have our internet connected!) I will be able to share a bit more details of some of the special moments that God placed in our paths.

Be a Team

No one can whistle a symphony. It takes an orchestra to play it.
—H.E. Luccock

Teamwork is the fuel that allows common people to attain uncommon results.
—Andrew Carnegie

If I could solve all the problems myself, I would.
—Thomas Edison, when asked why he had a team of twenty-one assistants

A group becomes a team when each member is sure enough of himself and his contribution to praise the skills of the others.
—Norman Shidle

One piece of log creates a small fire, adequate to warm you up; add just a few more pieces to blast an immense bonfire, large enough to warm up your entire circle of friends. Needless to say, individuality
counts, but teamwork dynamites.
—Jin Kwon

Teamwork represents a set of values that encourage behaviors such as listening and constructively responding to points of view expressed by others, giving others the benefit of the doubt, providing support to those who need it, and recognizing the interests and achievements of others.
—Katzenbach and Smith , The Wisdom of Teams, 1993

Synergy is the highest activity of life; it creates new untapped alternatives; it values and exploits the mental, emotional, and psychological differences between people.
—Stephen Covey

The key elements in the art of working together are how to deal with change, how to deal with conflict, and how to reach our potential. The needs of the team are best met when we meet the needs of individuals.
—Max DePree

I love to hear a choir. I love the humanity, to see the faces of real people devoting themselves to a piece of music. I like the teamwork. It makes me feel optimistic about the human race when I see them cooperating like that.—Paul McCartney

Talent wins games, but teamwork and intelligence win championships.
—Michael Jordan

No member of a crew is praised for the rugged individuality of his rowing.
—Ralph Waldo Emerson

The leaders who work most effectively, it seems to me, never say “I.” And that’s not because they have trained themselves not to say “I.” They don’t think “I.” They think “we.” They think “team.” They accept
responsibility, but “we” gets the credit.
—Peter Drucker