care for camden

I'd like to post this message from my sister, Becky, about the city in which they live (and work with vision and tenacity):

(from Becky) I wanted to spread the word: Tomorrow night (Friday, 11/9) at 10pm, Diane Sawyer will be airing her follow up 20/20 special on "Poverty in America". She focused on Camden, NJ and UrbanPromise Ministries, which is where my husband and I now live and where he works. Her efforts prompted "Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" to build a home for one of the Camden families featured. That show will air this Sunday, 11/11 at 8pm. I encourage all of you to take some time to watch (or DVR) both shows and ask you to add Camden to your prayer list. It's a city that is very dear to my heart and as Mike and I endeavour to spread the love of Christ here, we would covet your prayer covering.

Hope you'll tune in...Jason and the boys and I saw the house while we were visiting Camden a few weeks ago, and it's amazing. Amazing to see what people can do for one another. Hope you'll tune in to learn more about poverty right here in our own States (Camden is the poorest city in our nation), and to be inspired1

happy halloween

Last night our boys ventured out in the semi-darkness of 6 p.m. here in Lynn to trick or treat. Always an interesting experience in an urban setting, but we are near a beautiful waterfront neigborhood, and in the good ol' New England tradition, many adults were waiting near their doorways to ooh and aah over every costume. My favorite was an elderly gentleman down the street who promptly asked, "what trick will you do to me if I don't give you a treat?" and when the kids were too stunned to answer, showed them his own magic trick! Really fun.

The boys filled two of those cheese-y plastic jack-o-lanterns FULL with candy, and we hobbled home (Mom and Dad more tired than Orilus and Jackson, of course) a little after 7.

On a serious note, please remember the Oughton family as they have funeral services for Grace tomorrow. I called one of their friends in Viriginia tonight, and they think there were over 800-1000 people at the wake tonight. Wow. The influence of one very young, and very bright, life. That our own lives could cast such a lingering, and powerful, glow.