To my precious family members and friends,

I am udpating my blog this month with a few items. Before I begin, I wanted to thank you all for your kindness, love and grace for me. I am amazed at God’s tremendous blessings that He has poured out on me because He has sent you into my life.

First off, I had a wonderful time at the Camp Alandale Fall Picnic in October. I was able to bring Crystal who was my camper in a previous summer camp to the event. We had a splendid time together, and I was able to encourage her to continue to grow in her relationship with the Lord. I have pictures of Crystal and other campers, but I am a little concerned about showing their faces on the internet due to the sensitive nature of their situations. For this reason, I shall show the following pictures that include:

Some of the counselors and me -

We made caramel apples and the kids (I mean the counselors) really enjoyed this!









Here is a picture of the beloved camp directors with their children














A picture of why all the kids at Camp Alandale adore Marcus. (He has a living, breathing, moving lobster-creature in his mouth. The kids loved it!)














There is an upcoming event on December 8th that I would love for you to go. Camp Alandale is hosting a Dinner theater and silent auction (at the Windmill in Carlsbad, CA), and the proceeds will go to send abused children to a week at summer camp. Last year, the holiday’s benefit raised enough money to send 75 of these children to camp. This year’s goal is to send 100! I am excited by this goal because I can personally see how God uses this camp to positively impact the lives of these children. Here are some ways that you can participate, if you feel so led:

1) You can donate a quality item to be auctioned (some examples from the past were gift certificates to restaurants, tickets to amusement parks, mountain bikes, jewelry, vacations, and other quality items).
2) You can buy tickets to attend the event. I am selling them and you can contact me in order to purchase them. If you are interested to attend, please buy them soon since it sold out last year a week before the event.
3) You can help sponsor the event which will help underwrite the event. I have a sponsorship brochures with more details. All gifts are tax-deductible and 100% of the proceeds from this event will go towards providing camps for abused and neglected children.

Thank you for taking the time to read all of this. This ministry is dear to my heart because "religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress" (James 1:27). Also, keep one of my other campers in your prayers. Her name is Adonna, and we have been writing letters to one another throughout the year. I just learned that she ran away from her group home, and I haven’t heard from her for the last 3 weeks. Please pray she safely returns home and she can attend future camps to know how much God loves her, and how we love her too!!!

In regards to Rancho Buena Vista High School, I want to share with you some adventures. First, my first period and I have been visiting the class next door that is a Special Education room. The teacher, Shawn Johnson, has been so kind to invite us and I am touched by her love for her students. Since I teach ELD 2 and I want my students to have as many opportunities to speak English, I asked my students if they wanted to take some time out each week and spend it with the students next door. Shawn's students are low functioning, but they are such a pleasure and a delight! The first time we visited, my students felt a little akward. But soon enough they were also touched by developing relationships with these special students. What I am most amazed is that my students want to keep on going back each week. To see such a heart of compassion in my own students makes me want to cry. All I can say is "Praise the Lord! It is so good to see His love in the lives of my students."

The second adventure involves the weekly craft club. Christina (my other next door neighbor at RBV) and I teach different crafts or activities each week, and the following is a picture of the group of girls who attended two weeks ago.
It suprised me to think that two years ago, I had only two students who came regularly, and now it is 8 or 9 people! I pray that God uses my coworker and me to be role models for these girls, and we might encourage them to develop skills that they didn’t think possible.

The next two pictures are humorous for me. Christina and I took two sets of pictures: a night out on the town, and then a day dressed up at school. (We dressed up because it was homecoming week at our high school, and each day had different themes. For twin day, we decided to dress alike as the wacky twins. What do you think?)

BEFORE picture:















AFTER picture:

Last, but certainly not least, I am looking forward to this weekend. On this Saturday, November 12, I shall be competing in the California States karate tournament in Riverside. Wowsers, am I nervous! I shall tell you the results when I return from the event. I shall be competing in weapons, kata (formal self defense), and sparring (kick boxing). I have been sick, so I pray God strengthens me before tomorrow.

In addition, my father and brothers have decided to attend church with me this Sunday. Praise Jesus! I have been inviting them for a long time. I am glad that I can bring them since my relationship with God and attending church means so much to me. It is also wonderful that Community Bible Church has been so welcoming too. For me, to have my family come to church with me is one of the best birthday gifts!!! Please pray for my family and me in regards to this Sunday. What is attractive to me is that the pastor was Jewish, and became a Christian later in life. He is extremely humble, intelligent, preaches from the Word accurately, and he is real. I hope my family will enjoy listening to him as much as I do.

Again, thank you for updating me with all of your prayer requests. Please know that I keep you in prayers and you are on my heart.

With all of my heart,
Marti