Everybody Needs a Hero…

I had a very interesting experience a couple weeks ago that I have to share with you.  I hesitated to share earlier because it sounds like I’m tooting my own horn; but the lesson I learned from it is very valuable, so I’m going to share a short version of the story with you.  Here goes…

I’ve been volunteering with the Santa Cruz Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue team for about three years now.  During that time I’ve only found two missing persons.  For our county and our team, that’s about normal.  The two missing persons really only count for one find because they were lost together and were found together.  Our team gets called out about 10-12 times a year and there are about 35 people on the roster.  Many people who are reported missing find their own way out, or are found by law enforcement or park rangers.  So, here’s my story.  The other night I was working on my house late.  I was replacing a door and ran into a whole string of snags.  At around 9:30pm the new door was still not in, and there was a gaping hole in my house (about the size of a new door) and my pager goes off for a “call out”.  My immediate reaction was, “You’re kidding right??”.  Unfortunately, no joke.  We had two missing persons at the same time in two different parks.  It was about 50° and dropping.  I called in and told them I had to at least set the door in place before I could respond, then I headed out for about a 40 minute drive to the search location.  By the time I got there, there were already two teams out, and some of the search coordinators were already being moved over to the second search.  My partner and I received almost no briefing and we headed out.  About 30 minutes into our search, we called out into the blackness and heard a response; barely audible.  We called again and estimated a direction and distance of where we thought the voice came from.  For the next two and half hours my partner Morris and I traversed a very steep hillside in complete blackness searching for this person.  Her voice was bouncing off the hillsides and making it difficult to locate her position.  When we finally stomped through the brush down to a clearing where she had been stuck in the dark and cold for several hours, she was so relieved she almost collapsed to a seated position.  I sat down next to her, gave her my jacket and gloves while Morris radioed in our coordinates.  It was a great moment for her and for me.  For the next 10 minutes we gave her food and drink as she showered us with thanks.  She was mildly hypothermic, so we helped her up and assisted her up the hillside to the service vehicles waiting above.  Once we got back, we immediately packed up and headed over to the next search, about another 40 minutes away.  It was now about 2am when I arrived at the park headquarters for the next search.  We received a briefing and an assignment and headed out again.  I prayed that God would help me find this man, so I could use the story as a testimony.  Finding two people in one night would be unheard of on our team.  My partner and I had been hiking for about an hour and a half, when we spotted a very odd looking reflector “shining” back at us.  When “the reflector” didn’t answer back, we rushed over towards the object to see if it was our missing party.  I got my light right down in his face and recognized another very grateful expression of relief from a very tired hiker.  He was okay, he just didn’t have a flashlight to continue his walk back to his car.  We loaned him one of ours and walked him back to the park headquarters.  When we arrived back, the team was all smiles.  We had had a great night with happy endings both times.

                

As I relished the moment of being someone’s “hero” on the drive back home (it was now about 3:30am) I realized how rare it is for most of us to experience something thrilling like this.  Only people like firemen and policemen get to do this kind of stuff, not to many of us normal folk get the opportunity.  As I processed that, I realized, that as Christian Mom’s and Dad’s, God does give us opportunities to be heroes.  As a dad myself I have a pretty good understanding of this high calling.  We are called to stand against “the tide” so to speak, and help our children find their way through these dark forests of compromised morality and ethics.  Frankly, as a conservative Christian, I feel that I am at war with influences and trends that are pulling my family in the opposite direction.  I believe we have a spiritual enemy who does everything in his power to tear us apart deceiving us with lies or lulling us into a state of complacency.  It is time for us to stand up, lead our families through these dark times and rescue those who are lost in a labyrinth of relative morality.  God has called us all to be heroes and does give us the opportunity.  

Thanks for listening.  Consider this your “call out”.  It may be late and you may be tired, but please respond.

Maybe you already have a hero story to share with us; please share it!

Blessings,

The Hanson’s

PS-  If you are one of our financial supporters and are interested in an automatic withdrawal option from your checking account or credit card (think frequent flyer miles), I found the link to the paperwork you’ll need to fill out on the agency’s website (http://yugo.org/files/Credit_Card_EFT_Set_Up.pdf).  You’ll have to send it back via snail mail.  The address you’ll need to send the form back to is:

Yugo Ministries

PO Box 58

National City, CA 91951-0058

I'm not confused anymore!

Well guys, I need to start off with an apology.  So many amazing things have happened since I’ve updated you all last.  Let me start off by saying that God is amazing.  He is unchanging, all knowing and always, always present.  Jesus promised to never leave us or forsake us.  He never fails.  Remember however, that this promise is not a license to “name it and claim it”.  God’s purpose for us is to bring Him glory, not make us happy, content or even fulfilled.  Here in America, many times we enjoy these things as by-products of a life that is surrendered to the Lordship of Christ, but it’s not a guarantee for blissful days here on this earth.

God is so good to me sometimes I feel guilty.  I guess because I know I don’t deserve these blessings, so I’d better make sure to thank Him publicly for them.  So here goes….

As you know, I lost my job.  My buddy Russ was quick to respond with some work on his house doing some carpentry and plumbing.  I jumped on that and was happily working away after one week off.  There was no way we could maintain our present rate of spending and pay off our credit card debt; much less survive, at what I make as a carpenter.  I was scratching my head trying to figure out how to make it and what I had to sell off first.  It was a bleak economic picture.  Then, I got a call from a member of my church who is also an engineer.  His wife told him of our “plight” so he looked me up on “LinkedIn” and tried to contact me via email.  It bounced, so we finally gave up and called each other on the phone (weird, I know).  We had a nice conversation, and he encouraged me to call one of my old bosses here in Scotts Valley who he thought was busy.  So that evening after fixing my bad LinkedIn email address, I emailed Dave Moriconi, President of IDE Inc. and told him that I was available for work again if he had any need for some extra help.  Fifteen minutes later, I received an email back from Dave telling me he could put me to work immediately.  He asked me to come down and talk with him ASAP so we could catch up.  Astounded, I confirmed an appointment and met with Dave a day later.  We shook hands and I showed up for work the following week.

Now for the icing on the cake….

As a contractor, I can make more per hour than as an employee.  We agreed to my old contracting rate and a four day work week.  So, working four days a week as a contractor (leaving one day per week to prepare for our departure) I can make more money than I did as a full time employee at my last job!  Isn’t that amazing!!  Now, who would have thought of that?  Honestly, I’m not creative enough to come up with stuff this good.  The God we serve is very gracious; and fun.  Being a Christian is exciting.

Please remember us in your prayers.  We are at about a 60% level of being fully funded.  More is coming in, but the project is going to need another big push to get us over the top.  Housing is also a priority now; on both ends.  We need to find some tenants for our home here as well as a house for us down there.  We leave next week for Mexico to do some house hunting and get some good housing budget numbers.  For those of you who have gotten back to us, Thank you!!  We’ll be sending you another update in the mail soon.  Something with a big picture on the front to put on your fridge so you’ll remember to pray for us!

Blessings,

The Hanson’s

Uh...I'm confused...

Well, God can move in some mysterious ways that is for sure!  Thursday afternoon (around 4pm) I walked into my boss' office to ask a question regarding a project I've been working on over the last year.  We exchanged some dialog about what to do here, what to do there, etc.  He stopped himself and said, "I was going to wait and tell you tomorrow, but I'm just going to tell you today.  We need to make some major,.. I mean major changes around here if I'm going to keep this company afloat, and your one of them."

I must have had one of those "Uh, oh" looks on my face because he felt bad enough to look at his desk when he started his next sentence, "Please don't come in tomorrow".

I sat there in shock for the next couple minutes as we talked about who else was getting laid off and how I was going to wrap up my last 5 years at the company in one hour. 

For some obvious reasons, I was confident that my time of employment was going to end when I decided.  I told everyone (including my boss) about our plans for Mexico, our timing, how I would transition out, help my boss plan for the next guy to replace me etc.  My timing and plan was established.  However, the Lord apparently has a different plan.  Frankly, He does many times. 

God has a perspective and view on this life that we don't have.  Nine times out of ten, our plan involves our comfort (which is quite natural), rather than God's discipline for his Glory.  If even our intent was to receive His discipline, how would we know how to??  Does a child discipline himself?  Of course not, that's silly.  The parent (who is wiser) needs to do that.  We all know what unattended children become like.  It's not a pretty picture.  God must discipline and teach us, and we need to respond to the unexpected events in our lives with Teachability, Thanksgiving and Expectation.

I kid you not, my prayer over the last month has been, "Search me O God and know my heart, Test me O Lord and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."  Praise God he loves us all enough to answer our prayers, discipline us as the children he loves and lead in "ways everlasting".  What a promise.  What a Savior.

As always, we get to make a choice, "To Become Bitter, or to Become Better".

Today is a great day.  Today I get to baptize my Daughter during the nine o'clock service at Santa Cruz Bible Church, during the missions festival.  It's perfect.  It was at our Missions Festival 15 years ago as I envied the life of one of the missionaries who spoke; I prayed, "Lord make me dependant on you".  On Monday, I was laid off from that job too!  That was the beginning of a ten year adventure of self employment that was wonderful, exciting and fun.  We didn't make much money, but we ALWAYS had what we needed.

Pray for us, if you are so inclined, as we walk through this process.  I'm not sure what's next, but God's got my attention!

I'll keep you "posted".

Blessings,

Michael

Hosted George Palau tonight

We just got back from hosting a potluck with George Palau - director of Grace Children's Home.  He shared how God is working at the Home and beyond and the vision for several upcoming projects.  For those that weren't able to make it we are excited to tell you about the vision for a basketball court...currently a sloped, dirt hill used for a parking lot...at the Home. Anyone inclined to basketball or kids getting exercise?  Jump in!  Goal $10K for court surface, retaining wall and equipment. :0)

In The Begining...

"For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." Matthew 7:8

Merry Christmas 2010!!
Can we ask you a question? Have you ever heard the call of God? Some people are offended by a question like that. “The arrogance…” maybe, or “How can one know…”, admittedly this can be a tough one. Fortunately, the scriptures give a clear answer on how to determine the will of God (Rom 12:2).

The story of our family’s calling began October 28, 1994. That is the date Melissa and I officially met and discovered our common interests. One of our common interests we discovered during the dinner that I introduced Melissa to my parents. My Mom asked Melissa, “Why did you want to be a Chiropractor?” Melissa answered by explaining that she had an interest in missions work even at a young age, and as a Chiropractor all she would need to bring was her hands. Both my parents laughed, and Melissa felt left out because she didn’t get the “joke”. She didn’t know that when I was in Junior high, one rainy Saturday in a car with my Mom, I announced to her that one day I was going to be a “missionary”. Since we’ve married, almost every decision Melissa and I have made as a couple, (ie. jobs, housing, purchases etc) have been with the goal of someday volunteering full time, working with people of a different culture.

That brings us up to today. Melissa and I have had two launch dates redirected in the last 8 years. God closed the door. We’ve prayed a lot since. What would you think, if I told you that God has opened a door for us to fulfill this goal?

Melissa and I have been invited to serve alongside some good friends, George and Stacey Palau, at “Grace Children’s Home” in Baja California (Mexico). This is a very kid friendly environment which was confirmed when we took the whole family down last December and then again in April. When our friends George and Stacy Palau leaned across the table at dinner one night, and described a serious need they had for another couple to help them with the children, building projects and general management; my heart leapt. I got nervous. “Could this be it?”, I thought.
On our drive home from Mexico, the more we thought about it, the more God confirmed it in our hearts. This was a step of faith He was calling us to. There was no writing on the wall, no audible voice from heaven; but a challenge, a “quiet” calling so to speak. Would we respond to the call of God, or brush it off as a weird coincidence during a dinner conversation and stick to business as usual? We don’t want to be the kind of people that God has to ask twice. So, after much prayer, and discussion with the kids, we’ve decided to walk through the door that has opened up for us.

We would have the titles of, “Assistant Directors”, at Grace Children’s Home; and aid in the development of 30+ boys and girls the home has been blessed with, as well as to help manage upcoming construction projects, assist teams and individuals visiting/serving at the home and the general maintenance of the facilities that are already up and running.

This will be a drastic change for us, and we desperately need your prayers. We have some challenges ahead. Specifically, we need to:
1. Sell or rent our home
2. Adjust to a new language/culture (no Chiropractic joke intended)
3. Raise the necessary monetary support

This is a volunteer position, so we are responsible to raise our own financial support while there. We have agreed to a two year commitment at the Children’s Home. As a minimum, we need to raise approximately $2000/month for living expenses, medical insurance, food and housing.

We firmly believe that sharing our experiences with as many people as possible, may encourage them to take “radical” steps of faith in their own lives; whatever that may be. If the idea of Mexico and our story has intrigued you, would you consider partnering with us? We would love to share the stories, lessons and victories with all of you. We need to hear back from you in order to do that. We also need enough supporters to commit to giving on a monthly basis, so that our support level is at or above the $2000 per month mark. In this economy, I think we would all agree that this alone would be our first great miracle. We would love to continue to share with you our journey as it unfolds over the next number of months up to our departure the first week of July 2011.

What do you think God could be calling YOU to do?? Tell us about it! We’d love to pray with you and for you as He leads you on your journey as well.

If you are ever near Mexico, consider spending some time with us there!


Blessings,

Michael, Melissa, Caleb, Sarah and Nathan Hanson

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world." James 1:27