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I Want to Change the World but I Sharpened Pencils

Posted on December 4, 2022December 4, 2022 by Pam

First week of outreach is complete and gearing up, again, for days at a childcare center. They do tutoring, after-school snacks, mentoring, arts & crafts, more snacks, a Christmas party this week, and empathy when a child hurts their toe while playing – oh – and don’t forget ping-pong aggressively played by 14-year old boys. The girls won’t even come near that table but I did connect because I am a pretty good player. Ping-pong is not a gift of the spirit but knowing when to enter in and when not to is. “Being with” seems to be something we can all do no matter where we are. On Monday a mother’s group came in the morning with babies and toddlers. Playing is easy. Connecting with young moms is easy because they are the most tired people in the world! This was an “English-speaking” gathering so I could hear a bit about whatever they wanted to share about mothering or their birth country. There are many massage parlors and tattoo parlors in this area of town. It must be hard to be some of the poorest in one of the wealthiest places in the world. Next came a pasta lunch for the neighbors? but not really sure how that fits into this wonderful ministry. Tuesday there were fewer children so I sharpened pencils. It was frustrating because I wanted to do something and that something was whatever those leaders needed. The week was uphill from there including some prayer walking. Lot’s of graffiti on ancient and newer buildings. This area is attractive to immigrants and I have already shared some of the stats but the people are beautiful. No names but have met a young family from Iceland, two sisters from a Baltic region, lots of ping-pong players from West Africa, french, portuguese, the orient, Ukraine of course, all families like you making a life for their children. Not speaking German is a struggle since that is the language these children are learning. I’m disappointed in my lack of skill. God grant me more of that ability to communicate. In the meanwhile there is smiling, acts of kindness, pencils to sharpen, oh and pray for the young lady who needed help in algebra which I am pretty good at but the story problem was in German so I was not much help! We have created a Christmas choir and should have a chance to make a “joyful noise unto the Lord” this week. Pray because I am trying to lead that choir!

Many people coming to Biel

Beautiful wreath made by Barbara from outdoor foliage

"Thoughts from a genuinely evaluative mind."

Pam writes so that must make her a writer. Recently retired, she can now fill days with family, friends, missions, writing, creating, and showing up for whomever needs her. Pam loves the Lord and people. The Bible is God’s love letter to us (and who does not need more love) so she studies and writes some more.

Pam lives in the Pacific Northwest but was home-grown in Southern California. She attended San Jose Bible College and finished a Bachelor of Science degree in Biochemistry at UCLA. She became a teacher, then a Research and Development Chemist, then she built two successful real estate businesses in two states. Pam also pursued study at Fuller Theological Seminary and just completed six months serving in missions abroad.

Pam has two amazing children, married to two precious in-laws, and five sweet grandchildren. Pam is a gifted connector and communicator and the Northwest has the perfect climate for staying inside and writing – or baking! She has been writing since a wee one and is currently converting many years of blogging, by topic, into ten books. The first is a collection from 2011 titled, Beautiful Enough. The second is a yearly day-timer titled, Weekly Planner - Lessons in Life, Glory, and Grace. Number three is in progress with the working title, Christmas Today.

Ten facts about Pam in no particular order:

  1. On the team that developed an insulation for the Alaskan oil pipeline.
  2. Loves looking at homes, decorating, and has flipped five homes.
  3. Likes being tall.
  4. Films have helped define her vocabulary.
  5. Comes from Colorado tenement farmers with history traced to Wales.
  6. Was lost but now is found.
  7. Baking makes her happy – as does eating sweets with coffee, of course.
  8. She thinks mission work is the most important work in the world.
  9. The church started in Rome so she is learning Italian.
  10. Pam is a work in progress!

“I will be your God throughout your lifetime - until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you.” Isaiah 46:4

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