Blazing a Trail in Beautiful B.C.

The motto on British Columbia license plates is "Beautiful B.C." and beautiful it certainly is! The magnificent mountains, tall trees and evergreen surroundings are such a welcomed sight - eye candy everywhere! Some of you may remember my husband, Doug, is Canadian, and was reared in the Vancouver area, so it was a real treat for our family to mix a little fun with Act of Life ministry on our recent trip to Canada.

Yes, I saw this young mountain buck on an early morning hike down to Okanagan Lake with my sweet friend, Rita. The challenge was getting back UP the mountain. Well worth the effort...







I can't resist showing you our son's rainbow trout from Lac de Roche! Just look at that pristine water!






June 20 and 21 I had the privilege of presenting our full day adoption training to the Okanagan Valley Pregnancy Care Center in Kelowna, B.C. This was a seminal event for Act of Life, since it was the first time we have presented our full curriculum in Canada. However, this was not the first time Act of Life has presented adoption material to Canadian audiences. In Spring 2005 we offered adoption breakout sessions and I was a keynote speaker during the national conference for the Canadian Association of Pregnancy Support Services (CAPSS).

But, back to our recent training in B.C.... We did something a little different. Instead of offering the full seminar in one day as we are accustomed to doing, we chose to split the training over 2 days. This proved to be a success! People remarked they appreciated having time to digest and process the information from the evening session before diving into the practical application of the second session offered the following morning.

Every seminar we present is unique due to the collection of participants. Each group is a blessing and this particular group was no exception. They were fantastic! We engaged in deep discussion, explored our bias for or against adoption and emerged from the training experience better prepared to converse about adoption with those whom we will encounter.

We were blessed to also have join us three participants from Salmon Arm, B.C. They are in the initial stages of preparation to open a pregnancy center to serve the women and men in their community and they took advantage of our education program while we were in the vicinity.

A special thank you goes to our life-long friends Rita and Bob Letkeman who opened their doors to our family and made our stay in Kelowna such a delight. Gratitude also extends to Jeannie Rodgers, Client Services Director at the OVPCC, for her tireless efforts to organize and assist in such an effective training session.

We thank God for the life saving work He is accomplishing through the efforts of our brothers and sisters in Canada, and we look forward to future ways we can partner together.

For the Glory of Christ,
Julie Stobbe

The Blessing of Buckner

"The King will answer and say to them, 'Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.'” Matthew 25:40

One night last week I had the distinct privilege of speaking at an appreciation dinner for Buckner Children Family Services. Held at Midland’s distinguished Petroleum Club, the audience was treated to a delightful evening including a delicious meal, personal testimony from people who have benefited from and volunteer for Buckner’s ministry and a powerful duet sung by Dave Robbins and Kristie Garnett.

I could not help but moved as I listened to one of those who gave testimony; Lisa shared how her life has changed since last year’s dinner. She felt compelled to complete foster care certification and for the past five months has been caring for a precious infant boy, Miguel. She hopes to become his forever mother through the permanency of adoption. Miguel stole everyone’s heart with his big blue eyes and bright personality.

It was a pleasure to share parts of my personal adoption journey with the good folks of Buckner. Greater still, it was good to learn how they are being the hands and feet of Jesus to children and families across Texas and specifically in the Permian Basin. As it says on their website, “Buckner Children and Family Services is a Christian ministry devoted to protecting children, promoting independence and strengthening families.” Truly they are accomplishing the mandate from James 1:27 where it states, “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.”

Buckner Hearthstone offers a variety of services including: foster care, foster to adopt, domestic and international adoption as well as CPS adoption. For a fascinating look at how Buckner began it’s ministry through the vision of Dr. Robert Cooke Buckner, a Baptist minister from Tennessee, and his first pledged dollar bill to establish its mission please click here. For those interested in pursuing Buckner's services check their 2008 calendar for more information and locations of scheduled workshops.

We should thank the Lord for Buckner because they are committed to ministering to the “least of these” in our society through the life-altering love and compassion of Jesus Christ. Through their tireless efforts and strong commitment they are seeing to it that people understand there are no strangers, no outcasts, and no orphans to the Lord.

Blessed to be a part,

Julie Stobbe