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A LIFE OF SECOND CHANCES By Vanessa Alacron — When I was five years old, a dog bit me. That’s when my dislike of dogs began. But, when my fiancé begged for us to own a dog when we got married, I decided to grant him his wish as long as I was not involved in its care. I could see the disappointment in his eyes–so much that I had a change of heart and surprised him in my wedding vows saying that I would care for our puppy. Although reluctant to meet her, I was willing to give it a try. When I met our puppy, I discovered that I love dogs. Before, I detested being licked or sniffed. Somehow, dogs knew I didn’t like them so they would always come to me. Now, I welcome this little puppy who just wanted to get to know me.
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PUBLIC HEALTH LESSONS FROM COLORADO
By Mark B. Johnson — Boulder, Colorado … I have frequently been asked why it is that an unelected “bureaucrat” like me has the power to promulgate public health orders during a pandemic in Colorado. It’s a long story, and to me, its hero is a “little old lady” who grew up in the mining town of Central City.
In the 1940s, the health of Colorado was abysmal. More than 40% of Colorado draftees for World War II were found to be “not physically fit for the Armed Services.” Colorado had high rates of diphtheria, typhoid, dysentery, and maternal and infant mortality. It was one of the six worst states in the country in regard to smallpox.
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MEMORABLE SCHOOL YEAR COMES TO A CLOSE AT MHA
By Karrie Meyers — Highlands Ranch, Colorado … As each school year ends, teachers and staff take time to reflect on the memories and events that made it special. It is easy to say that 2019-2020 will go down in the history books as one of the most memorable.
“When students arrived on campus for the first day of school, who could have imagined completing the fourth quarter remotely,” said Jamie Frain, Mile High Academy’s VP of school culture. “The Covid-19 pandemic showed how quickly life can change. We miss our students and their families. And our hearts ache for the graduating classes who can’t celebrate with the school family, community, and their relatives and friends.” |
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THE PANDEMIC NEEDS TO GO, BUT THESE NEED TO STAY
By Jose Cortes, Jr. – Columbia, Maryland . . . Her name is Liz, she is a retired science teacher who lives about six houses from ours on our street, and just last night she welcomes our family to the neighborhood, as we walked our dog. Nothing wrong with that, unless you know that we have been in this neighborhood for over five years. I know, totally embarrassing that our family, followers of Jesus, Christians, Seventh-day Adventists who love God and love people had not gotten to meet our neighbor, who lives six houses away from ours. |
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2020 GRADUATES CHEERED ONLINE AT WYOMING’S SONSHINE ACADEMY
By Samantha Nelson — Worland, Wyoming … Schools around the world were forced into changing their usual practices when COVID-19 struck, and SonShine Academy in Worland, Wyoming was no different. One day, it was class as usual with the students interacting, playing and supporting one another in their school classrooms. The next day, they were met by an extended Spring Break. Then followed mandatory school closures and online/distance learning via Zoom.
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HOW ELLEN WHITE COPED WITH A PANDEMIC
By CIRO SEPULVEDA — In 1852 Ellen G. White’s youngest son, Edson, three years of age, fell victim to the third global cholera pandemic erupting across the United States, 1846-1860. The White family, at the time, lived across the street from the Erie Canal in Rochester, New York. The first of the seven cholera pandemics flared up in India, near Calcutta, 1817-1824.
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GUIDELINES FOR REOPENING OUR CHURCHES
By Gideon Dayak — Silver Spring, MD . . .Congregations everywhere are looking forward to reopening their doors and beginning live services at churches again. Much of the world has been brought to a near standstill to combat COVID-19 through social distancing. Some regions are starting to relax the stay-at-home orders. The anticipation of worshipping together means plans are necessary that adapt to how church services are conducted.
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LOCKDOWN BUT NOT SHUTDOWN ON NAVAJO LA VIDA MISSION
By Dorie Panganiban — Farmington, New Mexico … The La Vida Mission School building is closed, but school continues until May 22, reported Dorie Panganiban, office manager at the Mission. When the students went home on March 14 for their one-week Spring Break, they never came back for face-to-face school since all schools in New Mexico were ordered by the governor to close. At that time, La Vida Mission made the decision to close until the end of the school year and to use a distance learning program. Because good internet is an issue in this part of the country and many of our students don’t have internet access in their homes, online school was not a good option. |
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WAKING UP WITH CHRIST DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC
By Evelyn Rivera -- Denver, Colorado ... “Waking up with Christ” is a series of inspirational live morning devotionals offered to Hispanic church members every weekday morning at 7:00 a.m. via Zoom as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. A group of some fifty participants from Denver area Hispanic churches join the daily meetings consisting of a traditional song service, prayer requests, and a short message from a different pastor each day. |
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SUMMER 2020 LITERATURE PROGRAM SUSPENDED FOR STUDENTS
By RMCNews/Matt Hasty – Denver, Colorado . . . In consultation with RMC administration, the decision to suspend the summer student literature program due to the COVID-19 pandemic was made on May 19. “This was one of the hardest decisions that we have had to make. This affects student ministry opportunities, financial income to return to college, and active involvement for their summer. However, the health risk to the students, communities, churches and the families that host them is just too significant to risk at this time.” Eric Nelson, RMC VP for administration said. |
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SPRINGS ADVENTIST ACADEMY CELEBRATES THE CLASS OF 2020
By Michelle Velbis – Colorado Springs, Colorado . . . On Thursday, May 14, Springs Adventist Academy held graduation. However, due to social distancing guidelines, SAA had to get creative in recognizing the 5 students graduating.
To honor the two 8th grade graduates, SAA decided to invite each student and their immediate families to the school at different times. The students wore their cap and gown, and they recorded a short video to be posted to Facebook and SAA’s website to celebrated their achievements.
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GVR WOULD-BE CAMP COUNSELOR SERVE TENNESSEE TORNADO AFTERMATH
By Jessyka Dooley – Collegedale, Tennessee . . . Glacier View Ranch hired the most incredible staff for summer 2020. Although we are not able to see our staff in action at GVR, we’re excited to watch them serve their local communities.
John Kent, a student at Southern Adventist University was hired to be Senior Boys Counselor at GVR; however, he is now cleaning and rebuilding his local community, after an EF-3 tornado destroyed portions of East Brainerd, Ooltewah, and Collegedale, Tennessee on April 12.
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