CHANGING LIVES—Members of Crossfire Ministries, which have offices in MVP Athletic Center, went to the Ivory Coast to Abidjan, Africa to visit a church they helped finance. While there the lives of the African people touched their hearts and changed their outlook on life forever. The Rockford residents coudn’t believe the difference in everyday life from our country and this third-world poverty.

Rockford’s Crossfire ministries travel to Africa’s Ivory Coast

by PASTOR Keith Hemmila

Crossfire Ministries

If you are satisfied with your life and happy with yourself, don’t go to Africa.  You will come back forever changed.  Abidjan was just another dot on the map until we visited this city.

We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but now it has a permanent home forever in our hearts.  We still see a multitude of faces, beautiful people going through the motions of everyday life, with a hope that someday things will improve. 

Civil War broke out in early 2001 that crippled the country.  Abidjan, Ivory Coast’s largest city of 3.8 million, was hardest hit.  The war caused 800,000 Europeans to exit  the country along with the world bank.  This beautiful city turned into a refugee camp.

Young people between the ages of 16 and 25 populated the city.  Many had lost their families in the war and had come to Abidjan to reestablish themselves.  Every morning it hit us that in a few days we would be going home, but for these people, this is their life.  While we drove through the city, we felt helpless as we encountered so many people in need.

Our hearts were troubled as we caught sight of an elderly woman begging for her daily food.  Children walked between the cars at intersections selling goods from newspapers to toilet paper.  But the most heartbreaking scene was a young man walking on his feet and hands because his body was so severely twisted.  Medical facilities were minimal for this unfortunate man.  It was a startling reminder of the difference between our country and a third world country.

Myself and wife Judy Hemmila, Sherry Holmes, Shirlee Kamstra and Linda Penn-Davies made up the team that went to Abidjan.  The purpose of our visit was to work with Bishop Anthony Yeboah, Field Director of Free International Missions.  Pastors preached at eight services in three different churches.  The three other participants came as support staff.  Rice was purchased by Crossfire Ministries and distributed to needy people.  Also, this team had the opportunity to visit a new church Crossfire Ministries helped finance in 2008.

The road trip to our first ministry event was shocking.  Garbage lined the streets and actual garbage dumps existed throughout the city.  It was a perfectionist’s nightmare.

We traveled on dirt roads full of pot holes and debris.  We saw miles of shacks without doors or windows covered with simple tin roofs.  Young men were hauling grass in carts for $2 a day while women carried heavy loads of merchandise or food on their heads to sell.  We were all speechless and had a hard time holding back the tears.

Amidst the poverty, we discovered the treasure that existed within the people.  They were beautiful, happy and generous.  The colors in their clothing were spectacular.  They spoke a beautiful French dialect.

The first Sunday worship service was at 6:30 a.m.  with people filling the building and two large tents. We were so moved by the beautiful people with huge smiles that we didn’t notice all the armed guards and barbed wire.   Worship was amazing.  The music was full of life and the singing was passionate.  The worship team moved from one song of praise to another.  The people often danced around the church as they sang.  The music was so joyful that Pastor Judy was compelled to join in the dance.  This sparked giggles and smiles showing they were delighted that she had joined them.  It proved that love and communication are more than speaking the same language. 

As we reflect upon our trip, there are common impressions and lessons we learned from our experience.  First, we recognize how fortunate we are to live in the United States.  Sherry Holmes said, “I am so thankful that here in the states I can put my toothbrush under the faucet and back in my mouth without worrying about getting sick.  I do not need a wall with barbed wire around my home and there are not armed guards or check points in Grand Rapids.  I do not sit 16 hours a day in the middle of dirt and trash trying to make a living.  Even the poor in our country have a backup plan called welfare or food pantries.  Those who lose their jobs in the United States can apply for unemployment and get paid for not working; not so in West Africa.”

Linda Penn-Davies was also shocked by conditions there. “I was taken back by the armed soldiers standing on the street corners and soldiers driving jeeps with mounted machine guns,” she said.  “This is everyday life for these people.  Can you imagine armed soldiers walking around Rockford?  I’m so thankful for this experience.  I’m forever changed and know I am a better person for it.” 

Pastor Judy reflected upon her renewed appreciation for our country.  “We are so blessed.  God has watched over, prospered and protected our nation because we patterned our culture on Biblical principles.  I wonder how long we will be a blessed nation if we foolishly ignore and reject Christ and His teachings.”

Shirlee Kamstra shared how going to Abidjan gave her a new perspective of God’s passionate desire for a larger family and how He desires her to share this good news.  Telling others about the loving and amazing God she serves and extending the invitation for them to experience His love and forgiveness.   

Last, our view of church has been enlarged.  It’s not about bricks and bucks.  It’s about relationship with God and one another. 

We are more committed to missions here in Rockford as well as in West Africa.  Linda summed up the teams thoughts quite well.  “I had to go to Africa to find myself.  I know I will go again.  It was a dream of mine; now it’s a passion.  Every Christian needs to go on a mission’s trip.  It doesn’t have to be in Africa, it can be down south, the inner city, Mexico, but they need to do it.  God will enlarge out influence when He enlarges our hearts.”

If you would like to learn more about how to prepare for a trip to West Africa, please call our church office at (616) 863-8197.  A DVD with music is available at our website: www.crossfire-ministries.org

A SHADY FUTURE—Nancy Hoovler and Judy Markee help a Shaner Avenue Nursery staffer plant one of three trees the Rockford Garden Club donated to Rockford Public Schools. These trees will shade the hill by the softball field.

When the Rockford Garden Club asked Rockford schools where they would like a few new trees planted, Jim VanHouten of the grounds department had the answer.

On Thursday, April 9, club members joined VanHouten and staff from Shaner Nursery at a high school ball field. A sunny hilltop where families sit to watch their student-athletes play was cool in April, but can be uncomfortably warm in summer months. The Garden Club had just the solution in three maples.

“We very rarely buy trees, we focus on other things, so we really appreciate this when it happens,” said VanHouten.

The Rockford Garden Club is one of many organizations in Rockford that contribute to the quality of life in our town. Donating trees to Rockford Public Schools is an on-going effort. This year the club was able to buy the three trees at about $180 each for the high school. The trees will eventually reach 45 feet and provide a good amount of shade.

So far the club has donated to several other schools, and has the goal of donating one to each school in the district. When they contacted the high school, they were asked if they could donate more than one.

Funds for trees and an annual scholarship for a Rockford High School graduate going into the field of horticulture come from an annual plant sale which has grown very successful as the word has gotten out about the great deals offered.

This year’s sale is scheduled for Saturday, May 16, at the Rotary pavilion located at the corner of Squire and Courtland in downtown Rockford.

The public will enjoy the efforts of the 66 members and their green thumbs as they sell home grown garden goods  including perennials,  ground covers, small bushes/shrubs, annuals, herbs, bulbs and vines. Members will be on hand to offer advice and answer questions. Many are master gardeners.

The open sale begins at 9:00 a.m.  and at 11:30 there will be an auction of remaining plants. Shoppers can enjoy the low prices and wide selection, as well as free advice. Spend freely and know that proceeds go toward good works such as the donation project for Rockford Public Schools.

VanHouten stated, “As a school district we love to see this going on. We also have lots of memorial trees in the district. Families sometimes donate a tree in the name of their son or daughter. We provide plaques so people can read them and know where the tree came from.”

Vehicle hits plate glass window at Lickety Split ice cream shop.

Hitting the gas instead of the break put a mini van through the plate glass window of Lickety Split ice cream shop, 1259 Post Drive, Belmont, Suite F, on Saturday, May 2.

Witnesses say a family had been sitting at the table in front of the window minutes before the crash, and that the children had left their seats to look something up in a Bible at the shop. The elderly drivers waited in the vehicle until Kent County Sheriff deputies arrived on the scene.

Auto crashes to inside of Lickety Split ice cream shop.

Not only did the van shatter the window at Lickity Split, the wall of the dental office next door was also damaged. Deputies reported there were no injuries.

FOREVER FUN—Kaleigh Olsen and Jackson Southwick blowing bubbles.

Program among the top in the nation by earning NAEYC accreditation

FOREVER FUN-Kaleigh Olsen and Jackson Southwick blowing bubbles.

ARTIST AT WORK-Trent Behrenwald  completing his 3-D creation.

Rockford Public Schools Childcare has earned accreditation from the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) – the nation’s leading organization of early childhood professionals.

“We’re proud to have earned the mark of quality from NAEYC, and to be recognized for our commitment to reaching the highest professional standards,” said Mary Blakeslee, program director. “NAEYC accreditation lets families in our community know that children in our program are getting the best care and early learning experiences possible.” 

To earn NAEYC accreditation, the childcare went through an extensive self-study process, measuring the program and its services against the ten NAEYC Early Childhood Program Standards and more than 400 related accreditation criteria. The program received NAEYC accreditation after a site visit by NAEYC assessors to ensure the program meets each of the ten program standards. NAEYC-accredited programs are also subject to unannounced visits during their accreditation, which lasts for five years.

In the 23 years since NAEYC accreditation was established, it has become a widely recognized sign of high-quality early childhood education. Almost 8,000 programs, serving one million young children, are currently accredited by NAEYC-approximately eight percent of all preschools and other early childhood programs.
“The NAEYC accreditation system raises the bar for preschools, childcare centers and other early childhood programs,” said Mark Ginsberg, Ph.D., executive director of NAEYC. “The school’s childcare  NAEYC accreditation is a sign that they are a leader in a national effort to invest in high-quality early childhood education, and to help give all children a better start.”

The NAEYC accreditation system has set voluntary professional standards for programs for young children since 1985. In September 2006, the Association revised program standards and criteria to introduce a new level of quality, accountability, and service for parents and children in childcare programs. The new standards today reflect the latest research and best practices in early childhood education and development. NAEYC is committed to utilizing the newest studies and analysis on positive child outcomes to ensure young children continue receiving the highest-quality care and education possible.

The NAEYC accreditation system was created to set professional standards for early childhood education, and to help families identify high-quality preschools, childcare centers and other early education programs. Programs are accredited by NAEYC for a five-year period.

Stella Clove and her aunt Stella Lonigro.

The Rockford Squire traveled with Rockford resident Stella Clove to Canneto, Bari, Italy to celebrate on April 23, the 100th birthday of her aunt Stella Lonigro.

Roguewood students receive their award.

Roguewood and Valley View may soon have other Rockford elementaries going green with envy. Both have been honored with an award by Green School awards program hosted by Kent County and Kent ISD. The ceremony took place at the LEED certified Fine Arts Center in Forest Hills Public Schools. According to Principal Hiblen, the students had 20 “green” project options and were to complete ten of them before Earth Day on April 22. “We did a bunch of different things,” Hiblen said of his Roguewood Green Team. The students set a goal for the school to recycle all paper, implemented a battery recycling program, all as part of a district-wide comprehensive energy-savings program that has saved the district hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Emily Schnepp receiving Valley Views Green School award.

Both schools sent their Green Team students for a ceremony recognizing their successful efforts.   Brad Davison, fifth grade teacher at Valley View and  Nancy Berg, fourth grade teacher, were co-sponsors of the student-run Green Team at Valley View.  Students decided on their ten state green school projects and have worked on these all yearlong. They include designing and planting a native Michigan rain garden, recycling paper and plastic, being involved in a plastic bag county project (they recycled over 22,000 plastic bags), designing environmental teaching lessons and teaching to lower elementary grade levels, hosting environmental speakers, and starting a composting center for lunch food scraps.  “We are very proud of the efforts all the students at Valley View and especially the Green Team,” said Berg.

Hiblen said of the students at both schools, “I am extremely proud, really it’s an example of documenting things kids do every day and I celebrate the chance of giving them credit for that.”

“The Green Schools program supports the county’s continued effort to strengthen conservation, encourage energy reduction and build ‘green buildings’ like our new Department of Human Services and District Court buildings,” noted Roger C. Morgan, chair of the Kent County Board of Commissioners. 

“We are excited to partner with Kent County in presenting these awards to our schools,” said Kent ISD Superintendent Kevin A. Konarska, and have been told we are the only ISD-County partnership in Michigan Green Schools. The students and educators here today are great examples of the energy and enthusiasm schools are bringing to critical environmental issues-and the difference they are making, at school, home and our community.

“Districts are working hard to save energy and taxpayer dollars and have long taught environmental awareness in their classrooms. This new program helps us recognize their efforts.”

The program was created by legislation (Public Act 146 of 2006) to encourage schools to participate in environmentally-focused activities and provide the incentive of the “Green Schools Certificate.” Some of the environmental activities our schools are doing to earn their certificates include:

• Recycling programs, and most of them have multiple recycling programs (some even earn money from them).
• 33 schools have a birdhouse habitat project – many as part of larger habitat creation.
• Composting school lunch scraps.
• Saving square feet of rainforest with a “click-through” website.

A PROUD MOMENT—Lena Sims shows off her award for coming in as the State’s 1st place winner in Fundamental Accounting sponsored by the Business Professionals of America.

by CHRISTINE BIGNEY

Lena Sims looks like the-girl-next-door, a senior at Rockford High School. She’s articulate, pleasant to talk to, and occasionally humorous. Any parent would be proud to have Lena as their daughter, just on that basis alone. But Lena is something special. Not only does she thrive on “lots of AP (advanced placement) classes,” such as AP English, AP calculus, AP physics, and AP Spanish, Lena has won an award that many students would find elusive. This past January, Lena won 1st place at the State Competition in Fundamental Accounting, an award sponsored by the Business Professionals of America. Mr. Noel Fike, Lena’s BPA chapter advisor, and teacher of business management courses at Rockford High School, asked his business students if any of them would be interested in competing for this award. “This is something new for Rockford this year. We get extra funding from the state if we have this available to the students. We had 27 members this year,” Fike said.

Fike went on to say that there were many competitions to compete in at Davenport University. Five students from Rockford were able to go to Regionals, Lena being the only one scoring 100 percent.

Was the test hard? “Not really,” Lena said, smiling. “There were a few things I didn’t know, but we were allowed to use the manual, so as long as you had an idea, you were ok.”

The awards ceremony was held at the Amway JW Marriott, where 2000 people gathered in anticipation of the announcement of the awards. “I really hoped I would just make nationals, but I couldn’t believe
I was number one in the state!” Lena exclaimed. Lena hopes to pursue international accounting, “So I can use my Spanish,” she said. Ohio State or the University of Michigan is her college choices. “Hopefully over Spring break I can make a decision.”

Mr. and Mrs. Fike along with Lena’s mom Connie, will be accompanying Lena to the nationals in Dallas, Texas May 6 through May 10.

Lena’s dad, Leslie Sims, is currently in Iraq, working as an electrician government contractor. He has been there since last October.

When asked if she participates in any sports, Lena replied that she was in Crew for three years, “But now I mostly work on getting scholarships.”

Mr. Fike said, “I’m extremely pleased about the group as a whole, and Lena placing 1st . It’s nice to see a Rockford student place in it’s first year.

May 10th

• Bill Antor
• Jack Cook
• Jodi Hay
• Linda Martinson
• Gary Pratt
• Delores Quinn
• Gerry Riemersma

May 11th

• Stan Hone

May 12th

• Paul Des Noyers
• Ralph R. Smith
• Bill Troy

May 13th

• Harold Martinson
• Michael Richard
• Tyler TenBrink
• Esther Waller

May 14th

• David Dingman
• Chuck Pearson
• Connie Potter
• Lynda Ringelberg

May 15th

• Steve Douthett
• Curt Hazlewood
• Cyndy Len
• Linda Richard
• Darlene Thorington

Roger Allen, publisher

Don’t blame the pigs

Apparently it was the pork chop producers lobby that got the name “swine flu” changed to “H1N1 flu.”  I’m glad.  I had flu myself last winter and I never kissed a pig. Anyway, pigs never had this particular strain of influenza. These intelligent animals got the bad rap because it’s related to a disease they sometimes get. What an injustice – encouraged, no doubt, by the fact that pigs aren’t beautiful. Human beings are so shallow.

Looking east, I understand in Egypt they are killing all the pigs just to be on the safe side.  If we have to blame the disease on an innocent animal, let’s call it “mole flu.”  Nobody is fond of moles and they’re not part of a food industry. Maybe the Egyptians should kill all their moles. The pork lobby would appreciate having the world’s attention diverted from its product.

Looking south, I think we should just feel sorry for the Mexicans. Between swine flu-oops, H1N1-and the drug wars, they’re living dangerous lives. They have plenty of reasons for sneaking into the U.S.

TO:  GOD

FROM: DOG

Dear God:  Is it on purpose our names are the same, only reversed?

Dear God:  Why do humans smell the flowers, but seldom, if ever, smell one another?

Dear God:  When we get to heaven, can we sit on your couch? Or is it still the same old story?

Dear God:  If a Dog barks his head off in the forest and no human hears him, is he still a bad Dog?

Dear God: We Dogs can understand human verbal instructions, hand signals, whistles, horns, clickers, beepers, scent ID’s, electromagnetic energy fields, and Frisbee flight paths. What do humans understand?

Dear God:  More meatballs, less spaghetti, please.

Dear God:  Are there mailmen in Heaven? If there are, will I have to apologize?

Dear God:  Let me give you a list of just some of the things I must remember to be a good Dog:

 1. I will not eat the cats’ food before they eat it or after they throw it up. 

 2. I will not roll on dead seagulls, fish, crabs, etc., just because I like the way they smell.

 3. The Litter Box is not a cookie jar.

 4. The sofa is not a “face towel.”

 5. The garbage collector is not stealing our stuff.

 6. I will not play tug-of-war with Dad’s underwear when he’s on the toilet.

 7. Sticking my nose into someone’s crotch is an unacceptable way of saying hello.

 8. I don’t need to suddenly stand straight up when I’m under the coffee table.

 9. I must shake the rainwater out of my fur before entering the house, not after.

10. I will not come in from outside and immediately drag my butt.

11. I will not sit in the middle of the living room and lick my crotch.

12. The cat is not a squeaky toy, so when I play with him and he makes that noise, it’s usually not a good thing.

Jerry Coon, Enrolled Agent

Seminars help to improve client service

As I have gotten older, I enjoy listening to more different types of music than I did when I was much younger. For instance, my future son-in-law Devon Cunningham and I just happened to end up at Founders Brew Pub in Grand Rapids last weekend. I have written before about the variety of craft beers available in West Michigan and the fact that I do enjoy drinking a good craft beer now and then. Founders happens to brew some of the best so we happened to be sampling some of those best beers.

After a while, some musicians started setting up for some live music. The band setting up was a collection of musicians called the Grand Rapids Jazz Band. When I was 20 years old, I might not have enjoyed the jazz they played. However, at this stage of my life, I enjoyed it tremendously, as did the rest of the crowd at Founders. The jazz music played was very lively and, from what I saw and heard, the Grand Rapids Jazz Band has quite a few very talented musicians who really know how to play jazz. They play at Founders on the first Sunday of every month. I might just happen to end up at Founders sampling one of their craft brews on one of these future first Sundays of the month.

I am also going to end up attending a few more tax seminars than normal this coming summer. The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) has guaranteed more education is required for all tax professionals in the coming few months. The tax business, like most businesses, is a client service business and the more knowledge we have of the tax laws, the better we can serve our clients.

On May 14 and 15, the Michigan Chapter of the National Association of Tax Professionals (MI-NATP) will hold a two-day conference in Grand Rapids. Among various topics, the ARRA has top billing. I am a long-time member of MI-NATP, and their specialty is bringing taxes down to my level of client service. The instructors are tax professionals, such as me, who are practicing tax professionals. They know where the rubber hits the road, so to speak, and are more than willing to pass on their experiences to the rest of us.

Specifically, there will be quite a discussion on the Making Work Pay Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit. These provisions of the ARRA are the provisions that have reduced federal withholding for everyone in America who is getting a paycheck. Without guidance, some clients are going to have their withholding reduced too much and they will have a balance due at the end of this year. We will discuss at the conference how we can reach these clients and give them the client service they deserve.

There will be a discussion on the Energy Tax Credits available as well as regular tax topics such as the evolving Dependency and Qualifying Child Rules.

I am sure it will be an interesting two days. There are also seminars available monthly throughout the summer. I’m not sure how many of those I will attend. After all, I do have to get in a week of fishing up in Canada, a week and a weekend or two of camping with my family, and make time to attend the Knoxville Nationals sprint car races in Iowa.

My fear is that the summer will be gone in the snap of my fingers.

However, in September, the regular seminar season gets started. At these seminars, normal everyday subjects are covered in-depth. Items such as how to deal with a client’s vacation home that is rented out, how to counsel a client who is contemplating starting a business as an LLC, how to help a client who inherits some stock, bonds or a house, or how to help a client who has lost a job and is contemplating withdrawing money from his 401k or IRA.

Knowing how to answer these questions and properly help these clients is the difference between a tax preparer and a tax professional. It does take time to attend seminars and conferences and convert those experiences into client service, but it is time well-spent. This is Jerry Coon signing off.

Jerry Coon is an Enrolled Agent. He owns

Action Tax Service on Northland Drive in Rockford.

His e-mail address is jcoon@actiontaxservice.com.