Playin' in the leaf pile

Today was a perfect fall day. So how did we spend it;by playing football, 4-square, raking up a pile of leaves and making 'nests'. How will we end it; by making carmel apples and enjoying a movie.

This ones for you KARA!!! We love you and we miss you! We think about you every single day!
I heard this song just the other day, and decided it was for you.

Back to School

Today was the first day of school for most of the Reighard children. Jake and Matt are in 5th grade this year, Sami is in 3rd grade, and Justus is in 1st grade. Cole starts preschool in a couple weeks and will have pictures of his big day then.
Recess and lunch are the favorite picks from all of them for their first day back. 'Plus,' Jake added, 'my locker that has a combination. And yep I got it open today all by myself!'

Summer '09

As summer is coming to an end I have put together a slide show of some of the fun things we've done over the last month. There are about 50 pictures so enjoy!!

Romania - Thank you for your prayers and support

I have added a slide show of some of my pictures from Bucharest, and will try to explain some of them in this post:
The city of Bucharest still shows effects of being a communist country, most of the building are grey cement, lacking any color. However, occasionally you will see a beautiful building surrounded with flowers. The town has many beautiful fountains where Gypsy children can be found taking a bath. Although there are trash cans conveniently placed throughout the town they are rarely used, trash is scattered in the streets and yards. Most area's are not mowed they are left unattended. In this area of the world it is perfectly fine to just pee in the streets, or where ever you are. Dogs run the streets and it has been said that children have disappeared because of these starving animals.
Romania is trying to become part of the European Union and to do so they needed to close down all orphanages. Casa Shalom has found a home for all but one of the boys who lived there. The rest of the children have been sent to foster homes, boys homes, or returned back to the parents who couldn't afford to feed them, or abused/molested them. For this one week these children returned to Casa Shalom.
Sunday as the children started arriving we were ready for 25-30 kids. In Romania few camps are available and most parents can afford to send their children. There are no church camps, so because of this it was hard to turn any child away, and as word spread that first day or two we ended up with 60 + kids.
These kids ranged in age from 5-17. Some of them have been taught of Jesus' love while others had never heard of him before. We taught these kids who Jesus was, what He did for us, that He loves us - no matter what. God created, he designed everyone of them. He has a purpose for their life. We talked about standing up for what we believe. Standing strong in making the right choices.
Some of these kids came from the village, one of the little boys had never seen a shower or known of hot water. This was one of his favorite parts of camp along with getting to sleep in a bed all night, without being bother by his uncle. In this country there is nothing you can do for the children in these situations. For this one week, they were safe, they were fed, and they were loved.
Here are some exerts from the journal I kept during this week:
Monday after the evening service some of these kids came up for prayer. They asked for healing or for a home for a family. This night a boy around the age of 8 came forward and he said, 'I don't know much about Jesus but I want what ever it is.' A little girl said she didn't know if she had ever asked Jesus into her life but she wanted to be sure now. In the evenings we would go to the dorm rooms and have a little devotion time with them. It was so cute seeing these little girls kneeling in front of each other, laying their hands on them and praying.
The next evening we prayed for some of the older children and God used me in a way that I had never been used before. I knew it was coming but had been waiting patiently for God to work through me in this way. One night the kids were told to close their eyes and bow their heads. And asked this question, "Are you living your life for Jesus? Have you asked him to forgive you? Do you know if you will spend eternity in Heaven?" If they answered no or didn't know the answer to one of these questions they were invited to say a simple prayer with us. Many of them raised their hands admitting they didn't' know where they would spend eternity.
As we prayed with the teens a few of them had tears running down their cheeks as they were told how much God loves them and what he had planned for their lives.
During the morning activities the kids were split into teams and competed against each other. Our winning team - we took to McDonalds. Some of these kids had never before been in a McDonalds. We were in the van loaded up, ready to go and one of the 12 year old boys who was to be going with us was in his room crying, he wanted to put on clean clothes, a nicer outfit, but he didn't have it. Some of these kids came to camp for a whole week with nothing more than an outfit or two to wear.
However, the dirty clothes were soon forgotten as they walked in McDonalds all smiles.
As the camp kids were leaving to go back home, they would come up and tell us thank you, giving us a big hug goodbye, and a kiss on each cheek.
The next day we headed out to the village to take these children some candy and toys. As we started to pull up they started coming out of their shacks or what looked like abandoned buildings. These kids may not have been clean, they may not have had much at all, but they do have a smile that will melt your heart.
We went from there to a women's shelter. This had women between the ages of 18-30. They had been abandoned as children. Beaten, cut, raped, burned, and left physically and mentally scared. Some of them were so hungry for love and attention, while others have pushed the world away by dressing and acting like a guy. You see on the streets if they appear to be a guy they would be left alone. I will never forget these women and can only imagine what they must have gone through.
Although camp was over and most of the kids had gone, the Casa Shalom kids stayed with us an extra couple of days. One night - in the rain - we had a bond fire with them. Lightening bolts and umbrella's may not be the wisest combo, but we had a great time singing, goofing off, roasting marshmallows, and playing soccer with these 9 kids.
Sunday morning I had been asked to do a short 20 minute thing in their kids church, so after the kids from camp sang a song and did their worship dance, I headed upstairs for a bit.
John was asked to preach during this service. We were at church for 5 1/2 hours this morning. After the service practically every person wanted prayer. They are so hungry for God. They wanted to know if God had anything for them, they wanted to be used by God, asked for patience and wisdom. They wanted us to pray with them, that they would be set free from the nightmares they have had to live, free of generational curses, free from the bondage of witchcraft. Delivered from demonic spirits. These 5 1/2 hours didn't seem so long when God is moving is such an awesome way.
After the service we took the Casa Shalom kids to eat at a nice restaurant, they were so thankful that we did this for them. This is something they otherwise would not have had the opportunity to do.
Our last night with the kids we sat down with them, reminding them to stay strong, to stand up for what they believe. They asked us to keep praying for them, thanked us for teaching them more about Jesus and for playing with them.
This has been a life changing experience, one I will never forget. I thank God that I had the opportunity to go, the experience of doing a camp, and that He chose to use me in the area's He did. That He used us to minister to these children who desperately need so much.

Romania Missions Trip

Dear Friends & Family,
Let me share with you for just a few minutes, some of what I will be seeing in just a few short weeks:

Maria, a widowed mother of 7 children, who has had a tumor removed and can do no heavy lifting of her own, sends her older children out daily in search of food.
Her 3 year old daughter when asked to smile, replied…“I don’t know how to smile.”

Anna, a mother with a daughter who has down-syndrome can’t make ends meet, all they have in their home is a bed. No other furniture, almost no toys or clothes, no food.

Viorica, a widowed mother of 3, her home in bad shape, and no one left to help her.

The Savulescu family, mom, dad, and 4 children; while the dad is out desperately looking for work, the mother is at home baking bread for them to eat, and the children are out in the forest cutting down trees with an old cross-cut saw so the family will have some firewood.

In Bucharest, Romania there is an orphanage, Casa Shalom. Although the government there is ordering that all the children be returned to their families, (who could not afford to care for them,) so that their country could meet the standards to become a part of the European Union. Casa Shalom has currently found most of the children’s parents and reunited them, however they still have a couple of these children whom their parents are yet to be found. As tear jerking as it has been for them to send all these children back they have moved forward and are starting a whole new outreach.

For the widowed mother whose home was in bad shape, they went in and fixed her leaking roof, all the children now have beds and clothes; they now have kitchen cupboards and have been taught how to help the mother care for the house.

Anna has also had her leaking roof fixed, she has been blessed with furniture, clothes and toys for her daughter, and a refrigerator stocked full of food. This mother could hardly believe it, no one had ever helped her before.

Maria will soon receive a pump where she will not have to draw so much water each day by hand and have her rotted floor in her home repaired. Her children were given a bicycle and some toys, still little 3 year old Miheala never smiled.

The Savulescu family has been given lots of food and clothing for their children, and are in the process of doing more to help the family.

They are also helping children with disabilities, Costi who was born with crooked feet is having surgeries to correct this so that he may enjoy the rest of his life as a normal child who can run and climb.

Andreea, a 7 year old little girl who was born deaf will be receiving a hearing aid which will allow her to hear enough to be able to start going to school.

Casa Shalom is also currently running an after school program where as many as 100 children can be found each day, the children can be helped with homework, receive a good meal, given music lessons, and more.

There is a tremendous need in this area of the world and I have a wonderful opportunity to spend a week and a half there this summer, being a part of their first Kid’s Camp at Casa Shalom. During this week they will be bringing back many of the children from the orphanage and invite many of the children from the after school program to be a part of this Kid’s Camp. We will be sharing the word of God, where in this area of the world there are no Christians, no one to show them His great love and tell them of His mercy and grace. We will also be teaching these children skits and music ministry to take out on the street to be a witness to the street children in Romania. And after a week of camp, we will be going out onto the streets with them to launch this ministry.

Although this life changing experience will be priceless, an amazing eye opener for myself, and hopefully touching the hearts of many, there are still costs in getting to Romania, and so I am humbling myself in the act of asking you to help support me on this mission in my life. All donations will be tax deductible and appreciated in ways that words could not express.

As I have been asked to head up the lessons for this amazing adventure, I ask for your prayers in preparing all this, that God would give me the idea’s and wisdom to put all this together, and to prepare the hearts and minds of all the children we will be ministering to, and to touch their lives in ways that they have never been touched before, where they will get a glimpse of how truly wonderful our awesome God is. That God would fill them with joy and put a smile on their faces.

Thank you for taking the time to read this letter, for any amount you may be able to spare in these tough economical times, and for your prayers.

God Bless You!



Pastor Tanya Reighard



The theme for the camp will be CastAway
‘We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.’ 2 Corinthians 4:8-9
If you experience Christ’s presence and power in your life through a devoted personal relationship with him, absolutely no trouble, sickness, or tragedy will cause your spiritual defeat. When outward circumstances seem unbearable and your human abilities and resources are exhausted, God’s power and resources are given to increase your faith, hope, and strength. Under no circumstances will God abandon his faithful children.
CastAway - just as a ship wrecks and people are lost at see, people are hopelessly lost in this world desperately seeking love and happiness - their life raft - Jesus Christ.

Cole's First Raise...

At 3 years old Colben raised his first building on Friday. I wish I had the picture of Jason at this age raising his first building, the play house we had as kids. Colbens jacking system is way bigger and more sophisticated than when Jason was a child, but their hearts were both into the same thing - they both had passion for working. With Colben's dad by his side, teaching him the ways of this family business I'm sure he will be the next generation.

Daddy teaching Jake to shim.

Sami and Justus, watchin' from the tool truck.

Sunday Afternoon Relaxation...???

Grandma Sheila bought all the girls new dresses that they wore to church today. Of course we had to capture this for all of you, but getting 4 hungry girls to co-operate wasn't as easy as it may seem.

At first we tried outside, but it was just too cold.

Inside Abby didn't not want her picture taken and kept crawling away.

Awww, aren't these three so cute!

New idea, we'll set Abby on a bench....

Umm, nope that's not working either, she's jumping off.

Here, we got it. the 4 beautiful girls + Tanya.

And don't forget the boys...in army man gear.