Heather Hodges

At the 2nd annual Family Festival we will celebrate our culturally diverse neighborhoods of East Tulsa by throwing a party for our children and families. 

There are many ethnicities and languages represented in East Tulsa and I believe we are a more vibrant community because of our differences.  While it is important that immigrants to our country assimilate into our culture and learn English we want to celebrate our differences and the richness of our respective cultures. 

For centuries  people from all over the world have been coming to America for the same reasons – freedom and hope — and then a Frenchman created a statue that embodied their hopes and dreams and the promise of America, “Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free…” – The Statue of Liberty. 

On Wednesday evening May 14^th, 2008 the Garnett Bilingual Preschool, the Garnett Church of Christ, and the Green Country Event Center will host the 2^nd annual Family Festival.  Admission to the event is free. 

There will be inflatables for the children, pony rides, a clown, a magician, face painting, balloon animals, and family style games such as three legged races, parent-child wheel barrow races, water balloon toss, and a hula hoop contest. 

We will have demonstrations by the Hmong cultural dancers, Karate Shikara by the students of José Munoz, gymnastics by Aim High Academy and the students of the Garnett Bilingual Preschool, Safari’s Interactive Animal Sanctuary, and a Magic Show by Michael Platten.

There will also be food for sale by Hmong’s Café, Wing Stop, barbeque by Chef Roy Victory, Mexican food from Carnicieria la Placita, and of course pop corn and cotton candy.

I hope everyone in the Tulsa area will bring their families by for food, fun, frivolity, and of course a little culture.  See you there!!!!

I’m finally home after a very long, but rewarding journey to Novosibirsk, Russia. The reason I went was to help lead the 2008 Mentor Retreat for World Wide Youth Camps. They are an international missions ministry focused on orphans in Russia and Ukraine. They host summer and winter camps for the orphans in which American mission teams will travel to both countries to conduct church camp for the children. During the camps Russian and Ukrainian mentors serve as translators for the Americans but they also form spiritual friendships with the orphans. After the Americans leave, these in-country mentors will continue their relationships with the orphans. It might be compared to our Big Brother/Big Sister program where at-risk kids are mentored and shown love from a caring adult.

One of the hard lessons I learned from this trip is that orphans in Russia are considered inferior by the culture and have a very small chance of becoming successful after leaving the orphanage. They suffer from “institutional syndrome” and may physically be 16 years old, but are in fact emotionally much younger. As a result, when they leave the orphanage at 17 or 18, they are not ready to face the challenges of living on their own and many fall into drugs, alcoholism, prostitution, and some commit suicide. The Russian mentors working with WWYC want to help the orphans avoid these pitfalls. So they start mentoring the orphans while they are still in the orphanage and build lasting friendships with them. They spend their own time and money taking the orphans to lunch, buying them clothes, and most importantly spending time in conversation with them. The mentors walk along side the orphans helping them make difficult decisions and preparing for life outside the orphanage. One of the goals of WWYC is to create a facility that will serve as a half-way house for the orphans. This sanctuary is several years away, but the need is immediate. It would serve as a respite for the orphans and a safe place for them to go, meet with their mentor, find compassion, have bible studies, gain life skills and rest.

The retreat that I helped lead with my brother Houston Heflin and Rob Browne was very similar to spiritual retreats here. We were led in textual studies by Houston out of Matthew 14 (Jesus walks on the water), and I took the group through team-building activities and helped apply the teaching with games and initiatives. We prayed together, played together, had good food, stayed up late talking, cried together, and made new friends as a result. Our goal for the retreat was to mentor the mentors, build them up through the Word and through our actions. We hoped to not only give them more tools to draw from as they minister to the orphans in Novosibirsk, but also to deepen their faith in Christ. We had very serious times together and very silly times too. But throughout the experience the Lord was present in powerful ways. Most of the mentors are Christians, but several of them have not yet given their lives fully to Him. Please continue to pray not only for the orphans but for these wonderful people who stand beside them and mentor them.

Houston teaching.

Buddy Ropers - a team building game also known as Group Knot

Group Lap Sit - this can be accomplished with a very large group too.

“Super” Olga and Olga “99″ navigating the mine field. They were being verbally guided through by a partner on the other side of the room.

Natalia preparing for the Trust Fall. This may seem familiar to us, but it was very threatening to some of the mentors.

Thanks again for all your thoughts and prayers while I was gone. Wade and the boys did fine while I was away and I even came home to a semi-clean house and more food in the fridge than when I left. Some of you have asked about the cold…yes it was VERY cold (minus 10 degrees F). Siberia in February-what was I thinking? It was so cold my teeth hurt when I was outside. But I must say, the cold is not what I will remember most about this trip. I will remember the warmth of my new friends in Russia, late night tea, Super Olga’s tears, Pushcoff’s jokes, Houston trying to stay awake through jet lag, Rob sneaking upstairs to put little gifts on the mentor’s beds, walking arm-in-arm with Anna through the woods, eating new foods, Natalia shouting “make it 12″, the rubber chicken flying through the room, being so tired we were giddy, the joy of meeting new friends, but most of all the pain of saying goodbye.

After a very long journey I arrived in Moscow on Wednesday morning at 10am. My brother, Houston and I waited in line at immigration hoping our visas were in order so we could collect our luggage, exit customs and find our tour guide. We breezed through, got ALL our luggage and were greeted at the exit door by a lovely woman named Alla holding a sign that read “Heflin/Hodges.” The day was starting off well.

We traveled by car into Moscow, which took about an hour and half. Cars are becoming more and more accessible to the average Russian person, but the highway infrastructure was not built to hold the increasing volume of traffic. Thus, travel by car is arduous and very slow. Houston and I sat in the back seat (trying to hold down our breakfast) while the driver whipped in and out of lanes and our knowledgeable guide gave us brief lectures about the Orthodox church, Russian history, the Great Patriotic War (WWII), Russian culture and art, politics, Russian language, and international relations. Needless to say it was an information rich car ride.

As we neared the center of town we began to have glimpses of gold domed churches and the red brick wall around the Kremlin. Our driver, pulled over and we hopped out to walk the rest of the distance to Red Square. Snow began to lightly fall on the cobble stoned streets creating an ethereal, almost dreamlike quality to the day. We entered Red Square and I was met with the unbelievable view of St. Basil’s Cathedral. I have never seen a picture of it that has done it justice. Nor can words tell you how indescribably vivid the colors are and how distinctive and intricate the architecture is. The Russian’s consider it their 8^th wonder of the world. I understand why.

We walked the length of Red Square, where many decades ago tanks and troops also traveled on their way to meet Hitler. We paused at Lenin’s tomb, then took one more lingering look at St. Basil’s and ran inside a nearby shopping center for hot tea and to thaw out.

After our break, we viewed the changing of the guard at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier outside the Kremlin wall.

We then entered the Kremlin where we saw the largest canon that was never fired, and the largest bell that has never rung.

Vladimir Putin’s presidential residency is also inside the Kremlin and it is flanked by canons.

There are many churches inside the Kremlin walls and we visited the Church of the Assumption, where every tsar of Russia was crowned. Russian orthodox services are conducted while the congregation stands so the sanctuary is open and contains no pews or anywhere to sit. The walls are frescoed with stories from the bible and the Russian Orthodox church history.

Next we visited the Armory, which is a treasure trove of Russian artifacts. There are gold carriages from the tsars, thrones, crown jewels, ancient weapons, costumes from Catherine the Great, beautiful religious artifacts, gold and silver gifts that were presented to the tsars from foreign diplomats and of course Faberge eggs. Visiting the Armory was the highlight of the day.

Tonight we will meet the Russian mentors from World Wide Youth Camps and begin our retreat /seminar. Thank you all for your prayers and support while I am away.

On Tuesday, February 19th I will be going to Novosibirsk, Russia to help lead a spiritual formation/team building retreat with World Wide Youth Camps. They are “an international missions ministry focused on planting the seed of Christ into the hearts of children of every tongue, tribe, and nation.” They host both summer camps and school-year retreats where children are taught the Bible and create spiritual friendships with mentors. These “in-country” mentors continue the work after the camps are over and offer a consistent presence in the lives of the children. World Wide Youth Camps also partners with orphanages to touch children and help them attend their programs. Finally, they recruit and develop international leaders and teams for short-term mission trips.

My brother, Houston Heflin, who is a minister in the Dallas area, will be leading the retreat next week. I’m very excited about this opportunity for several reasons. (1) I will experience another culture and walk along side Russian Christians on their journey to follow Jesus , (2) I will be able to build relationships with Russians who will be striving to live out their faith by caring for and loving orphans (3) I will spend a week with my brother while teaching about Jesus, (4) I get to see Red Square, the Kremlin, the Russian armory, St. Basil’s, and Siberia in the winter time.

The Lord has blessed me so abundantly and richly to be able to live this kind of adventure for Him. Please pray for my safety while I travel, for my preparation and presentation of the gospel, for Wade and the boys while I’m gone, and that those we work with on this retreat will be inspired to lead others to Christ. Thank you so much for your prayers and support of my ministry. Peace.

The Kremlin

Red Square

St. Basil’s

Wade and I returned home today after our “second honeymoon” in Hawaii this past week.  My parents deserve a medal for their willingness to go above and beyond the call of grandparent duty.  Their heroism in taking care of and taming Caleb and Elijah for a week will not be forgotten.  Thanks you guys!!!!

The weather was perfect, while we were there.  Wade called it “weather neutral,” not too hot, not too cold, not too windy, just right.  The water was beautiful, the snorkeling excellent, the food delicious, and the company outstanding.  If it hadn’t been for two little boys waiting for us back home (and two grandparents who would have hunted us down) we would have started looking for an apartment and jobs at the Shaka Pizza Shak.

The worst part of the whole trip was leaving 79 degree weather and arriving in 9 degree weather.  That just HURT, especially since I still had on my Hawaiian shirt, shorts, and flip flops.  Poor planning on my part.

Thanks again to everyone who helped me pull-off this surprise for Wade, I’m in your debt. (R.B. I guess you will take your pound of flesh in a few weeks when we head to Siberia.  Burrrrrr.  Bring it on, I’m ready.  See you soon.)

Makena Big Beach.  The largest undeveloped beach on Maui.

Almost sunset. We were on our way to Cafe O’Lei, our favorite eatery in Kihei.

The last lava flow on Maui erupted out of the side of Mt. Haleakela in 1790.  The area is a still a desolate moon scape after 200 years.

We stopped at the Maui Plantation at the base of the West Maui Mountains and I learned how to make a lei.

My new hand made lei.  More pictures to come of our underwater adventures.

Mele Kalikimaka sung by Bing Crosby

Well, the cat’s out of the bag….Wade knows we’re going to Maui.  Thanks to everyone who helped me arrange this fantastic Hawaii get-away.   Mahalo!

While Oklahoma was in the grips of a crippling ice storm, I was in the grips of the most heart wrenching novel I have read all year.

I had heard lots of great reviews for Khaled Hosseini’s The Kite Runner. After reading it earlier this year I must say the praise was justified. As good as that novel was, A Thousand Splendid Suns was even better. Hosseini is a straightforward story teller. His writing is beautifully simple with well-chosen metaphors and enticing foreshadowing. I was completely drawn into the lives of Laila and Miriam, two Afghan women.

In A Thousand Splendid Suns, the modern history of Afghanistan (1964-2003) is told eloquently through the eyes of Laila and Mariam. Their story is marked by death and loss, unimaginable grief, war, the Taliban, oppression of women, sacrifice, and hope. Yet, in the face of so much pain Laila sees that people find a way to survive, to endure and go on. Undoubtedly, this is more than a story of survival in the face of what seems to be impossible odds. It is a story of the unconquerable spirit of the Afghan people seen through the eyes of two tenacious women.

Don’t hesitate to pick up either one of these treasures, The Kite Runner or A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini, you will not be disappointed (but keep a box of tissues handy.)

I heard a sermon preached yesterday that I have been waiting many years to hear. I am very proud of the courage and conviction it took to be able to teach on such a delicate topic. My hopes and prayers are that women in the church will be encouraged to use their spiritual gifts to the fullest. Yet, I know that many people will hear and interpret something different from what was actually said. My deepest desire is that a healthy and Godly conversation will grow from this.  May grace and love abound.

“Women in Leadership at Garnett”

It has been a pleasure reading your feedback to my previous post. I am humbled that so many of you took the time to weigh in on this very important subject. I invite you now to brain storm with me what the next actions could be for a congregation that believes women should use their gifts fully in service to God. Where do we go from here? How do a group of believers proceed down a path that will inevitably cause pain or discomfort to others? Is it possible to change church culture? Should we attempt to change church culture? Do you know of examples from other congregations who have navigated these waters already? Is there anything we can learn from their triumphs or failures?

I have long been an advocate of women exercising their spiritual gifts in the church. I noticed the discrepancy between how males and females served the Lord in public when I was about 5 years old. “Singing Night” was every first Wednesday of the month at the church where I grew up in Azle, Texas. The congregation would meet together in the auditorium for an hour of worship. During this time Odell Bramlett, the song leader, would invite the little boys to come down front with him for a few songs as his song-leaders-in-training. My brothers would eagerly rush to the front to join Brother Odell. When I tried to follow them, a gentle hand pulled me back down on the pew. When I asked my dad why I couldn’t help lead worship like my brothers, his answer was grossly insufficient for both of us. He and my mom didn’t always agree with the traditions and heritage of the Church of Christ. At home a different truth was taught. I was brought up to believe that I was worthy in the sight of God and was gifted by Him for His service.

I was taught about the courage and faithfulness of the women of the Bible, and how the Lord moved in their lives and was glorified by their talents and service. From the time I was a child I heard the names of Sarah, Rachael, Leah, Jochebed, Miriam, Abigail, Tamar, Deborah, Jael, Rahab, Esther, Ruth, Hannah, Elizabeth, Anna, Mary, Martha, Dorcas (Tabitha), Lydia, Phoebe, Chloe, Priscilla, Junias, Lois, and Eunice. These women served in every roll imaginable in the kingdom. There was a mother of nations, a song leader, a ruler, a warrior, a hero, a determined convert, a rescuer, a faithful mom, a loyal wife, a prophetess, a hostess, a church planter, a teacher, an apostle, a philanthropist, a business woman, a devout Christian, and a woman honored above all other woman as the mother of Christ.

Throughout Scripture we read story after story of these great women who had distinct roles in the kingdom of God. Whether they were pious or not, they were used for the glory of the Lord. Unfortunately, many Christian churches today have let two culturally restrictive Scriptures (1 Co 14:34 and 1 Tim 2:12) over shadow the rich history of women in the Bible. Scholars agree that these two Scriptures were cultural directions that dealt with specific situations and are not to be directives to all churches for all times. However, many churches have applied these two restrictions to all women for all times. Other churches have softened their stance for women’s roles but have kept women in the background because of “heritage values.”

It is time for a better understanding of Scripture and a better understanding of how the Lord has used and plans to use women in his kingdom. So, where are the women in churches today? They are where they have always been. They are behind the scenes planning, coordinating, and organizing. They are in the kitchen, nursery, and classrooms. They are on their knees in prayer. They are battling the enemy head-on in their homes, at work, the community and the mission field. They are raising-up generations of faithful believers.

Women have been functioning in the role of a supporter, nurturer, hostess, care-giver, or children’s teacher. Many women have been able to fully exercise their spiritual gifts within the boundaries of these roles. These women have served their church family in completeness and have felt little restriction or confinement in these roles. However, there are a large number of women who have felt that their spiritual gifts have been unusable to the church. These women are gifted in administration, business, scholarship, public speaking, and leadership. These women are entrepreneurs, doctors, professors, mothers, politicians, bankers, administrators, social workers, and business women. They have occupied roles in the world that have best suited their interests, talents, and areas of giftedness. Women are presidents of universities, prime ministers of countries, and CEOs of top 10 companies. In the world they have had the freedom to excel and be effective.

The talents of these women have lain dormant in the church because of a poor interpretation of Scripture. Women have been told to “remain silent” and to “be in submission” when a less gifted (or less willing) man was an elder, preacher, youth minister, church administrator, served on committees, lead worship, read Scripture, or prayed in public.

The spiritual gifts of millions of women has been stifled and hushed through the years. This has damaged many women, it has hurt marriages and families. It has hindered the church and I believe saddened the Lord. A better reading of Scripture is now being realized among many churches and can emancipate women in the church. It is time to give women the freedom to fully use their gifts in the service of God. The harvest is ripe and there have been women waiting to be allowed to serve. Where are the women? They are here and they are ready.