Tag: Encouraging news

Baby rhino and baby zebra raised together after losing their moms

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Since 1977, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has led one of the biggest rescue and rehabilitation wildlife operations in East Africa. Although they specialize in elephant care, their sanctuaries are home to a variety of animals that arrive orphaned or injured, including giraffes, zebras, and rhinos.  “Rhinos are special animals,” Edwin, a keeper at the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust, said in a video update posted on September 22.

“Although the population in our country is steadily increasing. At the moment, Kenya has got more than 2,000 rhinos, which is really good. And we are happy for that.” To date, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust has rescued and successfully rehabilitated 20 rhinos. One black rhino currently under their care is Tytan, who was orphaned at an early age.  “[His] mother died after falling down a cliff, and at eight months, he could not have survived,” Edwin explained in the video. “That’s why we had to bring him into the nursery. If he would not have been identified at eight months, the hyenas [and] the lions would have been excited to find him out in the wild.” One week after Tytan was rescued, a tiny orphaned zebra was found and transported to the same nursery in Nairobi.

“Her mother had succumbed to the same fate, falling off a cliff,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust explained on its website. “Tytan and Notty, as we named her, became best buddies and have been inseparable ever since.” Every day, Tytan, Notty, and the rest of the “herd” are released into the nearby park to explore and graze. Every night, Tytan returns to the nursery to drink milk, snack on alfalfa, and sleep on a bed of hay as a keeper watches over him.  Eventually, when Tytan reaches five years of age, his keepers will begin leaving his stockade open, so he can have the option to stay out in the park overnight. 

Over time, he will return less and less as he naturally becomes more solitary and carves out a territory for himself in the wilds of Nairobi. “He’s only one and a half years old, and he’s lucky to be with us now — lucky to be alive,” Edwin said. “And expected to go back into the wild after some time.”  But, for right now, Tytan spends his days “grazing happily in the forest.” “Despite his physical prowess, Tytan remains an immature rhino who enjoys regular naps on the forest floor with Notty and his keepers on sentry duty.” On September 22, the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust shared a video of Edwin checking in on Tytan and another black rhino, Maxwell, as Notty dutifully followed his friend around the sanctuary.

“Maxwell, who is permanently blind and has a forever home with us, is our beloved nursery patriarch,” the nonprofit explained in the Instagram caption. “Tytan, who was only rescued last year, is just beginning his journey with us and will one day return to the wild.”  In the comments section, one Instagram user asked: “Do any of the other animal orphans ever make their way back to you guys the way ex-orphan elephants sometimes do?” “Yes,” the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust responded. “Many ex-orphans of all species continue to visit us throughout their wild lives!” 

Source: Baby rhino and baby zebra raised together after losing their moms

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Fishermen found alive floating on cooler 150 miles off Mexico 5 days after going missing

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Fishing boat Sea Breeze PD-104 and floating cooler at sea

Two fishermen who used a cooler to survive at sea for days were found alive and rescued on Wednesday, the Mexican navy said.  The fishermen, 53 and 32, last communicated with their fishing cooperative on Aug.14. At the time, they were aboard a ship called the Camaronera. The staff of the cooperative sent out a distress call when the men were not heard from.  The Mexican navy responded to the distress call by deploying surface and air assets. The wide range of the search allowed rescuers to locate the men floating in the Pacific Ocean about 150 miles off the coast of Chiapas, a southern Mexican state that borders Guatemala.  Photos shared by Mexico’s Secretariat of the Navy show the two men sitting inside a blue cooler. Video shows the container bobbing on the ocean waves as rescuers approach it in a navy ocean patrol vessel. 

Dos pescadores que permanecieron cinco días a la deriva sobre una hielera fueron localizados y rescatados por personal naval a más de 240 km de la costa de Chiapas. Mediante el despliegue de unidades de superficie y aéreas bajo el concepto Trinomio (buque–interceptora–aeronave),… pic.twitter.com/ysMhoOCpz1 — SEMAR México (@SEMAR_mx) August 20, 2026

The navy said that once the fishermen were rescued, they underwent medical evaluations. They were then airlifted to port and received further medical attention. One of the photos shared by the Secretariat of the Navy shows one fisherman on a stretcher. In a second image taken on land, that fisherman is in a wheelchair, while the other is being rolled on a stretcher. More information about the men’s condition was not shared.  The fishermen were reunited with their families after the medical examination, the navy said.  Mexico’s navy said the rescue shows its “commitment to the public to safeguard human life at sea,” and encouraged anyone experiencing a maritime emergency to seek aid from the Secretariat of the Navy. 

Source: Fishermen found alive floating on cooler 150 miles off Mexico 5 days after going missing – CBS News

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon Me, Because the LORD has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound.
Isaiah 61:1

Plague in Russia?

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9 hikers from Chicago, Indiana rescued after getting lost in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge

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Kentucky Hikers

Nine young men are safe after getting lost and eventually being rescued while hiking in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge over the weekend. They had traveled from northwest Indiana looking for a quick getaway after severe storms hit their area.  Members of the search-and-rescue team who helped save the friends say the area is extremely treacherous and potentially dangerous even in daylight and perfect conditions. The incident happened Saturday night as a storm moved in.  The friends, looking to get away from storms, found themselves stranded in the dark, surrounded by steep cliffs and unsure which way to turn.

“We shined our flashlights, and it just looked like a straight drop, like a straight cliff and at that point we were pretty scared,” said Zach Salus.  “Most of us, I think, were scared we were going to be stranded,” said Michael Zaronias. The friends say trying to find their way back was quickly disorienting. They didn’t have any survival supplies, no food or water and at first say there were some disagreements on what to do next. “Kind of a lot of differing opinions. People wanting to leave, people wanting to stay, people wanting to go another way,” Zaronias said. “It was very easy for one of us to either split up or even fall,” said Zach Salus.

They ultimately called for help around 9:30 p.m. The Wolfe County Search and Rescue team was able to find the stranded hikers using their coordinates near the Indian staircase in the Red River Gorge. They managed to exit the trail around 2 a.m. Sunday. “We really commend them for doing the right thing, because it could have been a completely different story, and that is not even an official trail there,” said Kevin Osborn with the Wolfe County Search and Rescue team. He says with bad weather moving in and the rugged terrain, a 30-foot line was used to get all nine guys down safely. “It’s a really, really beautiful place, and after dark, it can also be a very dangerous place, because of all the cliffs,” Osborn said.

“One of the happiest groups of people we’ve, I think, that I’ve ever seen that we’ve rescued.” “The people who rescued us were … they were beautiful souls, like, they were super nice. They definitely calmed our nerves a lot,” said Caiden Kupsik. The whole ordeal lasted about four and a half hours from the time the guys called for help to when they were rescued.  To avoid similar situations, it is advised to download maps, bring flashlights, pack water and food and call for help right away if you do get lost.  

Source: 9 hikers from Chicago, Indiana rescued after getting lost in Kentucky’s Red River Gorge – CBS Chicago

Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.
Isaiah 40:28

Trusting God Amid Life’s Storms

 Storms often reveal what we truly believe about God’s presence and power. He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? How is it that you have no faith?” Mark 4:40 Focus:When the…

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For God so Loved the World

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2 Timothy 3:12 

Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted Paul was reminding Timothy that following Christ does not guarantee an easy life. When we choose to live our lives…

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John 15:18–20

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of…

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Galatians 1:6-10

“When truth becomes negotiable, faith becomes vulnerable so know the Gospel, stand on God’s Word, and seek His approval above the world’s applause.” “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who…

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Beloved Westmoreland County roller rink rolling toward a comeback

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Group of people roller skating outdoors around rink at sunset

If you grew up around Delmont over the past 80 years, chances are you made a few memories at the Rock Springs Roller Rink. After sitting empty for more than a decade, those memories are getting a new chapter thanks to new owner and local entrepreneur, Greg Ventrice. “I originally kind of bought it for my kids to play in it,” Ventrice said. “Then I spent more time in it, it felt obvious that I needed to open it as a rink and some other things and try and start a viable business out of it.” Ventrice’s friend, Jenn Wier, runs the rink’s new Facebook page and is helping to spread the word that Rock Springs is making a comeback. She says that a place like this is just what the community needs.

“I grew up in a roller rink in Canonsburg when I was young; every Friday night we were at the roller rink,” said Wier. “There was definitely excitement for me personally just because I love roller skating. I think it’s just a great pastime. So I was excited to meet with (Greg) and talk about, ‘Hey, how can I help, how can I use some of my skills and background to make this place a little bit better?'” Together, along with contractor Hayden Schlotfeldt, they are tackling a long list of renovations. Right now, the biggest projects include new bathrooms and restoring the rink’s original maple skating floor. “What do you love so much about this project?” asked KDKA’s Chris DeRose. “The whole community background with this is awesome,” Schlotfeldt said. “Days when I am working here, people stop by, and almost every day, people stop by and peek their head in, see what’s going on or just having a conversation, so it’s pretty neat to be a part of something big that the whole town is excited to have back open.”

Every visit, every story and every memory reminds this team that they’re not just restoring a building: they’re bringing back a place that generations called their own and hopefully once again will. While there is no official opening date and this place is a work in progress, the team wants the community’s help to get old photos of the rink so that they can frame them and put them all over the complex once it reopens.

Source: Beloved Westmoreland County roller rink rolling toward a comeback – CBS Pittsburgh

Thoughts to Ponder

The renewed popularity of roller rinks highlights something people have always needed—places where families, friends, and neighbors can gather, build relationships, and enjoy life together. The Bible consistently emphasizes the importance of community, reminding believers that God created us to live in relationship with one another rather than in isolation. Hebrews 10:24–25 encourages Christians to meet together and encourage one another, while Ecclesiastes 4:9–10 teaches that two are better than one because they can support each other through life’s challenges. Whether in a church, a neighborhood, or a local roller rink, healthy communities provide opportunities to strengthen friendships, encourage kindness, and create lasting memories across generations.

While recreation is valuable, Scripture reminds us that the greatest community is one centered on Christ. The early church devoted themselves to fellowship, sharing meals, prayer, and caring for one another’s needs (Acts 2:42–47), demonstrating that authentic relationships flourish when they are rooted in love and service. As roller rinks and other community gathering places experience a resurgence, Christians can view them as opportunities to be welcoming, show Christ’s love through everyday interactions, and build meaningful connections that reflect God’s desire for people to live in unity, encouragement, and genuine fellowship.

And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13:2

Isaiah 45:2

“I will go before you and level the exalted places, I will break in pieces the doors of bronze and cut through the bars of iron, This verse reminds us…

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Proverbs 21:23

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Psalm 5:8

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Metro Atlanta nonprofit delivers 250,000 pounds of food to people facing food insecurity monthly

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The cost of groceries remains high, and a metro Atlanta nonprofit says the demographic of those relying on food pantries is changing. Reflections of Trinity in Hiram said in 2025 they served just under 3 million pounds of food to people across 77 Georgia counties and some outside of Georgia. Carol Reed has spent the past four months volunteering for Reflections of Trinity. “I come in at 8:30, and I leave at noon,” Reed said. “You know that’s a good workout for me.” CBS Atlanta spoke to Reed while she was volunteering on a Tuesday. She loves Tuesdays because the food she and other volunteers pack up goes to senior citizens.

“Since I’m one myself, and I have plenty of food. There’s so many. Look at the people that don’t from the amount of boxes we have,” Reed said. “A lot of people don’t have food. They just don’t.” The number of people in Georgia facing food insecurity has been rising since the COVID-19 pandemic. According to Feeding America, more than 1.2 million people in Georgia experienced food insecurity in 2019. The numbers improved in 2020 and 2021, but by 2023 more than 1.6 million people in Georgia were facing food insecurity. Reflections of Trinity Founder Laurie Ann Wong-Burns said around the time of the COVID-19 pandemic, they were serving 1,000 families a week, but that number has gone up. “We’re up to 1,300 families a week, so it’s just steadily increased since 2022,” Wong-Burns said. She said rising costs are adding to additional financial strains.

“Housing has gone up, so has fuel, so it’s like a trifecta, and a lot of times people’s wages haven’t gone up, so that’s where food pantries come in,” Wong-Burns said. She said partnerships with metro Atlanta businesses help them get the job done. “We can’t do it without them,” Wong-Burns said. “Not for the volume of food we move every week.” One of those partners is Wellstar Health System. “If you don’t have nutritious food, that can lead to chronic disease like hypertension and diabetes,” said Wellstar’s Assistant Vice President of Community Health Elise Lockamy-Kassim. “And so, although we’re a health system that serves those needs, we want to prevent people from coming through our doors with those needs.” Wellstar donated a van to the nonprofit in 2025 to help Reflections of Trinity further its mission.

“To know that we are a part of this large vision that Reflections of Trinity has to serve even more people, oh, that makes it all worthwhile,” Lockamy-Kassim said. Linda Riddle is one of the seniors who receives a box of food every Tuesday. “It helps me a lot because, you know, I only get a minimum of food stamps, so I run out of a lot of things like milk and fruits and whatever else that’s in the box,” Riddle said. Her grocery budget is tight. “I have to have them to keep a tab of what I’m spending, and just a little bit of groceries it gets so, so much,” Riddle said.

Mildren Williams is another senior who receives food from Reflections of Trinity. Her grocery budget is tight too. “Heart trouble, diabetes, it all costs money, and this insurance I have is… I got in more debt this year with sickness and medication, and it’s a blessing for me to get this extra, and I appreciate it very much,” Williams said. Wong-Burns said they also rely heavily on volunteers and have about 200 to 250 volunteers each week. 

Source: Metro Atlanta nonprofit delivers 250,000 pounds of food to people facing food insecurity monthly – CBS Atlanta

And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord.
Ephesians 6:4

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Metro Atlanta teacher spends her own money to prepare classroom for new school year

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painting and drawing tools set

While many families are beginning their back-to-school shopping, teachers are also filling carts with supplies for their classrooms often using money from their own paychecks. Gisselle Velez is preparing for her second year teaching third grade at Hopkins Elementary School. During a recent shopping trip in Chamblee, she picked up copy paper, glue sticks, hand sanitizer and Expo markers — items she says her classroom uses quickly. “I tend to save about $150 to $200 just to buy those school supplies because there are students that don’t have the money to buy school supplies,” Velez said.

“I want to make sure I have those resources for them.” Velez teaches at a Title I school and said many families are doing everything they can to prepare their children for the school year. She wants to make sure students who arrive without something they need do not feel unprepared. Her experience reflects a broader trend among educators. The National Education Association says about 94% of public school teachers spend their own money on classroom supplies, with many spending between $500 and $750 each year. Velez said her motivation is also personal. Growing up, her family sometimes struggled to afford school supplies. “I used to be in their position when I was growing up,” she said. “It was really hard to afford school supplies.”

Velez said she wants her classroom to be a safe and supportive place where students can focus on learning instead of worrying about what they do not have. At checkout, Walmart surprised Velez with a $200 gift card that covered the cost of her purchase. For Velez, the supplies represent more than items on a shopping list. They are one way she hopes to give students and their families peace of mind as the new school year begins.

Source: Metro Atlanta teacher spends her own money to prepare classroom for new school year – CBS Atlanta

And these words which I command you today shall be in your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7

A study of the Mesha Stele

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First job gives Pittsburgh-area man with disabilities newfound confidence

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Curved paved path through a green park with people walking and jogging and a city skyline in the background

It’s said you never work a day in your life if you love what you do. For some, barriers prevent them from getting the opportunity to work.  For the past two and a half months, Jack Hartley’s routine has followed a rhythm. “You do the liner, then the pads, then the bag, then the divider,” he said about his job task. He’ll go through that process dozens of times, getting boxes together at Grandpa Joe’s Robinson Township warehouse.  “It’s actually a very important job,” Hartley said while putting the boxes together. It’s his first time in the workforce. Hartley has disabilities and battled mental health problems, but he didn’t want that to define him. “I really, really wanted to find something purposeful,” he said. Through a partnership with Achieva, he’s now thriving in his job. It’s part of a broader program called Integrated Vocational Engagement and Support Team, or InVEST.

It’s funded by the state’s Department of Labor and Industry and supports people with disabilities getting meaningful jobs. Hartley works for Grandpa Joe’s and is paid a competitive wage. “Everyone deserves an opportunity to work at a competitive wage. Some of the individuals with disabilities are some of your best employees,” Achieva associate director of business services Amber Westwood said. According to Achieva, they have been partnering with businesses across western Pennsylvania for about 15 years. Hartley is the first employee in this program for Grandpa Joe’s. It hopes to expand with more people filling more roles. “This allowed us to meet those goals while providing meaningful opportunities to individuals,” Grandpa Joe’s vice president of marketing and brand development, Kate Speer, said. “It’s helped me out,” Hartley said about his job. In the program, Hartley has a job coach who helps with resumes, interviews and settling into the job. The goal is for him and others to be independent at the workplace.

“Seeing them take on independence, acclimate themselves to the workplace, and be motivated to be in the workforce is great, and Jack’s been a true success story here,” Achieva job coach Jack Doran said, who works with Hartley directly. With the confidence this job has given Hartley, he now has his eyes on even bigger goals. “This has just been excellent for me. I’m thinking about going back to school,” Hartley said.

Source: First job gives Pittsburgh-area man with disabilities newfound confidence – CBS Pittsburgh

But many who are first will be last, and the last first.
Matthew 19:30

Finding Truth and Life in Jesus

In a world filled with competing voices, confusing paths, and endless distractions, Jesus doesn’t simply show us the way He declares, ‘I am the way.’ When everything around you tries to…

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Coral Reef Long Presumed Dead Is Rediscovered ‘Teeming with Life’ Off Coast of Africa

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vibrant coral reef with sea anemone in australia

A coral reef long presumed dead has been rediscovered “teeming with life” off the coast of West Africa. Surveys conducted in the 1960s that were focused on identifying promising fishing areas, flagged a possible deep-water coral reef, but scientists at the time it assumed must be dead. Now, using a modern sonar survey, scientists have found an apparently healthy reef—an amazing discovery that was described in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science. After days of “difficult” field work, the sonar revealed structures which the team interpreted as a coral reef, and hopes were raised.

“It was a mix of long days at sea, technical problems, and a lot of uncertainty,” lead author Gérard Zinzindohoué said of the effort. “I still remember seeing those first images.” “It was a mix of excitement and disbelief, because after all this time thinking about this reef, suddenly there was something real in front of us.” Mr. Zinzindohoué and his colleagues at the Institute of Halieutic and Oceanographic Research in Cotonou, Benin, reasoned that it could have been a mesophotic coral ecosystem. A mesophotic coral ecosystem lives deeper than the usual shallow coral reefs, in zones where light is much more limited, he explains. “Unlike typical shallow reefs, it does not always form a single continuous reef structure. Instead, it can appear as patchy or scattered coral communities spread across the seafloor.”

Using the historical surveys as a guide, the research team surveyed 7 miles of seabed with sonar. To investigate the most promising areas, the team used an underwater drone, and the Deep Sea Camera System, provided by the National Geographic Exploration Technology Lab. The footage showed a seemingly healthy reef, with 8 different types of coral and 8 species of fish sheltering and feeding around the corals. The fish included golden African snappers, blackbar soldierfish, Guinean angelfish, West African goatfish, the Monrovia doctorfish, three-banded butterflyfish, and two species of damselfish.

The reef doesn’t seem to be a continuous coral barrier, but patches of coral occupying rocky areas suitable for their growth, although researchers say it’s possible that further surveys will identify more reefs. “To our knowledge, this is the first confirmed record of a living mesophotic coral ecosystem on the Gulf of Guinea continental shelf. However, I think what we found is probably not an exception.” “It is more likely a reflection of how little we still know about coastal regions in West Africa and elsewhere. If we were able to find this reef again after 60 years, how many others are still undocumented or simply forgotten?”

The research team hasn’t been able to sample the corals directly yet, which means that the species identifications still need to be confirmed. It’s also impossible to know, without more data, if the corals were really dead in the 1960s and have since recovered. That would make them intriguing research targets as the study of coral resilience in a changing climate advances. Mr. Zinzindohoué interprets the historical reports as potentially recording a continuous coral reef barrier extending roughly 40 kilometers, or 24 miles, parallel to the coast.

“If I had all the grant money in the world, the first thing I would do is return to the site with a proper scientific diving and sampling program. These are ecosystems that are still poorly known in this part of the world, and every additional piece of information matters,” he said. “For me, the most exciting part is about understanding the reef’s history, and what it can tell us about how the ocean in this region has changed over time.” “It feels like we have only just started to read an archive that has been there for a very long time.”

Source: Coral Reef Long Presumed Dead Is Rediscovered ‘Teeming with Life’ Off Coast of Africa

So Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.
Hebrews 9:28

Hope in the dark

Pip: A mountain village, a wandering stranger, a mother weaving a basket by the river — Drink of Jesus has been building a world where ancient scripture lands…

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Off-duty North Texas firefighter saves 3 children trapped under boat on Fourth of July

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expansive ocean view underneath clear blue sky

When a firefighter saves someone’s life, they call it “making a grab.” On the Fourth of July, Midlothian firefighter Jason Horne made three of them by rescuing three children trapped under a capsized boat at Alvarado Park Lake. “This is my grab for my career,” Horne said Monday in an interview with The Dallas Morning News. Horne was off-duty on the holiday, spending time with his 12-year-old daughter in their own boat on the lake when they saw another boat and a jet ski floating in the distance and waving them down, Horne said.

Near the waving group was a capsized boat Horne said he didn’t see at first. Horne stopped, told to his daughter to stay in their boat, then dove into the water. He swam to the capsized pontoon boat and realized what had happened. “The people were all yelling, ‘Our babies are under there,'” he said. “So, I went around to the side of the boat, dove underneath the boat.” Horne, who has been a paramedic and firefighter for over 20 years, said he reached up from under the boat and felt a life jacket that a little boy was wearing. He pulled the boy out. “He was a little lethargic, but he was awake and he was breathing,” Horne said.

The second rescue was a little girl. She also was wearing a life jacket, but she wasn’t breathing, Horne said. He pulled her on top of the overturned pontoon boat and started doing chest compressions until he could get her to breathe on her own. At that point someone told Horne another child was still under the boat, so he went back into the water, he said. “I dove back under and I couldn’t find them,” he said. Other boaters came and attempted to flip the capsized pontoon, and the third child emerged, he said. “He had a bunch of ropes and stuff wrapped around him,” Horne said. “We were able to get him up on the front of that pontoon boat. I did CPR on that little boy up there on the pontoon boat for a few minutes while we were headed back to the boat ramp.”

He was able to resuscitate the that boy, Horne said. Horne’s daughter called 911 while her father dove in and out of the water. When Horne and the victims arrived on the shore, he said first responders were waiting for them. All the children in the water had been wearing life jackets, Horne said. During the rescue, he said the victim’s family looked terrified. Horne said he remained focused. “The only thing going through my mind: Don’t die, and find these kids as fast as you can and get them out of the water,” he said. All three children were taken to a local hospital for evaluation and observation, Alvarado Fire Chief John Rodgers said in a news release. No life-threatening injuries have been reported.

The family later thanked him for the rescue, Horne said. Horne, who has worked at the Midlothian Fire Department for 10 years, said he’s grateful he happened to be at the lake and prevent a family from losing their children.  “I wasn’t trying to be a hero,” Horne said. “I wasn’t trying to do anything except help those people, and it worked out in our favor. The stars lined up. I was at the right place at the right time, and I was able to make a difference.”

Source: Off-duty North Texas firefighter saves 3 children trapped under boat on Fourth of July

But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.
John 1:12

The Distraction of Fear

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Teen’s 1st Grade Teacher Pulls Off Cross-Country Graduation Surprise

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airplane landing at valencia airport runway

A high school graduate got the surprise of a lifetime after his elementary school teacher traveled across the country to surprise him — and the emotional reunion was caught on camera. Jordan Hodges, 18, tells PEOPLE that his teacher Denise Crocker, 58, had a tremendous impact on his life.

“She was my mother at school,” he says. “Not only did she teach me in the classroom, but she also taught me some of life’s most important lessons outside of it.” The Texas woman says she was Hodges’ first grade teacher at Rosebud Primary School in 2014 and worked with him in third grade when he had severe test anxiety. “After that year, we would usually talk before a big test to help him have the confidence to do his best,” she adds.

“He was a special student because he would try his best but would get frustrated with himself but he never gave up.” Even after finishing elementary school, and moving with his family to Florida, the pair stayed in touch and even talked over FaceTime.

“Anytime I needed her or any sort I asked my mom to call her,” he adds. “And as I came to visit she would come to see me too. It was hard with her not being there without her to rely on, but I did okay.” When the time came for the teen to graduate from Blake High School in Tampa, the Texas teacher knew she had to be there to see him “finish that part of his journey.”

“I wanted him to see his first grade teacher in the audience and see I was proud of him for the accomplishments he had made over the years,” she adds. “I wanted him to know that he will always have my support.”Months before Hodges’ graduation, Crocker — who has been teaching for over 25 years — started talking to his mom Atiah about flying in to be there.

“She was so excited I wanted to come, but we wanted to surprise him,” she says.

But the logistics of the actual surprise still needed some troubleshooting.

“At first, his mom said we could meet somewhere, and I just walk up and surprise him, but at the last minute that didn’t work,” Crocker shares. Then, on May 23, the night before his graduation, the two decided it was go time.

“She was busy getting the place ready for his graduation party so she told me just to come there,” Crocker explains. “She had sent him on an errand and he was taking forever to get back. So we were just sitting there talking with her and her family and luckily her best friend saw him about to open the door and jumped up to film.”

Hodges, who had no idea what was in store for him, says it took a second to register that his former teacher was there.

At first, he says he just noticed “somebody that looked very familiar in the window,” before quickly realizing that the woman sitting in a chair next to his mom was really Mrs. Crocker.

“He was so in shock when he walked in and saw me,” she says. “He kept asking how did I get there. I laughed and said I walked. He just kept hugging me.”Crocker shares she also gave Hodges a Bible monogrammed with his name and a journal as he moved forward into the next phase of his life, studying psychology at Albany State University in Georgia. 

In the meantime, Hodges says he plans to continue to stay in touch with Crocker as he grows up.

“Just because I’m older that doesn’t mean I will lose contact with her,” he says. “She was there for me as a child and now we can be there for each other.”

Source: Teen’s 1st Grade Teacher Pulls Off Cross-Country Graduation Surprise (Exclusive)

But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 3:22

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Milton couple riding third Pan-Mass Challenge to support pediatric leukemia research, celebrate son’s health

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The gift of having two healthy children is never lost on Camila and Rob Obi-Tabot.  In March of 2023, their daughter Louisa Catalina (Cata) was 5 when their son Leandro Sebastian (Seba) was born. A happy baby with a sweet smile and big brown eyes, Seba developed RSV before his 2-month checkup.  Shortly after he recovered, Camila and Rob noticed that he had developed small red bumps, sinus-like issues, and a slight fever.  They assumed it was a relapse of RSV.  At Seba’s two-month checkup, his doctor observed the symptoms and sent the family to Boston Children’s Hospital for tests. 

They weren’t home 20 minutes when the hospital called them back with a sense of urgency. “They were like, we need you to come back right now. We have a room for you in the emergency room, we’re waiting for you,” Camila remembers. They were told that Seba’s white blood count was unusually high.  “We do what you’re definitely not supposed to do,” Rob explains. “We go on the internet. Looking up ‘what does a high white blood cell count mean for a baby?'” Rob says they were startled by the answer. “We started seeing leukemia show up,” he said.   Devastating diagnosis Sure enough, within minutes of their arrival, a doctor at Children’s was preparing the couple for the devastating news that Seba had some form of leukemia. He assured them that the diagnosis was no longer a death sentence. “I want you to have hope.

We’re going to have the doctors down from Dana-Farber immediately,” Rob recalled the doctor saying.  To this day, Camila is certain that the doctors who cared for Seba that night saved his life. With his blood so viscous that it wasn’t circulating properly, Seba was struggling to breathe. Doctors had no choice but to sedate him and start chemotherapy. The toxins in the treatment threatened his tiny liver and kidneys. Rob remembers the first two days in the hospital as frightening and uncertain. “We just had to look at each other and hope and pray that everything was going to be all right,” Rob said.   Seba, their little “Guerrero” (warrior in Spanish) turned a corner on Day 3.

His kidney problems dissipated. After making steady progress, the little 8-week-old was strong enough to move from the intensive care unit to 6 Northeast, the floor at Children’s for patients with cancer. Seba, who doctors determined had acute myelogenous leukemia, spent the next five months in the hospital undergoing five rounds of chemo.  Camila and Rob took turns staying with him.  The staff set up a desk in Seba’s room so that Rob could continue working without leaving his son’s side. Family members flew into Boston from around the country to help. “We could not have done the five months without our friends and family,” Camila says with deep gratitude. Knowing that Louisa was spending time with loved ones gave them peace of mind and much-needed time to make critical decisions in the hospital.  

“There were just so many difficult conversations of like—he’s having morphine. What will that do to him? Will he become addicted? Will that have lasting effects?” Rob said. The doctors and nurses became like family. “It was home. And they made it that way for us,” Rob explains. Leaving the hospital as a family In October 2023, Seba was discharged from Children’s cancer-free.  The memory of that emotional moment still moves Rob to tears almost three years later. “I said, back when we were in the ICU and everything was really dreadful,” Rob recalls, “I told everybody I could, we are leaving this place as a family. And that day, for that to be the reality was, I can’t explain that feeling.”  

In the footage of their departure from the hospital, the family is beaming as they navigate colored streamers in the hallway and soak up the elated applause of hospital employees.  “The triumph that you have walking out of there as a family. We believed it but for that to be a reality was … it’s indescribable,” Rob said.   Thankful, they wanted to do something to support other families.  The day of Seba’s first post-hospital checkup, that “something” revealed itself as they crossed the Pan-Mass Challenge bridge on the way to the Jimmy Fund Clinic. Camila noticed the photos of cyclists and began to read the captions and stories. “It was kind of instinctual,” she recalls. “I said, I’m going to do this.”  Team Guerreros por Seba   Rob was also taken with the display and immediately wondered how they would ever ride the distance that PMC riders complete.

“I don’t like driving 100 miles much less riding a bike for that long,” Rob laughed. One other important factor was that Camila did not know how to ride a bike. But that didn’t seem to matter. “When she said she wanted to do it, I was all in. Let’s do it!” Rob said. Leading “Team Guerreros por Seba,” Rob and Camila began training in February of 2024.  She learned to ride on a heavy 10-speed they bought on Facebook Marketplace. Rob rented the city’s Blue Bikes. They quickly discovered a joy and purpose in riding together. “To have the gratefulness we had and to be able to do something with that,” Camila explains, “we couldn’t have had a better gift.”

It also gave them a chance to reconnect in a fun, positive way after the anxious months they spent with Seba in the hospital. Riding was therapeutic. “It fueled us,” she said. “It helped us heal a lot more because we started going on rides together.” In August of 2024, they rode their first PMC with friends and family members. They were hooked. They now have a new pedal partner: 16-year-old Paul Gauthier of Billerica who will finish his last treatment in August.  They also welcome a new teammate.  Seba’s oncologist Dr. Jessica Pollard is training for her first PMC, an experience that has brought her even closer to the Obi-Tabot family. “This is a very special family who is just so fun, so positive,” Pollard said. Last year, Dr. Pollard cheered on riders on Cape Cod.

This year, as she pedals from Bourne to Provincetown, she says she will be thinking of Seba and her late mother-in-law who died of pancreatic cancer in November.  “I’m excited to be with all these people who are united in an effort to help raise money to support people going through cancer treatment and to aid in cancer discovery,” Pollard said. “I think that’s my greatest love in medicine, it’s the camaraderie and the teamwork. This bike ride is another example of that.” How the PMC supports research Dr. Pollard helps run a clinical research program at Dana-Farber and describes PMC support for researchers’ work as “invaluable.”  She says that, particularly with funding cuts, their work relies on philanthropy to keep clinical trial programs open.

Clinical trials are essential to prove that new treatments are beneficial and safe.  Team Guerreros por Seba directs its PMC funding to Dr. Pollard’s research and the Pediatric Patient Assistance Fund. At their home in Milton, Louisa and Seba play tag on a summer day.  On the Saturday of PMC weekend, they’ll be with their mom in the Pedal Partner tent. Camila looks forward to sharing the experience with them. “The joy they feel seeing our team come through. Each kid makes their own poster. They have so much fun,” Camila said. “Other kids might complain that they’re out there a long time, but it’s become our family tradition. It’s a really fun day for us.” Rob will ride Day 1 from Worcester to Bourne. Camila will ride Day 2 from Bourne to Provincetown. Rob is looking forward to riding from the new Day 1 start at the College of the Holy Cross, being with their teammates, and not getting a flat tire this year. Seba is thriving.

His check-ups are now every six months as opposed to the monthly or weekly check-ups he’s had in years past. Rob and Camila describe him as a typically fearless toddler who loves to push boundaries.  Even when parenting is hard, they say they are thankful.  Every day they are reminded that had Seba not responded to the treatment he received in those first months of his life, they might not have the opportunities they enjoy now. They ride the PMC with gratitude and hope that their efforts will lead to lifesaving breakthroughs for other children. 

“On that ride,” Rob says, “I’m directly contributing to ensuring that a family doesn’t have to be told by a doctor there’s nothing else we can do.” To donate or learn more about the Pan-Mass Challenge, go to pmc.org.100% of every rider-raised dollar goes directly to Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.

Source: Milton couple riding third Pan-Mass Challenge to support pediatric leukemia research, celebrate son’s health – CBS Boston

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9

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64-Year-Old Father of 5 Graduates as a Nurse After Studying Alongside His Son

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building

A dad of five has just graduated from college at the age of 64. After completing a nurse degree apprenticeship at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Bristol, England, John Adesoye celebrated his hard work at his graduation ceremony on Wednesday, July 15, according to a university press release. Adesoye retrained as a nurse after starting his working life as an electronics technician in Greece, before moving to the U.K. He grew up in Nigeria and became interested in electronics as a child, when he was fascinated by the radio.

“Beforehand, I was caring for electronic devices and I was happy when I could get broken devices working again,” he said, per the release. “In my work in healthcare, when patients get better, it gives me great joy and satisfaction.”   While studying, Adesoye attended UWE alongside his son, Daniel, who was taking a degree in creative music technology. He spent one day a week on campus and the rest of the week training at Bristol’s Southmead Hospital. Adesoye originally changed careers in 2013, when he began work at Southmead as a healthcare assistant, per the release. He then took on a nursing associate course before completing his nurse degree apprenticeship and becoming a registered nurse this summer. Per the release, Adesoye has secured a nursing role at Southmead and hasn’t ruled out studying for a master’s degree in the future.

He has worked in a number of different departments at Southmead, including the emergency room, cardiology, orthopedics and intensive care. Jacqui Caskey and Caroline Bromwich, the leads for his course, called him “very dedicated” and proof that “hard work and perseverance can enable you to achieve your goal,” per the release. They added of their students, “Being a nurse apprentice is no mean feat — to study on a full-time program while working in your usual role is not easy. They all juggle this with busy lives, along with family and caring commitments.” Addressing other adults who might be thinking of returning to education, Adesoye himself said in the release,

“Don’t listen to people who say you’re too old for university. If I can do it, others can too. People are more brilliant than they think and they’re stronger than they think.”

He continued, “I didn’t think I’d ever go to university, to be honest. But I have passion for learning. Even when I was small, I was so curious. When I got the chance to go to university, I didn’t take it for granted — I followed it with my heart.”

Source: 64-Year-Old Father of 5 Graduates as a Nurse After Studying Alongside His Son

Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Psalm 34:8

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Teen Trusts His Instincts and Saves Crash Victim Just in Time

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Sixteen year old Randy Gerlach was on his way to work, driving along a country road in Morrison, Illinois, when he noticed a vehicle sitting in a ditch. At first, he wasn’t sure if it was an accident or if the driver had simply slipped off the shoulder of the road.

Still, something didn’t feel right.

“I wasn’t sure if something actually happened or if [the driver] just kind of accidentally went too far on the shoulder and just went in,” Gerlach recalled.

Rather than ignore the feeling, he continued into town, then made the decision to turn around and check on the vehicle.

“I turned around in town because I figured by then, if it was an accident and they didn’t mean to, they would’ve been gone by then, and they weren’t.”
When Gerlach reached the car, he immediately realized the situation was far more serious than he had imagined. Inside, he found an unconscious woman behind the wheel.

He quickly called 911, and emergency responders rushed the woman to the hospital.

Doctors later shared just how critical his timing had been. They told Gerlach that if he had arrived only 20 minutes later, the woman likely would not have survived.

While many people would call him a hero, Gerlach remains humble about what happened.

“Just right place at the right time, and I actually did the right thing and didn’t just keep going,” he said.

His advice to others is simple and powerful.

“Go with your gut.”

Sometimes the smallest decision, like turning around to check on a stranger, can end up saving a life. Randy Gerlach’s quick thinking and willingness to act are a reminder that listening to your instincts and taking a moment to help someone else can make all the difference.

Source: Teen Trusts His Instincts and Saves Crash Victim Just in Time

Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you.
Isaiah 60:1

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