Great Way To Start the Week!

I received a phone call this morning that informed me of a substantial pledge that will be made to A Van for Lucas. This person believes in the cause and didn't feel the need to see the video. I will, of course, still send her a DVD so she has a full understanding of who Lucas is. I am sure she will be moved by his story as we all have been. Along with her financial pledge, she is also going to give me names of organizations and individuals who may be able to help support the cause.

After I hung up the phone, there was an energy in me that I haven't felt since the kickoff of A Van for Lucas. When I remove myself, my fear, my inhibitions, I am reminded that this is a Spirit led project and has been since day 1. It is my prayer that He continues to give me the direction and confidence needed to raise the needed funds.

Praise Him!

A Hiatus?

To those of you who have been following A Van For Lucas, I would like to officially tell you that we are back in business. Where were we? Well, let's just say that we are working with God's timing on this project, not our own. Over the last couple of months, we have worked to create a DVD to capture Lucas' story. The DVD is now complete and ready to be viewed, used, and leveraged to help raise the $40,000.00 needed to purchase the wheel chair equipped van.

Currently, I have DVDs of the video that I will use in my face to face meetings with possible contributors. A link to the video will be available shortly for all who are following A Van for Lucas to watch. Stay tuned........

Fundraising Ideas

The ideas on how to generate funds for A Van for Lucas come to me on a daily basis. It is so awesome to be going about my daily life and have an idea drop in my lap, have a conversation with someone who in passing says something that sparks an idea, or simply slow down enough to hear God's will for the direction of this project.

The latest in ideas has come from a member of my church. He has some items that he would like to sell via Ebay. He will be donating profit generated from the auction to A Van for Lucas. How great is that?

I could use some help from someone who is close to a computer each day and would like to manage the auction of items. If interested, (no experience needed....we just need someone with time), please send me an email to karynbergen@msn.com.

Him or Us?

Here is the deal. From the very beginning, when A Van for Lucas was presented to me, I knew that it came from a place larger than me. A Van for Lucas was larger than anything I felt I could succeed at. However, God had a different idea. He has driven every inch of the effort so far. He has given me ideas, opened up connections, led me down paths that I would never have thought of on my own. He is behind this entire plan.

A Van for Lucas was created to give those involved and those following our story an opportunity to either praise and glorify God if you know Him or to meet God if you don't. That, my friends is the bottom line. I know this for sure. You may be asking yourself, "What? I thought A Van for Lucas was created to raise funds and awareness so we could purchase a wheel chair equipped van for Lucas." The latter is our goal. "Our" meaning those here with Lucas. God's goal is to introduce Himself to those who have yet to meet Him or to be present with those who already believe. I began to get caught up to deeply in my own plan last week and because of that, I lost sight of what is really happening here. I authorized some of the people involved to proceed without giving God the credit, without capturing where He is present in this story. I did it all so we wouldn't scare away potential supporters of A Van for Lucas. I am ashamed of myself for that decision.

As we know, God will take charge when He has to. He spoke very clearly to Colleen, Lucas's mom, and made it clear that we need to reshoot her portion of the video so her true feelings and experiences, this far, can be captured. Thanks be to God for speaking to Colleen. Thanks to Colleen for standing up for what she knows is true.

The last couple of weeks I have come across more and more people who truly know what they stand for. I admire the courage it takes to see this part of yourself and to be able to voice it. Not all are given this personal insight to themselves. Through Colleen, God has given me the courage to stand taller with Him at my side. If it scares people or makes them uncomfortable, than that is a risk that I will have to take. This I know for sure.

For Lucas's sake, for God's goal and "our" goal, I hope each of you who is following A Van for Lucas, can challenge themselves to look at what you really believe, what you really know to be the truth. What do we have to lose? Not a thing.

Getting To Know Lucas

I was able to spend time with Lucas on 2 different occasions this week; first was when I took my kids to meet him at his school in Alamo. The encounter between my kids, who are almost 5, 3 and 1 and Lucas was one of those things that I hope and pray that they never forget. I know I never will. Again Lucas has touched lives by just being. My older kids speak about Lucas frequently and understand why a van would be such a blessing to the O Healy da Silva family. While we were at the school, we were able to see a van that was equipped just like the van that we are working on getting for Lucas. My kids saw the difference between it and most mini vans.....they now see why time and energy is being spent on A Van for Lucas.

My second encounter with Lucas was this morning at his home. His mom was being filmed for the video of A Van for Lucas so I went over to take care of Lucas's little brother, Gabe. Lucas was being cared for my his full time nurse, Lisa. What a wonderful woman she is and boy does she love Lucas! While at their home, I was able to talk to Lucas, look into his eyes, learn that he loves balloons, see him respond to the swiftness that Gabriel moves with, watch Lisa hook up his feeding tube, brush his teeth, ready him for school, help her carry his wheel chair down the steps. Her actions were endless. The part that happened outside of my eyesight was Lisa lifting the wheel chair into the van, bungy cording it in, and then placing Lucas into his carseat for the ride to school. No, Lucas should not be in his carseat, thus the entire reason we are working on A Van for Lucas. However, with no wheel chair equipped van, what choice do they have. It is a risk to ride the way that they do, both with Lucas in the carseat and the wheel chair bundy corded into the car....again, what choice do they have?

They don't have a choice, but we do......we can help them.

Changing Lives by just "Being"

I had a long conversation with Colleen, Lucas's mom, last night. We spent several minutes talking about how Lucas is changing lives by just "being"; being the person that God intended for him to be. He is a blessing to others by just being. Allow me to share the most recent example of this that happened Sunday, May 10th.

My friend Carrie called me Sunday morning. She asked if we were going to church that morning and if so, could I come into their class (she and her husband teach the 2 year old Sunday school class). Their oldest son, Owen(pictured above), who is 7, had something he wanted to give me. Obviously intrigued, I told her I would see her that morning.

Upon arrriving, Carrie told me that she had read the Blog of A Van for Lucas to Owen. Owen decided, then and there, that he wanted to contribute all of his money to our project. I knelt down and looked him in the eye. He explained to me that he had been collecting cans and bottles for over a year. He had saved $150.00 and some change. He handed me all of his money. In tears, I asked him if I could give him a hug. I was speechless...still am, really.

By just "being", Lucas has reached the heart of Owen. Owen reached out to me to donate his money. Our two boys who are 4 and 3 were there to witness Owen donating his money. Our oldest boy has mentioned this story to several other people since it happened. By just "being" Lucas is helping people reach a part of themselves that they, in the case of Owen because he is so young, may not have known that they possessed.

In speaking with Colleen last night, she shared with me that if enduring Lucas's multiple challenges means that people's hearts will be changed, that people will be reached and enlightened, then everything the last 5 + years has held for the Da Silva family is worth it.

We ended our conversation by saying that the story of Owen helping Lucas encapsulates exactly why God wanted A Van for Lucas brought to life. We don't have the van yet, but we will get it. In the mean time, individual people are being reached. Praises for changed lives. Praises that Lucas is being used in a way that is unique and inspiring.

Special thanks to Owen for his courage and ability to see an opportunity to help.

Clarity Regarding Donations.....

I have had questions regarding donations, both domestic and International. Below are the instructions if you are interested in supporting A Van For Lucas, financially:

Domestic:
Please make checks payable to Contra Costa Youth Council.
Place Lucas Da Silva in the memo.
Mail checks to: Moraga Valley Presbyterian Church
Attn: Karyn Bergen
10 Moraga Valley Lane, Moraga, CA 94556
All donations are tax deductible. You will receive a response letter in the mail with the information you will need for 2009 taxes.

International:I have bank and routing information for those residing in countries other than the U.S. who would like to use the wire transfer method.
Please email me at karynbergen@msn.com. I will be happy to provide the details for you.

Again - we also need your prayers.....even if you aren't someone who prays, maybe you can start. Do it for Lucas!