Page 10 - Sanger Herald 12-27-18 E-edition

Lifestyles
SANGER HERALD • 2B • THURSDAY, DECEMBER 27, 2018
Sanger
Cheyenne wanted kids in the hospital to get Christmas, too
To get an item into the calendar, email details to nemethfeatures@gmail. com or call Mike or Sharon at 559-875-2511.
Wagner, executive director at noon Jan. 8; Looking back with John Alkire, Big Fresno Fair chief executive and museum curator at noon Feb. 5; Helping Students with Mary Castro,
By Mike Nemeth
Sanger Herald
Cheyenne Barrientos clutched George, a little stuffed giraffe, in her arms.
George, she explained, is the mascot for Valley Children’s Hospital. Cheyenne, 6 and a kindergartener at Jackson Elementary School in Sanger, had gone to the Madera facility that morning. She had distributed about 85 presents to the 200 patients at the hospital because “they don’t get to come home for Christmas.”
Cheyenne had collected the gifts the previous weekend after going door to door, visiting with the city’s fire and police departments and hanging fliers around town promoting her event. She baked cookies and made hot chocolate to provide incentive to donors who came to her house early Dec. 15 to donate to her cause.
“So proud of Cheyenne!!! Such a great heart,” wrote her teacher Jennifer Kankiewicz Cooper on a Sanger Herald Facebook post.
“That’s what Jackson Pride is all about,” wrote Lea Perez.
Cheyenne’s post generated more than 100 likes in about 24 hours and a dozen shares. But she took the notoriety in stride. She appeared more interested in getting results than praise for her accomplishment.
“I decided to do something nice for them,” Cheyenne said. “I wanted to do it to make it special for them.”
Her mother, Alyse Barrientos, said when they went to drop off the gifts Dec. 20, Santa had arrived at the hospital so Cheyenne had the chance to meet several of the patients. And she brought one a gift.
But she didn’t engage the child patient in conversation.
“I was too shy,” Cheyenne said.
According to hospital rules, Cheyenne would have to be at least 14 to distribute the toys herself to the kids in the hospital. “Just eight more years,” she said.
And Cheyenne is hardly shy in the grand scheme of things. She spoke to firefighters, police officers and homeowners while
Are You A Genuine Seeker?
The Wise men actually didn’t show up until a few months after Jesus was born.
The Bible says, “And they came into the house and saw the young child with Mary his mother.”
What can we learn from these first century genuine seekers? No. 1. Genuine seekers watch what’s happening in the world. They’re alert, observant. They saw a star that was different in the sky. They were alert and saw what was going on around them. Something in life got their
The Sanger Community
Task Force meets at 8:30 wife of Fresno State
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
Cheyenne Barrientos, 6, holds George, the mascot of Valley Children's Hospital.
a.m. Jan. 15 at Crosspointe Church, 2528 S. McCall Ave.; Feb. 5 at the Sanger Library, 1812 Seventh St.; Feb. 19 at the Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave.; March 5 at the United Health Centers, 1570 Seventh Ave.; March 19 at the Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave.; April 2 at Grace Community Church, 1620 Church Ave.; May 7 at Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave.; May 21 at the Wilson Resource Center, 610 Faller Ave.; June 4 at SAM Academy, 750 N St. Details, 559-250- 6433.
American Legion Post 23 holds Bingo at 6:30 p.m. every Thursday, and its meetings are 7 p.m. the second Tuesday of each month at 1502 O St. All are welcome. Details, 559-875- 6204.
MC & DJ’s Shotgun and Orale plan to host New Year’s Eve Dance Party starting with dinner at 8 p.m. Dec. 31 at the Sanger Community Center, 730 Recreation Ave. The Royal Core Oldies Band provides the musical entertainment. Theme is Rockin’ Oldies. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Felipe Family Ministries for Fresno County homeless. Donations accepted as well. Bar will be open. Tickets are $50. Tickets available at eventbrite.com. Details, 206-724-9817.
The Sanger Woman’s Club monthly luncheon meetings include Osher Lifelong Learning Center at Fresno State with Jill
president at noon March 5; the Sierra National Forest at noon April 2; Sanger’s new Mother of the Year at noon May 7. The club is at 1602 Seventh St. Details, Liz Hudson 559-779-1569.
The Sanger branch of the Fresno County Public Library has has multiple programs. Read to a Dog with Vinny! is 10:30 a.m. the second and fourth Saturday of each month. The library closes at 2 p.m. Dec. 31. The Builder’s Club is 3:30 p.m. the first and second Thursdays of the month for Lego enthusiasts. The library is at 1812 Seventh St. Details, 559-875-2435.
The Sanger Eagles’ taco nights are 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. the first and third Mondays of the month. Breakfasts will be from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. every second Saturday of the month. The location is 225 J St. Details, Jim Batten 559-875-6820 or Denny Noller 559-392-1936.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Community Breakfast is from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. Jan. 5 at the American Legion Hall, 1502 O St. Cost is $6. Cub Scout Pack 322 and Boy Scout Pack 322 will assist.
Gymnastics for boys and girls 4 to 12 starts at 9 a.m. Saturdays at the Sanger Youth Center, 818 L St. Times are specific to age groups. Cost is $20 per month. Details, recinfo@ ci.sanger.ca.us or 559-876- 6300, ext. 1430.
Karate for all ages is 6 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays at the Sanger Youth Center, 818 L St. Cost is $25 per month.
Mike Nemeth / Sanger Herald
promoting her trade-for- toys event. And she got big results.
“She’s fearless and has a very big heart,” Alyse said. Alyse said she suspects trading toys for homemade hot chocolate and sugar cookies will become an
annual event.
But expect some changes. “Bigger and better seems
to be her thing,” Alyse said. On Dec. 15, Cheyenne started at 8:30 a.m. trading goodies for presents. She had the help of Anika Pacini, who she describes as her “BFF,” and her little brother Michael, who turns
3 next month.
Alyse recorded the event
with multiple photographs. One shows Greg and Stefani Ravy with Cheyenne. He’s an ag teacher at Clovis East High School, and she’s a nurse at Clovis Community Hospital. Both stopped by to donate presents.
Alyse said her daughter had to go to Valley Children’s a couple times for her own care. “She’s
attention and caused them to question their meaning: What’s this star about?
What is your star? What is it that has you questioning? What has seized your attention and made you start wondering what’s going on?
I serve as a police chaplain, and studies show that every single one of us will experience at least five critical incidents in our lives, whether it is a death, loss of a job, loss of health, a tragedy, a sickness or a financial crisis. Many times, these events can either make us bitter or better. It is in how we respond that makes the difference.
very giving. She’s one who always wants to help,” Alyse said. That help involves classmates and other children who go to their church.
Jackson Elementary principal Debra Santos was impressed with Cheyenne’s Christmas toy drive for Valley Children’s.
“I did not know Cheyenne did such a wonderful and heartfelt gift,” she said via email. “She is a wonderful little girl with a warm heart. She also was our big fundraiser student this year and had the opportunity to go on a $100 shopping spree with me for her wonderful efforts. She and her family support the Jaguar team and are very active in our community. Cheyenne is one who has a kind heart and is willing to help those around her. She is a blessing!”
And this wasn’t the only time Cheyenne set up in front of her house offering refreshment. Her dad, Felipe Barrientos, took
a photo of a number of police officers in front of her lemonade stand. On Sept. 2, 2017 from about 10 a.m. to noon, Cheyenne said she wanted to do something nice for her neighbors during the hot summer days. “Many of our neighbors stopped by as well,” said Felipe at the time. “I recently saw a quote on Facebook that stated if we went out and talk to our neighbors, we would see that our country is not as divided as it seems. I’m not sure who said that, but at least for today I found that to be extremely true.”
To the question of what was her favorite part of Christmas, Cheyenne said, “Loving family and Jesus.”
Her little brother, who apparently can sometimes be annoying, also won her affection. When her father called with Michael in the truck, she said, “Hi Mikey. I love you.”
Santa stopped by the Sanger Boxing Club last week, and the boxers and coaches took a break to take this photograph. The club, at the Youth Center, 818 L St., works out at 5:30 p.m. weeknights and is developing some pretty good young fighters. And its ranks of professional fighters are also increasing. See this week's story in sports, and there are more to come.
PASTOR’S CORNER
No. 2. Genuine seekers ask questions. They
asked, “What do
you think this
means?” And they
started asking around. What
does this sign
mean? Where
is it? Where do we go? They started on a journey for truth, meaning and substance in life. They allowed God to lead them on their journey.
Point: God has led you to the place, where you are right now, on purpose. You are not here by accident.
No. 3. Genuine seekers do whatever it takes to find the answer. If you’re a genuine
seeker, I encourage you to do that. Do whatever it takes to find out the truth: “Why am I here? Where am I going? Is there a God? Does he care?”
Point: We often think we know more than we know. As a result, we search where we think we ought to look. But it’s the wrong place. If we knew the whole story, we’d go to the right place to start with.
No. 5. Finally, God put them back on course. God looks at the sincerity of our hearts and guides us in our search for truth, meaning and substance in life. We also read that the wise men experienced great joy. “And when they saw the star, they rejoiced with great joy.”
I’ve seen God do this to many genuine seekers. He gives you a sign, a clue, a trail marking, travel guide
so you can find him. He’s not going to just leave you out there on your own. The TRUTH will set you free and you will be filled with great joy!
As you begin a 2019, it is my prayer that you too, will be “genuine seeker.” May you have a joyful and prosperous New Year!
Pastor Sam Estes is city advance director and facilitates the Sanger Community Task Force that meets the first and third Tuesdays every month. He can be reached at pastorsam51@gmail.com.
Pastor Sam Estes
No. 4. Genuine seekers sometimes search in the wrong place. These wise men went to Jerusalem. It was logical to go to Jerusalem. Jerusalem was the capitol city. So naturally you’d go there to look for a king. However, it was not logical if you knew
the whole story.
The Messiah was to be
born in Bethlehem. The logical thing would have been to go to Bethlehem.
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