Well my new friends.. As all of you also have felt called to serve our Lord in many ways... We have also felt the call of the red nose...

Over the years i have been so stuborn... And never saw clowing as part of my ministry... Although i have done many things that clowns do...

My friends say that i am really good at making something out of nothing.. lots of times i would take cardboard and make stuff sillY stuff .. Like a radio or tv... Or a truck or trailer.. And carry into a hospital to vist a friend. I even would dress up in overhauls and a straw hat.. What ever it took to bring a smile to a sick friend...

But this past year... Everytime i would fall down(not a real fall but the term for confussion in my walk with Christ) i would get up with a red nose...

And finally i said yes... So now i am trying to learn all that i can... to be the best clown that i can be for my Lord....

I am open to any and all advice and wisdom...

And i would love to hear some stories of how you finally came to know you should minister to others with your clowning...

Is this your clown name "Happy Now" that is an awesome clown name. I really love it when God names His clowns.

SonFlower was born about 5 years ago on a mission trip to Mexico. Our singles group goes to Mexico every year (we were going 2 times, but have changed to 1 time because others have begun to go to India, and Africa- all born from going to Mexico)... anyway. Our group goes and puts on these festivals for the kids... clowns, balloons, face painting, games, inflatables, skits, puppets, health fair where we pass out toothbrushes and even do blood sugar and blood pressure checks. We meet once a week for about 8 weeks before we leave, to pray, practice and prepare for the trip.

I knew I would be a clown after the first meeting. Then God gave me the picture of a birds nest in my hair (my first clown wig has a birds nest in it), and then my clown name SonFlower. I did not put make up on until the first day in Mexico (sorry to say- but I have since learned to practice, practice and practice). I have seen SonFlower grow and mature over these last 5 years.

God also has opened door for our clown ministry to go into our community- and we are even called on for events now, God is good. We do an outreach 3-4 times a year called Impact (IMPressions that cause others to ACT) where we go into the hospitals and nuring homes with small gifts and stuffed animals- and just love on those who need it. We often get the opportunity to pray with others.

anyway, just some of what we do... May God bless what you are doing...

Yes sonflower... "happy now" is my clown name.. You see i am happy now because of what christ did for me.

It's so amazing when you find out how God introduces people to clowning. I run a Bouncy Castle business for our church we had a picture of a clown on the side of the van guess what? someone wanted to book the clown for a birthday, because i managed the business our Pastor though it was a good idea that i should clown for that party. I did not want to clown, i did not know how to clown, and at the time i thought our Pastor was a clown asking me to, that was 3 years ago now i clown every weekend, i have found out where God wants me so i am off to TNT clown retreat to learn as much as i can.
Blessings CJ

I praise God that He has lead me into clowning.
Each time I visit a nursing home or hospital I come home with many more blessings than I took in with me to share.
God is good all the time.

Thanks jodie

all the time God is good!

I LOVE the phrase 'Fell on my face and got up with a red nose' - so beautiful!! wow... :)

After spending time with Brenda at moosecamp I really realized that I wanna do mission trips with my clowning! One of my favorite songs is All in All, and Happy Now, I was reminded of the line, "when I fall down, you pick me up, You are my All in All" God is SO GREAT!

Brenda also suggested as clowns to have our very own bible verse to go by. (we often have our personal texts we live by.. my "Alyson" text is Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always, I will say it again Rejoice!" I have been trying to find a text that really fits "Kazoo" (my clown name) I came across one in Isaiah that struck a God feeling.... Isaiah 63:7a " I will tell of the kindnesses of the Lord, the deeds for which he is to be praised, according to all the Lord has done for us-"

God be Praised in all we say and do!!!

Hi HappyNow
I got started as an accident...When I was 15 I went on a mission trip with Oregon Assemblies of God Youth...the group was called AIM (Ambasidors in Missions). While there, I knew we would be doing VBS. What I didn't know is that we would be doing puppets! Now I love watching puppets, but I HATE doing puppets. They always hurt my arms and my timing was always off. I was so sad that I had to do puppets that I started crying (also remember that this was my first time away from home and I was with no one that I knew). So, I was given the choice, do I want to do balloons or clown? it was just for the night, and I could do either one. I would be making balloon animals, which I had done since I was about 11, so that was no problem. Not a huge fan of a jumpsuit on a hot tropical island, but found that a swimsuit under workd well. I had one of my roommate french braid my hair up in a ton of pipe cleaners so my braids bounced and stood up like Pippi Longstocking. That was the day that Pinky was born. I chose the name because that costume was pink...original huh? Anyway, after that first night, you could not get me out of the clown costume for VBS. I loved the attention, I loved making balloons, and I loved that God was using me to love on kids. 3 years later, I made my own costume, and proceded to go on a second mission trip. this time to Kosovo right after the war. I new I had to be a clown there. So I brought a home made costume and the wire for my hair, and Joy (my new clown name because it said that on my costume) got to come out to play. However, all the kids knew Pippy Longstocking. So, they quickly changed my name for me. But it fit and I loved it...So Pippi was born!!!!! I was amazed that God could love so many children through me. I got to make balloons, hug, smile, take pictures, and love on an amazing group of children who had just been through a war and needed to be loved. Now that was amazing!!!! Pippi could communicate in a way that Jessica could not, when Jessica could not speak a word of Albanian.
I went back four years later to the same location. I had the same costume, but this time was a whiteface, with a wig, funny shoes (the first time it was so hot I just had red circles on my cheeks and the hair). The wig was bright orange, and braided up in my usual way. One day, I was getting ready to do sunday school with these albanian chidlren. One of the missionary kids let a friend into the room I was getting ready in. I pulled out my folded up costume. It was still folded. She did not know who I was. She saw that fabric, her eyes brightened, she pointed at me and yelled "PIPPI"! It was then I knew I had really made an impact on this child's life. She could not have been more than 10 or 11, which means she was 6 or 7 when she saw me the first time. If I made such an impact that this little girl recognized the fabric in my outfit, God used me for something not only that first but that second summer. I was blown away!!!!
Since then Pippi came out every once in while, a few church events, 1 performance where I was called a CIT--Clown In Training (which I will continually be), and then last summer went through a local training program. I got a job as a regular run of the mill clown...not that that is easy, but I forgot my roots. Why I got into this 11 years earlier. I started doing parties all the time, and loved that Pippi could come out and play, but hated that it was just magic, balloons, face painting, and field games...I have always wanted more, but didn't know what. I finally figured it out. I want a ministry. When Pippi comes out to play, she wants to be serving the Lord with all of her everything!
So, that is how I got my name, and how I got started and now plan to continue with my ministry as God's 6 year old little girl clown who loves to love on those who need love!

PS, I love the idea of finding a verse for your character! I have a background and autobiography for Pippi (through the job atleast may need to change that), but I think I need to look into getting Pippi a verse too! Thanks!

PS again, sorry for the book, didn't knwo it would be that long :o

Good to meet you pippi... And i loved hearing your story... It is not to long..

God bless you Pippi! Very enjoyable to read..thanks for sharing!