What can you do to help?

I was invited by an old college friend to volunteer with his church to prepare and hand out food at a local homeless shelter. We met at the church and prepared soup and a sack lunch with sandwich, apple and cookies in it. We then caravan across town to Humility of Mary Shelter where we ladled soup into cups and handed the sack lunches out to those who wanted food. We had the soup on the tailgate of a truck to ladle up and there were several of us standing there ready to hand out the sacks of food. It was amazing the amount of people there that need such a service.

Humility of Mary Shelter is just one of many shelters in the Quad Cities area serving those who are struggling through life. This was such an eye opener for me. I had no idea there were such a high number of homeless in the area. I guess I’ve been naive in this area of thinking. When I think of hungry, homeless and poor people I think of 3rd world countries. I always knew we had homeless and hungry people in the states I just never knew how many. Statistics say there are 10,000 homeless children in the state of Iowa. That number only covers the children!

I encourage you to make a difference in the lives of those in need,  in and around your community. What can you do to help?

Making a Difference

I found myself putting on make-up at 9:00pm on a Saturday night to go out with some  friends. I don’t know when the last time was that it happened but I know it’s been awhile. Does this make me old? Perhaps I’m climbing the age ladder but I’m not old yet!

The people I went out with were almost all young enough to be my children. Two of which I’ve known since they were wee little ones and as precious to me as if they were my own. I enjoy young people and I have a passel of teens – young adults that I get the privilege of spending time with on occasion. A lot of them attend my church, but not all of them do. I love their thirst for life and their discovery of reality. I enjoy how they are uninhibited and full of life. I also like to think I make a difference in their lives in some small way.

We decided to go cosmic bowling and had a great time. Even though by the end my back and knee were giving me fits (ok so maybe I am getting old) it was so worth it! I talked the manager of the bowling lanes to take our group picture.

What a great looking bunch, don’t you think?

Something to think about: Have you made an effort to make a difference in someone’s life lately?

Day 36 of 365

Hope Starts Here

Lately my eyes and heart have been opened to those less fortunate.

Homeless, hungry and hopeless.

My heart cries out for these individuals to know the hope that Christ can give. To take them under my wing and make everything okay. If I could just stop the hurting, even if it’s just for a little bit.

To make a difference.

Every month I put together my church’s newsletter, I was approached by the board asking if I could write-up a little article about Project Rescue. When I got to looking at the pamphlet it was no different, it too tugged on my heartstrings.

Project Rescue is a ministry with a goal to rescue women and children who have been sold into human sex trafficking. Restore them to health physically, mentally and spiritually by taking them in and nurturing them. Loving them with the love of Christ, making hope come alive in their hearts once again.

Everyday Women and children are sold into sex slavery. Valued only for the price she can bring in the red-light district. Sold into prostitution and used only for selfish acts and then thrown away until the next person comes along to take yet another little piece of her identity. Suffering everyday through abuse and exploitation. There is no safe place. No place for hope.

That’s where Project Rescue steps in. They rescue these women and children, taking them to a safe long-term shelter where their journey to restoration can begin. Project rescue provides:

• Night care shelters (child care during their mother’s working hours in the brothels)
• Aftercare safe homes
• HIV clinic
• Red-light district church
• Red light district sunday schools
• Vocational training programs
• Awareness & prevention programs.

Project Rescue is currently ministering through affiliated sites in India, Bangladesh, Nepal and Moldova with the goal to expand their ministries even further.

There are so many hurting people out there that need our help. My church will be taking up a special offering for Project Rescue on March 18th. If you don’t attend my church and would like to read more information and help in some way here is their website. http://www.projectrescue.com/

Besides being sold into prostitution there are many other types of human trafficking all over the world.

People being sold into modern-day slavery, held in conditions of slavery in a variety of jobs. Men, women and children are engaged in agricultural and construction work, domestic servitude and other labour-intensive jobs.

Trafficking Organs, In many countries the waiting list for transplants are very long. Criminals have taken this opportunity to exploit the desperation of patients and potential donors. These procedures are often done undercover with no medical follow-up, putting their very lives in danger.

Commercial Sexual exploitation of children in tourism, The phenomenon is promoted by the growth of inexpensive air travel and the relatively low risk of prohibition and prosecution in these destinations for engaging in sexual relations with minors.

Please pray that human trafficking will be stopped.

Pray about what and how you can help.

 

 

 

 

Day 35 of 365

The Beauty With-in

“Whitney Houston found dead in her hotel room.”

This being the headlines plastered all over the internet when I got online tonight, what a shock. I was a teenager when she was in her musical prime. I loved her voice and enjoyed a lot of her songs. The first song that comes to mind when I think of Whitney is “Greatest Love of All”

This song made a difference in my life. How I viewed myself and how I viewed children and the impact I could have in their lives. I believe it is so important to love yourself. I do feel the need to mention that I believe God’s love is the greatest love of all. However, this song still ranks great in my book because of the meaning behind it.

 Make a difference, help them dream, encourage them and help them realize how wonderful they are.

Never forget the child with-in, remember how fearfully and wonderfully you are made. (psalm 139:14)

Day 22 of 365