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Missions & Outreach
| | Sack Supper Run
Join us as we make sack suppers and deliver them to the homeless in downtown Grand Rapids.
Meet at church in the kitchen around 5:30 pm. Bring a bag or back pack to carry the sacks and water. | | |  |
Another Talitha Koum Outreach Bethany Christian Services has a need for duffel bags or small suitcases (new or slightly used) for foster care children to carry their meager belongings from home to home. Without a “bag” of their very own, they are forced to use a paper or plastic sack. If you can tribute to this cause, it would be so greatly appreciated. Bethany also is in need of twin or full size sheets and blankets (new or slightly used). No contribution is too small. If you only have one sheet or one blanket that you do not need, it will be put to good use. | | | | | Mission project Socks for all sizes Bethany Christian Services provides support to refugees coming to America from a variety of countries. There is a need for socks for these people, including men, women and children of all ages. If you are interested in contributing, please bring your donation to church, and place it in the collection box in the Narthex. The Women's Circle will be coordinating this collection. | | |  | Haiti Care Kits We will be collecting items to make health kits for Haiti. The items MUST fit in a quart size Zip lock bag. We need: 1 washcloth, 1 tooth paste, 1 toothbrush, 1 trial size shampoo, 1 bar of soap, 1 deodorant. .These items will be delivered to Haiti in June. A collection box is located in the back of the church | | |  | Bethany Christian Services Here is an opportunity to welcome a whole new world into your home! Bethany Christian Services’ Refugee Foster Care Program is seeking homes for Burmese, African & Central American and possibly Haitian refugee youth who have fled disastrous circumstances to find a home here in the United States. Room and board is paid for by the State and medical needs are also covered. Please contact Bethany at 616-224-7540 for more information and dates of information and orientation meetings. | | |  | PET Cart & CHE Feeding Program (Zambia) The rains are here is full force. Oh my word are they. One of the hardest we have ever seen here in Zambia. We arrived back from Florida in mid-January and the first thing that happened was a lighting strike that took out the internet tower. The tower was repaired just two days ago. I mention that as a form of apology for not sending an update out sooner. I will try to send a number of short updates over the next few weeks so I won’t make this one too long.
NOW... One of the first things that needed to be done once we arrived back was to start building PETs. We had to shut down the program because of Rev. Jean Kalonga’s death and we were not here to help over see the needs of the PET program. However, the request for PETs just kept on coming, hundreds of them.
We just finished the first installment of 50 PETs for 2010! We have already started the work on the next 50. Our goal is to build at least 500 this year. We just sent 10 of them today to the Zimba Medical Mission run by the Wesleyan Church about 800Km from here. A number of other PETs are leaving one at a time right out the front gate of the New Life Center.
One I want to mention was a Push PET. This one was a special custom build. Sandy met this little girl, named Ruthie, at the weekly CHE feeding program for orphans and vulnerable children. Sandy and her CHE girlfriends feed 200 to 300 every Saturday in the Zambian compound just down the road from the New Life Center. We’ll send an update about the feeding program later.
This little girl, Ruthie, is severely handicapped and can’t hardly move her hands or legs. Her mother carries her every place she going, but she is getting very heavy. The mother asked Sandy if she could help her.
Sandy came and talked with Rev. Dickson (the PET master), who is in charge of the workshop for building the PETs, to see what could be done. He and his team are very hard workers and they love to help others by building PETs. He ended up building this neat little Push-PET. He found some smaller wheels in storage and added this long funny looking bent rod he designed that connects to the front wheel turning fork. Something new for the Push-PETs. Look closely you’ll see it. This rod allows you to push and steer the PET at the same time. Way to go Dickson, it works GREAT!
Ruthie’s mother was so deeply appreciative. She just couldn’t believe that supporting partners (like you) and Dickson would take the time to help her little girl Ruthie. I’m sure over time Sandy will see her at the feeding program and she’ll have lots of wonderful stories of how this PET has changed their lives......because PETs always do change lives! There are more pictures of PETs & CHE Feeding Program at this link:
http://www.newlifezambia.com/NL_Site/Update_PET_Master.html | | |
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