January 30th

I took a small break from changing the world, not really, but did not post so much about it.

Auction was good - could have been better, but since God's in control I won't second guess it. The people of Englewood were as always, generous to say the least. Hooray for hometown folks.

So that project has been put to rest.

I am still writing to the guys on death row in Alabama. I still want to do a book drive (and might could do so in February as I have NOTHING planned for that time period). I have also found some more people willing to write some of the guys there. I am also looking for a good way to involve them in prayer - I'm thinking of asking them to pray for the people of Pine Ridge, but can not find a good list of prayer needs - if you happen to have one or are familiar, do tell!

I am preaching at the nursing home for someone who can't this Sunday.

The dance is still on for March 16 but that will pretty much only take the time it takes to do that.

My fabulous friend is putting on a Mother's Day banquet, but she's so scary efficient I doubt she'll need much help....

More later :D

What About?

Shut Ins
Good Morning! I bet you know at least one person who can't get to church - I know one that would like very much to come, but is ill with a pretty serious disease and can not really attend for fear of infection. I asked for CD's to give them and will deliver them lately. I think giving them audio from the sermon kind of gives them an opportunity to hear what your church is about and be prepared for the day they can actually come and attend. Simple too - not really much risk of rejection there if you tend to worry about that kind of thing (YES I know we're not supposed to - but sometimes we stumble).

Praise
With the advent of portable music, you have to opportunity to not only compile your own praise groove, but the opportunity to bless someone else who may not be able to afford to buy any praise music. Praise is imperative in the heat of the battle - why not share?

Auction
Still working on that one - I have a few calls to make and some places to visit and we'll go from there! No big - just a matter of time and opportunity.

BLAM - Week Four

I suppose if I want more workers, I need to be in prayer MORE - I know who is supposed to be working with me - but the enemy gets all over them to the point that they can hardly walk, let alone work - so I am getting WAY more serious about praying and warring for their victory.

It could be like waving a red flag at the bull, but I don't care - the same bloodline those I pray for - I have so I am not afraid. (Good thing too!)

Here is my Sunday School Lesson for this week - pretty powerful stuff!

Here is one of the verses:

God is not a man, that he should lie,
nor a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Does he speak and then not act?
Does he promise and not fulfill?

Numbers 23:19

Read the whole chapter though - it's AWESOME.

That's all that's up for this week - still getting donations for the church auction - I have about ten or so - I love it that people are so willing to just GIVE. I love this town.

Week Three Update!

Met with the nursing home staff yesterday and the social is all set for March 15th. Now all I need is to find out more about the era and get some volunteers to give me suggestions for the music and the decorations. Wooo Wooo God is good!

Still have to get more donations for the auction - I think I have seven. That actually is a piece of cake I just have to find the time to make the phone calls. I also have to print up some certificates.

Additionally, at the nursing home - I found out one resident does not attend the church service we do because "we" (I should say just "I" because I know I didn't) don't do a formal reading. In the Catholic mass the priest reads three selections from the bible. I told them to let her know I would incorporate that into my turn on the fifth Sunday of the month. I also let them know if someone there without family had a need to let me know - there are people there who have no one to see them, no family, etc that might need socks or something. Trust me in the big scheme of things, buying a pack of socks never hurt anyone.

Resources
Educating yourself about the needs of the world can be very painful, but necessary as it serves as great motivation to continue pressing on no matter what. I recently watched Pandemic: Facing Aids and I have to tell you that I was pretty shocked and horrified by what I saw. Uganda while very impacted is starting to get a handle on how to deal with this - Thailand - the number one cause of death is AIDS due to the sex industry and in Russia most people have NO idea how you get AIDS and their infection rate is projected to increase 1500%. Very enlightening movie, though hard to watch.

I am also currently reading Max Lucado's "It's not about me" I have to say I was a little concerned when I read: We'd see our suffering differently. "My pain proves God's absence" would be replaced with, "My pain expands God's purpose." But in that special gifted way he has - he makes it seem a glorious thing rather then a painful thing. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is in a bit of a slump.

Week Three - Rabbit Trails and the "Asking"

Not too much new is going on. The Life on Alabama Death Row project has been my primary focus since the new Year. I am sending out thirteen letters this week that I wrote this weekend and the birthday cards are finished up until April. The most exciting news I have in that regard is that I gave away four letters (the most EVER) in one day for people to have NEW pen pals. I've never had so much success. And to think I was asking all the wrong folks!

I've also been teaching the Sunday School class for our guests who come down from Sarasota - go figure - who knew? It was a total freak thing actually - they just happened to not have a teacher and I had a sermon for the nursing home so I shared it with them. God showed up and we had such a grand time in the lord, I decided to do it again and again. They have an actual teacher, so I don't want to step on his toes, but I'll do it whenever they ask/want.

We still want to make quilts for the other nursing home that has 24 ladies, but have not really discussed that recently. It's on the list of things to do. My fabulous friend helps with this but she's also planning a Mother's Day banquet - so I get to help her with that as well.

Wow, guess I lied, there is a lot going on.

Onto the other two subjects at hand.

Rabbit Trails
Rabbit trails are great fun sometimes but they can also be the bane of my existence. I don't know that everyone is like this but sometimes you reach point A and from that point you have about ten choices of direction to travel. Some will dead end while others will take you to point b or point c.

There is always something for you to do where there is a need, that does not mean that all somethings are the best choice. Sometimes it's good to take a deep breath, pray and decide which of these things would be the best thing.

The Asking
I am probably the easiest person in the world to ask to do something because typically I will say yes (unless there is a valid reason why I can't). I can not even count the number of times that someone has asked me to do something while acting as though they are full of dread at the thought of doing the thing they are asking me to do. The asking is simple - If you are not excited about what needs to be done why would anyone else? And really in a way, when you as someone to "work" - you are providing them with an opportunity to be blessed. If they say no, say okay and onto the next person who might want a blessing.

Really.

I know people are surprised at how often people tell me yes - it's very simple - I am excited about what I am doing/needs done and I just want to share that. If you are not excited about what you are doing/needs done - maybe something is wrong in that area.

It truly is that easy.

Week Two - Changing the World!

It's been interesting this week - realizing I can't do it "all" and realizing I have to know where to draw the line. For me, there's never enough one can do - but I am starting to realize you should pick what you feel led or gifted to do and start there. If you see a need but know you can't fill it, you can certainly find/talk to others about filling that need.

Example - it was FREEZING down here this week - about two days were brutal cold and with the humidity so high, that makes it worse as well. I actually felt bad that we'd done nothing for our guests who come from Sarasota in the church van to provide them with hats and what not while sending hundreds of mittens to the Ukraine and the Indian Reservation. I later realized that it's much colder there and for much longer and as far as "calls" go - that was not a bad one on my part. I am currently making hats for adults now with the left over yarn, but will not have them done in time (or at least many of them) but I can always put them up for next year (or what until the winter goods go on clearance and get them for next year for very little cost). We'll add this to the list of on going projects though not necessarily at the top of the list.

Christmas 2008
I've packed up all the left over widow baskets and supplies in the garage (in a very organized manner I might add!!!). I also snagged the remaining decorations for the trees for the nursing home at 75% off so I paid less then a dollar for the items. It just doesn't get any better then that!
I probably won't post about Christmas much more after this week until it gets closer to that time.

Life on Death Row Alabama
I think I've actually managed to find some volunteer pen pals! I am so very excited actually I can hardly stand it - I have had no luck. Maybe from the outside looking in this doesn't appear to be a world changing activity, but you have to look at the bigger picture. Your support of a christian on death row may assist them in making amends if they need to - or you may be helping an innocent person walk a very difficult path or the support from you and the power of your testimony may impact that inmate's family and change that part of the world - NEVER underestimate the power of kindness and love.

I had a great idea for a project for my death row inmates, a very inexpensive one actually. Picture postcards from all over the country with just a scripture. I think people would be interested in doing that and it would require no more commitment from them. Many people are "afraid" of writing inmates - I forget that as I have been doing it for ten plus years. If you are interested in participating in this project, see the pen pal list here.

Nursing Home & Valentine's Day
Instead of doing gift bags - I am still feeling the pain of the Holiday season, we're opting to do a "dance social" for one of the nursing homes with music, decorations, food and punch. I am actually doing very little. My friend will decorate and do the food and I am going to talk to the youth leader about having them participate and the young singles as party guests and facilitators.

A good world changer is never afraid to delegate!

On the home front, I'm going to be starting a bible study with the kids as soon as the book arrives. Should be interesting!

Happy New Year - ready yet?

The last two weeks has been VERY exciting here - I've been organizing and planning things so that my time will be used most effectively!

Listed below is what is going on to date:

Christmas 2008
I picked up thirty two feet tall Christmas trees at my local walmart for only $15.00. I put these in storage for next year. Each of the two nursing homes our church ministers to will each receive 15 trees for their dining room tables next year. I plan to put washers on the bottoms of the trees to make them less prone to tip over and I'll be gluing the ornaments on the trees so that if they should tip over, they will only need to be picked up. The trees will not have lights as this is not really possible, but will be decorated in one color per tree - blue, purple, turquoise, pink, red, green, and white. I snagged some decorations for 50% off, but will wait for the rest of the items I want to be marked down 75%. I also got several rolls of satin ribbon for $.44 also. All of this is in one tote for easy access next November.

Birthday Cards
The one nursing home we go to has 100 (give or take) residents that live there full time. To send each person a birthday card would cost $41 for stamps and about $50 for cards. Getting postal mail is great, being remembered is also great - but the two together and VOILA - a really terrific thing. The cost is spread out over the course of the year, so it's really a very practical project that anyone can do!

I took time last week to get all of my birthday cards for death row done up until April. All that is left is to pray for them and type out the letters - that does not really take so long. This way, I really have no excuse for falling behind again like I did last year. I fell dreadfully behind sometimes and I'm finding with some pre-planning I should be able to prevent that from happening again.

Valentine's Day
I wanted to do the apartment comlex again, but that's 100 gifts and I really need to stay on budget - but I may make small gift bags again for the nursing home residents - those are a bit easier then the apartment complex. I talked to the lady today who runs the ministry and mentioned we should partner with the youth group to make an era appropriate social event for the residents. Now, I don't know much about music from that era or clothing, but I am sure a little research would correct that.

Guess I'll need to make an appointment with the youth leader to talk to him about what he's willing to get the kids involved it - helpers are the BEST thing you can have and the most amazing thing is how EASY it is once you ask. Most people want to help and/or do good things, they just have not idea what needs done or how to do it, but will quickly jump on board to do good things when asked.

Death Row Pen Pals
Ironically enough, I have been looking for pen pals high and low - I thought perhaps my standards were too high, but now I am starting to think I was not following God in where to look and who to ask.

I had the wonderful opportunity (and I was so very blessed!!!) to teach the Sarasota Guests who come to our church via the church van. I mentioned letter writing to them and they seemed REALLY interested. They can use the church address for their return address and I think it might even motivate them to come more. I told them I would give them the letter all ready to mail and they would just need to write something.

I have to admit I am VERY anxious to see how this turns out - one because the Sarasota Guests are kind of new baby Christians, but I think it would do wonders to have a service to provide. Serving God always makes you feel worth something. We are made in the image of God, who is VERY giving and therefore, no matter how messed up we are, we have a need to give. The death row guys are more mature Christians, but they will feel remembered and thought of AND they may be able to mentor via letter writing and thus also be giving.

It just doesn't get any better then that!

Internet Links for other projects:
Friends of Pine Ridge We sent hats, mittens, and scarves to the youth center and craft supplies to the Senior Center. This is a GREAT organization and has projects of ALL sizes you can easy get involved with.


Hope for Orphans - We also sent several hundred pairs of hats, scarves, and mittens here as well. What a cool organization and the people I spoke with were very nice and wonderful people. They really do need support in other ways too such as a children's vitamins and what not. Their site is currently down for some reason, but I'll be sure to post a link as soon as I can.