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Adult Programs - Mission Committee Letter from World Relief (Sept 21, 2004) Greetings to you who serve the Lord with gladness! We hope September is sweeping by with lots of enthusiasm in your faith community, and lots of involvement. It's definitely sweeping by us at a sprinter's pace. 25 individuals (11 cases) will arrive Wednesday and Thursday if weather and airplanes cooperate. Either God has a great deal of faith in this community (and I think His trust has been born out over the past few years) or we are just crazy and misreading His intentions. How you can help. . .if you aren't already and we know many of you must be, because donations for the homes have been way up: A) We could use a large van and driver for appointments throughout the next 2 weeks for 4 to 11 people at a time. We have some volunteers and vehicles lined up, plus the World Relief mini-van, but will need to get everyone to the Social Security administration, Dept. of Human Services, English class enrollments for adults, at Black Hawk Outreach Center or one of their other ESL sites, and eventually to the Rock Island County Health Department, although those appointments may come in early November. Health Dept. appointments are always Monday mornings at 9 and Thursday afternoons at 12:30, so drivers would need to be picking up the refugees about 1/2 hour before that (as it takes at least 10 to 15 minutes to get everyone and all carseats loaded, generally). B) It takes lots of toilet paper, dishwashing liquid, and toothpaste for this many refugees. Every household has starters, but those items can't be purchased with food stamps, and they'll need more before they are working and receive first paychecks. Gifts of practical, non-food items are especially appreciated. Or the gift of a month's rent. --This call for donations works pretty well in newsletters and bulletins, as long as you add where they should drop off items, either at the church for us to pick up, or right at World Relief, 3115 Ave. of the Cities, Moline. Tubes of toothpaste or nail clippers or combs are great donations for Sunday School children. Homemade Thanksgiving cards to our refugee families would also be great. C) Watch the Dispatch and Argus for the next 10 days, for a story about refugees. If you find it, and you or your members have helped, please consider clipping it and putting it on a church bulletin board with a "BRAVO" nearby. Or drop it in the mail to your missions committee chairperson, or social outreach group, or a social action Sunday School class as an idea starter. We'd be glad to come talk to any group that's interested, and we have clients who are strong believers with great stories to tell or songs to sing. Just ask. D) Ask any landlords in your congregation with apartments or duplexes in the Illinois Quad Cities if they would contact us, tell us what they have, the cost, length of lease, and whether they would consider extending the mission field into their properties. We help clients learn that rent is THE priority when it comes to monthly bills, and try to help the relationship be mutually beneficial. But we need more landlords, esp. for 3 bedrooms or more, renting for less than $600 per month. We prefer month-to-month leases, and generally that's advantageous to the landlord too. Easiest way for most to reach us is to email me at agrove@wr.org or to fax over their information to 309-764-2399. By the way, this week's arrivals include Christians from Liberia, Muslims from Sudan, Bahai from Iran and a family from Cuba who may or may not have been allowed to practice a faith. We have a 9 month-old baby in one family, and a 92-year-old man in another. Persecution spares no one simply because of their age. I'm so glad Christ tolerated the persecution and ultimate death sentence for me, so that I can look ahead to seeing many of our clients, and all of you someday in our heavenly home. Go forth now with the calm assurance that the unparalleled love of God surrounds, upholds, and preserves your life and ministry. Amen.
Ann, World Relief - Moline |
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