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On Monday, November 30th, Parkview Transit is bringing a bus full of winter coats to support our Coats for Kids Drive!

Parkview Transit’s drivers have been busy collecting gently used and new children’s winter coats from the local community to help keep kids warm this winter.

We would like to send out a big “THANK YOU” to Parkview Transit for their generosity!  With the cold weather now here, their donation couldn’t come at a better time.

If you or someone you know is in need of a winter coat for a child, you can drop by our office from now till December 18th to pick one up.

We are also adding two after hours distribution dates on Saturday, December 5 from 10 a.m. to noon, and Wednesday, December 9 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

 For more information, please contact our office at 705-435-4900.

If you’ve read earlier blogposts (listed at bottom) that I wrote about Africa, you already know my aunt Melody.

We visited Melody in Zambia this summer while my uncle Phil came back to the U.S. for a medical procedure. Phil is my Daddy’s youngest brother. He’s not that much older than my brother and me, so we grew up more like cousins. I have so many stories I could tell you about Phil, but…I won’t. (Talk to me later.) I met Melody for the first time when my superstar basketball player uncle brought his cheerleader girlfriend home to meet the family. Melody taught us cheers out in my grandparents yard.

We loved bubbly, fun Melody at first glance. And she’s still the same!

Phil and Melody Stephens serving God in Zambia

Now Phil and Melody serve in Zambia. I asked Melody to share some of their life with you. I held this post until today, Thanksgiving Day. Seemed like the perfect time to share what they do for a living — a life serving God and giving thanks day by day.

Feel free to fall in love with them too!

I sent Melody a list of questions. Here are her answers:

How long have you and Phil served in Zambia?

3 years. We arrived October 12, 2006.

Downtown Livingstone, Zambia

What brought you to Africa?

Phil came to see the work of another missionary in 2000 and fell in love with the people. I came the following year and loved the people, but although I knew God wanted us to serve Him here, it took a couple of more years before this “city girl” agreed!

Boy in Mukuni Village

Why Zambia?

Zambians are the people group that God placed in our hearts. I sometimes wonder myself…Why Zambia?? Why not Ireland or Hawaii?? Now, I could really feel the love there if only given a chance.

But no, God chose Zambia and now I am so thankful. I love the people and feel a great burden to teach the children of the love of a Wonderful Savior  – the One who would call me out of my little box — that I fit so well in– and bring me to this place half way around the world and open my eyes to the needs of the people here. Everywhere we go here becomes an opportunity to share the Gospel with a lost and dying world.

“Zambia was not on my top 100 places to live but it is now the ONLY place that I want to be.” — Melody Stephens, missionary

What you see as the greatest need physical need of the people?

Right now I would say that I think the greatest physical need of the people is clean water. There is a water shortage in the compounds and quite often there is no water for them to drink. The water that is available is dirty and loaded with who knows what. We (Amerians) know when it is so hot that we need to drink more, yet they drink less because of the diseases that come with bad water.

What surprised you most you the most about living in Zambia?

Where to begin…. Here are my top ten:

#10. Weekly power outage (often more frequently) because the government officials say we have excess power to sell to neighboring countries. So, if we have so much power why am I sitting in the dark?? And why can’t they let me know when it will be off so I can plan my life??? (Oops! I’m back in the box!)

Zambia Zebra

#9. I am totally surprised by elephants, giraffes, zebras, monkeys…okay all the “zoo” animals roaming around freely with no barriors.

#8. I am surprised by little village boys who don’t often see vehicles using their flip flops as pretend cars making roads in the dirt and adding the correct “noises” to their game.

#7. Going to the store to buy bread or milk or eggs and finding none…because management didn’t think to place an order.

#6. The beauty of the sunsets and flowers.

#5. No one is in a hurry.

#4. The crude tools used to create works of beauty.

#3. The “Thunder” of Victoria Falls.

Children caring for babies.

#2. Children carrying bables on their backs, and being responsible for siblings at such a young age.

#1. But, the most surprising thing of all is the joy of the Lord that a soul set free has here in Zambia. They are not in a hurry to worship. They will sing and praise God all night and all day. And can they sing!

I love to hear the Zambian voices lifted up in praise to the God who set them free.

What do you like the best about your life?

Serving the Lord day in and day out with Phil. I love the people both young and old. I love the adventure, the animals, the flowers and the opportunity fo depend on God daily to supply our needs.

Paston Kebby preaching

How can readers donate?

Tax-deductible donations can be made to our missions agency:

BBFI (for Phil and Melody Stephens–011310)
PO Box 191
Springfield, Mo.65801-0191

Phil and Melody Stephens on the Mighty Zambezi!

You can catch up on our adventures/observations in Southern Africa:

A blood donation is when a healthy person voluntarily has blood drawn. The blood is used for transfusions or made into medications by a process called fractionation.

www.google.com

Today millions of Americans are sitting down to celebrate Thanksgiving with their friends and family.

Then, the Christmas season will be officially upon us, and we’ll start to work on making great memories for our parents, siblings, friends, and (most importantly) children.

What if we did that by giving some fantastic memories to kids who need a little hope?

On December 16th, Compassion’s Bangladesh office is having a Christmas party for 2000 street children—children who have never really known what it’s like to be loved. They are children without hope.

It’s an opportunity to share the good news of the birth of Jesus with those who might not have a chance to otherwise hear it and to show these kids that they are loved by God.

And they need $7430 to do it. UPDATE: we have raised $2600 so far – just $4830 to go.

So let’s do it.

Let’s put together the money they need to give a little hope and joy to these kids.

My family is giving. I hope you will, too.

Donate now and let’s see if we can get this paid for by Dec 1 – stay tuned for updates.

“Fear not, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Luke 2:10-11

Each and every Saturday of the year the volunteers with the Ministry of Hope at Cross and Crown Church in Arlington Heights, Illinois, serve a feast for the homeless and low-income of the area. Approximately 50 to 70 people enjoy the hot breakfast and lunch each week. Many partake in the opportunity to attend a worship service.

The volunteers and pastors of Cross and Crown are a gift from God to the homeless. They live from their hearts, offering smiles, joy, friendship, hope and support to all who need. They serve delicious meals, give clothing, bikes, and more. They give transportation to and from the church in a church member’s van. The Ministry of Hope is NOT even part of the church budget–all costs come out of their own pockets!

The Ministry of Hope volunteers are absolutely amazing! I honestly don’t know how such a small church can do so much for so many! Some may remember that it was this same church that was vandalized around Christmastime. There was an outpouring of support from communities all around, including an awesome new Christmas tree to replace the one that was damaged by the vandalism.

I felt glad that this church was able to celebrate Christmas and feel the warmth of the community help that we homeless feel when we go to the Ministry of Hope on Saturdays. I hope to return the love and kindness someday by finding a way to help them myself, perhaps by finding them a new or used van of their own to give us rides in to and from the church. It would even grant the church the ability to give us rides to the church on Sundays so that we may attend the regular worship service–something many of us wish to do but can’t get to the church on our own.

View a pdf file about the Ministry of Hope.

Some time ago, while I was prophesying to several of my partners, I received the following prophetic word: God will release 52 weeks of uncommon favor in the lives of those who have the courage to believe in the prophet. For a $52 donation (or any graduation starting with “52″), how many people do you think choose to believe in the word? The answer: many!

I could go on and on.. Rather, I invite you to read the testimonials on our Facebook Fan Page. Join the discussion – particularly if you have a story to tell!

If you’re unsure what the 52 Weeks of Uncommon Favor is, stay tuned to The Master Prophet Blog for full details – they’ll be posted soon!

God Bless.

Last year the first “Tweetsgiving,” a social media charity drive, raised $11k for a school in Tanzania. This year they’re at it again, and have invited folks to make their own video and tag it with “tweetsgiving.”

We took a couple minutes this morning and recorded one – check it out, make your own, and go donate!

Happy Turkey Day!

Every year during the commemoration of Mahatma Gandhi anniversary, the Hindu Community of Portugal together with the Portuguese Red Cross promotes a blood donation among its associates. This year the blood donation took place at the same time of the celebration of Sharad Purnima; the harvest festival.

Last week we also hosted 13 volunteers from Faith Presbyterian Church in Hermitage, PA (the group that took me down to the French Quarter!  how great!).  This group helped PCO by collecting a donation prior to their arrival.

Thank you, Faith Presbyterian Church, for supporting us so many ways!  It was such a joy to have you here!

Mama’s THANKSGIVING WEEKEND SALE
Those of you who have been clients for a while know that Mama Afrika doesn’t really believe in “sale prices”, “deep discounts” and “drastic reductions”… “Why not?” You ask yourself.

Well, the idea is simple: Mama Afrika doesn’t have sky high mark ups on products. She believes that the reason for selling fair trade African products is to feed African families; not become a billionaire and drive a fancy sports car.

So, we only mark our products up as much as is necessary to help the business branch out to include new cooperatives in new countries. As you’ve probably noticed: offering the best price possible is part of our plan. We know that if our prices are great; then so are sales. If we were able to discount items to 50% off a few times a year; then you would know that the rest of the year… we were charging you 50% too much! Easy to understand right?

Well, Mama’s making an exception this year. And she’d like you to know why: This economic crisis is tough for everyone. Its probably affected your family in some way too, directly or indirectly. Unfortunately, African families are having a really tough time too. The crisis has meant fewer sales locally and globally for them; thus less income for many who were making it day to day as it is.

So, this Friday through Monday only, Mama Afrika is discounting prices in the hope that it will encourage you to reach out and help these families make it. Many items will be sold at almost no mark-up. But, if that allows us to re-order products from our cooperatives, that is enough for now.

God has blessed us many times over the past 9 years and we are hoping that this gesture shows you how dedicated Mama is to the women she has grown so fond of.

And, this year Mama will be sending the 10% donation to help our cooperative members children celebrate Christmas this year. We will be donating toys, art supplies and sending donations to help those most in need make it through the holiday season.

Come by Mama’s Open Market this weekend after you have eaten your turkey, and given thanks for all that you have… and help us give our cooperative members reasons to be thankful too.

Best wishes for a happy, healthy and safe Thanksgiving. May it offer you the opportunity to be surrounded by your family and friends.

Blessings, from our family to yours,

Mama

Det hände en dröm, en dröm igår,
Idag har jag vaknat redan.
Karin Boye

Donationsutredningen är färdig.

Min donator blev inte godkänd.

Det var ändå så fantastiskt av honom att erbjuda sig.

Det kommer jag aldrig att glömma.

Jag är tillbaka i transplantationskön.

Kanske tar det inte så lång tid.

Dessutom är jag nästan frisk.

OnProcess donating Thanksgiving dinners to Fall River families – Fall River, MA – The Herald News

Posted using ShareThis

OnProcess Technology will feed 130 families a free Thanksgiving dinner this year.

The 500-employee company, with a location at 21 Father Devalles Boulevard in Fall River and another in Ashland, collected nonperishable food items to donate to the Salvation Army in those communities. And the company purchased turkeys to complete the holiday meals.

Each Salvation Army received 65 complete dinners for needy families.

Army co-Commander Major Elizabeth Deming of the Fall River Salvation Army, 290 Bedford St., said some 1,500 families have requested free dinners this year, up 100 percent in the last two years. She said she was grateful to OnProcess Technology for its donation.

“They have no idea what a long-range effect it has on people’s lives,” Deming said.

The Salvation Army, which serves the greater Fall River area, gets some funding but also relies on private donations.

OnProcess Technology, an asset retrieval company, has made the donation for the past five years. It started with 10 turkey dinners and has steadily increased its giving, and this year surpassed its goal of providing for 35 families.

“The goal was to provide Thanksgiving meal baskets to less fortunate families within our local communities,” said Stacy Harrington, communications and events manager for OnProcess Technology.

On Monday, Harrington took her “overly stuffed” SUV to make the donation to Milford, where a Salvation Army lieutenant picked up the good and delivered them to Fall River.

“It was astonishing to see firsthand the difference people working together can make in the lives of the less fortunate,” Harrington said.

Deming said a child came to the Salvation Army Monday with his mother to pick up a free dinner, and his words gave her pause.

He turned and said: “Mommy, we’re going to have turkey on Thanksgiving,” Deming said. “This food goes to very needy families of all walks of life.”

The Salvation Army is also collecting food and monetary donations to provide another 1,500 dinners to needy families for Christmas. Those dinners usually consist of ham and all the fixings.

It is working to collect 2,000 coats for needy children, as well. Those interested can stop by the Salvation Army during normal business hours or call 508-679-7901 to receive the name and age of a child in need and their size. About 90 percent of the coats will be given to needy children in Fall River. The remainder will benefit children in Somerset, Freetown and Westport.

According to the 2008 tax return, Brad and Angelina donated more than $6 million to various charities.

The biggest recipients: Global Health ($2 million), Human Rights Watch ($1 million) and Brad’s Make it Right Foundation ($1 million).

Other notable contributions included $500 000 to the Armed Services YMCA of the U.S. Army; $50 000 to the Springfield, Missouri Public Schools (Brad’s hometown); and about a million dollars to projects in Cambodia, the country from which they adopted their first child Maddox. (Faded Youth)

by: Randi M.

Honoring its 100th anniversary, Tyler Perry donated a million dollars to the NAACP. According to the Washington Post, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People claims this is the largest donation in history from one person alone. Go ‘head Tyler.

Click image for source.

Since it is almost Thanksgiving and I will be far too busy eating turkey to blog on Thursday I am going to do my post on what I am thankful for today. I think this goes along with the flow of my posts today as well so what better time right?

First and foremost I am thankful for Nightrider. She is the most amazing person in the world and I love her with every aspect of my being. She is handsome and strong, and smart and charismatic and has the biggest heart I have ever seen. She is my partner, my rock, my shoulder to lean on, the love of my life, an amazing mother, a fantastic cook, the best kisser know to all woman kind, the best part of my day, and honestly my better half.  I am so thankful everyday that I get to spend my life with her.

-I am thankful for our wonderful children. The boys amaze me everyday, they are growing up right before our eyes and are becoming awesome young men, with kind hearts, common sense, great senses of humor and I know they will be great adults, husbands, fathers and everything else they will desire to be. They can make me smile any day of the week and even as they are becoming teenagers still find time to cuddle with us and make our days perfect.

-I am thankful for my job. That I have a job to go to everyday, that I have paychecks coming in and that I work for amazing people who treat me like family. I could’nt ask for a better boss who has been on my side every step of the way for the last 4 years and has made a point of leading the pack for accepting me and a my family.

-I am thankful for the roof over our heads, that we have a home and that as crowded as it sometimes may be  it is always filled with love, warmth and the smell of Nightrider’s homecooking!

-I am thankful for my parents. I am lucky enough to have a mother who is also my best friend and a step father who would move mountains for me. They are always there when we need them and I know I always have a family to come home to.

-I am thankful for our family and friends despite their flaws, they are all wonderful people who our lives wouldn’t be the same without. I am going to love something about them forever and no matter what happens that will never change.

Lastly I am thankful for the kind and giving people out there. Sometimes we become so jaded that we don’t know people like you still exist. Last night we recieved a call from our kids school. They had heard we were having some tough times, with Nightrider being out of work due to her multiple sclerosis & us living off of my income alone. They have arranged for a box of food for Thanksgiving to be delievered to our house, and an anoymous and wonderful person has given our family specifically, a donation of $100 towards our power bill for the month of December. This will help us pay the bills and allow us to have some extra cash to give the kids a better Christmas then we would be capable of giving without the help.

What are you thankful for?

Last week, PCO had the honor of hosting as a volunteer the wife of the late Rev Wayne Bell – a fundamental man in the history of the organization, to whom we dedicated the most recent house we finished (Gus St Dedication).  Additionally, the Bell family set up the “Wayne Bell Mission Memorial Fund” through the West Sunbury Presbyterian Church.  Through this fund, we received a generous donation to continue the work that he loved.

This donation will be used for the most recent rehab PCO has undertaken: the 11th Street project.  This home belongs to a long-time resident of Slidell, Martha* – who, four years later, still lives in her FEMA trailer.  Somehow, she had fallen through the cracks of the recovery effort.  Even though she has endured visits from caseworkers and the constant threat of losing her trailer, Martha hasn’t seen any of the assistance one would expect in return for those inconveniences.

Given the waning national interest in the rebuilding of Southeast Louisiana, funds for recovery organizations are harder to come by – and initially PCO was unsure as to whether or not we could take on this project.  But with this support of the Memorial Fund, PCO has committed itself to get Martha back into her home as soon as possible.  Martha is so thankful that the time has come for her to finally receive the help she needs.  Her faith has sustained her this far, and her patience has finally paid off.

Thank you, West Sunbury and all who have donated to the Bell Memorial Fund, for helping to make this woman’s life no longer one of suffering and rejection – for giving her attention, giving her love, and giving her back her home.

*Name has been changed

I’m a sucker for a good cause.

I’ve done a lot of charity work in the past.  My non-profit of choice has always been The Heart and Stroke Foundation for very valid reasons: my mother passed away at the tender age of 31 of heart disease, my father has hardening of the arteries and due to other health concerns of his, is irreparable.  Most of the men on my father’s side of the family have bad tickers.  So – I think it goes without saying – heart disease is important to me.  Knock on wood… my heart is still good and in fine fighting form… in more ways than one.

But over the years of doing charitable work, I have noticed a trend: although men are greatly impacted by various diseases/conditions – it’s the women of the world that get the most visibility when it comes to such things.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that – considering that the warning symptoms for women greatly differ from men and often go unnoticed or misdiagnosed.  But men… are equally as important.  I won’t devalue that.

So, much to my delight – the men at VANOC have taken an active lead in promoting a predominantly ‘male’ cause… prostate cancer.  Oh I know… it’s an ugly topic.  I mean who wants to talk about such things???

Well – we can’t turn a blind eye to it either.  I’ve lost two great co-workers to prostate cancer over the years and watched them suffer a great deal.  And had these two men not been soooo squeeemish about getting tested – they would still be alive with us today.   But if a rectal probe can potentially save your life… bend over baby!!!  You’ll live.

Why is it so vital for men to get checked?  Because most men will never feel the symptoms of the cancer until it is too late.  90% of the men who are diagnosed with prostate cancer are detected when the cancer is confined or has spread to the areas around the pelvis.  The prostate cancer develops in the prostate, which is a gland in the male reproductive system. The cancer occurs when cells of prostate mutate and start to multiply out of control. Sometimes the cells can spread from the prostate to other parts of the body like the bones or the lymph nodes.

Various symptoms of this type of cancer could be the pain in the pelvis area, difficulty in urinating, and an erectile dysfunction. This cancer is least common in Asia and most common among the black men. The prostate cancer usually develops when a man has passed 50 years old – but that’s not always the case.

So in a show of solidarity… the men of VANOC (or a nice majority) have joined forces to raise an awareness and funds for prostate cancer research.  And I applaud them.  Many have been sporting a ‘stache during the month of November.  And the ‘VANOC Mo-Hairs’ are asking for a little help or support – should you feel so inclined to do so.

Women get a lot of visibility with causes that are very important… but this is just as important. 

So, today I’m doing my part by spreading the message to the men of the world: we need you here… so please get tested.  And there are a few of you out there that I would really really really  like to have around a wee bit longer … I don’t want to see another unnecessary death to this disease… especially if it can be detected early and/or prevented.

So if you can – please donate here. 

186,000 men will be newly diagnosed with prostate cancer this year alone, of which 42,000 will die

• Purchase kitchen equipment and food to offer hot meals for children and nutrition classes for mothers
• Build a child-friendly library with books and storytelling tools to bolster kids’ literacy skills, love of learning and tools for healthy self-expression.