God's Faithfulness - Cambodia Fundraiser

The faithfulness of God was demonstrated the evening of August 23, 2010 with our Glitterbug Prasath Ballang Cambodia Fundraiser!

Faithfulness Facts:

• Eeight women attended the fundraiser
• Five women donated their earnings from gold sold
• The donated hostess 10% bonus was $365.51
• The donated earnings were $2,672.82
• The total earned for our Project was $3,016.27 !!

Lovely ladies form the North Chapter came and supported us along with a new partner and a friend; all of whom donated their total earnings! God sent just the right people with hearts for the poor and marginalized women in Cambodia to do this mighty thing. We are so very grateful.

Thank you to those of you who prayed for this fundraiser. Your prayers have availed much!

See more photos from this event here.

Lynn's Prayer Walk Relay for Appalachia

This summer I witnessed the beauty and the poverty of the Appalachian mountains in northern West Virginia. In some ways it felt like home here in Washington state, thanks to the abundance of green trees. In other ways it was plain to see that family upon family were dwelling in homes that would be condemned as uninhabitable, here in Washington.

I learned that generational poverty is completely different than the temporary poverty caused by a sudden downturn in the economy or by a health crisis. Generational poverty exists in rural areas like Appalachia due to an extreme lack of jobs yes, but also to generations lacking in education and opportunity.

This past summer it was brought to the attention of local World Vision staff that an elderly woman had been living without running water for something like 25 years...! So they installed plumbing and a hot water heater - and a working toilet...can you imagine the tears all around as the woman received that amazing gift? And the ability to take a WARM shower?

The staff also told me about a teenage girl involved in WV's community/youth programs, who worked very hard at her studies throughout high school, and managed to earn a scholarship to a college some 25 or so miles away. Her ticket to a better life, within her grasp!! Only, her father refused to allow her to go. Many of these folks have never even been out of their own counties. They do not want to lose their children to the "outside world." The girl was heartbroken. (I am dying to know what happens now...surely she will find a way?!) But maybe not. Girls get married and have children very young here. And the generational cycle of poverty continues...

I love that the work World Vision is doing, which is supported in part by our local Women of Vision chapter, is not a "hand out", but instead, is a partnership: a "hand up." Families receiving missions teams for home improvement projects are referred by their local pastor, and must meet numerous requirements to receive services. And at the end of the missions project they provide a meal for the entire team. I was so blessed to spend a little time helping out at the home of Patti, a mother of 14 and grandmother of 60+ children. Despite a difficult life she was joyful and inviting, and her belief in God and in his people seems unshakable.

After I returned home, some friends invited me to join their 8-woman walking relay team. Maybe you have heard of it...the Portland to Coast Relay? At first I thought, no way! Last year I did a half marathon and I vowed I would not participate in anything over 10 miles again!! And my part of the PTC relay is 14+ miles! Thankfully however, I have three legs with a couple of hours rest in between each, to cover those 14 miles. And I thought, what if I decided to pray for the people of Appalachia along the way, and raise a little money for Appalachia program work?? So I decided to go for it!

I know there are many, many causes clamoring for donations these days, and we cannot give to everything that comes our way. But even $5 or $10 here and there adds up to make a difference! I believe in helping our brothers and sisters right here in America. And now that I have seen the dedication and hard work of our World Vision staff in West Virginia, and met women & children in Appalachia first hand, I know I want to have a hand in lifting these dear people out of spiritual and physical poverty.

So if you feel led, please join me by donating to our projects. All donations given via this link directly benefit the projects supported by this Women of Vision chapter.

And if you are so led, please pray for me on Friday & Saturday August 27 & 28, as I complete my relay legs. Our start time is 4:30am on Friday, and we should roll into Seaside Oregon for the final mile at about 10:00am Saturday morning. One of my legs will be walked in the middle of nowhere, in the middle of the night (which is a little scary!)

1.  Leg 18 - classified "Hard" - 4.15 miles, all a gradual uphill:  I will pray for Morgantown, WV

2.  Leg 26 - classified "Hard" - 5.77 miles, with a 2-mile uphill at the end:  I will pray for Philippi, WV

3.  Leg 34 - classified "Moderate" - 4.13 miles - yes - a short leg with gently rolling hills! I will pray for our staff conducting the massive work being facilitated out of World Vision's global distribution center in Pittsburgh, PA.

See more photos from Lynn & Laura's Appalachia trip here.

Donate to Lynn's Prayer Relay here.

Thank you sooooo much!!

Lynn, of SPS Women of Vision

August Devotional: God's Faithfulness

Lamentations 3:22-23

“The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases, His mercies never come to an end; They are new every morning; Great is your faithfulness.”

We have all seen firsthand the faithfulness of God. We recently experienced it through the circumstance of what Holly, a member of our Leadership Team, and her family went through with their baby, Sage, while she was hospitalized for the third week of her life. Holly’s account reminded us that it was her faith along with her family and friends that enabled her to make it through this difficult trial as she had "faithful patience" believing in the faithfulness of God to hear her prayers for her baby girl.

God’s faithfulness is recorded throughout scriptures. We think of the children of Israel as they were rescued from the Egyptians as the Red Sea opened for them and closed upon the pursuing Egyptian army and God's faithful provision as they wandered the wilderness for forty years. We see God’s faithfulness to Rachel, Ruth and Rahab. Time and again we see the hand of God proving His faithfulness to His children.

God’s faithfulness is something that we can count on and yet at times, we forget. We worry and fret about things and try to count on ourselves. Today let’s focus on Him and His faithfulness to accomplish those things that concern us. He is able and He will do it.

"Great Is Thy Faithfulness."
Great is Thy faithfulness, Oh God My Father
There is no shadow of turning with Thee.
Thou changest not, Thy compassions they fail not
As Thou hast been, Thou forever will be.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Summer and winter and springtime and harvest,
Sun, moon and stars in their courses above
Join with all nature in manifold witness
To Thy great faithfulness, mercy and love.

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

Great is Thy faithfulness!
Great is Thy faithfulness!
Morning by morning new mercies I see.
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided;
Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!

Prasath Ballang Cambodia Fundraiser

 You Are Invited

PRASATH BALLANG CAMBODIA FUNDRAISER

Date:  Monday, August 23 2010

Time: 6:00-8:00 PM

Location: 31247 10th Ct. SW, Federal Way 

Phone: 206.429.2634  

                                                                   

Join in the fun as we raise money for our South Puget Sound Chapter of Women of Vision Prasath Ballang, Cambodia Project with a Glitterbug Gold Party.

Gold prices are between $1000 and $1200 per ounce, so rummage around in your jewelry box to find broken, mismatched or unworn gold jewelry pieces ( plus dental gold, watches, etc.) and bring them to the party. A Gold Buyer will evaluate your pieces on the spot and offer you the opportunity to trade for money. At a recent party attended by one of our members, she took home $494 from just a few pieces, and had a lovely time with friends!  Each seller receives a check in the full amount of their proceeds from the sale of their gold.

• All hostess benefits will be donated to the Prasath Ballang, Cambodia Project.
• There is no obligation to sell. For more details, click here
• If enough participate, all seller's names will be put into a drawing for a free Coach handbag.

Unable to attend? Then it's "Gold on the Go". Put your gold in a labeled bag, sign a Customer Purchase Agreement and send it to me or have a friend bring it. Contact me for details.

Join us for food and wine and make a difference in the lives of children and women in Prasath Ballang, Cambodia.  You can read about our project in Prasath Ballang here. Bring life in all its fullness to these women and children in the Kompong Thom Province living on less than $1 a day.

Please RSVP by Friday, August 20, 2010
by emailing: wovsouthpugetsound@gmail.com