I am finding that sending out a newsletter when needed or per quarter is a more manageable goal for me so if you thought I had disappeared I promise I haven't. I find that my email is full of things I don't have time to read so I wanted to make sure I don't add to that problem in your inbox and you will actually take time to read this if it only comes ever so often.
In August I was blessed to visit my community again and see all the families and kids. We had a great time and all the families were blessed by many things. It probably felt like it was their birthday and Christmas all rolled into one.
I am changing my format on the newsletters to be more specific so you can read only the parts you want to read easier.
Here are the topics for this months newsletter, click on the heading to view more information and view the pictures.
Operation Education 2016 - we now have over 120 kids in the program for this year. Each of them are finishing their current grade in less than a month and will be off until the week of Valentines Day. They will be receiving there new school clothes, shoes and backpacks in December. Check out the pictures and see if you can see your sponsored child. If you sponsored kids from the orphanage I was not able to post those photos.
Baseball Equipment Distribution - I was blessed with lots of baseball equipment that I gave the adult team I sponsor and the kids team. They were in heaven receiving the new Jerseys, hats, cleats, bats and pants.
Thanks so much Kelly for donating all the awesome things. Even the school that the kids attend receiving equipment for the kids to use during recess.
On my next trip the kids will receive soccer clothes and shorts donated by Castanea Presbyterian Church soccer organization (Thanks Lisa). They are going to have more "new to them" clothes this year than they have ever had. They love the jersey type shirts.
New Clothes for the Women and Teens - thanks to an awesome sponsor who sows into this ministry I was able to buy new shirts from Walmart for $1 each. Most of them were the Danskins which are excellent for the weather there. Each family received at least 3 shirts each. They love receiving new things.
It's Feeding Time - each time I go the Lord provides for me to help the families with bags of food. This food can last them up to a month depending on the family size. It's around $20. The cost of ordering pizza once or even a trip to McDonald's once feeds them every day for a month. If you would like to contribute toward this project, please do. I have 72 families to feed.
My Nica Kids - most of you know that I have been working at an orphanage since I started going to Nicaragua in 2004. I have stayed close to 5 of the kids from the original orphanage called the House of Rose that closed in 2008. Those kids are very close to my heart. I love them like my own and I am sad to say that in December during my trip I will have to say Goodbye to my kids. One of them left in August to live with an aunt and this caused a great deal of problems for everyone. These 5 kids are all cousins. A set of 3 sisters and another set of 2. Once the first sister left the orphanage to live with the aunt, the aunts sister who is the mom of the set of 2 sisters "all the sudden" decided she wanted her girls back also. These kids are 12 and 15 years old. They have lived in an an orphanage since they were little and they don't even know their mom. These families are not ready to handle the emotional problems that these kids bring. It will be overwhelming to everyone, especially the kids. I am not ready to lose the girls. For years we were told they would never leave so in my mind I have planned on them going to college and then getting married, not leaving to a place I may not be able to find them again so soon. Please pray for my emotional state. I don't want them to see me upset and I have tears flowing just writing this to you and thinking about them and what they are about to experience. My heart is broke. I just want the best for them and I am not sure this is the best. I know there is nothing I can do but trust God. I know that he is more than capable of taking care of the girls. It's the humans I am worried about, not Him.
These are pictures of us having a great time in August.
Headed down South - I will be leaving on December 6th with two other team members so I would like to ask for prayer to cover us while we are there and my family I will leave behind. I am blessed to have Terry go with me again this year so I should have nice pictures again.
I will be able to see the elementary kids graduate from kindergarten and middle school but I will miss the high school graduation. There are 3 high school students graduating, 5 middle school kids and 4 kindergarten kids. I hope to have a celebration for all of them of some kind. Probably ice cream or something.
Thanks so much for all that you do to support this ministry through your prayers and your financial support. I can't do anything without both of those.
Hope you enjoy the pictures and the update.
God Bless each of you.
For those who SPONSOR kids with Operation Education, please note that if you would like to send them a financial blessing to help with food or bless them for Christmas please send it to me no later than the last day of this month, NOVEMBER 30th with instructions on how to apply the money. If you can't help with buying food please at least send a note or a card or something to let them know you are praying for them. Getting a letter from you is the highlight of my visit. Each kids sits hoping their name will be called. I imagine it's the same when our military is away from home and they too can't wait to hear from family. Speaking of the military, Happy Veteran's Day. Thank you for your service.
Angie
The Power of One Ministry 198 Mellwood Drive Charlotte, NC 28214
* you can also contribute online at www.thepowerofoneministry.org/donations