Adopt-A-Family Project Update

During my August trip to Nicaragua I started my first of many garden projects.

We are now helping 36 families in Coffradia grow their own food. They each received a shovel, hoe, seeds and an irrigation system. We also purchased 5 wheel barrows that they will share in that community.

We walked to each family’s house and talked with them about their knowledge of growing, their land and their wiliness.

The first day when a meeting was called only 25 families showed up. It actually made me sad. I just could not understand why people would not want this help. Later that day after I left the village God showed me why.

Most of these families are not Christians and that morning we were meeting at the church and the Pastor of that church was the one who went and gathered all the people. Think about it, if you are not a church going person would you be willing to come and meet in a church? What if what's being offered forced to me to go church? There were many things that went through my thoughts that day but the most important thing was to separate the church from this project for now. We need to draw them to Christ not force them to come.

I contacted the village leader and ask him to meet with us, he came and together we put together a plan of action. The next morning when I arrived every one was accounted for at a meeting in the school.

I have hired a man (who is a pastor of another church) to teach these people how to grow their gardens. He is working in the village with each family 3 - 4 days a week every week. I was told yesterday the families are already seeing progress in their efforts and all are working very hard. I can't wait to go back and see what is going on.

Before I left I did not have enough money for all 48 families. I was concerned about how I was going to handle this. God had it already figured out. I had enough for 30 families and received word from Tina Gilbert she had collected enough for 6 more families. Exactly enough...

It's amazing to me how God works things out.

I am working on the pictures now and will post them soon. I will be contacting each of you who sponsored a family soon with a picture and the names of the families. In December I hope to bring back pictures of their crops.

Each family was very happy to receive the help. One very old man was an excellent gardener already but was working with only a broken shovel. Imagine what he will produce with good tools.

Stay tuned for more on this topic.

God Bless each of you that donated to this project, soon you helping these families feed their minds, body and souls with God's blessings.

Angie

Adopt-A-Family Project Continues

I have received money for 9 families so far and others have agreed to put out of the word.

If you do not feel led to help in this project at this time would you be willing to spread the word by emailing this pdf flyer to others.

Many of us know other people who attend mission minded churches that would love to help. Sending a email to a friend might just be your role in this.

God has who he wants to help change these peoples lives, are you one of them?

Thanks to all who have so far and thanks to everyone for praying for these people.

Simply email this link to your friends and family. www.thepowerofoneministry.org/adoptafamily.pdf

God Bless,

Angie

Adopt-A-Family

On Sunday our pastor preached on Make Us Great.

The basis of this was on serving.

He asked a question, "Do you love others like you love yourself?" What would your answer be?

In Matthew 22:37-39 the bible tells us to love the Lord your God will all your heart,.... but it also says, "A second commandment is equally important, Love your neighbor as yourself".

I had to think about that. Do I really love my neighbor as myself? Would I do for them what I want done for me? Would I give to them as I give to my family and myself? Would you?

What would happen if you started giving to others as you give to yourselves? If you were pumping gas and paid for the car beside you or were in the grocery store and noticed a woman searching for extra money, would you be willing to step up and pay for her groceries? These are some of the examples our Pastor challenged us with.

Now I am going to challenge you.

When we are serving the Lord we are at our best in God's eyes. We are acting out the most important commandment God gave us.

Here is your chance.

I am going back to Nicaragua in August to start a garden project in the village of Coffadia.

These families have to smuggle goods across the border, risking their lives in order to feed their children. They need a better avenue to earn an income and that project is much larger than I can do right now but what if we did for them what we can do for ourselves and gave them the ability to grow a garden and feed themselves.

They will need wheel barrows, shovels, hoes, and matics to do this. An irrigation system and seeds are also a must. I am checking on pricing today for the tools and it's not cheap in Nicaragua.

Would you be willing to sponsor a family and give them a chance to feed their children?

In return I will provide you with the following:

Receipts for the purchase of 1 shovel, 1 hoe and 1 matic. (Wheel barrows will be bought also but not for every family since the cost is so much)
Receipts for the purchase of seeds and the irrigation system.
Pictures of the family and their house, and children.
Their names and any additional information you would desire.
Pictures of the garden project from beginning to end
Pictures of the results.

With any project there are no guarantees. We can invest in them and the outcome is glorious or we can invest in them and they do nothing with the stuff. To avoid this I plan on holding them accountable before they get the equipment. They will have to put forth an effort to receive the products. In other words, be invested in the effort, not just receive a hand out.

I will require them to build a fence around the garden areas to keep out the animals and I will require them to carry the water every day and buy the fertilizer. This way they are able to see their efforts in producing the food and it not just be something we gave them. Don't you feel much better about a project when you have worked on it?

I just saw 12 young men come to know Jesus at this village last week; can you imagine the seed that will grow from those 12 men? We have an opportunity to serve and truly make a lasting difference for years to come with this project. Will you join me?

There are 48 houses in this village. In one house may be multiple families. For now I am only focusing on each house.

The cost to do this will be $150 per family. The wheel barrow alone will cost $80 - $100 so I am asking for enough money to buy several wheel barrows for them to share and the rest will receive their own shovels, hoes, etc. That cost will be around $65 per family.

Can your family give up pizza, eating out after church every Sunday or just splurging over the summer to help a family for $65?

Here are some suggestions on how we can raise this money;

Get your bible study group involved – with 10 people that’s only $6.50 per person.
Get your Sunday school class involved? With 20 people you would only need $3.25 a person.
Your extended family – with 30 people that’s only $2.17 each
An office pool – with 65 people it’s only a $1.00 each

Together we can change these peoples lives for the cost of eating out a couple of times in a month.

We don't have to do this, We GET TO...

There are 48 families on this distribution list and about 20 more who read it. If all of you pitched in every family would receive the needed tools to feed their families.

Will you join me?

I would need the money by July 30th. That gives you two pay periods, 4 Sunday school glasses and many other opportunities to turn dollars into crops.

If you can't do the entire amount would you be willing to do something?

Over half this community is not saved. What a great way to show them Jesus.

To donate please send your tax deductible check to:

The Power of One Ministry
198 Mellwood Drive
Charlotte, NC 28214

Attention: Adopt-A-Family

Please pray for this project. If you can't help maybe others can. Tell them about it. Get others involved.

Let’s watch what God does with this project. Email me and let me know I can count you in.

God Bless,

Angie