Living on Mission

Food Pantry News: from February 14, 2013

We had 131 families including 5 new ones on Valentines Day last Thursday. They were assisted by 12 volunteers on Tuesday and 51 volunteers on Thursday. All of the female volunteers were surprised with a rose to thank them. We could not go week to week without our wonderful volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact Deb Diaz at DKMDiaz@aol.com.

I want to share a story with you. Paula came to our food pantry several months ago excited about getting landlord approval for her new rental house. We were concerned as her social security income was slightly less than her monthly rent. Paula was convinced that God would provide for her needs as she sought out potential roommates. She began attending worship services and White River members continued to reach out to her in the form of furniture, wood and food donations. Her friend moved in with her and wanted to help with the bills. We gave her an employment lead and she got the job! Praise God for the way He provides for those in need through those that are willing to walk with them. This is one of the many stories we see lived out each week.

Our needs this week include dish soap, paper towels, spinach, peas, canned meats, kleenex, boxed dinners and baby wipes. Have a blessed week.

Food Pantry News: from February 7, 2013

Our numbers continue to climb. On January 31 we had 178 families, including 20 new families. We had 14 volunteers stock on the Tuesday before and 65 volunteers on Thursday.

Last Thursday, February 7 we had 158 families, including 10 new families. They were assisted by 21 volunteers on Tuesday, and  57 on Thursday. This past Saturday we were blessed with 20 high school students from Lord of Life Church that stocked shelves, checked expiration dates and sorted donated potatoes.

It takes a lot of work to keep the pantry running. We would love to have YOU volunteer any Tuesday morning from 9-12 or Thursday from 3-6. If these times dont work for you there are other duties such as shopping, picking up pizzas, picking up cookies, etc. Just let us know you are willing and we will find something that works for you.

Our needs this week include canned peas, spinach, canned mixed veggies, healthy cereal, dish soap, paper towels, and baby wipes. Thank you for your donations!


Matthew 25:40 -. And the King will answer and say to them, 'Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'.

Success with Clean Water in Panama

Our Team left the islands today to return to Panama City and their flight home. Leaving the villages was hard but tempered by the fact that the people now have clean water to drink in the villages of Bucola and Playa Hermosa. We are praising God for granting success to the hard work and planning of this team and our missionary Juan Rodriguez.

Windmill in Bucola

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Clean water is now available for the village - everyone is excited

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2nd Windmill is located in Playa Hermosa

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the children who will benefit from the clean drinking water. This will enable them to avoid the parasites that have always plagued them.

Panama Team Makes Progress

Our team of 15 men in Panama worked really hard today. They have already erected the two wind mills. These wind mills will pump water up from the wells into a holding tank that will provide water pressure for distribution as needed. They still have to build the platforms for to support the holding tanks and other types of installation work but we are really pleased with the progress. If they are able to send pictures, we will post them. Please continue to pray for their health, safety, progress with the work, their ministry to the villagers, and for their families back home. Praise God for the good progress already made.

Panama Water Team on the islands

After 3 flighs, a van ride across the continental divide, and a boat trip, our Panama Water Team has arrived safely at their work destination. On Monday the team will begin the assembly and installation of two windmills in two separate villages. These windmills will pump water from wells which will provide safe and clean water for the villages. This will be a huge blessing as the water that is normally used contains harmful bacteria and parasites.  Pray for the men as they work in the hot Panamanian climate and bring a witness of God's love for the villagers.

Panama Water Team arrived

Our group of 15 men who left this morning has arrived in Panama City. We are very grateful that they and their luggage arrived. They are on their way to a hotel for a short night's rest before taking the domestic flight in the morning. Following worship, they will be heading out to the islands to begin their project of two wells with windmills for Indian villages that need safe & clean water. Pray that God will use this team to be a blessing in His Kingdom work.

Food Pantry News: from January 24, 2013

What one thing can anyone do to help make another persons day a little better? Share breakfast. Studies have shown that kids who have breakfast are more focused in the classroom, have increased physical activity and are happier as well as healthier. Breakfast food are the biggest quantity of food that we give out. We always need healthy (not sugary) cereals, oatmeal (instant and cooked) cream of wheat, pancake mix, grits, breakfast bars, peanut butter and jelly.

We had 166 families this week including 14 new families. They were assisted by 17 volunteers on Tuesday and 58 volunteers on Thursday. Every week each family is given a gallon of milk which helps build strong bones, fresh produce and bread. As stated above we need healthy breakfast food as well as juices.

We always love having new volunteers as well. Come see what happens some Thursday afternoon. We need help from 4-6 and especially from 5-6. I truly believe you will receive more from volunteering than you could ever dream of giving.

Food Pantry News: from January 17, 2013

We welcomed 159 guests including 15 new families last week at the pantry. They were assisted by 19 volunteers on Tuesday that helped stock and 58 volunteers on Thursday. We have so many exciting things to tell you about that are happening at the pantry.

On December 27, 5 large barrels and 4 small barrels of food was donated by kids for "Bounce for Hunger". We continue to see lives changed with people getting jobs and coming back to volunteer. A donation was recently made to Gleaners in our pantry's name so that we can purchase food at a very low price to stock our shelves. We are so grateful to God for his provisions. We continue to be able to provide a gallon of milk each week that was purchased with the "Simply Give" donations from Meijer.

Our needs this week include oatmeal, cream of wheat, cake and brownie mixes, sugar, flour, corn bread mix, juice, crackers, canned meats, toilet paper and baby wipes. Thank you for your ongoing support of the pantry. We have been able to provide food for families for almost 8 years with your help.

Blessings!

Food Pantry News: from January 3, 2013

I pray that everyone reading this newsletter is having a healthy and Happy New Year!  We had 132 families last week including 6 new ones. Tuesday was New Year's Day so no one stocked that day, but we had 62 volunteers on Thursday.

It is hard to know if we are really helping any families by providing food unless you are at the pantry each week and see the progress made in lives and hear the stories. We got to rejoice with 2 people this week that have found jobs and will not be needing to come to the pantry. We also got to rejoice with a single mom that got a Lilly grant to take education courses at IUPUI.  This is just a small number of the people our pantry has been "a stepping stone" for during a rough patch in their life.

Our needs this week include flour, sugar, canned meats, oil, jello, pudding, canned soups, condiments, toilet paper, and dish soap.

Thank you for your weekly sacrifices for others and more importantly for the Kingdom of God by being the hands and feet of Jesus

Food Pantry News: December 2012

December 30, 2012

After a snowy week we had 101 families including 3 new families at the pantry on Thursday. They were assisted by 49 volunteers. A young volunteer that opens the door for guests built a couple of snowmen outside the door for everyone to enjoy! 

It was nice to have a lighter week and have time to visit with guests longer and find out what brought them to the pantry. One middle aged man came with his young son and said he had been out of work since September. He said he never thought he would find himself bringing home food from a pantry.  Another mother of 4 children said her husband had been out of work, for the 2nd time in 5 years, since May. Fortunately they had paid off their home and had a decent car. She said their savings was dwindling with what they got for unemployment so the pantry was a godsend to help them. An older man said that he lived on $600 a month from social security and lived in government housing (Noble manor) He got $45 a month in food stamps so he appreciated being able to come to the pantry.

A friend of mine suggested making a list of our blessings for 2013. I think I could fill a book! It is a blessing to me to be able to share what we have with others. Our needs this week include sugar, flour, cake mix, juice, jello, pudding, beans, and toilet paper.  Every can or box of food that we receive blesses another family. Thank you for your gifts of food.

Happy New Year!

December 23, 2012

"And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you, he is Christ the Lord." Merry Christmas to you and your family! Thank you God for all of the blessings that you pour upon us daily, and especially thank you for your Son so that we can have eternal life.

We had 161 families last Thursday including 8 new ones. We were assisted by 22 volunteers on Tuesday and 64 on Thursday. We had an additional 46 teenagers from basketball and cheer that visited with guests, took them around, stocked and carried groceries out.  It was a very busy night.

This week we are especially in need of breakfast foods since kids will be out of school for 2 weeks. As you pick up your favorite breakfast item, place another one in your cart to bless another family.  Cereals, pop-tarts, cream of wheat, breakfast bars, nutrition shakes, anything that you enjoy. We are also in need of cake and brownie mixes, boxed potatoes, snack foods, dish soap and toilet paper and paper towels.  We always need paper bags and egg cartons.

Thank you for your faithful giving to others.