AMAppel

When we started with the Spa ministry, I really struggled with it. I have a background in Mary Kay so I have no trouble at all with the spa aspect, in fact it did seem like a perfect fit. The trouble that I had was that I saw the people who live without heat in an area that reaches 10 below and families sending one parent away to find work while the other stays behind with the kids. Painting nails seemed shallow and pointless in the face of the poverty here. I felt more useful when we were picking up trash in the streets. But I came here willing to do whatever asked, so here I am. What I learned was that this ministry touches the women and girls here on different levels. The women lead ... read more

I will try to upload more photos on here but I don't have a lot of time before we go down and do the spa but I will get as many as I can.... read more

Yesterday we were teamed up with the California team to help with the sewing, I was really excited because I now have been quilting and the first project is a quilt. Ann and the girls weren't thrilled though. We were waiting to get started when they told us that we were more needed in the spa ministry. They didn't have a team organized for it. The girls were thrilled, but Ann wasn't. We started doing facials and manicures and Ann was disappointed because she felt out of place. Throughout the day she was taking pictures (for those of you that don't know Ann, she is a very good photographer and has a really nice camera). When VBS was finished, Ann walked out the door and was absolutely swarmed by children. The kids LOVE having their picture ... read more

We arrived this morning to start our first day of the campaign. They put us on the clean-up crew with a group from Switzerland and a group from Indiana. It has been a great blessing to work with groups from all over. We started in the "forest" which was an empty lot and cleaned our way down the street and partway up the next. Groups of evangelists followed us. People were very curious about what we were doing and that gave the evangelists a chance to talk to them. We were very thankful to be done and for the cold water provided at the church, tomorrow we will remember to bring water with us! ... read more

Hi, this is Ruth. The campaign that we are helping with is organized by Bethlehem Center. The center is in one of the poorest districts in Huneodora. The center started by providing bible studies to the neighborhood including kids. Some of the kids couldn't read or write so the center added a homework assistance program. Many of those kids were so hungry that they couldn't concentrate during the lessons, so the center added a hot meal program. Well some of the kids smelled so bad that the other kids wouldn't sit by them, so the center added a shower and laundry service for these kids. You can see that as the programs grow, so do the needs. The center has also added a computer training program, and a Sunday service. They have even added sewing courses ... read more