Merry Christmas

What a blessing to see the body of Christ GROWING HIS KINGDOM through all of you and your prayers! We PRAISE YOU LORD!


Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex

• Christmas Day a Clayton missionary plans to feed those at Moore Square. She has been feeding at Moore Square each Sunday, as well as Christmas, for over 3 years. Brothers and Sisters in Christ have asked for opportunities to serve Christmas Day and are blessing those with food - hams and turkeys, drinks, sweets… The Body of Christ is amazing! Thank YOU Jesus!
• The Brown Bag ministry is providing blankets and scarves for the Christmas Eve service at the Wilmington Street Shelter, as well as gift bags. The ministry was short 23 blankets, but the Lord provided them from an area storage unit.
• While shopping this week, missionaries met a brother in Christ who wants to consider making a large pot of soup and serving those in need a hot meal until the pot is emptied. Please pray for the Lord’s leading of a location.
• Christmas Eve missionaries are out of town an unable to pick-up donated food. A missionary who serves at the Healing Place is able to pick-up the food and bring it to those in need at the Healing Place. What a blessing to see the Body of Christ!
• “Manna From Heaven” We are thanking Jesus for your hands, feet, pocketbooks, cars, and willing hearts. The Lord truly multiplied the bags. In the lobby there were about 60 bags. The bags began to multiple. Every home (84 of them) was given a bag. Each bag not only contained groceries but a “Love Letter from the Father” in English or Spanish. People also were able to hand out Bibles. We Praise You Jesus!
  The bags continued to multiply. A team took the abundance to another neighborhood and gave away ~ 18 bags; a family took 3 bags to “families in need” in Holly Springs. There were still ~ 10 extra bags. These went to other homes on Stephenson Road. The best calculation is ~ 115 bags. Go GOD!
  All the drivers were incredible. What a blessing to see families going door-to-door bringing the love of Jesus to each home!
  It was true a gift!
• The Lord is answering your prayers. A lamb’s biopsy was normal as was a second PAP. THANK YOU JESUS!
• The Lord is also answering prayers for the lamb whose apartment burned down. He still has a job and has found a place to stay. PRAISE GOD! Members of his support circle have donated groceries, helped purchase gas to get to work and purchased Christmas gifts for his daughter. THANK YOU JESUS!
• A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus! If anyone would like to volunteer at the shelter or supply meals please contact Stephanie Narron at 274-8120. They need two men to spend the night each night the temperature dips to 32 or below.
• The Lord has utilized the donated non-perishable food with many families in need.
• The Backyard Bible Club’s Christmas party was a huge blessing. Every child received an abundance of gifts, even children who have never attended. THANK YOU JESUS for being a God of provision.
• A family who accepted Jesus in August wants to continue the Backyard Bible Club in her home until the spring. Please pray for her as she opens her home to all the children of the neighborhood. Thank You Jesus for bring Your Church to their hearts and home!
• Keep a missionary’s sister-in-law in prayer. Here is the prayer request.
  She had a mole removed last week that was cancerous and is waiting to hear back on blood work. I would like to agree that any pathology that might be in her blood or any other part of her body for that matter would be destroyed in the strong name of Jesus. She is not a believer but what an awesome opportunity for her to see a community of faith that loved her enough to pray for her and a God that loved her enough to heal her. Faith begins when we know the will of God.
• A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
• Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
• Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .
  
  Garner
  
• What a trying week for God’s lamb. He has been in and out of the ER three times since his biopsy. His appointment at UNC has been postponed until the 31st. At this appointment the doctors will do a stress test and plan for surgery to remove at least a portion of his lung. His tumor has grown according to the latest MRI.
• Another lamb has left Garner. He has taken a job in FL. Thank you Jesus for the provision of bus tickets to a better life. He called the morning he left asking for prayer and was surprised when a missionary met him at the bus station to pray for him and his safe travel. He called missionaries when he arrived to his destination. Please keep him in your prayers that he uses this time to grow closer to Jesus, realizing that ALL things come from the Lord.
• A lamb who was in Garner for many years turned up this week in a phone call from Maryland, where he has found a place to stay. He cooks and cleans for a doctor who provides his food and lodging. He said he has been off drugs and alcohol for a couple of months. Praise God!
• Another lamb has found housing this week. He is staying with a friend. Praise God!
• Lambs received their glasses this week. They are so excited to SEE, may they see Him more clearly as well. Three other lambs have gone for eye exams. PRAISE GOD!
• The Lord provided more Christmas packages this Sunday. He has provided gifts every Sunday of Advent. This week the lambs received candy canes, toothbrushes, and chocolate cigarettes, from one addiction to another. J
• A family from an Apex church joined missionaries Sunday as bags were delivered. What a blessing to find out they teach Spanish at NC State! Thank You Jesus!
  
• A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is
  Jaime Hernandez Sanchez
  Manatee County Jail
  Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen
  Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205
  Please pray that lambs’ hearts are opened to seeing God’s hand in everything and feeling the love of Jesus poured into each one. Pray they know they are adopted children of Christ.
  
  Missionary Testimony
  God continues to multiply efforts to bring His lambs out of the woods. The Church in the Woods was again able to draw from some money donated by a family that was reunited with a lost lamb a couple of years ago.
  
  The latest lamb had been coming to church regularly and, even as he sometimes grumbled about the message, God was tugging on his heart. When an opportunity came up for a job in Florida, he asked a missionary to check it out for him, “Make sure it is legit.”
  
  The missionary reminded the lamb that he had talked about going to his land in Arkansas, but never did. He had talked about going to relatives in Connecticut, but never did. “Sometimes you have to step out in faith.”
  
  After bus tickets had been purchased, the lamb called to say goodbye and confessed he might have “cold feet.” Missionaries jokingly suggested he wear warm socks and boots.
  At one point, he told the missionaries, “I know you bought me that bus ticket.” He seemed very touched by that and would not hear anything to the contrary. When the missionary said, “We’ll never for get you,” he replied, “Believe me, I’ll never forget you either.”
  
  Later, a missionary met him at the bus station for a final goodbye and the lamb was fighting back tears as he spoke with hope about the future.
  
  The lamb called missionaries on their cellphone the next day to say he had arrived in Florida, had a job and a room.
  
  Praise God!
  
  God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
  · Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
  · Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church, the Apex Stake, individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.
  · We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!
  
  
  Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
  
• There will be a Christmas Outreach, Christmas Eve at the Wilmington St Shelter from 7-9 PM. Volunteers are needed to pray with people and hand out Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts have been donated by area churches.
• Christmas Day at Moore Square missionaries will be serving the homeless at noon. For those who would like to serve please contact Barbara Tart at 803-6720
  
  

December 14, 2007

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness. Prayer and Praise!

Cary and Apex

• The Lord is answering your prayers. The lamb with the abnormal PAP has her biopsy on Monday. She has been seeking Christian women fellowship through a Christian book club and mentoring groups. THANK YOU JESUS!
• The Lord is also answering prayers for the lamb whose apartment burned down. He still has a job and a temporary place to stay. PRAISE GOD! Those in his support circle have suggested that he allow someone to manage his money. His sponsor suggested it again this week and he has consented. THANK YOU JESUS!
• A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus! If anyone would like to volunteer at the shelter or supply meals please contact Stephanie Narron at 274-8120. They need two men to spend the night each night the temperature dips to 32 or below.
• Praise God for the 10 donated pairs of glasses and eye exams. When others heard that glasses were donated and the ophthalmologist was donating her time, a church donated “goodies bags” containing items like sleeping bags and an area grocery store donated breakfast. One of the lambs left, she told everyone how she felt like a princess. Another lamb needs glasses prior to getting his driver’s license. THANK YOU JESUS for blessing these lambs. An area church is considering donating 5 pairs of glasses a quarter. Praise the Lord!!!
• Praise God for the cases of canned goods donated by an area church. Missionaries were blessed with a luncheon and a viewing of over 300 crèches from all over the world. What an awe-filled experience to see the birth of Christ from so many cultures’ eyes!
• The Backyard Bible Club in Apex is hosting a Christmas party Sunday the 16th. They are collecting gifts for the children. Please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com for more information.
• Someone has donated a car to an area church after learning some missionaries had given one away. . Please pray the Lord will find the perfect match for this transportation!
  An Apex lamb is asking for prayer. Her aunt and uncle were in a car accident. Her aunt is hospitalized with a ruptured bladder. The uncle is in need of prayer as well. He relies on his wife, as she is the anchor of the home.
• Another Apex lamb’s car isn’t working. She asked to have missionaries pray over it yesterday.
• A food drive is being conducted for one of the Apex missions December 16th. Pray that 85 bags of groceries are provided, one for each home.
• A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
• Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
• Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .
  
  Garner and Raleigh
• A lamb with lung cancer has had another CT scan this week to recheck metastasizing possibilities, although the initial scans and results were normal other than the left lung. He is scheduled to an out-patient procedure to biopsy the bones in the chest cavity on Friday the 14th.
• The lamb who left for Idaho asked for prayers that he would be substance free when he arrived at his brothers. Several days after he left, missionaries received a called from Fort Collins Hospital, one of the stops on the bus route to Idaho. Hearts broke, with all other hospital calls, lambs were on life support ad needed permission to turn the life support off. This call was an answer to prayer. He was suffering from withdrawals and hospitalized. They needed to contact someone for a baseline of “normalcy”. Praise God. He had stopped using substances when he left Raleigh. A week later he arrived at his brother’s SUBSTANCE FREE! We serve an AWESOME God!
• A lamb attended a middle school missionary’s school concerts. What a blessing to hear the young woman sing and an even greater blessing to see the two hug after the concert! It is amazing to see what a little love can do!
• The Lord touched someone’s heart to donate gift bags containing deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, lip balm, and candy for the Sunday AM mission, packaged in Christmas bags.
• What a special treat to remind God’s lambs that they are remembered and loved!
• Please keep in pray the lamb who received her first paycheck. She didn’t use the money to glorify the Lord.
• A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is Jaime Hernandez Sanchez Manatee County Jail Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205
• Please pray that lambs’ hearts are opened to seeing God’s hand in everything and feeling the love of Jesus poured into each one. Pray they know they are adopted children of Christ.

Missionary Testimony

Have you ever wondered whether the Lord really equips people these days? Wondered about God’s sense of humor? Missionaries attended a seminar about :”Growing God’s Kingdom” The speaker has been growing God’s Kingdom in the Middle East with the Muslim community. He made incredible points concerning bridging differences. He also discussed the Muslim concept of Christians. Were you aware that most Christians are not highly regarded in other cultures due to what is seen on TV? Other cultures consider Western Christians to be materialistic, fornicators, idolaters… It was a very uncomplimentary list. He suggested that when asked tell people that you are a follower of Jesus because they know Jesus from the Koran. He reminded the group of cultural differences, food restrictions… In all it was an informative meeting that this missionary wasn’t sure she needed because where she was serving was a Hispanic neighborhood, probably not many Muslims, if any right? The next day as she was serving in the Hispanic neighborhood, taking bagged lunches, (thank you Brown Bag ministry) and offering prayer, she was greeted by a non-Hispanic, perhaps a Middle Eastern. Wide eyed, she asked if they would like free lunches and prayer. He asked “why?” Her response was because “God loves you.” “Oh so you are one of those Christians” Oh my goodness, the meeting from the evening before, the words spoken, His MIGHTY equipping and what a sense of humor the Lord has. It was such a reminder that nothing spoken to grow His mighty Kingdom is ever wasted. Thank You Jesus!

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances

· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account. · Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church, the Apex Stake, individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.

· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions
There will be a Christmas Outreach, Christmas Eve at the Wilmington St Shelter from 7-9 PM. Volunteers are needed to pray with people and hand out Christmas gifts. Christmas gifts have been donated by area churches.
The Guild Ministry is collecting gloves, hats, scarves, sleeping bags, warm socks, toiletries, and blankets for the service on the 16th at 10 AM. The Guild ministry is located at 911 N West St in Raleigh.

November 26, 2007

Thank you Jesus for all Your blessings we are allowed to witness each week. Thank you also for Your faithfulness.

Missionary dilemma
God’s Word tells His Body of believers to help “those in need,” take care of the widows and orphans, those without homes, and the poor. Many believers do not only give their treasures, but give their time and talents. The question is how does one remind the Western World of the poor among us without exploiting the poor?

This week Rebecca was in the News and Observer (which can be read at http://www.newsobserver.com/news/crime_safety/story/786686.html) At the time the article was written, she felt telling people what had happened to her and her “neighbors” was the right thing to do, but when the article appeared in the paper she had second thoughts. She now has a job and her employer didn’t know she was homeless. She had to explain her situation to her employer and her employer had decisions to make, will this jeopardize the success of the business or not; will the customers understand and accept her? Rebecca was blessed and her employer understands, but not all employers do.

Thanksgiving evening the media was at the Garner Thanksgiving feast. Many of those who would normally attend came to the church and left, even before entering upon seeing the media there taking photos and asking questions. Many have jobs, some don’t want their families to know how they are living or what has become of them, many are illegal, others are wanted by the police, and still others just don’t want their privacy invaded. So how is the Western world told of the poor’s plight?

In the Bible people’s lives are discussed after their lives have been changed by Christ, their testimonies given. We see this also to be the case with people of today. Once Jesus has come into our lives we don’t mind giving our testimonies, but not usually while still living in our old lives. So again, how is the Western world to be reminded that “the poor will always be among us?”

Perhaps the best way is through one-on-one contact. Not only is personal contact the most powerful way to minister to the poor, it is the most powerful way to bring others to the realization that they are surrounded by people in need. Those who minister to the poor should not only consider bringing others with them to hear the stories and expand in Christ’s love. We also need to realize that there may be many unknown observers to those acts of kindness.

A trucker once approached a missionary in a parking lot after watching, unannounced, the feeding of the homeless there and a Bible study week after week. He handed the missionary a handful of one-dollar bills, saying he had been touched by the plight of these lambs, but was hesitant to give them cash. He added, “I know what you will do with it.”

A recent song by Caedmon’s Call casts light on our dilemma as we try to minister to the poor and become caught up in publicity and numbers.

“Faces turn to numbers. Numbers fall like manna from the sky.
“Why, oh why, oh Father why?”

The song goes on to say:“We put the walls up, but Jesus keeps them standing
“He doesn’t need us, but he lets us put our hands in
“So we can see …. His love is bigger than you and me.”

The poor will always be among us because those who are not poor in material things are often poor in spirit. Both are refreshed from Living Water when they fellowship together.

Prayer and Praise!
Cary and Apex

• A Cary lamb received the results if her PAP (the first in many years). The results were abnormal suggesting cervical cancer. She is asking for prayer. She has a job she loves and a beautiful home, a beautiful grandson and isn’t ready to die. She does know Jesus but hasn’t put on the new clothes of Christ.
• Thank You Jesus for Your Body of Believers! A lamb’s apartment burned down this week. We praise You Jesus that no one was injured. The outpouring of replacement items has been an overwhelming blessing, so many including the fire department have given this lamb gift cards. He feels the love of Jesus being poured into his life. Thank You Jesus for the couple who have been taking the time to assist with clothing, gift cards, the option of a place to stay, and the search for an apartment. Thank you for his temporary housing. Please pray that an affordable apartment is found in the Cary/Western Raleigh area close to his place of employment.
• Macedonia Baptist church cleaned out their refrigerator to get ready for not serving the week of Thanksgiving. They donated a car filled will fresh vegetables, fruit, eggs, meat, even non perishable goods. As the missionary was taking the food to those in need, she past a lamb “flying a sign” stating “HUNGRY”. What a blessing to be able to open the trunk and say take anything you want! The gentlemen’s eyes lit up, “Really, how much? Do you have a bag?” Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to be able to pull to the side of the road and witness to those passing by that our Father is the MIGHTY PROVIDER! May You always be glorified!
• A White Flag shelter is being offered at Hope Community again this winter. Thank You Jesus!
• Thank You Jesus for the couple who took in a lamb needing a place to stay. Pray that the Lord will provide an affordable apartment as this is only temporary.
  Thank You Jesus for another former lamb couple who have taken in a lamb. His camp was taken down yesterday with great joy and his belongings moved into a home with running water and heat. Thank You Jesus for Your overwhelming love, compassion, and mercy. He starts a job this morning.
  
• Thank you Jesus for the provisions for the lamb who contacted missionaries from Easter Seals looking for household items. Items still needed are a dresser, a TV stand, a queen size bed frame (he already has a mattress, box spring, sheets and comforter), and two kitchen chairs or barstools. If you have any of these items to donate please contact Jeanne at Jeanne.shankle@nc.eastersealsucp.com or 986-2885.
  A food drive through Hope Chapel is being conducted for one of the Apex missions
• December 16th. Pray that 85 bags of groceries are provided, one for each family.
  A Monday Cary missionary has asked for prayers for a lamb with multiple health issues.
• Due to liver complications her doctors have given her a few months to live. She prayed with the missionary today and accepted Jesus as her Savior. Halleluiah!!!! The two also prayed for physical healing. He is asking that the Thursday missionary also pray with her this week and weeks to come. Praise the Lord, Jesus is discipling she and her husband through this missionary with prayer, books and tapes concerning Christianity. The missionary is asking for prayer for her walk with Christ, her new love for the Lord and His Word, and healing of her mind as well as her body.
• A lamb’s mother was told she had one year to live. She is the caretaker of the couples’ children. Please pray the Lord blesses them with their children during this time period so the children don’t become part of the system. Pray for intervention.
• Shirley’s ministry is a non-profit for the animals in the woods. She is in need of financial contributions as well as pet food.Shirley Companion Ministry, PO Box 1468, Fuquay, NC 27526, 210-3096
• Creech Chiropractic is conducting a non-perishable food drive during November. Thank You Jesus!
• The Backyard Bible Club is every Sunday afternoon. This is for the children. For more information concerning the Backyard Bible Club please contact Stacy Boxell at stacy@net-by-design.com
• Please keep in prayer all the Apex and Cary missions. If you feel called to serve the socially and economically challenged in the Cary/Apex are please contact Cindy at cboyce@nc.rr.com .
• Three coats were donated to a local church on Sunday. All three were in the hands of grateful lambs by Sunday afternoon. God is so faithful to pass on blessings!
  
  Garner
  
• A lamb has his lung biopsy tomorrow, the 27th, at UNC. His appointment with his surgeon concerning his options is the 4th. Please keep him in your prayers.
  So many of these lambs have accepted Jesus, but not “put on the New Clothes of Christ”.
• Praise the Lord for the lamb who has been released from jail, not just the prison of Wake County but the chains of bondage has been released. His brother in PA has been praying with missionaries asking this lamb to take on the New Clothes of Christ as he did in July, and become active with a community of fellow believers. He has. A Hispanic church pastor has been walking to his home each week for months and he has accepted the offer to regularly attend his church.
• A lamb is asking for prayers as he has suffered possible police brutality approximately a year ago. He at that time was “under the influence” and served his sentence as well as healed broken bones and surgery. He doesn’t understand the outstanding charges and is asking for divine intervention.
• The change in the above lamb has created an atmosphere in his “neighborhood”. Two “neighbors attended church this week for the first time in months. Thank You Jesus that Your love is infectious!
• Thank you Jesus for a lamb who has been substance free for several months. She begins a job this week. Keep her in your prayers for Godly money management. Please also pray that she is able to save money and move into an apartment for Christmas!
• A lamb is moving to Idaho to live with his brother and family tomorrow. Keep him in your prayers as he makes all 6 bus transfers during his 3 day trip. Thank You Jesus for the family who donated money for this situation a few months ago to pay for the transportation and the church that is holding the money!
• A lamb who hasn’t been able to find work in the past two weeks hooked up with a recovering lamb Sunday and was told he could have a job doing construction if he gets an ID. (He has a birth certificate, but no North Carolina ID).
  
  
• Please continue to pray for a lamb who is trying to stay clean and sober while still in the woods.
• A Hispanic lamb was transferred to a FL prison this week. He is to serve ~ a week there and then released. Pray for the Lord’s provision after he is released. His address is
  Jaime Hernandez Sanchez
  Manatee County Jail
  Palmetto, FL 34221His public defender is Peter Coen. If any one wants to write to him on Jaime’s behalf, the address is Public Defender OfficeAttn. Peter Coen
  Case # 1994CF2938 920 Manatee Ave WBardenton, FL 34205
  

Missionary Testimony
What a blessing to knock on doors to offer the physical, bagged lunches, and the spiritual, prayer, this week! Missionaries were able to see how the Lord has changed lives and homes in these 7 months. Missionaries are greeted with smiles instead of fear, with hugs and welcomed into His homes instead of standing outside doors. Families are being reunited and welcomed into The Father’s family, the Family of Christ.
A new family moved into the area with 4 boys. They had heard that the “iglesia” comes each Sunday and asked if the missionaries were the “iglesia”. They were told that they too were part of “iglesia”, the Body of Christ in community, if they believed Jesus was their Savior. The boys shouted a mighty “yes!” Thank You Jesus for the opportunity to plant Your seed!
With a knock on another door, a young child opened the door shouting “Mama, la iglesia!” The Missionary was welcomed into their beautiful home. The family was making tamales, welcoming her in to share a meal. They discussed (Thank YOU Jesus the children are the translators) how blessed they have been since Jesus is in their hearts. Not many families feel this way just getting over the MUMPS! Thank You Jesus for not only praising hearts but hearts that are so willing to speak of Your Glory!
Another home had once felt cold and lonely as the occupants were going through a divorce. What a change this week when a missionary was greeted by a warm living room full of smiling, laughing children of the reunited family. The father was happily cooking in the kitchen, shouting greetings to the missionary and the children clustered around and grabbed lunch bags. There were so many children, the missionary brought three more bags. When the children grabbed them, he said, “No fighting over the bags.” A little girl laughed and began handing out the contents of one bag to her brothers and sisters.
Two men were working on a car in the neighborhood when a missionary offered them two lunch bags. “How much,” asked one man, his shoulders slouched. “Free! Gratis!” laughed the missionary.
Both men began laughing as well. “Free is good!” one said. “Gracias!” said the other, already opening the bottled water and drinking it down.
What a great thing God is doing with just a few small lunch bags and willing hearts to show others that be best thing in life, Jesus Christ, is “gratis!”

Community Awareness – Meetings and missions

· CitW Medical missions will now be hosting two medical missions per month. The CitW medical mission has two new glucometers, Ascensia contour and Ascensia Breeze. Both need testing strips.
If you are able to donate the strips, please contact Anne Willet at 461- 9737 or via email at willskai@bellsouth.net
The third type of glucometer CitW has is a TheraSense "FreeStyle", if you have strips to donate, please contact Susan Heineman at 787-3434 or via email at susaneh@bellsouth.net
If you, your church, pharmacy or doctor’s office would like to donate these items please contact Anne or Susan.
Garner Medical mission will be at the Garner Methodist Church from 3 PM and 4:30PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Anne Willet is the contact person. Her phone number is 461- 9737.The dates are as following for 2007:
December 8th

The Apex Medical Mission will be under the trees at Thriftwood Dr. in Apex from 4 PM and 5 PM. If you feel the Lord asking you to serve, Susan Heineman is the contact person. Her phone number is 787-3434.The dates are as following for 2007:
December 2nd

God’s Provision – Donations of Time & Finances
· Thank the Lord for the showers each week from the Garner Methodist church Thank You Jesus for serving hearts! Thank You Lord for the laundermat that continues to hold the homeless laundry account.
· Thank you Jesus for all the food donated by area Food Lion stores, Macedonia Baptist church , individuals, the Dorcus shop of Cary, and Catering-by-Design! Thank you Lord for all the donations of clothing, storage places (Hope Chapel), towels and sweat clothes from the Dorcas shop, and sheets, jackets, & toiletries items from individuals, and toiletries donated this week.
· We thank you, Jesus, for those who have donated time showing the love of Jesus through relationships and support circles, especially as new ones are developing across Cary and Apex. Praise God!