Toothbrush Challenge

I met with K-Cafe youth that are in middle and high school at my church St. Paul's UMC to share how they can be part of missions in Rwanda. I asked if they wanted to take on a challenge, something to strive for that would help others. They agreed and the 1,000 Toothbrush Challenge had a beginning. Now I needed a coordinator and Will Roeshot raised his hand. It turned out great as he is using this as his High School Project.

I asked why he volunteered and he shared, "I chose to do the toothbrush challenge because it seemed like a good idea and organized. I know it's for a good cause. Thank you St. Paul's for working with K-Cafe to help us beat our goal. Lastly it will help my academics as I learn about giving back and doing something with what has been given to me."

Well they exceeded their goal and collected ~~~~~ 2,170 !!!!!!!! ~~~~~

Right now I have packed 1,400 children and adult toothbrushes to take with me. The rest will come with a team in June. Who would have thought it would be such huge success? Thank you to the youth of St. Paul's!!!

Photos:
*The Challenge
*Will said yes!
*Picking up toothbrushes from local dentists
*Writing thank you notes to dentist and suppliers
*K-Cafe worked together

Babies

For 5 weeks, from the end of January through February, I drove each week to DE to babysit my new granddaughter Savannah. She was 3 months old and my daughter's family leave time was over. As I watched our precious baby each week I saw so many little changes in her. Smiles grew, cooing began, feet pedaled faster than you can imagine. And she even came to know my voice. I loved this special time that was such a gift.

As I begin my 5th journey to Rwanda, a week later, I think about all the babies at the Urukundo Home. Ones who were found and were delivered to Mama Arlene. They have a home, mamas to love them and a safe haven. They sing and laugh and will have opportunities that they don't even realize. They are the fortunate ones. When I return each year I see these precious children that have grown with such wonderful personalities.

Janette, born November 11, 2013, was abandoned by her mother shortly after delivering at the hospital across the street from the home. The administrators and doctors knew we would take her in hopes the paperwork could be processed for her to stay. It all happened. God brought her to us and look how she has grown. When I was there March 2014 Janette was just 2 months older than Savannah is. Now a year later she is walking and I can't wait to see her. Aren't babies of the world just so beautiful!!!

Look at how Janette has grown this past year!!!

Lifetime 1

When I met with Bailey, a 6th grade teacher at the Friends School, this fall we talked about several themes the teachers in Rwanda were interested in having our sister schools work on. Insects was one of them. Bailey shared that she is an entomologist and was excited to have her student work on creative projects.

I shared the book called Lifetime: The Amazing Numbers in Animal Lives and asked if she could use the premise of this book for one of their projects. The book shows how many times one particular animal performs one behavior or grows one feature in a lifetime. So the Friends School 6th-8th grade students took on the challenge and created an amazing insect book. They even sent it out to be published. Enjoy some of the pages in this story and the following story.

Lifetime 2

Here are a few more pages from the informational insect book the Friends School 6th-8th grades wrote and published.

They also made 15 butterfly-wing capes for the schoolchildren in Rwanda to use for drama and creative play. I wish I could feature them all as they are beautiful!!! I'll show the kids wearing them in Rwanda in a future story. So keep checking back!!!

Moms and More

Tory Jenkins shares her thoughts as she and Mothers and More donated baby clothes for Rwanda.

Baby clothes~~~with their adorable designs and their cute little sizes it is hard not to love baby clothes. We ooo and ahh over them at baby showers. As we wait for our babies, we hang little garments up in the nursery, just to replace them with slightly larger adorable outfits a few weeks or months later. The outgrown clothing often gets saved, waiting for future brothers or sisters.

Our group, Mothers and More, was excited to help once we heard about the need for baby c,oohing for the Mom & Baby Love Home. many onsies, sleepers, pants, and socks were collected. moms who no longer had any infant clothing expressed disappointment in having nithi to donate and asked if they could purchase new items instead. Other Moms were quick to ask if other baby items were needed as well.

Looking through my own collection of baby clothes, I was struck by memories of my children wearing the c,other , when they were so very small and so new to this world. Then as I snapped little snaps and folded little sleeves, I thought about the new babies that would soon be inside these clothes. I also thought about their mothers.

We hope that this small gesture helps these women as they become mothers or add to their families. We are not only sending socks and pajamas and onsies. We are also sending love.

Mothers and More provides programming and national community for moms through all stages, phases and transitions of motherhood. The State College Chapter website is http://mothersandmorestatecollege.org.

Blessings

This past Sunday March 1st my church held a Blessing of Many Hands to recognize the children, youth and college students that are connected to the ministry in Rwanda. How wonderful it was to have them bring their gifts forward to be blessed.

Girls scouts helped pack layette kits for our Mom and Baby Home that will offer post natal cate. They also made cards for new babies.

Rachel, a 5th grader, has worked with me on projects for 3 years. This year she raised money through her school project the Arts and Crafts and Caring Fair. She will send two children to school.

14 children wrote letters to a new friend in Rwanda. Pen Pals!!!

Several children from our church worked on school projects. We have sister school partnerships with Mt. Nittany Elem, Radio Park Elem, Ferguson Elem, Friends School, Friends School house, Nittany Valley Charter School, Grace Lutheran preschool and St. Paul's Preschool. They exchange art, drama, science and writing projects.

A music video was made of the children choirs singing songs with hand motions to teach new songs. The kids in Rwanda will make a video to send back to St. Paul's kids.

Felt Nativity sets were made by Kappa Phi sorority and St. Paul's kids.

2,170 toothbrushes were collected by K-Cafe middle school and high school youth for our dental clinic.

Wesley students and Kappa Phi sold birds of peace to support Peter the carver and youth education.

All of them were blessed for their service in missions!!

And thank you Kristin for displaying all their gifts throughout the sanctuary!

Interact

How are students at the State College High School engaged in service locally and globally? As a member of the State High Interact Club. The 17 members tackle issues that they care about most, through hands-on service projects. For 2014/2015 the emphasis was on books and reading. They collected books for Park Forest Day Nursery and built Little Free Libraries to be housed on the high school property.

Knowing they work on international projects I contacted them about a service project for Rwanda, making browsing sticks for our library. The sticks will mark the book's place on the shelf while having library time. Little did I know it would fit so well with their book theme for this year. Creativity was evident as paint, beads and embellishments were added to the sticks. Thank you Interact members!!!!!

Here are some of their comments. Reading is important because:

.....it opens you up to a whole new world and allows you to use your imagination and creativity. ~ Maryann, 15

.....books inspire you to be something great! ~Kaylah

......it allows you to communicate with people all around the world. ~ David, 16

......you can learn a lot about different places around the world. You could read stories of things that have happened in the past. (history) ~ Needhi, 16

......books are always better than movies. ~ Ana


Photos - Working on Library browsing sticks and the little free libraries.