Give differently this year!

   We have all heard that phrase "Jesus is the reason for the season" and He absolutely is! How does that change the way you go through the season? Our Christmas season starts off with the Black Friday, now squeezing in on our Thanksgiving time with family. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy shopping with my family too, but I think some people have it all wrong when pain is involved, especially when it's over some material item. I better stop here because I could go on and on. Our culture is so fast past we don't slow down long enough to enjoy those precious moments with our families.

So what your reason for the season? Have you thought about how you can give differently this year? I challenge you to give a gift that can help change a child's life through a gift of sponsorship. Imagine you can be the hands of feet of Jesus from the comfort of your own home.

   We received our first letter from one of our sponsor children in Tanzania last week. It was so great to see that she received our package we sent to her over the summer with a a family picture of us, a drawing pic from Taylor, hair bands, paper, pens, and toys. She even drew a picture of her small family hut. Our girls enjoy connecting with her in that way as well. It helps remind them why we give too.

Let me know how I can help you get started today and bring that blessing into your home with World Vision.

Have you change jars ready to go? It only takes $35 a month to sponsor a child. Feel free to contact me directly at willyard40@aol.com.

              I currently have 3 children packets available.

Oumer- 7-year old little boy from Ethiopia
Cynthia-7-year old little girl from Kenya
Manoj- 6-year old little boy from India

Or you can go to http://tiny.cc/rebeccawillyard and select a child together with your family.

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change." James 1:17

He will provide!!

Everyone has a jar for loose change, right? We made some special jars for each of our sponsored children to collect and use for the extra gifts we want to send them. We place the jars in our living rooms to help remind us to contribute, as well to continually pray for them. It's also just a good reminder that they are part of our family too. Our girls just love being a part of the contribution as well as picking out what we will be sending once we have collected enough money. You never know, you may have guests who want to help support them as well and may contribute. Well, that hasn't happened to us only because it's rare we have guests.
 Over the weekend we took all of the change we had collected down to our local Coin Star (for those who don't know this little machine saves time from rolling the change) and came out with just over $25. For just a few dollars more we just purchased a Bible to send to our sponsor child Yanini in Tanzania. She is turning 8 in January and if she's like Taylor she is eager to be learning to read. So we sent the most important book for her to start reading. We know she may not actually be able to ready, but we pray maybe her mom or dad can read it to her. Just another way God can work in their lives.

These are just a few ideas for you to remind you that He will provide. I know how hard it is to feel limited to our finances. So this is just a simple idea to help you see how you can do this!

Still wondering how World Vision works? Check out this short explanation that may help.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oz8mnrGEvRc&list=UUtxKQOd8elJbs7wn9b7gevg&index=18&feature=plcp

Off to a great start!

About one month ago I received an invitation from World Vision to become a CA (Child Ambassador) volunteer. After praying for a few days about it and investigated on what all this fancy title entailed, I then decided to fill out the application. For those who know me, you know it's been a little struggle for me getting back into the groove of my "normal life" since our mission trip in June. One of the things I've been praying for is an answer from God on how I can help the children, whether in poverty or orphaned (or both). I was reminded that this job was too big for me to even imagine taking on alone, and I for sure cannot sponsor all of them. The number of children in poverty is huge. However, God has led me to this new ministry and I love getting others  involved in such a wonderful blessing.  Our family sponsors two children, Yanini is in Tanzania (of course :) ) and our newest is Pawani in Sri Lanka.  There is nothing great than picturing the smiles on their faces when they receive a card or a special package from us.

After my application was approved, World Vision sent me a starter kit that contained three picture cards for children awaiting sponsorship. Now each card has a 30 day expiration on them. This is because there is only one card per child and when a CA has the card it's pulled from the network. In other words, during that 30 day period I'm the only one who is able to get that child sponsored.

Our church had previously mentioned a WV challenge for a few Sunday School classes prior to my application and they had yet sponsored any children. So there was my opportunity to work on obtaining those sponsorships. They are now all sponsored~ I just love our Church family!

Below were my first three child picture cards:

13 yr old Dagmawi in Ethiopia- was sponsored by our Youth Group!
4 yr old Pallavi from India- was sponsored by our College and Career class!
3 yr old Edwin in Guatemala- was sponsored by our Servant Hearts class!

Check out the website to learn more about World Vision.
http://donate.worldvision.org/OA_HTML/xxwv2DoChildSearch_B.jsp?xxwvLocation=0000&xxwvSearchType=ALL&xxwvCampaign=22622012


*More than 20,000 children will die today, most because of hunger, disease, and poverty. These children are all under the age of five.

Matthew 25:35-40
³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me,I was in prison and you came to visit me.’
³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’
⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’