Hello Everyone!

Here is a brief update on 4 of our main ministries… Brick, NJ ~ Atlantic City, NJ ~ Haiti ~ Albania

Maple Leaf Tutoring Program ~ Brick, NJ

Over the past 10 years, many volunteers have come and served the community of Maple Leaf. Some stayed and a few new volunteers have started which makes up our current volunteer base. Through all of them, a weekly program continues to run strong for the 10-12 students who have been asked to join us again this year. The weekly Bible time continues to reach their hearts. When we once had to “beg” the students to pray before the meal, now sometimes we have 6-7 raising their hands to pray on a weekly basis! The homework side of the program has changed as the volunteers are now focusing on more of an individual basis to help each student with their reading and comprehension. Each week brings its own set of challenges and blessings, with the blessings leading the way!

 

Atlantic City, NJ

After returning from last summer’s mission trip, some of us have returned twice to help New City Fellowship bring a 1-day Bible program to both Carver Hall Apartments and Stanley Home Apartments. In the fall we were able to be outside at Carver Hall and had a beautiful afternoon bringing songs, games, craft and a short Bible teaching. Last weekend a small group returned, but this time we were inside at Stanley Homes [where New City has their Sunday morning service]. The day was very cold and most were not outside. However, the team walked around the neighborhood looking to see who they can invite. They stopped and prayed for the neighboring apartments on one of the corners and then returned to Stanley Homes. When no one came, the team, along with Pastor Pete and his family, had lunch and talked a while. We played some of the worship songs that we brought to teach the neighborhood children and spent time encouraging each other. As we were preparing to leave, a brother and sister showed up. We invited them in, went through the worship songs, handed them snacks and the craft that was brought down and invited them to come back the next day for the children’s program at church. Then we left. We found out from Pastor Pete that these children returned the next morning and Katie (Pete’s wife) was able to share Jesus with them. God always knows why He sends us out and where, we just need to say “YES”! This year’s mission trip will be August 5 – 11th.

Lac’ajue, Haiti

Since returning from Haiti last May, the country has continued to go through much hardships. Today, there is no government in place, with the cost of food extremely high and the ability to get fuel almost impossible. With this in mind we have decided not to take a team down this July. We do not want to put Joseph, the Aslan Director, in a difficult position trying to prepare and oversee a team. Instead we will look to raise funds to help some of the summer programs continue, like taking the students who have graduated to the next grade level, to the beach. A cost of about $950.00. While a team will not be going this year, Pam will be going down in March, along with Craig from Aslan, to do some much needed administrated work. We hope to have more updates on the state of how things look after that trip.

Albania

The team that returned from Albania last September brought back a lot of excitement and stories about what is going on through Pastor Plator’s ministry in and around the town of Korca. Then in November and December the Libonik worship team, along with Pastor Plator and Pastor Geno came to Chicago and then here to NJ and spent 2 1/2 weeks with us. During their stay, more excitement was building throughout the churches that they visited as to how we can help come along side them even more to help with the ministry. Supporters began giving to help support some of the children at the Day Center and Residential Home, as well as an increase of support for some of the staff who work so diligently to spread the Gospel. As the team returned to Albania, they distributed 5000 Christmas Shoeboxes to the 98 villages. With the winter months upon them, we were able to collect 55 winter coats  from Living Faith Bible Church and as many knit hats from St. Paul’s Methodist Church, which will be taken back to Albania next week by Pastor Plator and distributed to the children in the tiny town of Moglica. And most recently a large amount of money was raised for a family who suffered greatly when their roof collapsed on their home, paralyzing their son. We will be returning this August with a team to continue helping bring the Gospel message to the villages that surround Korca along with Plator and his staff and volunteers.