The Blessings of our Mites
From VP of Mission Outreach and Grants, Tracy Beasley
Our District Convention in September was simply awesome! With a Bible study based on Isaiah 64:8, reminding us that we are the clay and our Father in heaven is our potter - molding us and mending us to restore and equip us to joyfully serve Him in all that we do. The convention was a great time to both look back on how God has blessed our Mites to be a blessing to others and to look forward to how God will use us and our Mites in the next two years. Each speaker brought to life how our Mites were actively helping their organizations.
Four mission speakers shared with us how our mites were a blessing. First, we heard from a 2023-2024 national mission project, the Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch which is a Christ-centered residential treatment and educational center for at-risk children. We learned that they treat and help youth that no one else can and share faith which provides the hope that healing can occur. Special programs such as Spiritual life activities, horticulture and greenhouse programs, and wildlife programs offer unique opportunities for their students to learn and grow. The Dakota Memorial School educates both residential and day students and continues to serve them as they transition out of the program. And of course we were reminded of Honey Sundays which is a fundraiser to help support Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch!
We also heard from Changing Hearts One at a Time (CHOT), which is an outreach committed to connecting and helping children under the age of 12 in Wards 7 and 8 of Washington, DC. CHOT seeks to establish relationships so that they can show children why the Bible is relevant to them. After receiving a $4000 LWML grant, CHOT was able to provide 205 bags to Houston Elementary and 125 bags at their Community Fair. These bags contain not only a message about Jesus, but also toiletries, underclothes, pajamas, dresses, coats, hygiene supplies and more. Connecting children to Jesus is another way of planting seeds and opening doors for opportunities to continue to share the good news of salvation - one child at a time.
Women and children in India receive care from the Bethania Foundation, which is a Christian mission dedicated to bringing hope to orphaned, abandoned, disabled, and poor children and mothers. They seek to serve on multiple levels such as providing basic needs such as shelter, food, and healthcare. In addition, they hope to share Jesus in a safe and loving environment. They also offer a place where they can provide vocational training as well. In essence, Bethania Foundation comes along women and children in faith to serve them where they are and then guide them as they grow.
Lastly, we heard about Gbooglay Lutheran Mission School. This ministry serves the poorest communities in Liberia by bringing them the saving message of Jesus and His Salvation. Through Mites from an LWML Chesapeake District grant, we saw pictures of a water pump that enabled the school building program to begin. It was amazing to see pictures of children receiving meals and school supplies. And to see how the building of the school is underway. Praise God for all that He is doing in Liberia!
So, we celebrate the work that God has done through us and the Mites that were collected in the past. Each grant offers unique opportunities to share God’s love and Gospel which can reach far more people than we can reach on our own. Truly, working together we can do so much more! And now we look to the future. There is always someone who needs to hear about Jesus and how he died and rose again for our salvation. Knowing this need, we have stepped out in faith and the delegates at the convention voted to approve a goal of raising $110,000. This means that $55,000 will directly support the grants that were selected by the delegates.
Therefore, we remain “Ready to Serve” as our LWML Sunday theme reminded us. We continue to walk in faith and collect those Mites no matter how small or how big they may be - God uses them all. Here are a few different ways donations can be made:
- Through your local groups
- Send your check payable to LWML Chesapeake District to Financial Secretary Edi Collis, 3601 Stoney Castle St., Olney, MD 20832.
- Set up a single donation or recurring donation to the district online by following this link: https://www.lwmlchesapeake.org/how-to-give.html