Missions
2009 has been a very successful year for the Missions and Outreach Committee.
Habitat for Humanity build gave us the opportunity to help provide a home for the Haney family in Silverton, Oregon. Missions and Outreach assisted in organizing people to work on home building, providing food for build days and a fundraiser to help financially support Habitat for Humanity’s North Willamette Valley group.
We continue to build our support again this year with KIVA in providing micro loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries as well as here at home in the United States. Our original donation last year $900.00 has more than doubled to over $2300.00 in 2009 as we continue to re-invest our returns in over 22 countries. This year also saw us support our first entrepreneur here in the United States, allowing him to open a sign making business after he lost his job in the automotive industry.
The annual Coat and Sweatshirt drive was held again this fall and is now a regularly sponsored activity for the church. The proceeds from the drive provided warm clothing for those in need; first to Wilsonville Community Sharing/Oregon Foodbank clients here at Frogpond and the rest were taken to the Portland Rescue Mission.
Our committee hosted another very successful year of Alternative Christmas Giving. Through charities chosen locally, and internationally, Meridian United Church of Christ was able to reach out and touch the lives of those in need around the globe. In a year of job losses and a struggling economy, our congregation was able to more than double the contributions made in previous years, raising over $3000.00.
And finally, Frog Pond once again donated 100 pies to the Christmas dinner organized by Potluck in the Park for low-income and the homeless in Portland.
As the Chair Person for The Mission & Outreach Committee I want to thank the Frogpond congregation family for their generous hearts and all the help they gave us in making a difference in the world. We look forward to the opportunity of continuing our work on their behalf in 2010 and beyond.
Sincerely, your Missions and Outreach Committee 2009:
Toni Avery-Truitt, Cindy Calderwood, Jack Stowell, Linda Wells, Bobbi Humphries, Cheryl Kelly, Mary McCormick, Pat Wolfram
Youth Mission - 2010
For this year’s trip we will again perform mission work in the area surrounding Guadalajara, in the Jalisco region of central Mexico. Guadalajara and the Lake Chapala areas are simply beautiful; rich
in culture and history, with charming and friendly residents, and plenty of activities. Yet, there is a tremendous need for the care of the young children, where many are in need of housing, food, clean water, and education.
This year’s mission week is June 25 to July 2. To give you an idea of what’s ahead for this year’s trip, take a look at the video from our Frog Pond Church 2007 Mexico mission trip.
If you’re interested in joining us, please contact Pat Wolfram.