|
|
|
September 2010 66359 State Hwy 14 New Raymer, CO 80742 |
|
|
|
| Greetings!
What do cowboys, horses, lessons about God, being outdoors, kids, families, orphans in Romania, purses, day care centers in the Philippines, and parenting classes all have in common? They are all programs of Mercy Ministries! Read below to find out more about how you can get involved!
In His Hands,
Scott and Josie Gwin
Executive Directors
Assisting needy children and families...in Christ's name
|
| Highlights: Summer @ Mercy Trails Ranch
|
|
|
|
| Amazing Ranch Race with Goodwill Youth Services |  |
17 Thai and African refugee high school
students and 4 staff from Goodwill Youth Services participated in roping calves, catching chickens, saddling and riding horses, putting underwear on the pigs, throwing horseshoes, racing toads and experiencing the wide open prairie on a hay ride in the 2nd Annual Amazing Ranch Race at Mercy Trails Ranch!
Due to the low income of the youth that participate, Goodwill Youth Services comes to the Ranch free of charge...Your donations make this possible!
|
|
| Celebration Community Church Youth Service Retreat |  |
6 high school students and 3 staff from Celebration Community Church spent three days painting the bunkhouse, installing new horseshoe pits, playing games, doing devotions around the fire, cooking smores, swimming in the pool, feeding the animals, riding horses, eating awesome food and being crazy!
If your youth group is interested in doing a retreat at the Ranch, give us a call or an email for prices and availability...
303-552-8056
|
|
| Joshua Station
(A ministry of Mile High Ministries) |  |
20 kids and several parents from Joshua Station as well as a staff member from Mile High Ministries came to the Ranch for a day of cowboy play!
Toad races were a highlight as well as a hay ride, a BBQ, crafts, face painting, and of course, horsebackriding!
To learn more about Mile High's ministry to homeless families through transitional housing at Joshua Station, click here...
Joshua Station kids and families also come to the Ranch free of charge...click the Paypal button below to help provide for these families to experience a day of fun and play!
|
|
| Ranch Riding Sessions |  |
Ranch Riding Sessions consist of a chore or activity designed to build relationships and encourage conversation, horsemanship classes and grooming, arena riding and games and trail rides.
Lessons are taught about trust in God, faith, perseverance, hope, commitment, and compassion.
The stories of the rescued horses that make up the herd, resonate with those in crisis and trauma themselves.
At the end of each session, the question is asked, "How have you seen God today?"
Want to volunteer at the Ranch? Drop us a line...there are always projects that need doing, people that need to be met and loved, and stories of how God has moved in YOUR life that He may use to touch another's.. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Update from ROMANIA
by Fred and Karleen Dewey (Directors Emeritus)
www.mercy-ministries.com |
About a year ago, Mercy Ministries started a sewing project in Romania. Cireasa (rt) and Maria are making handbags from discarded jeans. Mercy Ministries pays them for each handbag they finish and Fred and I bring the handbags home to Colorado where we ask for donations for each one.
The funds raised then go into the Mercy Ministries Orphans' Education Fund. So far, Cireasa and Maria have completed sixty-five handbags.
Why is "Floricea" (little flower) such an important project?
We find that as the orphans grow up they have very few marketable skills. Our plan is to give them an income and a skill. Cireasa and Maria will soon be finished with high school. Cireasa would like to go to the University. We hope to expand such craft projects to other orphans.
If you would like to get involved in the Floricea project you can make donations of funds through the Paypal button below or find a list of needed materials on our website, www.mercy-ministries.com
Fred and I have been home for the summer.
In the beginning of October, our co-worker with Fundatia Crestina Elim (FCE), Lidia Micula, will come to Denver for training in teaching Love & Logic to parents in Romania. Lidia was the director of Casa Alba, FCE's home for babies and toddlers. After families were found for the children, Casa Alba closed. Now Lidia manages the foster care program for FCE in Marghita.
We will return to Romania, after Lidia's visit, on October 14th, and will be serving there until the second week of December.
more information on the principles of Parenting with Love and Logic, you can visit their website at www.loveandlogic.com
Fred and Karleen Dewey, as well as Scott and Josie Gwin, are independant facilitators of Parenting with Love and Logic and are available to teach classes in Denver and surrounding areas.
Karleen's book, The Place of the Mourning Doves, sharing the fascinating story of their ministry with the Romanian orphans, is available by donation.
Contact dewpt@msn.com for more information on how to get your copy today!
|
| Mercy Ministries goes to the Philippines |
In January of 2011, Josie Gwin, Executive Director of Mercy Ministries, along with 3 other women, will be visiting the EvanFree Child Development Centers of the Philippines on the island of Cebu. 
These Centers provide a preschool education and a nutritious meal to children living in poverty. For many of these children the nutritious meal they receive may be the only time they eat that day! The education the children receive helps to prepare them for public schooling and many of the children have shown higher academic achievement as a result.
Mercy Ministries supports three of these Centers.
 The purpose of this trip will be to tour the Centers, meet the children and teachers, and investigate new ways that Mercy Ministries can partner together to continue to help the Centers grow and thrive.
Each woman participating in this trip brings along their own unique gifts. From backgrounds in education to experience dealing with kids and families in crisis, each woman will be invaluable in determining the needs of the Centers and the children they serve.
 $8000 is the amount needed for this trip.
Would you pray about donating specifically for the costs of this trip before year end? You can designate your gift for the MM trip to Cebu on your check or donate below through Paypal.
 We are excited to see what God is doing through the current work in the Philippines and the direction that He is leading this partnership!
|
| Please join us in welcoming our Mercy Ministries Staff Intern, Laura Seager!
Laura has been a staff volunteer at Mercy Trails Ranch for two summers and will be spending the next 9 months serving with Mercy Ministries and living at the Ranch, as part of the completion of her Youth Ministry major from Frontier School of the Bible.
She has been a huge blessing while serving in many different capacities, including, but not limited to, teaching horsemanship classes, cleaning out the barn, playing games, helping prepare meals, training horses, filing paperwork, and more!
Laura is raising her own missionary support and is currently at 25% of her recommended monthly amount.
Interesting notes about Laura...She had only ridden twice before she came to the Ranch, she loves cherries and dogs (but not necessarily at the same time), she loves to read (particularly Westerns) and she has a very contagious laugh!
She also has an amazing servant's heart and a driving desire to love and serve God...
|
|
If you feel that God may be calling you to get involved with helping needy children and families in Christ's name, whether it be through the ministry of the Ranch, connecting with orphans in Romania, or reaching out to kids in poverty in the Philippines, please don't hesitate to contact us!
We would be happy to answer any questions you may have...
In His Hands,
Scott and Josie Gwin
303-552-8056
Donations handled by:
Probst, Dallmann and Associates, P.C.
5610 Ward Rd Suite 110
Arvada, CO 80002
303-477-1484 |
|
|
