Texas Reunion Update

Hello, Texas SOWERS!  Anybody out there? Whatcha waiting for?

The Texas Reunion, traditionally held at ALERT in Big Sandy, is still looking for a "Chair-Couple".  Woody and Jeri Epp, who have organized this reunion for many years, have offered to mentor the new Head Guys by sharing their years of experience and serving on a committee to help get this Reunion back on track.  Contact the Office or Jeri Epp (360-815-6557) directly if you'd like more information!  

Just in time for Spring Sign-ups, we're happy to announce signing up our 500th project*! Forest Home - Mill Creek Canyon in the beautiful  San Bernardino Mountains of California will be open for SOWERS in May and October 2012!

Watch for all the details in the updated PLS on line and in the January Sowergram.

View a map of the location HERE!

*OK, so we don't currently HAVE 500 projects (we have 164), but over the last 20+ years SOWERS have  been privileged to serve our LORD at 500 different locations!  Quite the legacy, don't you think?

A Testimony - 

We were at Shocco Springs BCC (AL-422) in Talladega, AL recently.  As often happens, there were other volunteer ministries working here.  I had the privilege of working with a couple of men from one of the other groups.  One of them seemed very defensive and unhappy.  The project invited us to dinner one night and I was sitting next to this fellow.  After the meal I gathered his tray up and combined its content with mine to bring to the tray room.  He was very surprised and asked, "Why are you doing that?"  I replied, "Aren't you a brother in Christ?"  "Yes", he said.  "What other reason do I need?" I asked him.  He was speechless.  By that simple act of kindness, I now have a new friend.  Are we not called to build up and edify our brothers and sisters in Christ?  So now, who was blessed more.  Me or him?  Only God knows for certain, but I think it was a tie! 

And an Unusual Christmas Story....   

Two particular events occurred in the year 1935: One major, and one minor. The major event was a hurricane that raced through the Florida Keys and knocked a train over on one of the keys dotting the Gulf that carried the Flagler Railroad on out to Key West. The minor event was that I was born in that same year, the middle of the great depression, a time when, for millions of children, presents under the Christmas tree were pretty sparse, as well as for the next ten years until the end of World War II. When I was 7 or 8, I asked for a six shooter cap gun for my Christmas present. We played a lot of Cowboys & Indians back then. I got my wish, but because the war was still on, it was made out of pressed saw dust, and painted to look like the real thing, and of course it did not take the circular caps either. Within a few days the barrel hit against something, and much to my disappointment it broke off leaving me with a useless 'shootin' iron.

And now for the rest of the story. In December of 2001, Gerda and I were serving through the SOWER Ministry on our second Project at Island Community Church and School, (FL-6) Islamorada, FL. The custom of the members of this church was to invite the Sowers serving their church to attend their Christmas party. A few days before, while looking around the town, we came across a memorial dedicated to the hundreds of people who had lost their lives due to the hurricane of 1935. While socializing with several people at the party, I mentioned that we had seen the memorial and that the hurricane had happened the same year I was born. The man standing next to me said he could personalize that event for me even more. He said "Did you see the picture of the train lying on its side? I was two years old at the time, and my Mother and I were on that train. If the train had been on a bridge between two keys when the hurricane hit, I would not be standing here talking with you now!"

Christmas can be full of surprises, however one thing is for sure. Christ our Saviour was born. A real gift to all.     

Paul Clark # 2164