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Greetings!
Is the Redbud blooming in your neighborhood? With members located as far north as Alaska and as far south as the Florida Keys, I'm sure there is a wide variety of just how "Spring" is looking in your neighborhood! But regardless of whether you're still looking out the window at snow, or are looking out the window at the grandkids splashing in the pool, we can rest in God's Promise that
"As long as the earth endures,
seed time and harvest,
cold and heat,
summer and winter,
day and night
will never cease." (Gen. 8:22)
How good our Father is to us!
I hope you've had a chance to read the April Sowergram - checking out the GL reports about all the work accomplished for the KIngdom during this past winter and looking to see where you might serve this summer and in the months ahead. There are lots of new SOA listings and as always, many of our projects are eager for help over the summer months. As you seek out what our Lord will have for YOU this summer, may you continue to rest in His promises!
Resting in His Grace,
Stephanie Conrad, #2509
for the Board of Trustees
SOWER Ministry
stephanie@rvthereyet.org
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It's never too soon.......
to start thinking about the
2013 Midwest Michigan SOWER Reunion!
Monday, Sept. 23 thru Thursday, Sept. 26
MI-139 Michindoh Ministries
4545 E. Bacon Road
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
An excellent guest speaker, music, auction, book exchange, and other activities are planned. Cabin space is limited, and we don't know which 6 will be available, so plan on coming with your RV. Those fortunate enough to get a cabin may want to share it with another Sower couple. We will keep a waiting list open and available for cabin requests in case of a cancellation, so that the next on the list will be notified of the availability. Costs for the reunion are as follows (same as last year):
Meals per couple: $60.00 (5 meals @ $6.00/ea)
Registration: $25.00 per couple
Cabin rate: $25.00
RV Campsite: $0.00 (That's right - FREE!)
We will be taking only one offering, for Michindoh. All other expenses including speaker and entertainment will be covered in the budget. Plan now the auction items you will bring. Please remember the auction items are to be worthwhile items another Sower would consider valuable. Also consider the testimony you may want to share regarding your ministry and service as a SOWER.
Please contact John Crandle at jmcrandle@sbcglobal.net for more information, to volunteer, or with additional questions. Reservation forms and information sheets will be emailed to all known Mid-western Sowers very soon. We are looking forward to seeing YOU at Hilltop!
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The Lighter Side of the
Lady SOWER!
It's not just about cleaning toilets, painting staff housing, or stuffing envelopes. Sometimes, the Ladies just want to have fun!
On Valentine's Day the guys took the ladies out for dinner and the ladies surprised the guys by coming into the restaurant with their robes, shower caps and singing "We are pretty, Oh, so pretty." Awesome time and the waitress thought it was great!!
Feb 2013 project at Islamorada Florida. Fl-6 (submitted by Francis and Barb Garant (#2969))
Meet the PIPs (Partners in Painting) at Florida Baptist Encampment (FL-143) February project. Artist Cathy Richmond (#2793) (center) with her helpers Ruth Stoll (#2980)(Left) and Dorine Shields (#2782) (Right)
Stephanie Conrad (#2509) and Marilyn Linger (#488) kicking back on the giant porch chair at Dry Creek Baptist Camp (LA-287) after a hard morning at work!
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Getting connected and staying connected -
Are you ever overwhelmed with all the new names and faces when you begin a new project? Here's a suggestion from John and Cathy Richmond (#2793)
At every project we work, with approval from the GL, we take pictures of each couple the first weekend. Then we print a photo page for each couple, which has faces, names and project info. We encourage people to pray each day for each person, which develops a quicker bond and learning of names. It also helps us put husbands and wives together, which is especially helpful on large projects. It is also useful for reference later.
People often ask what program we use: Microsoft Word. The process isn't too complicated for someone familiar with that program. It involves inserting each picture, cropping and resizing to fit, and positioning on the page. Names are added in text boxes. We adapt the format of the page depending on the number of couples, adding more pictures of the project when there are fewer couples.
(Editors Note - These collages are also easy to make using the Picasa program. You can download the program FREE HERE!)
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Thanks again!
I just wanted to thank the SOWERS that worked so hard out here at Florida Baptist Encampment (FL-143) and to your whole Christian ministry. What a great group of people! It was a touch of how I think Heaven will be with all the love and fellowship. I have met and become friends with many of your people this season and am looking toward working, praying and fellowshipping again in the future. So again I thank you all and please continue to pray for us as I will continue to lift all up in prayer to our Master.
Bo Johnson, Director, Florida Baptist Encampment
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Dear Sam and Sally SOWER......
Dear Sam and Sally,
On some projects there are people who miss some of their work time for various reasons. There doesn't seem to be consistency on how the hours should be made up. Often people who have voluntarily worked extra hours give the hours to them. On other projects the GL requires the person to make up his own hours. Is the guideline just that the host should receive the hours he was expecting, or that each individual must provide his own hours? Is there a policy that says people can't help someone make up their time?
(signed) Using Love & Common Sense
Dear Love and Common Sense,
What an interesting question! While there are no GL guidelines for requiring workers to fulfill their 72 hrs commitment, it is plainly spelled out in the "Welcome SOWERS" (which is read at the start of each project as a reminder) that "To the best of our ability, we should keep our commitment to 3 consecutive weeks, 6 hrs per day, cooperating with the host work schedule. If work is missed, we should discuss our situation with the GL and make up the time when possible and safe. (MG & C)" It seems pretty clear from those guidelines that everyone is responsible for their own hours (and commitment to the host). I think the key words here are "best of our ability". Unfortunately, there will occasionally be instances when time cannot be made up (i.e. a SOWER gets sick right at the end of the project and misses the last couple of days of work). But I do believe that those instances are few and far between. And I also believe that most SOWERS work very hard to fulfill their "hours worked" commitment, even if it requires staying on after the end the project. If there is a specific task that is not being completed due to the inability of a SOWER to complete their "hours", I'm sure that others on the project would work extra to make sure a task was not left "half-done."
So the bottom line is this - everyone is responsible for fulfilling their own 72 hour commitment to the best of their ability. But it is the nature of our ministry (here's where the love, grace and common sense comes in!) for others to help out when it's apparent that an individual may fall short of that commitment and the project will suffer.
In Him,
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Recently seen on the SOWER GROUP Facebook Page
 Are you a Facebook member? If you are, SOWERS has its very own Facebook Group and we invite you to join our community! You are welcome to post about projects and upload pictures. Click on the Facebook Icon for a direct link to the SOWER Facebook Group. It's always a blessing to hear and see what's going on in the SOWER Family! |
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Photo Credits/Info
Header - Camp Living Water - NC-285
Header Group Shot - Forest Glen Christian Camp - TX - 126
February 2013 Group - Ewerts (#2522), Millers (#2470), Robbins (#2433)
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Don't forget - FREE brochures and business cards are available from the office!
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Quick Links -
To send in a prayer request or praise item-
To contact the office -
903-882-8070
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Safely Home
In the past few weeks we have heard from Sower friends returning home or "full-time" friends reaching their newest destination and I find myself thanking the Lord for their safe travels, smiling and with a little sigh of relief saying "Ah, there's another one safe in the fold." Then I was reminded -what a picture of life!! The dangers of the road here on this earth, the twists and turns and curves- they are surely real but our Good Shepherd watches over us. And someday He will call our name and we will go to be with Him and I can just imagine His welcoming smile and maybe even hear a little sigh of relief as He opens His arms and says "Ah, another one safe in the fold." Wow!! What a day THAT will be!
Kim Trivilino #3094
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Westward HO!!!
We've added TWO new California projects in the last month -
Check 'em out!
Running Springs, CA
Ponderosa Pines Camp (CA-511) is located at 6300 feet, close to Big Bear. It's two hours to the ocean and two hours to the desert! Their primary goal is to provide "A unique place for unique experiences and encounters with Jesus!". They are anxious to partner with SOWERS to build their RV park (temporary sites are available) and then move on to general camp improvements. Watch for all the details in upcoming Sowergrams!
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Mt Hermon, CA
Mt. Hermon Conference Center (CA-512) is located in Santa Cruz County, just 6 miles from Monterey Bay. Their mission is "to proclaim Jesus as Lord and Savior, teach the authoritative Word of God, and serve His Church in our nation and throughout the world." Along with renovations to existing cabins and staff housing, they are also excited to upgrade their existing RV sites. Mt. Hermon will be open for SOWERS from September through May and will have 2 spots available.
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Bundling
With the price of fuel these days, it takes a little more consideration when prayerfully choosing our project destinations. Sometimes it works well to work several projects that are all in the same general area. The two new California projects have some great "bundling" possibilities.
Ponderosa Pines is in close(ish) proximity to two other projects - CA-145 Cherry Valley Church/School (Cherry Valley, CA) and CA-500 Forest Home Millcreek Canyon (Forest Falls, CA).
Mt. Hermon is close to CA-194 Mission Springs (Scotts Valley, CA) and CA-459 Alma Heights Christian Academy (Pacifica, CA).
Check out the SOWER Project Locator (through Google Earth) on the Members ONLY page to locate other projects that work well with "bundling"!
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Just the Facts
for March 2013
Number of Active SOWERS*
569
Number of ALUMNI SOWERS*
135
Number of Active Projects
171
Number of SOWER projects requesting SOWER Assistance
110
Number of SOWER projects receiving SOWER Assistance
42
Number of SOWERS* Requested
(Including SOAs)
522
Number of SOWERS* Working
(Including SOAs)
102
*Number of SOWERS always refers to a SOWER "Unit" - whether a couple or a single, not individual SOWERS.
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Have a question or concern for the Board?
If you'd like to contact all the Board of Trustee members at once -
Send an email addressed to the SOWER office with " For the Trustees" in the subject line. Presto - the office staff will immediatly get it on its way to the entire Board. Of course, you are welcome to contact any member of the Board indivudually by phone or email using the information in the roster.
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Click on the daffodils to get to the Members Page and the most recent PLS!
The April SOWERGRAM is also available in its entirety.
Don't forget - the PLS is updated every weekend! Check it out
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Looking for a SOWER Denim Shirt, T-Shirt, Golf Shirt, or Sweatshirt? How about a new hat, or a SOWER License Plate? All these items and more are available through the form found at the back of the Sowergram or on-line on the Members Page under "Forms".
Contact the OFFICE to place your order!
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SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERS are doing around the country!
Sower Adventures
Bill and Carol Cairns
Roger's SOWER Blog
Roger & Nola Sorenson
Soltesweb.net
Ed & Patty Soltes
On a Wheel and a Prayer
Don & Jenny Rasmussen
Bob and Billie on the Road
Bob & Billie Wakeman
RV There Yet -
Gary & Stephanie Conrad
Paul Alton.com
Paul and Juanita Alton
Benedictus
Terry & Alice Burnett
Do YOU have a Blog you'd like to share? Send me the link, and we'll add it to the "Blog Roll".
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