Dear Sower Family,

How sweet the words 'Sower Family' have become to us!  We will explain...

Two years ago, we began praying about long term service for the Lord.  OR, what is His will and how do we get our lives to it?!  God answered our prayers with open doors and some closed ones.  Long story short, we sold our home, retired, left family and friends behind and began a life of full time RV ministry with SOWER's.

We were unsure of this life and all that it would entail, but we had a peace about joining Sowers.  Our loving Father led us to a ministry where fellow Sowers we encountered on projects turned out to be just like family or dear old friends we have always known but have never met. ;)

We have consistently been blown away by the love, grace and friendship shown on each project over the first year of serving as Sowers.  God knits each group together in perfect harmony, and He supplies our every need.  Praise be to God!

Thank you Jesus for loving us first!  Thank you God for showing us Your love through our 'new' Sower family. 

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God.  Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God."  1 John 4:7

I want to share a blessing I received recently. I was working in a power panel on the boy's dorm when a group of young girl campers came down the trail next to me. I didn't hear much of what they were saying but it sounded like they didn't know exactly which way they needed to go.

"Hello, do you girls know where you need to go? Would you like some direction?" I asked.

"No, we know where we are going" one of the young girls replied. (Guessing she was about 10)

Jokingly, I said. "That's good because I'm lost. Where am I?"

To which the same girl replied, "I know where you are, you are between the play ground and the farm yard."

We all laughed as they went on. A while later the same group came by going the opposite direction. We started up again, this same girl and I.

She said, "Do you still know where you are?" (I hadn't moved, still in the same spot)

 "O yes, I do because you helped me." I said. "Watch out for me today will you?" As they continued up the trail, I hollered, "OH, I just remembered, I once was lost but now I'm found".

They continued out of sight and I heard this girl singing, "Amazing Grace, How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me, I once was lost...."

We have an immediate need for an Area Rep for Region 5, ½ of Texas which includes the Hill Country and Valley projects (12 total). An Area Rep keeps an eye on the projects in their area (often by visiting them) and also welcomes new members in that area. Area Reps are also involved in checking out new projects.  Sound interesting? Contact me for more details!

Stephanie Conrad, Project Coordinator

215-343-9678

conrad2509@sowerministry.org

We had a wonderful mini -Sower Reunion, a potluck dinner and social, at Mission E4 in August. There were eight couples in attendance - both current and Alumni Sowers who came from projects or their nearby homes. We were able to meet with old and new Sower family members on the 'Pool House' patio. Williamsville Pond is just off the patio. At evening's end, we viewed a resplendent sunset painted with the hand of God...what a blessed evening!

Submitted by Bill and Betsy McClintick #3213

WHEN

WHO

WHERE

Trinity Pines Conference Center, TX-434, Trinity, TX

COST

Camping - $22.00/night

Rooms - under $35.00/night

Meals - Dinner on Monday and Tuesday - $14/per person

Other meals will be shared or "pay as you go" 

Contact Nancy Franges to register

sower2043@yahoo.com

724-902-0316

Want to lend a hand?

We'll need lots of help!

Have a idea to share?

We'd love to hear what you would like in a reunion!

Contact Gary and Stephanie Conrad for more information! 

215-343-9678

Every month when I look at the "Just the Facts" column I see the big discrepancy between the number of SOWERs working and the number of projects asking for help.  And yet I also see new projects being added almost every month.  Why do we keep adding projects when we can't seem to help all of the ones that we currently have?

Just Wondering.

That's a good question so I went to the Vice President, who approves those new projects, for an answer.  Here's is what she had to say -

One of the true joys of being VP is being able to talk to different ministries and hear about what God is doing across the US and Canada.  But deciding whether or not to add a new ministry to our project family is one of the hardest parts of the VP's job. Once a project has filled out the application and submitted all of the paperwork, I give each one of them a call.  As we talk about their ministry and their expectation about SOWERS, I explain that since we don't assign workers and rely on our members' prayerful self-direction, signing up to be a SOWER project in no way guarantees that they will get the help they are requesting.  Again and again the response that I hear is, "We are willing to submit to God's timing and providence as to who He sends and when.  Just as your members pray about where they should be serving, we also will be praying and know that the Lord will send whom the Lord will send."   If a project has met all of the standard requirements, it's hard to turn them down when they truly understand how our ministry works.  And trust me, there are projects that are turned down - they just never make the news!

Hope that helps, and I also hope you'll take the opportunity to check out one of our newer projects - or maybe even one that's just "new-to-you"!

Do you have a question for Sam or Sally? Contact them at samandsally@sowerministry.org. They'd love to hear from you!