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Greetings!
Ah, December! A month of too many cookies, too many parties, too many lines and too many places to be. December is definitely a month that needs its own "pause" button! The Christmas season is often filled with family and fun and happy chaos. But sometimes it's overshadowed with stretched schedules and budgets, not-so-happy chaos, or recent loss. Wherever THIS Christmas finds you - busy packing for your January SOWER project, or hunkered in somewhere cozy for the winter, may your Christmas indeed find that "pause button" as we remember that the God of all creation humbled Himself to become a human being-our Savior, Christ the Lord. And because Jesus was born He could die, bringing the abundance of life we enjoy through Him. May each of you rest in the security of the Babe whose birth we celebrate this season.
Joyfully His,
Stephanie Conrad, #2509
for the Board of Trustees
SOWER Ministry
stephanie@rvthereyet.org
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Upcoming Reunion Information
Whether you're a Seasoned Sower or New to the Family, there's nothing like a Sower Reunion to connect with friends old and new and get recharged about the ministry. Check out these opportunities - and mark you calendars!
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2014 Southeast Area Reunion
Monday, March 3 thru Wednesday, March 5
(departure Thursday AM)
Florida Baptist Encampment (FL-143)
Groveland, Florida
Cost: $40 per RV/ 3 Days
Rooms - $40.00/ 3 Days
If you come in early or stay over the cost is an additional $10 per night. A day fee for those not staying over night is $10 per couple. Some meals will be included, but not all meals so plan on feeding yourselves as well.
Want to help? Need a little more info?
Contact Neil and Jane Benson to make your reservations
neilandjane2@juno.com
704-737-0246
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2014 Texas Reunion
When is it?
March 30 - April 2
Sunday afternoon through Wednesday Morning
Who Should Come?
All SOWERS - Active or Alumni who are in the area!
Where is it?
Trinity Pines Conference Center (TX-434)
Trinity, TX
What are the Costs?
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"
There will also be a small (yet to be determined!) registration fee to cover miscellaneous costs
What will we be doing?
Auction
Talent Night
Tech Forum
Trustee Q&A
Lots and Lots of Fellowship!
Contact Nancy Franges to register
sower2043@yahoo.com
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AR Corner
The SOWER Area Reps are the dedicated folks that check out and check-up on projects in their area. From time to time different A.R.'s will be sharing some "up close and personal" information about projects in their area.
Here is a note from Stan and Carlie Buttrick, our Area Reps for Area #10 (MS, AL, GA, TN)
About a year ago, Stan and I were asked to be Area reps. for MS,AL,GA & TN. and we realized that taking on this job would give us an opportunity to visit and encourage the hosts as well as making sure all was well with these projects.
It was a privilege to call on MS-177- Lake Forest Ranch in Macon and assess their request for coming back on as a SOWER project. We had worked there back in 1998 and we are not sure when they dropped off our list but were excited that they realized they needed help again from our ministry. The first thing we discovered when we pulled on the property that many good changes had come about over the years. Lake Forest Ranch has transformed into a very large facility from the one we worked at in '98. As we met with Jeff Troyer, our contact person, we were excited to learn that this camp serves about 5,000 people a year and that the Gospel message is proclaimed to all who come on the grounds, be it children's camps, youth or adult retreats or any other group that use the facility.
We definitely felt that Lake Forest Ranch should be reinstated as one of our projects and we are thankful for the good response from our members to work there this November. We pray that others will feel led to sign up in the Spring and for the years ahead.
We would like to encourage our other AR partners to take this job as an opportunity to get to know our hosts and their facilities. This can best be done with a personal visit once a year to each project. By sitting down in a face to face situation you are more able to access, encourage and report back to the office and Sower Vice President accurately what is going on with each project. A phone call should NOT be the usual means of contact. You cannot give a visual picture of what is truly happening at the project without a personal visit. That does not mean that on occasion you cannot update with a phone call to the host. However, by your personal visit you are showing our host that you care enough to actually meet with them, walk the grounds and perhaps offer a suggestion or pass on something of value on to the SOWER ministry. We are confident that all our AR's feel the same way too.
Over this past year, on each encounter with our projects, we came away feeling we knew them better and hopefully gave them a sense of their value to our ministry.
In His Service,
Stan & Carlie Buttrick, #327
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Recently seen on the SOWER Facebook Group -
 Have you stopped by lately? Make sure you've "checked" the box to receive notifications, and PLEASE post pictures and stories from YOUR projects!
And if you're a member of Facebook, but haven't joined the SOWER Group, click on the icon to join the family!
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Pictures Update
The Skill Sheet picture project is continuing. Thank you to those who have sent in pictures! Here are a couple of suggestions and guidelines to help with the process -
- Pictures should be sent into the office - sowers@sowerministry.org
- Individual pictures are most appreciated, but since only "head shots" are needed, pictures that can be cropped are also fine.
- Next time you're on a project find the "shutterbug' in the group and set up a "photo booth" . All the photos can be taken at one time and sent in together to the office. Feel free to resize them to reduce the file size.
- These photos will only be used on the skill sheets that are sent to the project hosts and group leaders. While submitting these photos is optional, we encourage you to send them in.
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2013 Survey Update
We've had a good response to our on-line survey! To those of you who have responded - THANK YOU!!!! If you haven't yet - well, what are you waiting for! If you can't find your "Invitation" email with the "Take the Survey" button, feel free to access the survey using the link on the Members Only Page.
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Contributors Needed!
A big thank-you to those who have sent in stories for the newsletter! But we still need more! How about you? Do you have a SOWER related God-Story to share? Have you been changed as a result of working at a project and would like to share your testimony? Maybe you know of a special need at a project that doesn't get much help. We're looking for ideas and articles for upcoming issues.
Love taking pictures?
 | | Sunset at TX Baptist Encampment (TX-364) |
Do you have a photograph that might work as a "header" for this monthly newsletter? (It will be cropped to 600x125 pixels) Or maybe a favorite group shot that could be included?
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Dear Sam and Sally SOWER,
Dear Sam and Sally,
I was wondering if it would be possible to include the password in this newsletter? There are always lots of links to that page, but I have to keep hunting up my password in order to actually see anything. Can you help with this?
Signed,
Wanting to see!
Dear Wanting,
We're really glad that you're using the Members Only webpage! We think it's a great tool and the fact that it's updated every week, makes it the easiest way to stay on top of ministry items. The reason we don't publish the password in this newsletter is that while the newsletter is sent to all the SOWERS who have an email address, it is also sent to several projects that have asked to be placed on the list. The newsletter can also be forwarded to friends and family (and maybe even prospective SOWERS!) who might be interested in the ministry. Since the Members Only page is for, well, members only it just makes the most sense to keep the password a bit more protected. The good news is (starting this month) the password will only be changing twice a year, so you won't need to worry about a new password until June 15th! Most browsers will save the password for you so you don't have to look it up every time. If you're really stuck, give the office a call! They're always happy to help!
Happy reading! And have a Blessed Christmas!
Sam and Sally
Do you have a question for Sam and Sally? They would love to hear from you if you have any questions about the SOWER Guidelines or SOWER etiquette. Contact them at samandsally@sowerministry.org.
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You're more than a number to us, but ANYTIME you communicate with the office (or a trustee) - either by email or snail mail or voice mail, PLEASE include your full name and your SOWER number. This is especially important if you are requesting a project or making any changes to your personal information. Thanks!
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Quick Links -
To send in a prayer request or praise item-
To contact the office -
903-882-8070
To submit something to the newsletter
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Holiday Hours
The Sower Office will be closed from
DEC 20 - JAN 5
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Why I Love SOWERS!
My name is Jesse Nelson and I am the Director at Cedar Canyon Camp in Rapid City South Dakota. As many of the other Camp Directors out there
know, there always seems to be plenty of projects that need to be
done and never enough funds to hire people to get them done. For us the SOWER organization has been a huge blessing for many years because they are filling this need for project help that we could never afford. The work that they do is helping to build this camp into a first class facility for youth and families and the fruits of their labor is seen in the lives that are changed here every year. As I survey the camp, there is not a single building, playground, or vehicle that hasn't been worked on by a SOWER. The organization that all of you represent is a bigger blessing to us than you will ever know and the ministry that we do here is not possible without your help. Thank you for all the work you have done here and the great encouragement you are to us to continue the race that God has laid out for us. God Bless!
Cedar Canyon Camp (SD-413) is open for SOWERS (3) from June through October. And while you're in South Dakota, hop over to Sunshine Bible Academy (SD-495) - they're open from June through September and have openings for 4!
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Why I love SOWERS!
As Cindy and I look back on the past year with SOWERs, we feel that we are more blessed by the SOWER's Ministry, than the work that is accomplished at the projects we volunteer at. As we pray for God to lead us to where he wants us to serve, we never know the extent of what he has in store for us. Every project we have gone to, though, makes us feel as if God has personally picked that project out for us. Whether it is building a 40' high Rock Climbing Tower in Fairbanks Alaska, pouring a concrete sidewalk in Tampa, Florida, or washing windows in Chico, California. We feel as if God wanted us to do that task at hand.
We have also felt so blessed to meet so many nice, caring & loving people along the way. From the SOWER servants to the project leaders and staff. HOW BLESSED ARE WE? ABUNDANTLY!
We are now in the CHRISTmas Season, and we look back, reflect and say; We are so BLESSED to be touched by so many of you!
May each and every one of you cherish the true joy of CHRISTmas, and the true Reason for the Season, the Birthday of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
May God Bless You and Your Journey,
Myron & Cindy Moorman
SOWER# 3221
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Heading through Texas?
Looking for a stop-over spot in Texas? Don't forget the SOWER Office has 5 beautiful, paved, full hook-up sites that are available for our use. The first two nights are free, and then it's $10.00/night. If you'd like to hang around for a bit, it's $50.00/week or $150 for a month. Just enough to cover utilities!
Even if you can't stay for a couple of nights, the office folks would LOVE to have you stop in to say hello! A fresh pot of coffee is only minutes away from your arrival!
Lindale is right off I20, about 90 miles east of Dallas. Look for the directions on the first page of the Sowergram.
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Clicking on the Christmas candles will take you to the Members Only Page and the most recent PLS along with the on-line December Sowergram!
And if you want to use your "Smart Phone" to get the latest information, check out the new "Mobile Version"!
Having trouble accessing the PLS? Don't forget the password changed on the 15th! Check your hard copy for the magic word (or contact the SOWER office)!
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Just the Facts
for December 2013
Number of Active SOWERS*
515
Number of ALUMNI SOWERS*
140
Number of SOWER projects requesting SOWER Assistance
75
Number of SOWER projects receiving SOWER Assistance
34
Number of SOWERS* requested (Including SOAs)
374
Number of SOWERS* working (Including SOAs)
88
*Number of SOWERS always refers to a SOWER "Unit" - whether a couple or a single, not individual SOWERS.
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SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERS are doing around the country!
Roger's SOWER Blog
Roger & Nola Sorenson
Soltesweb.net
Ed & Patty Soltes
Bob and Billie on the Road
Bob & Billie Wakeman
RV There Yet
Gary & Stephanie Conrad
On A Wheel and a Prayer
Don and Jenny Rasmussen
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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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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Looking for a past issue of the
e-Newsletter?
Check out the ARCHIVE of every issue of this
e-Newsletter
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FREE brochures and business cards are available from the office!
Check out ALL the SOWER Merchandise available - On the Member Page or use the newly
revised form at the back of the Sowergram!
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Photo Info/Credits -
Header - Warm Beach Lights of Christmas (WA-255) - John Morton
Header Group Shot - Way of the Cross (TX-405) Dec. '12 Bob Jamieson (L-R:
Paul & Juanita Alton, Bill & Sandy Ellis, Sam & Pat Gamboe, Bob & Ruth Jamieson, Len & Karen Cook, Andy & LaVonne Anderson (SOA)
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