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Is summer in full swing in your neighborhood? With daylight stretching out longer and longer, it's the season for porch sitting and kicking back with friends and family. The time for planting the garden has passed, and the time for harvesting has not yet arrived. Maybe you're looking forward to the wedding of a loved one, or maybe even the sweet anticipation of the arrival of that grandbaby (or great grandbaby!). Whether you're sitting in your sunroom or out under your RV awning, our prayer is that you are resting in our Lord and confident of His care for you. While for many of us June is the brief pause before summer hits at full tilt, many of our projects are just starting their busiest seasons - Summer Camp!!! Would you join us in praying for our camps and retreat centers who are striving to present the Gospel to thousands of young people over the course of the next few months. Let's join together in lifting them before the Throne with prayers for many lives to come to Christ and many others to be refreshed and renewed. 
If you've never worked a "Summer Camp" project I highly recommend it! There is nothing like the energy of the Gospel combined with a dynamic staff poured into the lives of our youth. There are lots of openings - check 'em out!
Serving with you - for Jesus!
Stephanie Conrad, #2509
for the Board of Trustees
SOWER Ministry
stephanie@rvthereyet.org
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 Mark your calendar July 1 - Trustee Ballots due at the SOWER Office
July 15 - Last day to submit project request for the Lottery
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A Challenge.......
We are fairly new to SOWERS. We are thrilled to be able to serve and give back to ministries and at the same time, keep ourselves active and healthy. We have presently just finished our third project in the last 7 months.
When we read the SOWER newsletter, we see there are many ministries who do not get any help or get the number of SOWERs they have requested, because of the shortage of SOWERs available, able or willing to do projects. We would like to issue a couple of challenges to the present SOWERs.
- Consider adding just 1 more project in the next 12 months that you might not have done in past years. In other words, adding a project that is close to home, near kids/grandkids, or just making the commitment to help 1 more ministry or do an additional month at one you are already signed up for.
- Our other challenge would be to carry brochures and business cards about SOWER (all available at the office) and make an effort to tell more people about this great opportunity. We have many more full-time RVers today, and many of them we have talked to know nothing about SOWER. We have been asked a number of times, "how did you find out about SOWER?" One of the ways to get the word out would be to have SOWER stickers on our RV and/or the metallic signs
 on your vehicle.
Happy Rving to everyone while serving as a SOWER, and have a great summer!
Dale & Cheryl Curtis
#3253
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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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Trustee Nominations
Have you received your 2014 Ballot????? Or the bigger question is - have you voted and mailed it in?! Hopefully you've had an opportunity to review everyone's resume in the current Sowergram.
Ross Dunfee #3127
Nancy Ragatz # 2838
Jerry McGhee #2554
Jenny Rasmussen # 2824
Nick Murabito #3022
Kim Trivilino # 3094
Dave Neitzel #2251
Feel free to contact any of the nominees or a current Trustee for additional information. Ballots were included in the June/July Sowergram and mailed to the "Web Only" members. If you haven't yet received your ballot, please contact the office.
Ballots must be postmarked by July 1st!
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Recently seen on the SOWER Facebook Group Page
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 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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While you're on Facebook, don't forget to check out your favorite projects. Many of our project locations have a Facebook page and it's a great way to stay up to date on the places you love to serve!
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Dear Sam and Sally
Lately we've heard a lot from the Board of Trustees about "having an exit strategy". Could you explain that a bit more since I'm not sure I completely understand what that means to all of us.
Signed,
A Bit Confused.
Dear Confused,
Thanks for asking for clarification on this! Perhaps a better term would be a "Transition Strategy" and it refers to the time when we need to ask ourselves - "What do I do and where do I go when traveling is unsafe for me or if I can no longer work at the Sower projects." And certainly a Transition Strategy means different things to different people. Basically it is having a "what if" plan. If you have a home, you already have a "what if" plan. In that case, the "What if we are no longer physically able to do SOWER projects?" question would be answered with "We'll stay home". But if you live full-time in your RV and are counting on working SOWER projects so that you have a place to park, then the above mentioned question just opens up the door to more questions. Where should we go? Where will we park? What can we afford? Along with recognizing the timing for "hanging up the SOWER tools" and moving to Alumni, comes the tricky question of what being a SOWER Alumni looks like to you in your circumstances. And that's where having that Transition Strategy comes into play. As a ministry we aren't trying to make anyone stop being a working SOWER (we'll always be a SOWER at heart, right?), we're just encouraging folks to think through the "what ifs", and have a plan.
Asking those same "what if" questions with you -
And Resting in Jesus,
Sam & 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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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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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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Contributors ALWAYS Needed!
Do YOU have a testimony to share about a recent SOWER project? Maybe a word of encouragement to other SOWERS? We'd love to hear about it!
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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2014 Midwest Michigan SOWER Reunion!
Monday, Sept. 22 thru Thursday, Sept. 25
MI-139 Michindoh Ministries
4545 E. Bacon Road
Hillsdale, Michigan 49242
An excellent guest speaker, music, auction, book exchange, and other activities are planned. Costs for the reunion are as follows:
Meals per couple
$60.00 (5 meals @ $6.00 each per person)
Registration
$27.00 per couple
Cabin rate
$25.00 (Limited availability)
RV Campsite $0.00 (That's right - FREE!)
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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2014 Minnesota North Area Rally
Come and have fun with us
Monday afternoon, Sept 22 to Wed. Sept 24,2014
Optional work day Thur. Sept 25th
LAKE BEAUTY BIBLE CAMP
25766 Hummingbird Trail
Long Prairie, MN 56347
RV Campgrounds costs $22 per night
Also 8 rooms available for $48 per night in Loon Lodge
More information coming soon.
Need more information now? You can email Morris and
Jackie Emerson @ morjac60@hotmail.com, or call 763-350-9797.
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Good News!
We're pleased to introduce our new North Florida Area Representatives - Jim and Karen Swanner (#2885). We thank them for offering to fill this position (and also to others who inquired!).
But........
Help is still needed!
The position of the Southern Florida AR is still open!
The Area Reps check out new projects and also call on existing projects once a year (either in person or by phone) to make sure everything is running smoothly and all their information is current. They also welcome new SOWERs to the ministry. Does this sound interesting to you?Contact Stephanie Conrad for more information.
The Southern Florida Area -
FL-2 - Life for Youth
FL-6 - Island Community Church
FL-157 - Lake Wales Care Ctr FL-175 - Hope Children's Home FL-271 - Samaritan Center FL-307 - Community Baptist Church
FL-341 - Lake Placid Conference Ctr
FL -359 - Potters House Girls Home FL- 427 - Heart Missionary Training
FL- 485 - Sherry White Ministries
FL- 501 - Capernaum Ministries
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Clicking on the lilies will take you to the Members Only Page and the most recent PLS along with the on-line June/July Sowergram
Having trouble signing on? Don't forget the password changed on 6/15. You will find the new password in the June/July Sowergram. If you are "Web Only" , the new password has been emailed to you.
Still having trouble? Contact the office - they'll be happy to help!
903-882-8070
sowers@sowerministry.org
PS - the next password change won't be until December 15th. =)
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Just the Facts
for June 2014
Number of Active SOWERS*
541
Number of ALUMNI SOWERS*
143
Number of SOWER projects requesting SOWER Assistance
104
Number of SOWER projects receiving SOWER Assistance
38
Number of SOWERS* requested (Including SOAs)
464
Number of SOWERS* working (Including SOAs)
56
*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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Google Earth
SOWER Style!
Don't forget to check out the Project Locator (Google Earth) on the Members Only page. It's a great help in scoping out project locations, especially if you're trying to "bundle" projects to cut down on travel time (and fuel costs!). Maybe there's one near you that you could work this summer!
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Photo Info/Credits -
Header Location - Miracle Mountain Ranch (PA-514)
Header Group Shot - April 2014Team at Trinity Pines Conference Center TX-454 - L-R Snipes (2190), Peace (3262), Yates (3132), Kolbrek (2534), Olson (2423). Submitted by Mary Peace (3262)
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