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If you're like many SOWERS, April is the month that you begin to work your way north. We set out from the Texas Roundup heading to Tennessee and then to Ohio before we settled in at our April project. What a delight it was to travel roads that were all dressed up in their spring finery. Depending on how far north you go, the roads might be a bit less colorful! But whether you're enjoying the dogwood or just getting excited about the daffodils pushing through last of the snow piles, I pray you're gearing up for a great spring.
I hope you've had a chance to read the April/May 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!
Stephanie Conrad, #2509
for the Board of Trustees
SOWER Ministry
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Trustee Nominees
The following members have been nominated for the SOWER Board of Trustees
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Preston Bruxvoort (3245)
| Brian Forbes (3076) |
Nancy Ragatz
(2838) | |
Ross Dunfee (3127)
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John Jones
(2813)
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Cliff Stone
(1966)
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Resumes and Ballots will be in the June/July Sowergram.
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TX Round-up Recap
Thirty SOWER couples joined together for two+ busy days of fellowship, games, devotions and campfires at Trinity Pines Conference Center (TX-454) at the end of March. We laughed hard, and played hard and ate well! It was a wonderful time of connecting and re-connecting with our SOWER Family. If you'd like to see more photos of the Round-up (including the group picture and individual couples) you can check them out HERE!
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MARK YOUR CALENDAR!
SOWER Gatherings are in the planning stages!
Whether you're an Alumni, 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. If you live in close proximity to a SOWER project, let them know you're around! There are often impromptu gatherings of SOWERS happening all around the country all year long! Whether you're camping together or just meeting for a meal at a local restaurant, a SOWER Gathering is always a blessing!
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Michigan Reunion/Rally
September 21-24
Michindoh Ministries - MI-139
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Minnesota SOWER Retreat
September 21-23
Lake Beauty Bible Camp
Long Prairie, MN
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You want us to do what?
Who: Les Peel #3128 and Mort Stern #3085
What: To level historic Recreation Hall at Camp Squanto in youth camp area
When: August 2012
Where: Pilgrim Pines Conference Center, Swanzey, NH - NH-400
Why: The foundation was not level due to frost heaves and dry rot. Stone fireplace was pulling away from wall and there were bulges in original wood floor.
How: After a local contractor set the cornerstone, he set a horizontal plumb line as guide to level supports. Then Sowers jacked up the building at each support, poured concrete footings and leveled to the plumb line. Lattice panels were added as underpinning around foundation.
Thanks to Les Peel for submitting this great example of our wonderful SOWER job diversity!
What's the most unusual job you've been asked to do as a SOWER? Send your stories and pictures to Stephanie and we might feature it in the newsletter!
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Never miss an opportunity...
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| | Cheryl and Dale Curtis at the Escapade |
We had a great time talking to people on the ROW for SOWER ministry at the Escapade in AZ! We had many opportunities to tell people about SOWER and how it might fit into their retirement as RVers. We had 3 other couples helping us so we could split up the times the ROW was open: Bob & Karen Lovell (2183), Carl & Sue Williams (3295), and Phil & Connie Abbott (2566) all did a super job and we appreciated so much their willingness to pitch in!
Dale & I had the pleasure of also doing a seminar for SOWERs. We showed the video and let those attending ask questions. All in all it was a great experience and we trust there will be couples who we talked to who become active SOWERS.
Dale & Cheryl Curtis
# 3253
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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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Recycling bins at Father's Heart (CA-461), Desert Hot Springs, California. They have 4 openings during the winter months.
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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
Dear Sam and Sally,
We worked at a ministry recently where they invited us to join them for meals on weekends when they were having groups and cooking anyway. Is it appropriate for us to join in on meals on days that we're not working? They really seemed to want us to come, but we were reluctant to overstep our guidelines.
Signed,
Concerned
Dear Concerned,
While the ministries we serve are never obligated to provide any meals to us while we are on a project (nor should we expect them to), it is true that some will ask SOWERs to join them if they are already providing meals to others (as in a conference center or summer camp). Whether or not you chose to join them on days when you are not working is your own personal decision. It has been our experience that a ministry invites you to join them for meals for several different reasons:
One is they like us to see their ministry in action. Often we are there during their off seasons and they only have groups in on weekends. It helps us, as volunteers, to experience their facility as it impacts lives for Christ, and it helps the Ministry by allowing their campers/guests to see their volunteer groups.
Another reason is they want to bless SOWERS just as we have blessed them by serving there. Often, weekends are the only time the kitchen is open for business and that is why they invite us to join them at that time.
Finally, it falls into the "encourage" part of our mission. We don't just serve our ministries, we also encourage them. And accepting their invitation to join them for dinner and giving them the opportunity to interact with us encourages them in their ministry.
So the bottom line is - there are no guidelines regarding accepting an invitation to meals on weekends, or any other day for that matter. We never want to take advantage of our hosts, but we should also be sensitive to their desire to extend hospitality and blessings to us. We need to be open to receiving as well as giving.
Blessed to be in the SOWER Family,
Sam & Sally
Do you have a question about SOWER policy or etiquette? Sam and Sally would love to hear from you! Contact them at -samandsally@sowerministry.org.
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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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Clicking on the Tulips will take you to the Members Only Page and the April/May Sowergram and the latest updates to our Project Listings (updated weekly).
The password has not changed since December 15th. If you're having trouble signing in, check your hard copy for the correct password.
Or contact the office (M-Th) - they're always happy to help!
903-882-8070
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SOA Opportunities
Looking for a longer-stay SOWER opportunity? The Sower on Assignment program is designed to fill the need that some of our ministries have for volunteers that can fill a specific need and stay on a project for 3-6 months. Here are just a few of the SOA opportunities available in the current Sowergram. Check 'em out!
| Gardening | CO-517 | | Campground Host | FL-335 | | Shop Maintenance/ Camp duties | MO-323 | | Project Management - New Construction | OR-295 | | Guest Services | TX-454 |
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Just the Facts
for April 2015
(April 2014)
Number of Active SOWERS*
499 (534)
Number of ALUMNI SOWERS*
132 (144)
Number of SOWER projects requesting SOWER Assistance
113 (116)
Number of SOWER projects receiving SOWER Assistance
43 (56)
Number of SOWERS* requested (Including SOAs)
559 (491)
Number of SOWERS* working (Including SOAs)
100 (124)
*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
Paul Alton.com
Paul and Juanita Alton
Benedictus
Terry & Alice Burnett
RV Craze
Wayne and Gail Fieler
Glennandjanesjourney
Glenn and Jane Kellenbenz
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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Photo Info/Credits
Header location -Acadian Baptist Camp (LA-509)
Header Group Shot -
Acadian Baptist Camp (LA-509) March 2015
Mary & Lee Van Os (2392), Dorothy &Fred Peterson (3060), Trish & Doug Wilhelm (3285), and Bill Eshbaugh (2730)
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| | Paul Clark at the Glen Rose, TX Lions Club |
Special thanks to Paul Clark (2164) who had an opportunity to share the SOWER Ministry at the Glen Rose, TX Lions Club weekly meeting.
If you have an opportunity to share our ministry at an RV, church or civic event, contact the office for ways they can help.
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Hot off the Press!
Our NEW BROCHURES
have arrived and are waiting to be sent to YOU!
Contact the office to get your supply so you'll be ready to hand them out to interested couples. Feel free to leave a stack at church (home or visiting), campgrounds and anywhere else you think it might generate some interest!
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Download the new Work Voucher and GL Report found on the Members Only page to your computer so you can easily fill them out and send them into the office. Have any questions about how this works? Check with the office, they're happy to explain the process.
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Growing our ministry
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The Board of Trustees is always looking for good ways to share the blessing of being a SOWER.
We have recently used the above graphic in some Christian magazine advertising and it has been well received! Are you aware of any other venues (possibly within your denomination?) where we could advertise?
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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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