Moms H.O.P.E. (Helping Oppressed People Everywhere) is a non profit that Cheryl and Beverly and I started while we were in Tashkent together.  We were three moms that wanted to make a difference. Our motto is “ Doing what we can, where we are”.  In Tashkent we were able to make a difference for many. ( A full list of what we did there is in the preceding post)  

      Anyway~ Beverly is now in Rwanda, Africa. She is going to organize a Christmas toy drive for the children in the orphanage there and a surrounding village. Bev said, “Mom’s HOPE joins the Marines!!!  I have been talking to the Gunny here in Rwanda about Toys for Tots.  Last year was the first year they were here for Christmas and they had a very small toy drive close to Christmas.  They went to an orphanage to deliver toys but did not have one for every child.  This year I would like to have a gift for every child and some left over for children living in a small village about an hours drive from here.”

     We are starting early since we will have to mail everything over. Would you please think about buying some toys to bless some children that have nothing.  Bev just went on a drive to the village and she says: “All of the houses were made from mud bricks or just mud.  Very few people had electricity and I don’t think anyone had running water.  We would see kids and adults carrying jugs to community watering holes.  Some of the places were wells with a pump and some were getting water out of creeks.  It really made me stop and be very thankful for water in my house.  Something we just take for granted.  Most people cook on wood or charcoal ovens...”

I know there are toy drives all over the place in the fall… let’s do a Christmas in July and beat the holiday rush!

How can you help? There are 4 ways

1. Take your kids to the toy department and let them pick out a few toys to pack up and send. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make a big difference. Gifts should be simple.  NO BATTERY OPERATED ITEMS.  (The age is from birth to teens.) 
2. Take this to your Sunday school class, moms group, homeschool group or to work. Would you be willing to collect the toys and put them in the mail??!!
3. Fundraising- We still have pashminas and pearls for sale and are now also able to sell handmade baskets from Rwanda. Beverly will be making an order and you can purchase one for yourself or for Christmas gifts.
4. Pray that the chidlren who receive will be blessed as well as the families that join in and give from their hearts.

Let me know if you are going to collect toys (which would be GREAT!) or just want to send a few on your own. I will give you the mailing address (it’s to an APO so regular postage applies).

Please help make a difference and bring some surprise and joy into a few lives!

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