Here is a great fundraising idea for those of you who like to travel.  It is the cruise fundraiser, that will allow you to sail to success raising $5,000.00, $10,000., or even $20,000. dollars for your organization.

     To learn more about how you can raise money in this unique way go to Our World of Group Travel

     Have you every considered going to Haiti and serving an organization there?  Well, here is a Help Wanted Ad just for you.

     Hope For Haiti operates an orphanage and Christian School in Port-au-Prince (Bolosse neighborhood).  We have recently created 2 new staff positions.  One is "Assistant Director," who will provide day to day oversight of the Marion Austin Christian School and Orphanage.  This individual will also focus on the transition of our children to adulthood, and the programs to be instituted to aid in that transition.

     The second position is "Ministry Coordinator," who will focus on the spiritual guidance of the children and the missions program.  This person will work on the improvement of communications from Haiti, the quartery newsletters, and donor and sponsor updates.  The Ministry Coordinator will also work closely with the Assistant Director to institute new programs focusing on the transition of the children.

     While we have been contemplating filling these positions with a married couple, the openings can certainly be filled individually.  If you have an interest in working in Haiti with our organization, please contact Hall Cleveland at hlc40@optonline.net.  To learn more about our organization, please visit our web site at www.hfchaiti.org

     Please pass this information along to anyone whom you think might be interested.  Thank you.

     This is such a good example of how God adds and subtracts that I just have to share it.

     The other day I was working in the garden.  I have expanded and decided that I want to move the rhubarb and asparagus to a new place.  Although I have plenty of room for my 11 plants I realize that I do not need 11 plants and so I call my husband and ask him if he thinks 6 plants would be just fine.  He agrees that all we need is 6 plants.

     I move 6 plants to the new area and then begin removing the other plants and gently place them in a large canvas bag.  I place about 10 - 15 in that bag.  
The plants are huge and so they are becoming multiple large plants.  Then I put 4 plants in large pots for some family members.  Some neighborhood boys offer to bring the rhubarb around the neighborhood to offer free.  I notice a few plants with no place to go, so I add them to my row as to not have them wasted.

     The boys return as I am moving the potted plants to the driveway.  One of the boys says, " Kathy, I thought you only wanted 6 plants?"  I then explained why I had placed the extras in the ground.  He then carefully counted the plants in my row and said, "Well now you have 12 plants."  I took a moment to explain to him that this was God's math.  When we think we are giving, we are really getting.

     I began to think about the rhubarb.  For many months throughout the summer I pick from 40 - 50 pounds a week and bring it to Church to give away, maybe God didn't want me to only have 6 plants, maybe His plan is that I have more to give away.  Maybe, somehow this rhubarb is being used by Him.

     It is finally feeling like Spring here in good ole MA.  That means I am out in the garden working.  I have expanded this year as I hope to put more food away for the winter, but also want to have the vegetables available should this be an especially hard summer for my neighbors.  I have always used my garden as a tool to love on my neighbors with.  That said, I am juggling office work and garden work.  Today it was forcasted to rain, although it looks beautiful outside, thus I planned to work in the office.

     At a family dinner I was asked what I have been doing lately.  My daughter Annsie piped in, "Shipping and receiveing."  I have to chuckle because I hadn't thought of it that way but it truly is what I have been doing.  We have been getting donations galore.  We recently had 11 boxes of sewing school donations sent up from Georgia, one of our medical supply contributors is now getting OB and OR medical supplies, and being Spring everyone is going through their clothing and so we are getting lots of those as well.

     What comes in, must go out and so shipments have gone out to Heartline Birth Center, Three Angels orhanage and clinic, Angel Missions, and more.  God is so good and I am so thankful to have this blessing of resources for the ministries we send resources to.

     Really great news!  Heartline Haiti had a matching grant challenge.  They needed to raise $15000. and then they would get a matching donation for that amount.  They have reached their goal.  I am so thrilled for them.  If any of you were a partner to that success, thank you very much.

     I have just wrapped up our final Scripture T-shirt Contest and wanted to close with a few words.  I am just so thrilled at the effort and creativity of the kids that submitted designs.  The designs were so good that Tyler and I were not able to be objective judges and we asked outsiders to give us the winners.  We had 8 winners, as far as prizes go, but to me all the designs were winners.

  I wanted to show you the designs that didn't win a prize, but that we thought were just awesome.

Front

Back

Front

Back

 The onnsie was done by one of the moms who just couldn't help creating a design of her own.  It is one of my favorites.  As you can see everyone worked really hard and they all did winning designs. 

And the winners are...

Our First Place Winner
(of a $50.00 Gift Certificate to the Homebound Mission's Store)

Misseyebright

Our Second Place Winner
(of a $25.00 Gift Certicate to the Homebound Mission's Store)

Sarah Matson

Our Third Place Winner
(of a $10.00 Gift Certificate to the Homebound Missions Store)

MycameraandI
Hannah

     Tomorrow morning we have 12 boxes being shipped out.  One is going to Heartline for the new birth center, 4 are going to Angel Missions, and 7 are going to Three Angels' for the orphanage and clinic.

     Because we used the Home Depot boxes I thought I would take this opportunity to show you what they look like.  They fit well in the van.

     For years, Tyler and I have been using 31 - 37 gallon Rubbermaid totes to ship all of our donations.  They were pricey, but also served those at the other end and so we bit the bullet.  Over the years in order to ship the large volume of donations that we do, I have had to look for cheaper alternatives.  I have found one worth bragging about and passing along.

     Home Depot sells a box (18 x 18 x 24), and it is what I call the perfect box.  It can hold whatever a full 37 gallon tote can hold, is easy to handle and costs only $1.29 right now.  They are presently on sale, a mark down from three dollars and something.  You will find them near the totes and they are called moving boxes.  They have a large selection, but this I find to be the best size for the best cost.

     I hope this can help you to make your shipping costs more affordable too.

     I have been asked to clarify some things about the Scripture T-shirt contest. 

     To submit your T design simply take a photo of it and e-mail it to me at tkkangas@aol.com  If you do 2 sides make sure you send me both sides.

     You can use any size, color design that fits the shirt you are doing.

     Also, to translate your scripture go to, www.fouyebible.com/verse.php/vnr/english/17/  and it will translate any scripture you want to any languauge you want.  The original translator I gave out isn't working well.

     Please e-mail me at tkkangas@aol.com  with questions as it is the easiest way for me to reply.

     I hope to post the rest of the T-shirts that were entered soon.

     It was a very diffucult job choosing the winners, as everyone did such a top notch job.  After much deliberation, here are the winners.  I will post the other entrants tomorrow.

First Place 
( A $50.00 gift certificate for the Homebound Missions Store)

Linsay Julian

Second Place
There are two second place winners.

(A $25.00 gift certificate for each to the Homebound Missions Store.)

Paige McFadden

Front

Back

Jocelyn McFadden

Front

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Third Place
There are two third place winners.

( A $10.00 gift certificate for each to the Homebound Missions Store.)

Joshua McFadden

Front

Back

Emily Matson

Front

     The winners of our High Pointe Church Homeschoolers- Scripture T-Shirt Contest will be posted this evening.  I am sorry for the delay but we want to post a photo of each of the T-Shirts so everyone can see the beautiful work that was done, and I need Tyler's help for that. 

     We presently have 2 Scripture T-Shirt Contests going so if you are working on a T-Shirt with an April deadline, you are good.

     It is here, the ladies who have been learning to sew are now online with their very own store.  Check out their new web site and please do tell all your friends.

www.haitiancreations.com

     I received another great fundraising idea in the mail today with one of my flower catalogs.  I know I have mentioned that selling plants or seeds is a great Spring and/ or Fall fundraising idea, and I just want to let you know about as many of them as possible.  From their web site, at Spring Hill Nurseries  you can request a kit and begin.

     It is not too early.  Real gardeners are already purchasing/ planting seeds and planning for this years crop, so don't delay!

      I mentioned earlier, when talking about the Heartline Ministries Birth Center, that I would post the letter I am going to mail to those I know, involved in Chirdbirth across the country.  I will be mailing it this week.  Please feel free to print this letter and / or e-mail it to anyone you know who may work in the childbirth field or who may just want to be a part of this important ministry.

     Thank you, your e-mail could provide the resources needed to provide a safe, gentle birth for a Haitian woman.   

Homebound Missions

Kathyleen M Kangas

1225 Providence Road

Whitinsville, MA 01588

www.homeboundmissions.org

508.839.9972

Dear Childbirth Professional:

She died in Childbirth because her husband had not paid

My name is Kathy Kangas and for over 10 years I was involved in the Childbirth Profession, first as a Bradley Method Instructor and later an apprenticing Midwife, and Director of Childbirth Education Services of Greater Worcester County. 

Approximately 5 years ago, my husband and I, were in Carrefour, Haiti an area of Port-au-Prince.  While documenting families, we came upon a young mother and her newborn that in need of immediate medical care (read Ketly’s Story at www.homeboundmissions.org ) and as we responded to this need, were confronted with a laboring woman who was in the hospital and shortly after died in childbirth.  She didn’t die because there wasn’t a doctor available, or a hospital to go to; she died because her husband had not come to pay.

You can only imagine the scope of feelings and outrage that were racing through me, especially as a woman who respects and loves the process of birth.  I was just sick! 

74% of women give birth at home unattended

No one knows this better than Beth McHoul, Director of the Heartline Haiti’s Women’s Program (www.heartlinehaiti.org) .  Beth has worked in Haiti for over 20 years caring for orphaned infants and toddlers.  Two years ago she began working with women and what is emerging is the Heartline Haiti’s Birth Center, staffed by NARM Certified Midwives.

The Heartline Haiti’s Women’s Program presently cares for 40 women a week.  The women each receive according to their needs:

• Prenatal Care
• Food and Vitamin Supplements
• Prenatal, Childbirth, & Postpartum Classes
• Breastfeeding Assistance
• Child Development & Parenting Classes

In order to give birth at the birth center, the women must be part of the program, as Haiti has an extremely high risk population.  The goal of the program is to offer quality, nurturing care to the women who are in the program.  Beth McHoul, Director of the program says, “We want to serve the women in our program.”  As staff and funds are available they will grow the program to include more women.

Will you help us make childbirth safe for women in Haiti?

Financial donations can be made online at www.heartlinehaiti.org , or you can mail your donation to:

Heartline Haiti’s Women’s Program

P.O. Box 898

Sunnyside, WA 98944   Your gift is tax deductible.

You may also make Gift of Kind donations (items not cash).  A complete list can be found at www.homeboundmissions.org, Kathy’s Blog.  They can be shipped to: 

Homebound Missions

1225 Providence Road   PMB #129

Whitinsville, MA 01588    Your gift is tax deductible.

If you are a skilled midwife, student midwife, physician, or nurse and would like to teach or assist hands on, contact Beth McHoul at bethmchoul@yahoo.com, tell her what you have to offer and maybe a mission’s trip could be on your horizon.

Please pass this information along to anyone who may want to be a part of this great opportunity.  Thank you.

 Sincerely,

Kathy Kangas

Homebound Missions

For an up-close and personal look at a day for Heartline Ministry’s WP check out:

http://www.livesayhaiti.blogspot.com  (February 27, 2009)

     I am going to start sounding like the spokesperson for Craig's List, but I just keep finding so many potential tools there.  Recently, I noticed you can post Garage Sales, in the middle of winter.  How good can it get, yard saling has become a year round thing.  Then came a critical decision.

     For years, when Tyler and I lived on our farm, we had a wood working shop and made beautiful birdhouses.  It was really just a hobby that I loved and hoped I would be able to do again someday.  Well someday hasn't happened in 5 years and this week my need for more donation space made me make an important decison, to release all my birdhouse stuff. 

     I have posted a few pictures of my Basement Sale all set up, items priced and ready to go.  You'll see that I have quite a collection of "junk" because that is what I loved most on my birdhouses.  Rusty metal, copper pipes, old locks, wood weathered in the ocean just give a birdhouse so much individualism.

     Maybe this will turn into a good idea for you as well, and you don't even have to wait until Spring after all.  Of course, all the proceeds from my Basement Sale will go to Homebound Missions.

     Today was a very exciting day as I shipped 14 boxes/containers to different ministries in Haiti.  About 150 pounds of shoes went to Shoes2Share, 5-20 cube boxes went to Three Angels, and a last minute contact with a missions team leaving for Haiti meant that I was able to bring 200 pounds of the new fabric for Heartline Ministries, to the team and it will be in Haiti tomorrow, at no charge.

     My brother Davaid helped me all day which was a huge blessing.  I have been lifting and moving and weighing these items for the last two days and he took over with the lifting.

     I cannot tell you the excitement that you feel when it is all put together; the items are cleaned and packed, and weighed, and finally shipped to their destination.  What a blessing to be able to do this small yet amazing work.

     T-Shirt Contest

     Here is a sample design that I did using 1 corinthians 13:13

Deadline:  April 5, 2009

Details:  Design a t-shirt using scripture.  The scripture must be in French or Creole.  Be creative, and use scriptures that will bless those who read and wear it.  Create a professional look design you would be proud to wear.  We are looking for designs that are so good they could sell.

     For translating the scriptures you can go to, www.translator2.paralink.com, you can also e-mail me at tkkangas@aol.com and I will give you the Creole Translation for whatever scriptures you need.  For those who are too independent for that we do have Creole Bibles for sale in our store and you can purchase your own copy.  Make sure to let me know you need the Bible shipped to you as people usually buy them for distribution in Haiti. 

     We are hoping for designs that are so good we will be able to have quantities printed and bring them to Haiti with us.  What a great opportunity to share God's word, with the people of Haiti in their own language.

Prize:  The winner with the best t-shirt design will receive a $50.00 gift certificate to the Homebound Missions Store, and will have their design printed on t-shirts going to Haiti.

We will anounce the winner on April 6th.

     This blog is all about missions and passing along information and resource and tonight I want to pass one along that seems too good to be true.

     I posted several weeks ago about the needs of the Heartline Women's Sewing Program.  Fabric was at the top of the list.  When you have 20 women sewing (and now it is 22) you go through a lot of fabric.

     While on Craig's list I saw an ad for upholstery fabric for just $2.00 a roll.  This offer seemed way too good to be true, until today when I actually went to get the fabric.  The fabric was truly $2.00 a roll, not matter how much was on the roll.  We have full rolls that have not even been opened yet.

     We have enough fabric to keep those 22 ladies sewing and designing for a long time, and the great news is that this fabric will be available to us again when we want to make another purchase.  What is even better is there is enough for you, as well.

     If you are looking for upholstery fabric, for a ministry or even personal use you can e-mail Angela at bostonchicky1980@yahoo.com  We almost wiped them out today and so she may ask you to wait until they replenish their supply which they do regularly.  The fabric we purchased today is beautiful, colorful, quality fabric.

     And please do not worry about us not having enough, God has provided this lot and He will provide the next.  We share this blessing with no fear that we will loose it in the future.  We didn't even know it would be availble again in the future and how great is that.

     Even before our organization was formally a non profit, I always made sure that I sent out a thank you note for every single gift.  It served two purposes:  First, to just say thank you and acknowledge the generosity; secondly, to make sure they knew I received their gift. 

     However, the more we have grown, the more committed I have become to Thank you notes.  I have learned they are sometimes received as more than just a thank you note.

     The other day a mom e-mailed me from Craig's List.  She had a really big toy donation she wanted to make.  My husband went to get this donation and so I sent him with an envelope that contained a tax receipt, a thank you note, and a Homebound Missions business card.

     The next day, the mom e-mailed me to thank me for the thank you note.  Her son has been carrying it around as though it were treasure.

     I wonder what is going on in that little boys mind.  Did the thank you note make him feel that he had done something really special and that we appreciated him?  I do not know, all I was told is that he is hanging on to it tight.

     I am just so thankful I didn't forget to write that one.  

     As you know I have been using Craig's List to secure donations for the orphanages and medical facilities that we send gifts of kind to.  It has been a very successful week and today is, Go through Donations Day.  Darlene, one of my Board members and our Sewing Coordinator will be here all day. 

      I want to tell you what I do with donations because maybe it will help you know what to do, even if just an idea or two. 

     Everything I receive is washed before it is sent to Haiti, this includes toys, books and clothing.  The toys if they are soft and have cloth on them go directly into the washing machine, however sometimes washing the toys recquires a little creativity.  A few weeks ago someone gave me a huge bag of legos and they were given a Jacuzzi bath.  It worked perfectly.  I removed them with a pasta strainer before emptying the water so that the dirt wouldn't just fall back on them.  I am sure a regular bath would work just fine.  Many of todays toys may find themselves in the Jacuzzi.

     Books are handwashed so the covers are clean.

     I stain treat and wash, sometimes bleach all clothing.  If I cannot remove the stains I do not send the item. 

     One last thing, I like my donations to look clean, new and packed with care.  To add a little extra touch I put a dryer sheet into the tote.  I shop special for these to make sure I have a very clean pretty fragrance.  When the totes get to Haiti and are opened I want them to know without a doubt they have just received a gift.

     Have fun washing and packing.  I know I always do.