by Dianne Ross, Director of Children's Ministries

It was a fabulous summer in Families in Service. Huge thanks to FIS coordinator, LauraLeigh Young, and her team: Lori Sawyer, Jennifer Laible, Laurie Nelson, Misty Grieger, Kelly Langford, Mary Van Eaton, Nancy Schultes, Julia Sensenbrenner, Bobbi Windus and Dianne Ross. Here are just a few of the “seen” results of the summer:

• 556 diapers were donated to West Side baby at the Bagel and Bag event, and over 100 bags we made for homeless people
• Over 300 books were donated to Christ Gift Academy in Kenya
• 100 Aids Caregiver kits were made, including cards handmade by the children
• $285.09 was raised by the children bringing in coins for rice and beans for families at Tierra Nueva in Skagit Valley….since the children made and exceeded their goal of $250 they received a “matching grant” from the Children's Ministry budget, making the grand total sent $535.09
• 14 families helped served dinner at Wednesday Night dinners, and handed out socks to our guests
• 4800 meals were made at the FIS “wrap up “ on Sept 20, which will be shipped to various parts of Africa where starvation is a daily reality
• 5 family units had a great experience at Esperanza, up on Vancouver Island
• 9 family units fell in love with the 48 children at “The Ranch” outside of Ensenada, and we continue towith and pray for these children, as they also pray for us.
• Many meals were prepared and delivered to our single mothers
• One family spent 4 days serving at Tierra Nueva in Skagit Valley
• Many of our families learned about environmental stewardship while having fun and eating well.
• 20 people experienced first hand how difficult it is to be a refugee at our World Relief simulation