|
Romania Container Challenge – Kick Off
 It
has only been a few months since a group of us from Lakewood United
Methodist Church traveled to Romania on a mission trip with The Smiles
Foundation and those visions of the Romanian people are still with me
as I am sure they are with the others in our mission team.
I can remember the homeless people and families that we visited and
especially the kids. When you look at the conditions and
circumstances that we observed some of the Romanian people living in,
we realize just how blessed we are to live in the USA and be a part of
Lakewood and the Christian community. It was
awesome to see God at work through the Smiles Foundation, its faithful
volunteers and supporters. The Smiles Foundation supports
many families and provides numerous opportunities for the Romanian and
Gypsy communities.
We have an opportunity to help the Smiles Foundation and to provide a
home for a family in need at the same time. A
 shipping container has
been purchased and delivered to Lakewood UMC. Our goal is to fill
it with items needed for the Smiles foundation, raise money to convert
the container into a home and ship the container to Romania. Wouldn’t
it be great to have a mission team visit Romania this year to see the
family receive their new home? All things are possible with God in
control!
Our
team needs your help. As we kick off our container
challenge, prayerfully consider providing an item on our list of
things needed or a monetary donation. Checks can be made out to LUMC-Romania
Fund and donated material items may be dropped off at the Church or
you may contact Jim Blythe by phone at (733-8159) or by e-mail at
jimblythe@yahoo.com for pick up of items at your home or
office. If you are not in Jacksonville, items can be shipped to the
Church, clearly marked for the Container c/o Jim Blythe.
Please contact me if you are
interested in volunteering to help with this project. Please also
keep this project, the Smiles Foundation, and its supporters in your
prayers as they continue to perform Gods work for his people in
Romania. May God bless you as we bless
others with our container challenge gifts and financial support.
From Easter morning
at Lakewood ….
Lakewood kicked off Easter morning worship with a free breakfast for
the congregation with all donations going to the Smiles Foundation
Container Challenge. The 2010 Romanian Mission Team along with several
Church volunteers helped prepare and serve the breakfast. We prepared
an Easter egg tree with items that we would like to collect for the
container. In addition, a printed list of items needed to fill the
container were handed out. Above all, it was
a beautiful Easter morning and the worship service and music were
awesome! He is Risen!
 As
we look forward to collecting items for the container and raising
money to convert the
container into a home for a needy family, we give
thanks today for our Savior Jesus Christ. We pray that God will
continue to bless our Church and The Smiles Foundation as we reach out
into the communities in the USA and in Romania. Blessings to all from
Lakewood United Methodist Church. Please keep us in your prayers as we
continue with our Container Challenge.
Jim Blythe |
