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August 15, 2004Welcome to the 14th issue of Lutheran Women in Mission e-News! Please forward and share this news and encourage others to stay in touch with LWML by email. The connection among Lutheran women is strong, as we serve and praise our Lord together. Mites Help Find God's Gems in the GarbageThanks to faithful giving, the $100,000 LWML grant for Ministry to Impoverished Families in Guatemala City has been fully funded. The Servant's Heart, which ministers to people, especially children, who live in the city dump of this huge city began its service in 1992 as an urban holistic and developmental ministry to serve the poorest of the poor. It teaches them skills that will enable students to be gainfully employed, plus academic and especially spiritual development. Executive Director Carla Burnell says, "Every person in the ministry is required to learn a trade. These people never thought they could do anything of value. We believe they are capable of leading their own ministry." This has proved true as the real work is done by more than three dozen staff members who are all from the dump. Your mites helped in everything from renting a facility to the formal training of staff and teachers and their supplies, to renovation and remodeling for a new Lutheran Day School and Worship Center. Daily these people are being fed both physically and spiritually, the results of which are known fully only to God. Thanks for being a blessing to so many. Mite Update from President Linda ReiserReceipts for July were $64,446.04 This shows a shortage of $79,999.35 There have been three requests for payments of grants, and those three requests amount to $184,000. Summer and fall gifts will be needed soon! Haven't you noticed how the portions at restaurants are so large and the plates are huge? LWML members are encouraged to use the "super-sized" mite box! That is the one that is stuffed with bills and overflowing with coins! Our mite box has not changed size in over 60 years, yet there are more grants funded than ever before! Let's spend the next few months "super-sizing" our mite gifts! Of course, don't forget at the same time to keep praying for those missionaries and for each of us to also share that hope we have in Jesus Christ! Convention NewsBarbara Hoffmeier chaired the "Celebrate the Hope" convention in Dearborn with 712 registered. Michigan celebrated their 60th anniversary and had their past district presidents honored at a special banquet on Saturday evening. The 22 YWRs were fun to be with, displaying much potential for future leadership. The Michigan Board of Directors celebrated the hope they have in continued blessings from God as they voted to share a mite overage to help meet the national mite goal and they presented the LWML with a check for $10,000. Praise be to God! A new president was elected and we welcome Anita Beyersdorf to the LWML Board of Directors. Anita is one of the 3 MMV Consultants in the Michigan District and just completed her term as VP of Organizational Resources in the district. ANNOUNCING OUR NEWEST ARRIVALAre you ready to move out of the box? Maybe just embellish the rectangle? Want to try some circular action?? The Mission Advocacy and Grants Committee announce the creation of a Round Mite Box. Designed to fit into your vehicle's cup holder, the label can be downloaded from our website, http://lwml.org/committees/mag/index_mag.html and printed on adhesive or regular paper. The label can then be applied to a 1.75 oz Pringles potato chip can. The Round Mite Box is ready to receive your change from trips to the drive-through restaurant or any change your mobile lifestyle affords. The beautiful multicolored artwork depicts people of "every tribe and nation" looking to you for the message of Jesus' love. With the words "Mitey Change for Almighty Change" the Mite Box label helps us to focus on our mission and ministry as Lutheran Women in Mission. Are you ready? Move out and around! Wanted! Simple Ways to Share Your FaithIf you have resources or ideas, Gospel Outreach Committee needs to hear from you. Go to http://www.lwml.org/outreach/talk.html or go to http://www.lwml.org click Outreach at the bottom of the page, then Talk Exchange where you'll find an email address to send your ideas. The Gospel Outreach Committee's purpose is to equip and motivate women to live the Gospel and to share it with all people. "Opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss." Adorn Your Christmas Tree!LWML has a lovely new pewter ornament for Christmas. It has a beautiful crêche in the center, surrounded with a holly and berry wreath. LWML is imprinted at the base. These make lovely gifts for your LWML sisters! Order now! #10050 $10.00 each. Go to http://www.lwml.org/catalog/new_items.html for the picture and ordering information. THE LUTHERAN WOMEN'S MISSIONARY LEAGUEThe Lutheran Women's Missionary League (LWML), with a membership of over 250,000, is the official women's auxiliary of The Lutheran Church - Missouri Synod. The LWML focuses on affirming each woman in her relationship with Christ to enable her to be in ministry among the people of the world. For over 60 years the LWML has been encouraging and equipping women to live out their Christian lives in active mission ministries and to financially support global mission. If you missed the first issues of LWML e - News, click here. To subscribe, click the link below and follow instructions to add your email to the LWML subscription list under "Mission and Ministry." "Full Text Version" will include LWML graphics and logo. The "Weekly Summary" version comes on Friday in a weekly abbreviated version with links to the entire text without graphics. 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