Gayla's Magazine

Getting Ready for a Moms Against Hunger Christmas Neighborhood Giveaway

I needed some help getting final details together for a big Christmas Giveaway this Saturday.  Here is what happened..... 

Lively Hope Children's Home

Yesterday was pure joy!  It was time to fill the baskets with toys and stuffed animals.... books and goodies for the Orphanage in Mexico.  Missionaries Billie and Willeta Boren were here and my oh my it ws fun.  The Lively Hope Children's Home is going to be blessed today.

 

Games and puzzles, art projects and dolls are sure to thrill the hearts of lonely children without their parents.

 

It fills my heart with joy to know that little children's eyes that are full of suffering are going to light up when a darling stuffed animal is put in their arms.  I can see them now hugging
'theirs'. And their little arms holding tightly to something that is truly theirs.

 

Leave this basket here and let's go fill another one! I explained to the customers waiting to check out their purchases, 'this is what you are supporting when you shop here'. Everyone was happy to wait a moment, and it was good to let them see RMA in action for themselves.  No one got in a hurry - there were 5 people lined up to check out - and they were thrilled to actually witness the gifts going out the door to the Orphanage. 

 

Perfect!  Looking for ways to help them learn English, we find 'Hooked on Phonics'.  A complete set of books and videos to teach children with. 

 

Garbage bags are filled with delights for kids.  And wrapping paper to complete the surprises on Christmas for each child.

 

Last time they were here, they needed 9 toilets for the new wing built on the Orphanage.  Now here are the toilet seats needed!  Perfect completion. Take an extra one just in case.

 

The truck is loaded down with blessings aplenty!  With  hugs and smiles we said goodbye.  To tell you the truth..... I would rather do this than anything else in life! It's so much fun.

Email from India to me

I received this email and thought I would share it (just like I received it) with you..... please make it a matter of prayer with me....

Dear Great mum Galya,  Greetings good will best wishes to you and all in Jesus name!  I was glad to red your wonderful Biography I thank God for your wonderful work  and I apperciate that your labor for oor and need I pray for you and God continues  to bless and guide you!  thank you mum.  His meekly servant, Balla Christian paul,   Greetings in Jesus holy name of our Lord Christ, who loved us and died for us, Hope this e-mail finds all well in Christ Jesus 3 John: 2… “This is my first melancholic Christian Appeal of your good self and considers”                                “JESES NEVER FAILS”                            It’s my trust & faith and belief.   I am Pastor B. Christian Paul of Vadapalli corner village (AP) India I have good wife name Mary two children Grace and Michel Pater since 18th year I have been doing Lords work bringing the people out of fire to show Christ’s love, forgiveness, salvation. When I was in 18th year my father left us, he was worked as pastor met an accident while He was back night Gospel camp now I am 32 years since that I am bearing one brother Two sisters widowed mother my two sisters recently settle I am struggling for Christ Since 18th year without support but whole my family starving and striving for His Noble Cause and “eternity” I am working midst of Idol worshipers who worshiping unshaped Stones, snakes Animals, Neem trees offering Animal sacrifice so many knew after heard True gospel knew about Jesus Christ Accepted Christ their personal savior and baptized In great task I am facing lots of difficulties many enemies of Christ hindrance to stop Preaching gospel used to beat and scold please pray and consider my work for Lord In this poor area, all our believers are working daily labor they have work 10 or 15 Days out month their lives are very horrible to live in this regard my family facing Hardships like food clothing medicine education my children, in the church many Poor widows and orphans poorest in the poor believers, even no Bibles to read no songs Books sing spiritual songs kindly give us helping hand to uplift the Gods work here in India, show mercy and kindness for Him unto His Glory? We pray for you all diligently May God bless you all! I hope best from you. PRAISE THE LORD PEACE BE TO YOU ALL. His lowly servant, Pastor B. Christian Paul, ballamarypaul@yahoo.com photos enclosed with thanks (Sadly I can't get the pictures to download properly to save so I can show them to you, but he has sent me a picture of his family, church, baptism in a river, and little congregation)

CBC Instructors - you can be one!

My prayers today are for the men and women enrolled in our Community Bible College.  Each of them from 43+ States send us their exams from the different  studies  we provide in the Bible.  Every day letters flow in, awaiting our Instructors to grade their papers and return them.  Men and women who are incarcerated are being taught  day by day, one by one. 

It's an wonderful ministry that many believers from different states serve as Instructors along with us.  We email the inmates exam to an Instructor - it gets graded and emailed back to us.  It then is printed off in the CBC offices by the staff and mailed back to the student.

It's such an important ministry... would you like to be a Instructor?  Email me today!!!

Really..... why not pray about ministering to someone who really could use your help!

Have you every wondered how you could use your talents for God?  Here is your chance to really help change a life.   Email me and I will give you all the details about how to be a part of this most valuable school.  

Moms Against Hunger - Zimbabwe Shipment

I have WONDERFUL NEWS!!! The Moms Against Hunger Shipment to Zimbabwe has arrived in Bulawayo Zimbabwe!!!

Even now there are phone lines with zipping hot wires going back and forth across the seas as we begin the process to connect and make plans to get it released from the shipping company and government agencies.  Please pray with me that all goes smooth as glass and it gets released easily and quickly. 

I will update you asap as I know more details....

www.momsagainsthunger.org

The Next Post Office Experience!

It's time to go again to the Post Office, and after my last experience it's a little stressful to think what might occur this time.  Talk about wondering if the Post Office staff is going to go 'postal' on me..... it brings back some bad memories! 

So dutifully I weigh each packet carefully  for CBC like I was told too.  What will they do this time?!? Am I doing this right?  The staff has to allow me to personally do this, as to eliminate any issues that might arise at the Post Office at my next interrigation.  

Praying for these men and women while weighing each one, I feel like I know some of them after reading so many letters. Enrolled in CBC are ex-cops, professional men and women with money issues, many many people caught in the web of addictions, broken hearted moms and dads with terrible regrets, young and old alike, so many mistakes caused by drugs and alcohol.  Some with life sentences never to get out, who depend upon this lifeline of encouragement.   And some of the inmates are straining ahead counting the days till parole dates materialize.  So many lives all ruined by sin, yet God loves them and His grace is extended to them. Each packet is going to a life and it is the mission of CBC to reach each one for Christ.   

Each packet is weighed and  each one of these souls are prayed for. Memories come of a recent phone call to a mother of an inmate who begged me to call his mom for him.  She is dying of cancer and it was an honor to pray with her and for her son.  She wants to live until he gets out and back home to her.  He wants her to live till he can see her again.  Time is ticking.... he still has 3 years to serve if all goes well .... Truly CBC is a ministry to the hurting both inside institutions and outside to the hurting families now alone without their loved one.

And when they are all done, I go to my husband and tell him my concerns.  I am glad I am married to such an awesome guy!  He picked up the phone right then and called the Postal Services and ask for the 'top man' - the Post Master. Of course he gets right straight through to him, no waiting, no message taking, no excuses - straight to the top man!  That's my man.... that's my man!!

And after explaining what had happened to me in the Pasadena Post Office with the 'head woman' - D Gonzalez, who had demanded that I not come back 'with all that mail'.  To make a long story short, he got instant support, instant service and instantly things jumped into place for my trip to the LaPorte Postal service to mail all of these packets! 

And when I arrived at this Post Office I was met with cordial reception and great customer service!  "Yes by all means we want your business.... and we will help you mail as many packets as you can bring to us"! We have been awaiting your arrival and welcome you! 

She informed me I did not need to weigh each one (thanks for this - I spent 2 hours weighing everything) and that I just needed to let them do their job!  Wow - who knew this is what the Post Office really does!

Stacks and stacks of packets were done by this great worker.  And the Post Master himself took stacks to another station to weigh for me!   This is the first time I have not spent hours putting stamps on each one at the Post Office.  I did not put ONE stamp on here, it was all done automatically.  Now this is more like it! My what a help this is to  me!

The only bad news about the whole experience was paying the postage.  On the average each packet costs different depending upon the number of Bibles mailed, and or certificates for course completions.  And the total is climbing each time.... more concerns for me to pray about.  I can see I am going to need partners to join with me in postage costs. 

This is today's receipt minus 45 other packet costs. Ok Lord thank you for solving the Postal problem.  I believe You also have a plan to help provide finanaces for all these souls too.

I leave with a light step and a joy knowing that 149 prisoners  will soon open 149 packets, and begin to study their next lessons about God through His Word!!

What a joy  this is!  

My Prayer Requests.

The prayer requests and projects that are in my heart to fulfill, requires some answers for the future.  Looking back at all the food shipments  that have been made through the course of our lives, have taken personal great sacrifices on my family's part to do.  Spending years of my life in African nations have imprinted me deeply with the basic needs of humanity that can never be forgotten, nor will the nations be ignored while living the 'American Dream' in the USA.  South American nations still prove to me that people even in this hemisphere are starving, living in absolute squalor and misery. I am compelled to do something to help.  It's not looking at the massive problems that require impossibilities to do, but rather seeing small villages, and pueblos and kraals that together with partners, we  can truly help in.  

The current issues that are projects in my heart are listed here as a reminder to all who visit my site - YOU can join in and together we can add value to thousands of lives.  Have you ever said in your mind, " I wish I could do something about this need....... "  Here is your chance….

·         Moms Against Hunger Food Shipment to Zimbabwe - One container is shipped, and it's on the water now.  Distribution funds are needed once it gets there.  Trucks take fuel to carry the food to faraway kraals – so drivers, and helpers and security must be paid so that it truly reaches the people.  Also travel funds to go and make sure all supplies  gets to the people. 

·         Ghana Moms Against Hunger is in ongoing distribution right now….. I pray all food gets to the hurting there and all government agencies work together to see this happen. 

·         Kenya is now asking for Moms Against Hunger food shipments to feed her people.

·         Romania - Eastern Europe also has requested Moms Against Hunger food shipments.  The past shipments we have sent to various orphanages in this country made an impact and they have never forgotten us, and now are reaching out to us for aid again.

·         The Appalachian Mission needs our help as well…. right here in America.   

·         Role Models of America - thrift store.  This store offers food, clothing, shoes, school supplies, and furniture to needy families.  This project helps to take care of American families. There is a billboard here, but it's blank at the moment.  All available funds go to underwrite the purpose of the store itself. A sign is  needed here.   

·         Ministry Projects that would bring funds constantly to help. The completion of these communication tools would help to raise ministry funds.  For instance, one project/CD  is recorded about my African childhood in a  African Liberian  village. Funds are needed to complete this for future sales to help.  Personally I have 100+ songs that are written and arranged –just needs to be professionally recorded - this would provide funds endlessly through our online sites. Plus the materials written for The ABC’s of Thrift Stores, Kids Kingdom children’s ministry curriculum, the Manuel for Worship Leader, The Love Scrapbook….. etc. The list goes on and on after 34+ years of ministry now.

·         Community Bible College - which is a correspondence Bible school for prisoners in America. There have been over 5,000 men and women come through this school, and currently there are inmates from 34 states enrolled.  This form of education, is the format by which criminals truly turn their lives around and become law abiding citizens.  As the President of this school, I believe this helps to change the crime rates of America, and provide support to inmates who truly enlist for personal change. With  help we can continue to budget for the staff, materials, postage and ever increasing enrollment.  Role Models International fully supports this cause and underwrites the complete costs of this school.  It's a heavy burden that others can join with me in ministry to help with this ongoing project.

·         Time …. Provision …..Partners …and  Uncommon Favor - with these 4 things – my prayer requests are made known.     

Moms Against Hunger - Ghana West Africa

The Ghana shipment of Moms Against Hunger food, clothing and shoes  arrived at last, and is it is off the docks and being distributed now.

This container is unloaded by hand.... a big job!

Unloaded right on the docks.  Africa is a whole different world with such lack that every single thing we sent will be gratefully used. Equipment is nonexistent and labor is all done by hand.

Once it is completely unloaded... then the next step happens....

The entire load gets loaded again by hand onto 'lorries'  - big trucks.  This takes hours and hours to do in the hot sweltering west African sun. 
Then it is taken to warehousing and the shipment gets divided out.....250,000 meals plus all the other goods tightly packed on top too!

Moms Against Hunger - Zimbabwe Shipment

Moms Against Hunger

Today I am writing thank you notes to everyone who supported Moms Against Hunger - the Zimbabwe food shipment. I am happy to tell you that the jam packed container is now loaded on board the ship, and it is ready to depart the Houston Port for Durban South Africa on August 18th.
I am grateful to all my supporters who also care about hurting humanity and want to help somehow.  Together we are all working together to make this happen. 

I will certainly keep you informed as to it's progress and arrival in Bulawayo Zimbabwe.  Now the next leg of the journey will happen....

I do want to feed the hungry....  and now a huge load of food is headed there by all of us working together.

Come take a walk with me.....

Come walk with me down a road in Zimbabwe in my memories.  We are headed to a orphanage that is unique in nature.  It has orphaned children and elderly destitute people living together here.  Together they provide support for each other - the older teach the younger about life, and the responsibilities of growing up.  And the young children teach the elder to love, and provide the arms and legs for the work daily.

People that had been thrown away find Jesus in this humble place together. 

Children who have suffered the loss of their parents usually through the suffering of Aids, find their way to comfort in the arms of the older.

Setting together getting ready for devotions each day, everyone arrives to set on the logs or the dirt itself. t's quiet here, a cool breeze sweeps through, birds sing overhead and their voices of prayer are lifted in the outside atmosphere calling on God for daily bread.

Greeting us with gifts we all rejoiced at being together again.  Simple gifts for us and our acts of kindness for them, our mutual love for each other was obvious. 

This little building is the morgue here.  When someone dies the others place the body in here and lock the door awaiting authorities to come and take it.  Once a elderly man died and he was placed in here and locked away as was the custom.  The next day when devotion time came, banging and kicking and shouts could be heard from the little building.  At first fear came on the others listening, but then they recognized his voice so joyfully they opened the door and let him out!  He had come back to life while they were all praying......

Setting here with the women. we share smiles, and the pure joy of being together again.  What is so great about setting here in seemingly abject poverty?  These people while suffering greatly have learned to cherish small joys in life, they have a freedom from modern pressures, stresses and anxieties,  they share each other's life, the value of God in ones heart, and His close Presence all around.  This ...... is a richness that those who  live on the other side of the world experience daily. 

Today I walk back to this place in my mind and remember all of these people. They live far back in the bush country, and I wonder if they will eat today.  Soon we will begin a campaign to raise the funds for distribution and  travel expenses  as we head back to Zimbabwe representing Moms Against Hunger.  And we will experience the joy again of giving to people who will greatly benifit from the food and provisions  shipped to them.

We are coming Zimbabwe..... 

I will tell you more later...