SOWER Ministry Newsletter November 2017
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Greetings!
Are we really half-way through November? Are you stocking up on cranberry sauce and pulling out that favorite pie recipe? Maybe you're finalizing those family plans for the holidays, or maybe you're already on your way south, working your way to those winter SOWER projects! Wherever this may find you, I pray that it finds you in a season of thankfulness. For regardless of our circumstances, our God is with us. This year may have been filled with only "good things", but chances are pretty good that each of us has struggled with some family or health or financial (or whatever you choose) issues. Wherever the LORD has led you this year - up to the mountain top or through a rocky patch of life, I pray you have felt His presence going with you. It really is true that although we don't know what the future holds, we do indeed know who holds the future. So during this time of year, may your hearts be filled with thanksgiving and praise, for as I Thessalonians 5:16-18 tells us: "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give THANKS in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."
Thankful for His Mercy,
Stephanie Conrad, #2509
St
ephanie@rvthereyet.org
on behalf of the SOWER Board of Trustees
PS - Thank you for all the feedback on the new format!
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New SOWER Website
The SOWER website has been updated. Have you taken it for a spin yet? There is a lot of good information for the public to learn about SOWER ministry. The best part is, members can now access the member login right from the website. Just type in
www.sowerministry.org
and click on the
member login
tab on the far right. Then enter the user name and password and you are on your way. If you haven't visited the member site, come on in and browse around. Just click on any of the items down the left side and open a wealth of information. You can read guidelines, download forms, search for a new RV, read the GRAM, read past GRAMS, read the SOWER history and much more. Sign in today and browse around.
Dick Howard #2517
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ATTENTION SOWERS
This is a fun time to get to talk to other RVers about SOWERS and the ministry we serve in. We are looking for other volunteers to come and enjoy the fun time with us. Let us know if you can help.
PS -You do not have to be an Escapee to attend!
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After reading the newsletter I was thinking about a note I received from missionary friends that have just returned from Africa after 31 years on the “field”. After hearing them speak and telling about "10:02" I committed to doing this and am including our SOWER ministry in that prayer time. I would like to put this out as a thought for my fellow SOWERS to join us as we pray for workers and the harvest.
Patty Carrington #3097
10:02
Each day our alarms go off at the same time, and we stop what we are doing to pray for missions along with
thousands of others around the world. Jesus told us in Luke 10:2 – “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are
few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”
Would you set your alarm to go off at
10:02
every day (morning or night), and
pray
for those who know the Lord
to share the Good News to those who don’t yet know Him.
Pray
for believers to go to the un-reached and under reached places of the world.
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The Roster and the December/January Sowergram are already being printed at the office,so there has been lots to do (aside from generally keeping track of all of us!).
This is the issue that EVERYONE gets (whether you usually get a hard copy or have moved to "Web Only"). Here are highlights of what you'll find in this mailing:
- The Minutes from the September 2017 Board of Trustee Meeting
- Annual Financial reports
- 2018 Roster
- SOWER Envelope (for any correspondence or year-end donations)
- Trustee Reflections and GL Reports
- New Password for the Members site (changes on December 15th)
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2018 TEXAS
ROUND-UP
The Texas Round-Up is returning to ALERT Academy for 2018
Where:
TX-410 ALERT Academy, Big Sandy, Texas
54 full hook ups with 50 amp. Large sites. Most sites are pull-thru.
When:
March 25-28, 2018
Cost:
$20.00/night camping fee
1 lunch provided at $7/person
1 semi-formal banquet at $12/person
Nightly fee for those who don’t bring their RV:
$70.00/night Dorm room with a private bath
$60.00/night Dorm room with a shared bath
Registration is NOW OPEN
970/214-4626
Instead of a registration fee, there will be a donation box to cover some meals, firewood and incidentals.
Before we put together a schedule, we’d like to hear from you. What would you like to see/do at this Roundup? Of course, we’ll have the Auction (proceeds going to SOWERS), the Talent Show, music led by Marilyn and Bill Cloyd, the Trustee and Office Q & A, a Potluck and evening games. We also will have devotions/presentations led by representatives of various SOWER projects in the area.
Alert offers many activities right on their property. We could have blind-fold golf cart competition, they have a 60 acre lake which would be available for a fishing tournament (lake is stocked), canoeing, and the lake also has a beach front. We could set up badminton, have carpet shuffle board, Geocaching, and/or there is also an 18 hole Frisbee Golf course on the property.
See you in March!
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Wishing there was a RALLY in your neck of the woods? Thinking about organizing a SOWER gathering but don't know where to start? The Board of Trustees has put together some Rally Tips to help get your ideas going. Check them out on the
Member's Page, under "Other Useful Information".
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2018 SE Florida SOWER Reunion
Where:
FL-143 Florida Baptist Youth Camp, Groveland, FL
When:
February 26-28, 2018
Theme:
Sharing Jesus
What to expect:
Fellowship, Food and Fun! Concert by McMillans; Uplifting Devotionals; Q&A by Board Members
Cost for Sowers, Alumni, and Guests:
$45/rig; Room Rent: $45/couple; Walk-ins: $7.50/person; Early arrivals: $10/night
Meals included:
Supper on Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Breakfast: Tuesday and Wednesday
Looking forward to seeing you at the Reunion!
Ed Blanks, Chairman;
Bill Stoll, Co-Chairman
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SAVE THE DATE
September 17-20, 2018 Aldersgate Retreat Center (OR-320) Turner, OR.
Thanks to the encouraging response we've had about a SOWER Rally in the beautiful Pacific Northwest, we're moving forward with some concrete plans! Several have offered to help plan and be worker-bees, but there is plenty of room for expansion. If you'd like to help, share suggestions on what you'd like to see at the Rally or even help us come up with a unique name and theme, we'd love
to hear from you
! We already have a couple of ideas for seminars and are excited about making this a Rally to remember!
Watch for details in the months ahead!
contact
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Seen recently on Facebook
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Thank-you, Meredeth, for sharing about your project at Toccoa Falls College (GA-469). In 2018, the college is also asking for (4) SOWER couples in June and July to especially help with the operation of Valley Farm, their operational/demonstration farm practicing sustainable agriculture. Check out all the details in the PLS!
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Have you stopped by lately? We're up over 460 members in our FB group, and there is always good sharing of project news and happenings. Make sure you've "checked" the Notification box to receive current posts, and PLEASE post pictures and stories from YOUR projects!
If you're a member of Facebook, but haven't joined the SOWER Group, click on the icon to join the family!
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While you're on Facebook, don't forget to check out your favorite ministries. Many of our partner ministry locations have a Facebook page and it's a great way to stay up to date on the places you love to serve!
We're over 575 "Likes" on the
SOWER Facebook Page
! If you haven't already given it your thumbs-up, head over there now! It's a great way to spread the word about our ministry.
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This month's Group Picture is from the Ecclesia College (AR-169) L-R:
John & Bonnie Bonno (#3360), Glenn & Jackie Eipers (#3412), Jack & Peggy Willey (3394)
The header picture is from Black Lake Camp, (WA-78) in Olympia, WA
The Verse Picture is Fall at CIT (NC-258) Gail Fieler
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Submitted by Mary Welsh #797 & Connie Luyt #1383
It was a refreshing April morning in the Tennessee mountains. Mary and I were appreciating God’s creation of Redbud and Dogwood and, especially, the clear mountain air when our fearless leader requested we clean the ‘Pet Room’, over in the Sun Room, off the main house. You want us to do what? Well, on arriving there the Pet/Sun Room looked very pleasant, windows on three sides, nice views. In we go with pails and soapy water and what should greet us but a terrible stink from 6 guinea pigs, 10 rabbits and a zillion birds.
You want us to do WHAT?
The pets were happy to be taken out and sniff the fresh air. We donned rubber boots, gloves and masks. We set the pails aside and picked up shovels and ‘pick axes’ and scooped out layer upon layer of winter accumulation of, well, you know what, with the windows wide open of course! It was all done, with a servant heart of course, for Grandma’s pets, Grandma being part of the project family.
With the ‘sun’ room sparkling spanking clean, and pets happily reinstated, Mary and I hit the old rocking chairs (on the Lodge porch). Then we rocked and rocked ‘til our nostrils and lungs were once more filled with fresh mountain air.
“Happy” memories; this IS a true story.
Do you have a "You want me to do WHAT???" SOWER story? We'd love to read it! Send it to
Stephanie Conrad for a future issue.
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Safety Alert -
Fire Extinguisher Recall
The Consumer Protection Safety Commission and Kidde, Inc. have issued a massive recall for over 37 million fire extinguishers. These extinguishers can be found in RVs and homes. The fire extinguishers on recall will have plastic handles. For a complete list of the affected fire extinguishers, please go to the CPSC website by clicking
HERE.
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SOWER Blog Roll
See what other SOWERS are doing around the country!
Jeff & Mary Peace
Ed & Patty Soltes
Bob & Billie Wakeman
Gary & Stephanie Conrad
Paul & Juanita Alton
Terry & Alice Burnett
Wayne & Gail Fieler
Ken & Deb Long
Robert & Shana Carman
Do YOU have a Blog you'd like to share?
Send me
the link, and we'll add it to the "Blog Roll".
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Clicking on the
pumpkins above will take you to the Members Only Page, the October/November Sowergram and the latest updates to our Project Listings (updated weekly).
The December/January
Sowergram will be available by the end of the month.
Don't forget that the password for the Members Only Page will be changing on
December 15
. The new password will be included in the hard copy Sowergram that everyone will be receiving.
If you have any questions, please contact the SOWER Office
903-882-8070
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Dear Sam and Sally,
I was recently the Group Leader and saw that we no longer have to sign the skill sheets like we have in the past. What do we do about the 'Consent Forms'? I'm confused!
Signed,
Better Safe than Sorry
Dear Better,
Great question, and yes - there are some changes in our emergency information and consent form documentation. I went right to the Board to make sure I have all the information correct, so here you go -
- The signature lines on the Skill Sheets are no longer there--no longer necessary to have folks sign these and the GL keep them to take to the ER. The Skill Sheets are just for the GL to have information about the rig sizes and the skill sets, birthday and anniversary dates, and any physical limitations. At the end of the project they can either be given back to the owners, or destroyed. It's been verified that emergency care will be given regardless of a signed form.
- The emergency information form that we used to put in our RVs and vehicles so it could be seen from the outside is no longer required (although it is still certainly up to the individual couple who could still do it on their own). But it won't be part of the GL packet anymore.
- The consent form that we were supposed to carry on our person will no longer be sent in the GL packet. Some form of emergency info should be carried by folks, but since many of us already have this information on our person (or in our phones) it was decided not to mandate a certain form. Again, this will be available on the member website for anyone who wants to use it. If you use a smartphone, "In Case of Emergency" apps available. The iPhone comes with a "Health" app that has a Medical ID feature. One choice for Android users is "ICE" by Clouser. There are others, but these are good resources for your emergency information.
Hope this information helps and these changes simplify hings. Don't forget that all the forms used previously will still be available on the Members Site.
Staying safe with you -
Sam & Sally
Do you have a question about SOWER policy or etiquette. Sam and Sally would love to hear from you! Contact them at -
samandsally@sowerministry.org
.
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To send in a prayer request or praise item-
To contact the office -
903-882-8070
To submit something to the newsletter, send it to
To submit a SOWING TIP, send an email to
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I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalm 86:12
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