Fall brings excitement, activity, and beauty to One Way International!
We are extremely grateful for the generous financial gifts that have already come in for November and December outreaches! Thank you to all who have given toward food for families. Because of your generosity, we are planning two food distributions, one in November and one in December. If you would like to give for food for families, there is still time. Thank you for being such a blessing to the wonderful families with whom we work! Our student service lesson at Kids Club and Teen Time is planned 2 weeks before Thanksgiving and we know our students will be thrilled to pack the food bags and deliver them to all the families the week before Thanksgiving. As a special treat, our student families will receive some additional goodies in the bags they will take home to their own families which we will pack in advance.
We will be doing our annual Christmas gathering for all residents with Christmas carols, cookies, door prizes, and gospel presentation in mid-December. We missed it last year because of Covid, but One Way International’s board of directors decided it is time to return with Christmas fun. Our students are excited to once again be able to lead the families in singing Christmas carols and for the fun of the evening—especially the door prizes!
We are in need of items for Christmas and there is still time to participate. Following is the list of items requested in our fall newsletter. Additional money given for food for families will be appreciated as well.
Needed by November 1:
• Funds for food for families—over $2600 has come in—additional funds given will go toward a second food distribution in December. We will do food shopping the second week of November and again the second week of December for the second distribution.
Needed by December 1:
• $10 gift cards for Whataburger, Sonic, Taco Cabana, and McDonalds—for Kids Club and Teen Time students
• Uno, Yahtzee, Farkel, Go Fish, Old Maid, and Memory—for Kids Club and Teen Time students
• 18 soft warm personal blankets—for Kids Club and Teen Time students
• Socks for boys and girls ages 7-11 and teens—for Kids Club and Teen Time students
• A variety of gift items (your choice) for the children and students in Kids Club and Teen Time
• Individually packed hot chocolate, gold fish, cookies, candy, pop corn and fruit snacks for Kids Club and Teen Time students
• Door prize gift cards (15-30 needed) for children, teens, and adults for Christmas apartment gathering
• (fun or practical items) for children, teens, and adults for Christmas apartment gathering or finances to purchase door prizes
Marilyn Caton, one of our Colonial Hills campus aides, shared recently in our monthly prayer letter, “School is pretty much back to normal. Aside from masked faces, things look much like they did pre-Covid. Of course, the same challenges exist as always – busy classroom schedules, many children with special needs which require lots of patience and wisdom on the part of the teachers, some children needing extra help to get up to grade level learning, and some difficult family circumstances that impact the children affected. The teachers and staff continue to need our prayers, as do the children and their families. We now have two teacher aides working in classrooms with children needing tutoring in reading, math, and writing. This is such a blessing! But there are many more children who could really benefit from this one-on-one help. If you or anyone you know might be interested in spending some time each week with one or more students, please let Joyce Velasquez know at 210-342-0440 or onewayinational@netscape.net. We are also blessed with having four volunteers who make the copies every week for teachers in all 6 grade levels, and Ms. Allen, the librarian, is happy to have two volunteers help reshelve the many books that are checked in and out each week.”
Marilyn also shared, “One thing we are still missing is the Colonial Hills Elementary Ministry Kids Club – a time of Bible teaching, singing, games, snacks, small groups, and homework helps from 2:30-6:00 pm one day a week. When Joyce asked the principal, Mrs. Mai, if we could start Kids Club this year she said, ‘Absolutely!’ However, to safely set up and run the club for even a smaller number of children (fourth and fifth graders and their siblings) would require at least fifteen volunteers, including two who are Spanish speaking. We currently have eight committed volunteers. We are praying for 7 more volunteers by the end of October so Kids’ Club can start the last week of January. All volunteers must be background checked by Northeast Independent School District and trained by Joyce, and there is a lot of logistical/teaching/program planning to be done. This has been such an important part of the CHE ministry since its inception – being able to teach the Bible and share the gospel with these children, some of whom are unchurched, and to help them grow in their relationship with the Lord Jesus is so important. Please pray that the Lord will provide the necessary number of volunteers so that once again the Word would go out to the children in this public school. If you know of anyone (maybe yourself?) who would like to be a part of this outreach, please contact Joyce as soon as possible.”
We are truly thankful for all God is doing through One Way International. So too, we are thankful for you—your willingness to partner and participate with OWI in prayer, giving, and volunteering is appreciated. People are encouraged by you more than you will ever know. Please pray for HIS light to shine through all the activities and outreaches being provided through your gifts this fall and holiday season. We are truly blessed by each of you.
Gratefully, Joyce Velasquez—Executive Director
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people. I Chronicles 16:8