One Way International board members, present and past wish Homer Schott a happy, healthy, and well-deserved retirement! Many have been the hats that Homer has worn during his twenty year service with OWI. From inception in 2001, he was the one to do all the paperwork to get the ministry started. One of our volunteers lovingly nick-named him our “Kid-magnet!”
We all survived the winter snow of February 2021. An outside pipe at the office broke and water had to be cut off for a couple of days. Homer’s and Aimee’s families were without power for hours at a time and temps in Aimee’s house were in the 40s. They both had broken pipes as well. Pete and I were fortunate to not lose power and no pipes were broken. Even so, it was a time to pray for others and depend wholly on the Lord. I was reminded of the many winters I spent in Moldova and the preparation God provided through those times for what we experienced here this winter.
Teen Time started in November and has already met 3 weeks at the time of this writing. Thus far, 5 middle and high school boys and 6 middle and high school girls are attending 3 sessions offered. They are grateful to be meeting again and are respectful of the guidelines we have set for them in the meeting area to keep everyone safe. Pete Velasquez, Homer Schott, and Ann Peterson are leading the groups. Temperatures are taken, masks are worn, hand sanitizer is used and social distancing is being practiced. Everything is sanitized between each session. We are sending each student home
Staff at Colonial Hills Elementary School will receive gifts of encouragement in the month of December. Bath and Body Works lotions will be delivered the second week of December and tacos and 2021 student artwork calendars will be delivered December 18. Pete Velasquez was requested to make a Christmas music video for the school’s virtual Christmas celebration. Conditions are difficult this year with daily sanitizing of numerous classrooms whenever a student becomes ill. The staff is exhausted and stretched to the limits. They need your prayers and encouragement more than you may know.
Aimee and Joyce packed 411 gift bags for the students at Colonial Hills Elementary School including jump ropes, bubble wands, stuffed animals, Skinny Pop popcorn, fruit snacks, and granola bars. Pete, Aimee, Braydon, and Hailey helped load the 20 boxes of gifts and deliver them to the school over Thanksgiving break. They will be given out the last week of school in December and because of your generosity as well as that of Wayside Chapel and Children’s Hunger Fund, children will be blessed! We are thankful you partnered with us!
47 children ages 0 through 18 from 19 families at Kerrybrook Apartments were signed up for Christmas gifts! We have been blessed through your gifts to make wonderfully personalized bags for each child. In addition, they will each receive a $10 gift card to McDonalds, and their families will receive a $50 gift card to HEB. Please be in prayer that families will feel the love of God on delivery day, Dec. 12.
We are planning our first meeting of Teen Time since March on November 18.
We were able to give $30 Whataburger gift cards to all forty-eight households at Kerrybrook Apartments when they paid their rent at the beginning of October. This was done in partnership with Wayside Chapel. These dear families were surprised when they dropped off their rent payments and received this special gift waiting for them at the Kerrybrook office. Many expressed thanks.