It’s a weeknight. After dropping off the interns, I leave
the volunteer house to head to my house. I approach the stop before the traffic
circle and movement on my left catches my eyes. She’s wearing a skintight mini
skirt. Two more young women are on the corner with her. It’s a weeknight. It’s only 8 p.m. They need
work.
“I want out of prostitution,” she tells me with
intensity. “But it’s so addicting. Every morning after…” she pauses to catch
her breaking voice, “I hate myself.” She asks me for help. She wants a job and
a safe place to stay. But she already has two children. The girls home is full.
There’s no room for them.
I get a call from the sexual-abuse counseling center. They’re
pleased with our work and ministry. So pleased that they want to start an
official partnership with their counseling organization. They also have more
girls in need of a safe place. In need of our ministry.
I get a phone call from another missionary. She has a
young woman who is suicidal and in need of help. But she has children. There’s
not enough room for them.
All of these happened in a month. One month. So much
need. Living in a place where the needs seem to always be increasing, ministry
can be discouraging. But that’s when we remember that we are not the saviors. “We
cannot do great things in life, only small things with great love” (Mother
Teresa).
We can’t do everything. But we can do something.
If you’ve ever
wanted to do something to help us meet these needs, here is a list of little
(or big) things marked with great love:
Stateside:
·
Attend “From the Ashes” event on November 19th
at Nitty Gritty in Sun Prairie, WI. At this event, you will get the chance to
bid on incredible silent auction items (including Amelia Island vacation
package, autographed Brett Favre football, photography packages, LuLaRoe gifts,
and so much more!), eat excellent food, and learn about the expansion project which will help meet all the needs of
the stories listed above! Attend the event and bring a friend!
·
Or consider substituting your attendance by
donation the entrance fee ($10) online at www.hoseasheart.org/donate.
·
Do you have skills in marketing? Would you donate
your time and talent in helping Hosea’s Heart launch their expansion project?
·
Get your church involved. Or be the bridge to
other corporate sponsorships.
·
Host a February fundraiser for Valentine’s 2017!
Calling all hearts and hands for this major fundraiser that will occur in
several cities on the same weekend for the same purpose. Already there are
events being planned in OshKosh, La Crosse, and Madison, Wisconsin. Where else
can you host/plan an event? It can be something as simple as asking a restaurant
to donate 10% of its income that night to Hosea’s Heart or something as complex
as a dinner or dance. Be creative!
·
Simply spread our message. Like our Page and
invite your friends. Share our posts on social media. Share your heart with
ours.
Onsite:
·
Join our January mission trip! Jan. 3rd-17th we
are sending a team of willing volunteers to get their hands dirty by breaking
ground on our expansion project! The project is a three-hectare chunk of land
to house up to 55 girls plus staff. The
team will prep the land for the construction of the buildings. This includes
land clearing, landscaping, and also building one of the most important
elements of the project: fencing for security and safety. Email rachael@hoseasheart.org for more
information. Or consider donating the price of the trip ($2,000) to someone who can't afford to go or to the project itself.
·
Four girls are in need of a homeschool teacher! Their
school year starts in January and ends in the beginning of December. Starting this January, they will start a new
school year and need a teacher willing to learn alongside with them and help
build curriculum. The girls in need are teenagers but in grade levels 3-4, 7-8,
8-9. Time commitments are conditional but preferably for a six month (or more)
service. Email rachael@hoseasheart.org
for more information.
·
Interested in short term trips? The girls would
love a vocal teacher, dance teacher, or art teacher to come and offer new
skills. They also need a reading teacher or someone to help them improve
reading comprehension. These individual trips are offered during term break
interims (April, August, Dec-Jan) and can be arranged by contacting rachael@hoseasheart.org.
·
Interested in long term trips? Check out our
website for information on becoming a year long intern. http://hoseasheart.org/volunteer/
“We
cannot do great things in life, only small things with great love.”
-Mother
Teresa
