Erika`s Reflections

A Publication From Jewels For Jesus Mission Inc.
Erika’s Reflections
Reflecting on my summer spent at Jewels
For Jesus, I can’t help but thank God for
the awesome privilege of being here and
watching Him at work. I’ve been in many
ministry environments – outreach efforts
to all different kinds of people – but I’ve
never been around a group so passionate
about children. In truth, that passion is
inspiring in a world so crazy that kids are
targeted from every direction. It brings great comfort to my heart to know I’ve been part of something making a difference for the defenceless –
being a beacon of hope in many forms, whether in
pregnancy counselling, adoption, or giving support
to those in need. Jewels For Jesus is, and has been,
the hands and feet of Jesus in their own right.
I would never have thought my time here would
encompass much more than folding clothes or
doing paper work. I feel that God placed me here
at this specific time and opened my eyes to a
world of which I was unaware – a place where
there’s a struggle for the lives of the innocent, and
where families from all walks of life face great difficulties. Here, in my city, is a mission field in desperate need of prayer!
I remember my first day, filled with nervous expectation of what my time here would hold. I was met
with grace and kindness from every staff member.
Helen showed such patience as I fumbled with my
new-found responsibilities, and Pam welcomed me
with a story and a smile (she is quite the talented
story teller!). Hedy had the most infectious laugh,
and made me feel right at home. Margo came
through the door smiling and laughing – always
optimistic.
September 2010
On my second day at work, I was
introduced to the care-cupboard –
what would be the most important area of my responsibilities. It
is so much more than a room
filled with clothing! It was there I
saw God answer the prayers of a
little boy as his mother held up
brand-new skates in his exact size,
which were a luxury she could not have afforded.
It was also there that I saw the prayers of the staff
answered for many of the “little people”, as Margo
lovingly referred to them, as well as answers to the
prayers of the children’s families. And God miraculously provided finances to “keep us going”. Little
miracles happened every day as we met with our
Creator in that room. I witnessed the personal miracle of watching God supply our “daily bread” as
we trusted Him for our needs, each day at a time.
My perspective has changed on just what “ministry” is. I’ve learned that it’s the capacity to love
one another actively, and to direct people to their
maker, explaining that He loves them unconditionally and is ready and waiting for them with open
arms. That’s true ministry! And pointing people to
Christ can take place anywhere, whether it’s
beneath a steeple or on a bus. The great commission extends to the ends of the earth, but begins
just beyond our doorsteps, and often within our
walls.
My experience at Jewels For Jesus will always be in
my heart, along with a new-found burden for my
“backyard”. I’m excited to see how He continues to
use the staff here in the years to come!
- Erika Carr
Care Cupboard Christmas
Party
The annual Care Cupboard Christmas Party is
scheduled for Friday, December 16th. This yearly
bash is not only an opportunity for our Care
Cupboard families to relax and have some fun, it’s
an opportunity for us to share with our families
the good news of Christ’s birth and why He came.
This year will once again feature Hal Grant with
his clown ministry and amazing balloon animals
and other creatures.
You can help by:
Donating:
• $25 grocery gift cards
• new pajamas (sizes 0 to 8)
• new toys (value $20) for children age 0 – 6
yrs.
• $10 Zeller’s gift cards for children age 7 – 10
yrs.
• items to treat the moms, eg. socks, bath items,
candles, gloves and hats, coffee mugs, journals, nice pens/pencils
• items to treat the dads, eg. socks, after shave,
gloves and toques, coffee mugs, pens, Tim
Hortons gift cards
• gift wrap, very large and small/medium gift
bags
Volunteering:
• to wrap gifts prior to the event
• the day of the party (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) to help
with set up, serving food, supervising crafts
and games, interacting with the guests, and
cleaning up
Financial donations, designated for the party, will
be used to buy lunch.
We would also be willing to shop for you.
Let us know if you’re available and interested in
helping out!
Mark Your Calendar
5th annual Golf Tournament
Saturday, September 25th
There’s still time to come enjoy the fun and support the work of Jewels For Jesus Mission.
See back page for details.
Christmas JoY Home Tour
Once again the Joy Home Tour is being sponsored
by Lakeside Bible Church of Guelph. This year’s
dates are
Friday, November 19th and
Saturday, November 20th.
Mark your calendars and plan to join us for this
annual fun fundraiser. Watch the next edition of
Reflections for more details.
S
ED R
NE RNE
CO
• DESPERATE NEED for size 4, 5 and 6 diapers
• wet wipes
Mission Inc.
Executive Director
Margo Semple
6655 Kitimat Road, Unit 5
Mississauga ON L5N 6J4
905-821-7494
email: helpline@JewelsForJesus.net
Website: http://www.JewelsForJesus.net
Margo’s Thoughts
“For I know
the plans I
have for you,
says the Lord.
Plans to prosper you and
not to harm
you. Plans to
give you hope
and a future.”
Jeremiah
29:11
Jeremiah that God had left with me so many years
ago.
God’s timing is always perfect.
This summer has left me a little weary with the
seemingly endless and heart wrenching crises
we’ve encountered. It has also left me contemplative. The onslaught of hardships in individuals’
lives can seem random, unfair and, at times, relentlessly incessant. This is true for biological parents,
adoptive parents and the children we care for. I
confess I often can’t see what God is doing and, in
Fourteen years fact, am sometimes surprised by the resolution of
certain situations.
ago I moved
from my position as Jewels For Jesus receptionist
This summer has brought more than its share of
to become a birth parent counsellor. At that time
complex life dilemmas. Joy’s reminder – or, more
God impressed upon me a verse from
accurately, God’s reminder through Joy – has proJeremiah…”For I know the plans I have for you,
vided the balance I’ve needed to sustain me
says the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to
harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” At through the sadness and reflective response I’ve
that time I sensed Him saying to me, “These verses experienced as we’ve done what we could to care
for the people who have turned to us for help.
are for the women and men you will minister to,
and for their children.” I believe God wanted me to
If anything, these words have taken on deeper sigknow – to remember – that He had good and
redemptive plans for everyone I was to encounter, nificance for me. After fourteen years of crisis ministry I am more than ready to admit that there is
regardless of how hopeless or difficult their situamuch I don’t know and can’t predict in the situation might seem.
tions we encounter. What I do know, however, is
this. God has good plans for each person we reach
Fourteen years later, and five years into my tenure
out to, the children and their parents – biological
as Executive Director of Jewels For Jesus Mission
and adoptive. I may not always know what these
and Adoption Agency, these verses still guide me;
plans are, but I don’t need to know because God
and, in fact, sustain me through the life crises that
does. My job is to continue to care, with all the
are the day to day world of the people we assist.
compassion and skill I have, for those I encounter
and to continue to pray for the realization of God’s
Late last spring one of our board members, Joy,
plans for their prosperity, for hope and a future.
came to the office to pray for the staff, our clients
and the ministry in general. She sat quietly in a
back office talking to the Lord about these things.
When Joy emerged, she brought with her a piece
of paper with some verses written on it, verses that
God had impressed upon her while she prayed.
Margo Semple,
Included on that slip of paper was that verse from
Executive Director
JewelsFor
For Jesus
and and
Adoption
Agency Agency
Jewels
JesusMission
Mission
Adoption
th
Invites
to Our
ANNUAL
GOLF
TOURNAMENT
Invites
You You
to Our
5th 5ANNUAL
GOLF
TOURNAMENT
Date:
Date:
Saturday,
Saturday,September
September25,
25,2010
2010
Registration
&
BBQ
Lunch:
Registration & BBQ Lunch: 12
12 noon
noon
Shotgun
ShotgunTee-Off:
Tee-Off: 11p.m.
p.m.(best
(bestball
ballformat)
format)
Location:
Location: Glen
GlenEagle
EagleGolf
GolfClub
Club
15731Regional
RegionalRd
Rd50
50
15731
(Highway50
50just
justnorth
northof
of Bolton)
Bolton)
(Highway
Caledon,Ontario
Ontario
Caledon,
Formore
moreinformation
informationon
onGlen
Glen Eagle,
Eagle, go
For
to to
www.gleneaglegolf.com
go
www.gleneaglegolf.com
Dinner:
Dinner:
7:00p.m.
p.m.
7:00
Silent
auction,golf
golfprizes,
prizes,draws,
draws, and
and
Silent auction,
program
program
Cost:
Cost:
Golf&&Dinner
Dinner
Golf
Package
Package
$150.00
$150.
Includes
Includesgreen
greenfees
feesfor
for18
18holes,
holes,golf
golfcart,
prizes,
BBQ lunch,
dinnerdinner
and gratuities
cart, prizes,
BBQ lunch,
and
gratuities
Dinner Only
$ 50.00
Includes gratuities
Dinner Only
$50.
Includes gratuities.
Pastors’ Appreciation – Pastors who sign up 3 paying
golfers can receive the golf and dinner package for $25.00
Pastors’ Appreciation – Pastors who sign up 3 paying golfers can receive
the golf and dinner
package
Tax receipts
will for
be $25.00
issued for the donation portion of the golf
and/or dinner packages.
Tax receipts will be issued for the donation portion of the golf and/or dinner
Register by Sept. 1st to be entered in a draw
packages. Early Bird
Draw:
to win $300.00 cash
Early Bird Draw: Register by Sept. 1st to be entered in a draw to win
Prizes:$300.00 cash
Hole-In-One Prize:
Details to follow
Prizes:
Prize:
Details
topin
follow
Other prizes
will be awarded forHole-In-One
longest drive,
closest
to the
& putting competition.
Haveprizes
funwilland
golf with
us
– You
children
Other
be awarded
for longest
drive,will
closesthelp
to the pin
& putting and families!
competition.
Register
by golf
Sept.
14th
the Jewels
Jesus office @ 905-821-7494
Have
fun and
with
us, 2010
– You by
willcalling
help children
and For
families!
Register by Sept. 14th, 2010 by calling the Jewels For Jesus office
Jewels
For Jesus Mission Inc. 6655 Kitimat Road, Unit 5, Mississauga, ON L5N 6J4
@ 905-821-7494
(905) 821-7494,
Fax: 905-821-6311, E-mail: helpline@JewelsForJesus.net