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Weekly Email Update
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Week of June 18, 2012
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Thanks for being a partner of SOI through supporting Project 658. If you are in Charlotte, remember you can always go online to our volunteer calendar to sign up and serve with us (the security code is 'serve'). You can also go online to our store to purchase products made by refugees living in Charlotte as well as African jewelry made by women involved in SOI ministries abroad.
Thankful for you, The Sports Outreach: Project 658 staff Dustin Swinehart, Eric Bernier, CC Reynolds, Maria Popa, Kacie Josifek, Amanda Uher and Rebecca Howe |
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Families in Need
| Early Wednesday morning a fire destroyed a building in an apartment complex where several refugee families reside in Charlotte. Thankfully no one was hurt, however two of the families lost all of their belongings in the fire. The Red Cross and several other local organizations have stepped into the needs of these families and we are working to assist them as well. Current needs for some of the families are:
- 2 beds (full or queen size)
- Wire hangers
- Pant hangers
If you are able to make a donation, please email Maria Popa. Thank you!
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Habitat House Building Begins!
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We are partnering with Habitat for Humanity to build a duplex home for two refugee families involved in our ministries. You can meet the families by clicking on the video link below.
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Meet the families who will live in the Habitat duplex
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The building began this week, come join us! Volunteers are still welcome to join us for the following mornings:
Friday, June 22nd Wednesday, June 27th
Friday, June 29th Saturday, July 14th
You can click here to see some pictures from the first day of building, and click on the video image below to watch a video of the first wall going up!
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The first wall on the Habitat house goes up!
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If you would like to volunteer, please click here to be directed to the Habitat For Humanity volunteer registration for this project.
On that page you can view the volunteer opportunities as well as what construction project will be taking place during each day. Once you sign up you will receive a confirmation email from Habitat for Humanity with the exact build location and any other details necessary to know. You can click here to review the Habitat for Humanity workday procedures, please note volunteers must be age 16 or older. If you have questions, please email Rebecca Howe. Thank you for partnering with us!
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Summer Internship Begins
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 | Meet LeeAnna Early
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The SOI: Project 658 summer internship began this week and our four interns have jumped right into action! The week began with a team building day at the U.S. National Whitewater Center. We accomplished a ropes course, mega zip-line, and whitewater rafting together as a team. On Wednesday we began building a Habitat for Humanity duplex for two refugee families. The rest of the week interns have participated in discipleship teaching, camp preparation and orientation to our ministry projects.
We'll be introducing each of our interns over the next four weeks. This week, meet LeeAnna Early! We asked LeeAnna a few questions so that you can get to know her:
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LeeAnna conquering the ropes course
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Where are you attending college?
I will be a junior majoring in psychology at Liberty University.
Where is your hometown?
Pittsburgh, PA
How did you learn about the Project 658 Internship, and what made you want to apply?
Through my sister, Bethany. I needed a job of some sorts and I figured, what better way to work than to serve!?
What are you most looking forward to this summer as an intern?
I'm looking forward to the friendships I'll make with the staff and the refugees. I'm also excited to see God move and see how He'll use me and what He'll teach me.
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Working hard on the Habitat house
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What are you most anxious or fearful about this summer as an intern?
I'm anxious because I don't know exactly what to expect, but I guess that's part fear and part excitement.
Any unique talents or interesting facts you want to share with our volunteers?
I'm a huge Steelers fan!
Click here to watch a short video of LeeAnna introducing herself along with a fun fact. You can also click here to view a picture album of all our interns hard at work that will be updated throughout the summer!
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July 7th - Backpacks & Blankets Night!
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Help us reach our goal of collecting 658 backpacks filled with school supplies and 658 blankets for our community
There are a few different ways you can partner with us for this exciting event:
1) A $10 donation will sponsor the production of one backpack made from upcycled vinyl billboard material - handmade by refugees in Charlotte
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2) A $20 donation will sponsor an upcycled backpack and fill it with brand new school supplies
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3) Join us at the game and bring any of the following with you to donate: backpacks, school supplies, and/or blankets
To sponsor a backpack or backpack filled with school supplies, please email Rebecca Howe.The backpacks will be distributed to children in need at the Project 658 community event on August 18th. The blankets will go toward the Project 658 Clothing Project which serves the community by providing clothing, shoes, and blankets to families in need.
The Lady Eagles game begins at 5:30 PM and the Eagles game begins at 8:00 PM. Both games are at Charlotte Christian Stadium (7301 Sardis Rd.)
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Supplies Needed for Mexico Trip
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The Project 658 interns will be participating in a short term mission trip to the SOI ministry site in Ometepec, Mexico in mid-July. They will be serving alongside SOI staff and hosting soccer and medical outreach events in the city.
The team is collecting the following items to take with them on the trip:
- Ibuprofen
- Toothbrushes
- Toothpaste
- Vitamins (Adult & Children's - not gummy)
- Reading glasses
If you are able to donate any of these items, please email CC Reynolds. Thank you!
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Will You "Like" Us?
| If you haven't already, would you visit the official SOI and Project 658 Facebook pages and click on the "like" button? Please also share these pages with your friends - we hope this will be another location where you can hear what God is doing through this ministry and how you can join us in serving our neighbors!
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Prayer Requests
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We are thankful for your prayers and ask that you would continue to lift up the work of Project 658 & SOI before the Lord so that He may receive all glory for bringing a Hope Restored to Charlotte and abroad.
Pray for the summer interns - Please join us in praying for the four interns who will be serving with us this summer. We are hopeful the Lord will use this internship to grow each of them in their relationship with Him.
Pray for Camp 658 - The first summer camp for refugee children will be held next week, please pray with us for the Gospel to be presented clearly and for the families to feel cared for by our staff, interns, and volunteers.
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Thank you again for your partnership with us in this ministry!
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