“Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the labourers are few: pray ye therefore to the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth labourers into his harvest.” Luke 10:2
..::Dear Fellow Laborers In Christ::..
The Stone Family will serve from June 10th through June 16th, 2011 on a mission trip to Huntersville, West Virginia and the surrounding area. That’s just a few weeks from NOW!!! J
We'll be leading worship, evangelizing, teaching, discipling, doing music concerts and much more. We will minister in churches, a men's prison, an inmate mother's birthing/parenting center, and in an opera house where we will present an evangelistic Gospel-centered concert for the community of Marlinton, WV. ~ We are excited to be serving!
As we pray, we believe God's Spirit will have far-reaching and lasting impact as He leads in all facets of our ministry. There is SO much more to tell you, so please see our full mission letter which follows ~ there is a LOT of information, but we have tried to make it easy to read! YOU WILL SEE FINANCIAL NEEDS IN GREEN… If you have more questions, please give us a call at (321)269-9488!
Brethren, please pray for and partner with us as follows...
prayer needs:
*That God would open Hearts to respond to His compelling eternal call, AND *that God's Spirit would go before us - giving us wisdom, protection, provision and joy before, during and after the trip.
*Pray, in particular, as we prepare curriculum for the mothers at the Birthing Center.
*We have listed our schedule below, and would so much appreciate knowing that you are praying with us on those particular days and times~
*Thank you for praying for our SCHEDULE as follows:
Fri-Sat, June 10-11: Traveling w/family to campsite in West Virginia
Sunday, June 12: Church Music Worship Services A.M. and P.M.
Monday, June 13: 11 – 2 Inmate Mother’s Birthing/Parenting Center
Tuesday, June 14: 11 – 2 Inmate Mother’s Birthing/Parenting Center
Wednesday, June 15: 11-2 Inmate Mother’s Birthing/Parenting Center
7 pm Evangelistic Gospel Concert – Murlinton, WV
Thursday, June 16: 11-2 Inmate Mother’s Birthing/Parenting Center
7 pm Men’s Prison: Music Worship Service
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Please Partner: WE HAVE HIGHLIGHTED “DONATION NEEDS” IN GREEN THROUGHOUT THIS LETTER…
1) Projected costs are: $1,675. Donations may be made on our behalf to Aurantia Baptist Church, P.O. Box 96, Mims, FL 32754. Please note in the memo line "Stone Family Missions". Bless you! All monies that come in over and above our actual costs will be donated to the West Virginia ministries.
2) There are also many ways you can contribute to the mother’s and the babie’s physical needs! (See the Birthing Center Information following)
Let us labor together for the Gospel's sake, knowing that our work is not in vain! Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your prayers, support and love.
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BIRTHING CENTER INFORMATION
Many have asked about the Birthing Center: When in Federal prisons, pregnant women are sent to birthing facilities (there are five in this Country) in their eight month of pregnancy where they remain until their baby is 18-months-old. They receive parenting training and are the sole caregivers for their children during those formative months. In this way, they bond YOU fall into the category of a Loving Donor with their children as well.
However, when they arrive at these facilities, they come with nothing but the clothing on their backs. The mother’s physical needs of clothing, bedding, grooming and hygiene items are not provided for by the Government and must come either from their families or from loving donors. The babies receive nothing from the Government and their physical needs are provided entirely by the inmate’s family, friends or loving donors as well. So, you are probably wondering what you CAN do and HOW to do it….
Here are a few options….
1) NEED LIST FOR MOTHERS (there are 20 women)
Stamps, Stationary, Envelopes, Notebooks, Pens/Pencils, Twin Sheet Sets, Bed Pillows, Twin Comforter Sets
Liquid hand soap, Dandruff Shampoo, Regular Shampoo, Hair Brushes, Combs, Adult Cold Medicine (Non-alcohol), Adult Tylenol, Ibuprophen, Tums, Maalox
2) NEEd LIST FOR INFANTS & CHILDREN (as many as 20)
Diapers (all sizes), Baby Wipes, Receiving Blankets, Onesies ~ Sleepers ~ Outfits (Newborn – Toddlers), Comb/Brush Set
Bottles (4oz & 8oz), Bottle Nipples, Bottle Brushes, Sippy Cups, Infant Feeding Bowls, High Chairs w/Safety Straps,
Nasal Aspirators, Infant Nail Clippers, Thermometers, Baby Tylenol/Motrin, Pedialyte, Teething Medicines, Gas Drops, Q Tips Baby Vicks Rub
Car Seats (Newborn–Toddlers)
3) Donate Walmart Cards
**NOTE** We can take items up to the West Virginia, but we do have have limited space and weight restrictions as well. We’d like to suggest that you donate Walmart Cards, in particular, because this is the closest store with gift cards and the only one to which they take the mothers when they have specific needs.
4) Donate Cash or Checks
5) Donate Clothing
The mothers can use street clothing sizes S to XL. They wear sweat pants, shorts (with no less than a five inch inseam), and T-Shirts with no logos, sweaters, socks, shoes, and other personal items (I can give sizes if you call me (Julia) at 321 269 9488). Please make sure they are in “Like New” or New.
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INMATE BIRTHING CENTER ACTIVITY PLAN
*We will provide a luncheon on the first day as part of our get-to-know you time together.
*Each day we will take a Thematic Approach to sharing music, teaching and a craft project with the mothers as follows, Lord willing:
Monday: God’s Sovereignty/Character
Tuesday: Armoring Yourself for the Battle
Wednesday: Forgiveness: Yes! It’s for you!
Thursday: Blessings/How to Pray: For your Child & Yourself
*We will share/teach daily songs that point to the Theme. After the study, we will create cards which incorporate the daily Theme. We will provide postage if they choose to use the cards or a frame if they choose to frame the four cards as a reminder of this special time together.
*We will also bring Bibles for their personal use and topical Christian books to add to the Facility Library. If you have any gently used or new Christian books (novels, topical ~ especially parenting, study material, etc.) that you’d like to send to the library, please call us at 321 269 9488 to arrange to get the books to us. Thanks!
*We will be giving each mother and baby a Scripture Lullaby CD about which we are so very excited. We hope to purchase 22 of these CDs ~ one for each of the 20 Mothers and 2 for the Library.
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If you have read this letter to the end, God Bless You. It has been lengthy, but we wanted you to be well-informed for prayer purposes, but also so you can get involved with us in whatever way the Lord moves upon your hearts.
Let us labor together for the Gospel's sake, knowing that our work is not in vain! Thank you, brothers and sisters, for your prayers, support and love.
The Stone Family, Michael, Julia, Anna, Emily and Olivia
