Last Minute Christmas Shopping and the Perfect Gift

We have former members of JIBC, Ryan and Kristen Parker who serve as full time missionaries in South Asia. I won’t say the exact location because this is in print. One of the ministries they have is helping women who are coming out of the sex industry. At our request, they sent us a small box of bracelets made by these Himalayan women. If you are looking for the perfect gift or stocking stuffer, ask Janie to see these bracelets. They cost $10 each or 3 for $25. I am including an article about them below. You get a cool gift, a great story, a gift with purpose and a way to share your faith.

Merry Christmas!

Pastor Tom

WorldCrafts and Blessed Hope Provide a Safe Haven for 

Women to Avoid Trafficking and Pursue Their Dreams

In an area where trafficking is increasingly prevalent, Blessed Hope is a beacon of light for women who seek an alternative lifestyle. Many of these Himalayan women have little education, low literacy rates, and poor economic status. In desperate living conditions, they can easily end up in the labor and sex trafficking industry.

Blessed Hope helps women avoid trafficking by providing the means for earning a wholesome income. After operating for only two years, it employs 20 Himalayan women, young and old. Because some women have children and other tasks at home, Blessed Hope allows them to work from home most of the week. Every Tuesday they meet together to evaluate their work and have a time of prayer and devotion.

Blessed Hope helps women succeed in all walks of life. Neema, a junior college student, uses her income to help pay for books and housing expenses. As she finishes her last year of junior college, Neema hopes to pursue a bachelor’s degree. Sonam, age 24, is one of the owners and manages Blessed Hope. Her husband recently left the country to search for better employment opportunities abroad. Sonam’s income helped her family purchase a two-room apartment, where she now lives with her uncle and young child. Your purchase of even one piece of jewelry is a major blessing in a woman’s life. Purchasing 1 bracelet provides: 2-3 days of quality food for an entire family or 1 month of school supplies.