VOY ‘08 SHADE & FRESH WATER EMERGENCY FUND
(Nova Almeida, Brazil Camp)
[Sent by Email on 10/7/08]
Dear Joe and Ann,
I also need to apologize for not having been more in contact with both of you. Right now Teca is on the road with 50 senior citizens from our project here in Belo Horizonte, but before she left, she said, "You have got to write to Joe and Ann to thank them for all their support and let them know what a difference they are making". There is no doubt that without you and the youth promoting our project in Nova Almeida, we would not be able to keep it going right now. Thank you all so very, very much for your help.
When you left, the world had not been hit by the financial crisis on Wall Street. If it scares people there, it does so even more here amongst people who are attuned to international events. There is an old saying here, "When the United States sneezes, we get pneumonia". I think Wall Street is more than sneezing.
First of all, the project is functioning well. I hope in the near future to send you some photos. One additional factor that you may or may not have known about is that about 60 families of the children in the Nova Almeida project receive a monthly government payment if their children are involved in after-school programs. This is grant money to keep the families from sending their children to work in the streets or other locations. Several of the children in Nova Almeida have been involved in prostitution and while the after school program in itself does not keep them from doing that, the government money, takes away parental motivation and the children being involved in a program such as ours, allows us to accompany what the kids are doing and provide support to keep them going in a healthy direction.
If our project had ended, 60 families would have lost the financial subsidies and of course all of the children and young teenagers would not have a healthy place to go.
Last night, I talked with our coordinator from that state to see her evaluation about receiving government grants for next year. She said that it is still before the election, so we can't really trust much of what is being said. The night before last, I talked with the President of the Methodist school here about their support for our programs. He assured me that next year (as he put it... especially after March) he believed that they could increase support. That would help us in Nova Almeida. At the same time, all of the schools are worried about what enrollment will be in a financial crisis. So I guess, in the end, we still have to wait a little more to see what the future will bring.
I believe that the gospel teaches us to not be anxious about tomorrow. I don't think that means... especially as an administrator, which I am... that we should not be attentive to the future. Joe and Ann, there have been many times in my life that I did not know what the future would hold and all signs were that it would be very difficult. After 30 years of experience, I have learned to trust more in God. He opens doors. You and the choir were one door that he opened for us. We would never have imagined that you would open that door for us. I believe He worked through you. For that reason we praise Him and thank you. Your response to His touching your heart made our life much easier and has allowed the project to continue to touch many children in Nova Almeida. Thank you both once again. We will continue to be in touch with you.
Your friend,
Gordon Greathouse
August 19, 2008
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The “Voices of Youth: Awakening the Church to Mission” 2008 choir has returned from a successful mission trip to Nova Almeida, Brazil working with the Shade & Fresh Water camp staff. Usually this means that VOY ’08 is finished and the members have turned to other activities. That is not the case this year since VOY ’08 has pledged to raise $12,000 for the VOY ’08 Shade & Fresh Water Emergency Fund.
Teca Greathouse (our host and the coordinator of S&FW camps) informed the VOY ’08 choir that a vital, government grant that provided salaries and benefits to the Nova Almeida camp staff had been canceled for the next 6 months (August, 2008 – January, 2009). Without that grant the Nova Almeida camp would need to CLOSE for that period.
Closing the Nova Almeida camp would have a disastrous effect on the program. Therefore, the entire VOY ’08 choir pledged to raise the much needed funds. The Conference mission office graciously loaned VOY ’08 $2,000 for the August salaries. As the choir members shared their testimonies during the Virginia concert tour, donations of over $2,000 were received. This was a rich blessing.
You can help by sending your tax-deductible donation to:
Conference Mission Office
VA United Methodist Center
P.O. Box 1719
Glen Allen, VA 23060
Make your check payable to: “VAUMC”
Designate the donation for the “VOY ’08 Shade & Fresh Water Emergency Fund”
(This emergency fund is a one time only need that will end January 31, 2009)
Since the immediate need has been met, we encourage you to consider supporting Advance Special #11580A – Ministry with Children, Shade and Fresh Water Project and our conference’s “Initiatives of Hope.” The children of Brazil need the blessings of the “Shade and Fresh Water Project” to continue.
Please note that only the Nova Almeida camp is affected by this government support cutback so it is important that your donation be tagged “VOY ’08 Shade & Fresh Water Emergency Fund” so that the donation goes to the Nova Almeida camp which is in need of this support.
For more information about the Shade & Fresh Water Project and VOY ’08 mission tour, go to the Home Page.
I encourage you to read the attached letter from Gordon Greathouse concerning this important need.
Yours in Christ’s Service,
Joe Klotz
VOY ’08 Team Leader
[Sent by email on 8/1/08]
Dear Joe and Ann Klotz-
I have just returned from Nova Almeida. Your group [“Voices
of Youth 2008”] really left a mark there. You probably know about the girl that
cried for hours after you left. I am not sure which of the youth she felt so close
to, but the truth of the matter is that everyone had something to tell me about someone
in your group.
You asked a bit about the project and the importance of the choir's pledge to raise
funds. Quite frankly, I don't know what would have happened if your group had not
been there and responded to this need. I am sure that Teca indicated that the government
grant that helps the project was dropped until next year [the period affected is
August, 2008 through January, 2009]. We expect to receive a grant next year and
had no way to keep the project going until 2009. Even with your donation, it will
be reduced somewhat, but between your effort, the local church's commitment and the
Foundation, we will keep 2/3rds of the kids there as we work on a post-election renewal
of the grants and other sources of donations.
I understand Dot's [Ivey] concern about not wanting to discourage future government
support. I can assure you that that is not the case here. Especially the social
service department sees this as an additional reason why funding should take place.
The government grant that was discontinued was about $8,000 a month and supported
180 children and teenagers. You can see that if we can sustain half or 2/3rds the
number of children with 1/4th of the money, we are multiplying loaves and fishes.
Thanks again for your interest and help. It really came at the most needed time.
Gordon Greathouse
2008 Shade & Fresh Water Project
Emergency Relief Fund Exceeds Goal!
Nova Almeida, Brazil Camp
Thank-you for all your generous donations!
VOY ‘08 raised over $15,300 for the S&FW Project in Nova Almeida, Brazil,
exceeding the goal of $12,000!
We would encourage you to consider supporting Advance Special #11580A – Ministry with Children, Shade and Fresh Water Project and our conference’s “Initiatives of Hope.”
The children of Brazil need the blessings of the “Shade and Fresh Water Project” to continue.
While Voices of Youth 2008 was doing their mission work at the Nova Almeida, Brazil camp of the Shade & Fresh Water Project, the choir learned that a critical government grant for the Nova Almeida camp had been canceled for the upcoming 6 months. This would have shut the camp down, leaving hundreds of children without S&FW’s daily support. VOY ‘08 responded by saying “Here I am Lord” and pledging to raise $12,000 to keep the camp running during this time period.
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