Update on New Initiatives

After having received a message from Rebecca Reynolds about an article in the Express News announcing a series of three human trafficking workshops to be held at St. Frances Episcopal Church on May 30, June 6 and 13, three WGW members met at 10 a.m. in the Parish Hall with 15-20 members of the church for their first learning session. The woman church member who is spearheading these workshops had a powerpoint slide presentation with core information on the subject and included pictures of young people and women caught in the slave labor trade and prostitution right here in San Antonio. It was most encouraging to see the enthusiasm in the group for learning and wanting to be able to help in some meaningful way.

In conversation with the group they are asking that we pray for a possible SA ecumenical response. They were pleased at our presence with them—even when they found out we are Baptist!

The workshop on June 6 will be presented by SGT Chris Burchell of the San Antonio Sheriff’s Department. SGT Burchell has been working with victims and perpetrators of this crime for a number of years and is most knowledgeable. On June 13 Ms. Moreno of Catholic Charities will be the workshop leader. She has been active in the anti-trafficking coalition in San Antonio for many years and she, too, is most knowledgeable on the rescuing of victims, securing shelter and essentials for them and helping them adapt to life outside of bondage. WBC members who would like to participate in these workshops may call Pat Bolt (808-1097) or online here.

The plan from inception has been to hopefully find others with who m we could share learning and experience and to look for ways to cooperate. The problem is HUGE, and our efforts will be more meaningful and helpful in consort with others. There will be reports on the next two workshops forthcoming—do join those interested in working on this problem!

Thanks to email from Tomi Grover, active in human-trafficking seminars/projects, to Suzii Paynter, Christian Life Commission, and Ferrell Foster of BGCT, this social action initiative is now on the radar screen of those two organizations. Continue to pray for continued emphasis an direction in this endeavor!

Birthing Kit Ministry Update

In September, 2008, the Global Women's group at Woodland began a ministry project to ship birthing kits to underdeveloped countries where medical services are scarce and infant and maternal fatalities frequently result from the lack of medical care and sanitation during the birthing process. Our plan was to ship approximately 100 birthing kits three times a year. With the help of Woodland members who donated funds to get us started and the continuing support of the Missions Committee, fifteen women have worked faithfully to make this happen.

Our goal for 2010 is 365 birthing kits. In addition the Children's Ministry is donating $15.00 to honor each baby born at Woodland; this provides for one kit, so we will be adding one kit for each new baby. In January, we shipped 132 kits; in May we delivered 120. We will complete our year's  quota on September 20. This has been an exciting and rewarding ministry. Our kits have been taken by medical mission teams to Malawi, Kenya, Haiti, and locations in rural South America. Our last kits were delivered on Tuesday, May 11, and were shipped to the Sudan area on May 15. A doctor leaving for that area contacted MedMissions right after we had told the director that the kits were coming and claimed the kits.

Not only has this ministry involved the Missions Committee, Children's Ministry, and Global Women, the sewing ministry has also had a special role. When we delivered a shipment to MedMissions in Birmingham, the director, Jim Tucker, showed us a stack of used hospital blankets that he could not find a use for. Woodland's sewing ministry solved this problem by turning each blanket into four - six baby blankets. Vaughn Ballinger volunteered her time and talent to appliqué a cross and heart design on each blanket. Two of these blankets go into each box of twelve kits; not every baby will receive a blanket, but some of them will get a very special gift that we pray will serve as a reminder of the love of God.

We are thrilled by what can happen when the many ministries of Woodland come together to make a difference in the world, one baby and one mother at a time. Thank you.

For more information on Global Women, go to www.globalwomengo.org