Grace is going to Mexico!

Dear Friends,

Much has happened since we've last written.  For that I apologize.  During times of transition, it is often hard to know what and when to communicate.  However, we appear to have finally settled into a new normal.  Over the last year, we have slowly settled into our new church, finally daring to call it home.  After attending for almost a year, I stepped out and became a youth leader yet again.  Unlike previous churches I have served at, this one had a shortage of senior youth leaders.  I have greatly enjoyed building relationships with the girls and encouraging the group in their relationship with God.  Now, as one of the youth leaders, I will be heading to Mexico with my youth group over March Break.

Over the past few years, our church(Calvary) has built a partnership with a ministry in Mexico.  Each calendar year, they send a team from the church to build houses.  This year, our team will be building a house for a single mom and her eight year old daughter.  Currently, they live in a very tiny apartment.  It has a serious mold problem due to a leaky roof, which is causing health issues.  The mother has been saving to purchase the land and our team will provide the labour and building materials. We look forward to sharing God's extravagant love with them through our acts of service.

We have quite a bit yet to raise, and I need to personally raise $500 for my part.  If you would like to support me in this trip, you can donate online here:
http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s2103
Please specify that it is for Grace Van Bruwaene and the Mexico mission.  Or you can send a cheque payable to Calvary United Church designated to Mexico Missions-Grace Van Bruwaene and mail to Calvary United Church, 48 Hawkesville Rd PO Box 189, St. Jacob's ON, N0B 2N0. 

The team is putting on a fundraiser this weekend.  We're hosting Calvary Cafe-an evening of great food and talent.  Doors open at 5pm. We will be serving a spaghetti dinner with some delicious desserts.  Tickets are $10/person, $5/child and $25/family.  Children five and under are free. 

If you are not able to contribute financially, please keep me in your prayers.  Although I am very excited about this opportunity, I am also aware of the challenges we face.  Please pray for safety during the trip as well as wisdom. I desire to lead my girls well and hope to encourage them in their faith during the trip.

Thank you so much,
Grace Van Bruwaene

PS: To learn more about the ministry we're involved with, go to
http://www.eocyugo.org

Christmas To Do List

Strategic Partnership with Careforce International

Neil Ostrander, CEO of International Teams Canada (ITCA), and Philip Chester, CEO of Careforce International (CFI), are excited to announce a strategic partnership that will benefit both organizations as they work together to care for those in need in Canada and around the world.

Effective September 29, 2011, this partnership represents a bold next step for the International Teams partnership strategy, and one that will help ensure the long-term future of Careforce International. The agreement sets out a path where ITCA will run all the back-office functions, with a special emphasis on Online Services, while CFI continues as a separate charitable organization. CFI and ITCA will partner in program delivery and both organizations are expected to see an increase in participation and donor support over 12 months.

Philip says that the partnership will not only allow CFI to focus on the initiatives that are at the heart of who they are as an organization – providing resources to project partners, and sending short-term teams to assist those partners in the work they are doing – but will also assist in growing their constituency of supporters and establishing new programs. “Our research shows that sharing our resources will enable us to maximize and improve impact for our partners through increased efficiency in our operations. Biblically-based collaboration with ITCA will allow Careforce to transfer and share, to the benefit of both organizations. This will mean that Careforce and ITCA will be able to invest a greater percentage of donations directly to the programs and projects.”

Neil and the Board of Directors of ITCA have leveraged their experience, gained from ITCA’s other partnerships, to identify a number of benefits to this unique arrangement. “Nothing is being lost. In fact, we all have a lot to gain through increased efficiency. Partnering with Careforce allows ITCA to increase our program and operational capacity further and faster.  Together, we will help more churches who in turn help more widows, orphans and refugees.”

Both Neil and Philip are confident that the future of Careforce programs, partners, teams and overall vision is solid, thanks to a sustainable operational model that will be focused, lean and effective. They are available for more in-depth discussion of this partnership and encourage supporters of either organization to contact them directly with any questions.


Philip Chester
CEO, Careforce International
philip@careforceinternational.ca
905.639.8525

Neil Ostrander
CEO, International Teams Canada
neil.ostrander@iteams.org
519.669.8844

Ride for Refuge 2011

Greetings Friends and Family!

The 2011 Ride for Refuge is quickly approaching (Saturday, October 1st) and our family is excited once again to ride in support of the widow, the orphan and the refugee.

The money Steve is raising will go in support of International Teams Canada, dedicated to meeting the physical and spiritual needs of these marginalized people groups.

Aris, Zane, Kian, and Grace are riding in our Church's team, in support of Welcome Home, a program working with Refugees in the Kitchener Waterloo area.

Would you join us? 

You can ride. There are many rides organized across Canada and the US. Check out www.rideforrefuge.org to see if there is a ride near you.

You can sponsor one (or more!) of us. You can find our pages here:
Aris: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1263874&langPref=en-CA 
Zane: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1263861&langPref=en-CA 
Kian: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1263881&langPref=en-CA
Grace: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1259916&langPref=en-CA
Steve: http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1208707&langPref=en-CA

Thanks for your consideration!

Steve, Grace, and family.

Impact Christmas with the New International Teams Christmas Catalogue

The beginning of this year’s Christmas season has given the program staff of International Teams Canada a new reason to celebrate: the launch of the Christmas Catalogue, a brand new initiative designed to provide an opportunity for ITCA supporters and weary Christmas shoppers to purchase more meaningful Christmas gifts.

Neil Ostrander, CEO of International Teams Canada, says that the story of how Sharon's family transformed their Christmas traditions really touched the hearts of staff at the national office. “Her personal testimony of what it means to give a more meaningful gift – including doing the research and finding that perfect charitable cause that connects with each family member – helped inspire us to do likewise. I'm following Sharon's lead this Christmas and I encourage everyone else to do so as well.”

The catalogue, officially launched in the middle of November, contains over 100 unique items specially selected by program leaders to make a lasting impact by providing education, healthcare, food, clean water, or vocational opportunities to widows, orphans, and refugees around the globe. Gifts are available from each of the twelve Impact programs, and include everything from ice cream for street kids in Iraq and sewing training for widows in the Philippines, to milk and bread for orphans in Kenya-Nyahururu, medical insurance for refugees in Rwanda, and Bibles for pastors in Sudan.

Marcee Groen, the Co-Director of International Programs, believes the magic in the Christmas Catalogue is the insight it provides into what is really happening around the world. “It shows the practical, hands-on activity that is taking place and will increase understanding of what International Teams is doing. With increased support, program leaders will be able to keep their projects and initiatives strong and consistent. The items I really love are the ones that build micro-enterprises or supplement the incomes of workers in the countries. By purchasing a sewing machine and materials for a woman, we increase their income and their dignity. Providing food and nutrition for students is fantastic too. It's such a simple way to increase a child's chances at academic success while promoting good health at the same time.”

Brett Ostrander, Host Country Program Leader in the Philippines, says the variety of items and the wide range of price points will allow people to engage specifically with their passions this Christmas. “People can pick items closest to what’s in their hearts, or to the heart of the person receiving the gift. The whole idea is very simple, yet very powerful! Small regular donations to something like the catalogue are a really great way to engage with a program’s key focus, opening doors that might otherwise remain closed.”

To make a purchase from the catalogue, visit www.iteams.ca/catalogue or click the link below. Simply add one or more items to your cart, click checkout, and check your inbox for a confirmation email and the opportunity to send a Christmas e-card to friends and family.

Check out the Christmas Catalogue!

Facebook available for free on mobile phones in much of the developing world

Just came across this...
http://blog.facebook.com/blog.php?post=391295167130

Looks like a list of about 50 countries in the developing world that now have Facebook for free on mobile phones (ie. no data charges). 

Should be interesting to see how this impacts many of the people we work with.  Now people with almost nothing who live in squatter communities in the Philippines can access facebook on their cell phones.

May also open up new avenues for ministry in those countries too.

Interesting stuff to be praying about.


Steve.

Steve's Update

What an exciting several months we have had.

In the office, I'm continuing to work on various computer-related projects for the office.  We've been improving our email systems. We're in the process of re-shaping various online systems as we seek to stay relevant to the next generation in a world of social media.  We're excited by the possibilities this brings in terms of education, giving, communication, and mobilization in this generation. We're also updating various internal systems, and working on various other projects to better enable our staff and missionaries to serve in the areas God has called them.

Outside the office, much has been happening too.  Grace and I have been seeking ways to be relevant in the community God has placed us.  We are so excited by the opportunities in our neighborhood.  It's quite the international mission field.

We've been connecting with internationals, at-risk families, single parents, and various others that God has placed in our lives. There are several that are now showing an interest in coming to our church and/or life group. 

At the same time, God has been hard at work in our lives, teaching, stretching, molding us into his image.  That's a hard thing at times! Working through our brokenness is humbling, painful, and sometimes lonely.  But it's often in the brokenness that God is able to do incredible things.  It's often there that we see Him glorified.

Thanks so much for your prayer and support of our family. You are all such an important part of what we do.  Please continue to pray:

• protection - we have an enemy seeking to steal, kill, and destroy. Pray for our whole family.
• wisdom in the work Steve is doing at the office
• guidance and opportunities in the ministry we have in our community

Thanks so much!

Steve.