Notes from Jody:

Even though we have had a hard winter we have made a lot of progress as we prepare to start again with all our activities. I look forward to seeing old friends and meeting new ones as the mission teams begin to arrive.  God is still pouring out His many blessings on HOHM, and I want to share those with you. I am excited about our new partnership with YouthWorks. You can read more about YouthWorks on page 3. It will bring hundreds more people to the area and give us an opportunity to help even more in the Iaeger area.

We resumed our regular activities in March with a successful concert. Approximately 200 came to the concert and enjoyed the bluegrass and gospel music. Several groups performing in the concert and other talented musicians who have worked with HOHM this past year have produced a CD called “In the Hollow”.  This CD is available to you for a contribution of $10.00 with the proceeds being used to help fund our new scholarship program. HOHM will award scholarships to two graduating seniors in McDowell County this year.

Special thanks to Austin Whelan, Robert Holmes, and Hunter Astin from Hope UMC for helping us create our HOHM 2010 Photo Review.  These DVDs are now available for those of you who will use them to share with others interested in joining the ministry.

When we were blessed with our new Outreach Center in Welch last year I admit I wondered what we could do to make use of this gift.  Well it is amazing how God can work things out.  This facility is now used every day. Just last month the Christian school from the Welch Nazarene Church moved into the facility and began using the classrooms. I really do enjoy seeing the children there each day.  We have several other groups like Weight Watchers that also meet in the building. The Son Shine Saturdays have gotten off to a great start with over 20 children attending the first week and over 30 attending the second week. We just trust God that we will be able to meet the needs of the children as we continue to grow in the fruits of the Spirit – beginning of course with love.

Members from the Advisory Board and Board of Directors were able to join our annual review and planning session in WV in March. Thank you to all of these dedicated supporters for taking time out of busy schedules to come together for this inspirational and motivational meeting.

The Hope Chests in Iaeger and Welch continue to grow. Many customers have become dear friends. Very often we hear how thankful they are to be able to purchase clothing, furniture and more at such reduced prices. Many would not be able to afford furniture and appliances any other way. We would like to pass this gratitude on to our supporters for their many donations.

All of the staff members have been traveling in January and February as they speak to other churches about HOHM. With God’s blessing, several new churches will be making vision trips in 2011.

The Welch Outreach Center has become a well-used facility. We asked God to give us direction on how to use this building. The Center has been blessed to be filled with children, church members, ladies groups, concerts, weddings, youth meetings, mission teams and more… Mission teams are being housed there so more showers were installed and the Fellowship Hall recently received a new coat of paint. The Food Box assembly has been moved there as we have outgrown the Iaeger facility.

News From Diane . . .

It has been a long hard winter but spring has finally arrived and all of the Mission programs of HOHM have resumed with great intensity. We have had many work teams come already this year and much has been accomplished. We have had a Bluegrass-Gospel Concert, A Valentine Party for the Ladies Night Out groups, and Son Shine Saturdays for the children. Along with the regular meetings for the women, we had the first combined program (Iaeger, Welch, War) meeting with MANY things going on at once, including play practice, crochet lessons, rug making demonstration, a class on making fleece blankets, and the exercise program Zumba.  Of course we always have a meal and an inspiring devotion.  Thanks SO much to all of the groups who so valiantly go along with my “out of the box” thinking and the methods I use to help these ladies in so many areas of their lives. Without your support it would be impossible to accomplish so many of the special projects we have.

Many have helped us with our weekly bag lunch program and it helps them see the need in the homes when we visit each family. The children are waiting for the lunches. One little boy ran and grabbed his bag out of the worker’s hand and said “You’ve brought my food-You’ve brought my food.” He then asked him to help open it as he sat down on the ground to eat. Lives are being changed and smiles are on hundreds of faces as we continue to carry the Love of Christ to them.

We plan to have the first showing of the play “A Woman’s Heart-Mountain Music and Memories” the last weekend in May. The women in our Ladies Night Out groups will be presenting this play. A Women’s Conference and Fashion Show will be held the weekend before the play and your prayers are needed for our two helpers, Vanessa and April, who will be coordinating these events from here and also the visiting team from Woodstock, GA, who will be doing the Conference and Fashion Show. If you would like to have a special event for these women please contact me. Our regular meetings are held on the 2^nd, 3^rd, and 4^th Fridays each month, and you may also participate in those.

Those of you who have been here know there is little to do here in the mountain “hollows”.  We pray for a successful and rewarding experience for all who join us here in “Almost Heaven”, WV. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Coordination, Cooperation and Contents

Some of you might have heard the old expression, “Trying to stuff five pounds of apples into a two pound sack.” Sometimes we feel like that is what we are doing at the warehouse in Canton GA. As the ministry continues to be blessed with donations, there is a growing need for assistance at this warehouse in loading, sorting and cleaning. Currently we have a few very dedicated workers that are doing a great job, but they need your help. Narvel Lassiter has volunteered to supervise this growing segment of the ministry. If you can spare a few hours on a Saturday, or if you can drive a truck and trailer to WV, we need your help. We meet in Canton on the first and third Saturdays each month. Please contact Narvel through email – narvell@aol.com if you can help. In order to keep things in motion we need your cooperation so we can coordinate truck and trailers to move these contents to West Virginia.

News From Rick and Jenny . . .

Hello Friends…Spring has finally sprung and things are starting to bloom and turn green in McDowell County, WV. The sunshine and warm weather are bringing people out and about after a long cold winter. We are looking forward to a wonderful 2011 here at Hands of Hope. It was great to see many of our friends at the Advisory Board meeting in March and to discuss and plan many projects and events for 2011.

We had our first Common Ground Youth gathering on March 18th. We had 15 youth there from McDowell County and 2 from Mississippi. We could tell from all the hugs and chitchat that the youth were happy to see one another. One of the youth from Mississippi brought the devotion and he did a great job. His devotion was on temptations. During the devotion the youth had to sit and look at a chocolate brownie covered with whipped cream and could not touch it until the devotion time was over. The youth shared what some of their biggest temptations are. We had a great discussion and most everybody chimed in. Rick and I are excited to see what all 2011 is going to bring for the youth. Many doors are opening and we are looking forward to sharing with you throughout the year.

The bag lunch program is going great. The families on our route have been out in their yards enjoying the warm weather. They are also talking and visiting more than they have in the past few months. The sunshine and warm weather has put a smile on all of our faces. Thank you all for you support and for your prayers. Please continue praying for Rick and me, and that we will be ready for the opportunities that lie ahead. Until next time…KEEP BELIEVING…

In regard to our upcoming partnership with YouthWorks this summer, the following article has been prepared to appear in the Iaeger newspaper this month:

YOUTHWORKS PARTNERING WITH HANDS OF HOPE MINISTRIES

For eight weeks this summer, approximately 450 individuals representing church and family groups from all over the United States and Canada will participate in week-long mission trips here in McDowell County. These groups will be volunteering with service opportunities coordinated by the nonprofit multi-denominational mission organization, YouthWorks, based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. YouthWorks currently recruits 36,000 volunteers and mobilizes them to serve in 76 communities in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico.

While working in McDowell County, YouthWorks and Hands of Hope Ministries will be partnering together to mutually support the efforts of each organization. Over the summer months, Hands of Hope Ministries will be providing facilities in Iaeger for the YouthWorks staff to stay. The staff will also use this location as a hub from which they host the mission teams and coordinate their volunteer efforts.

The groups will engage in a variety of mission opportunities which are organized with the abilities and interests of multiple generations and skill levels in mind. Those opportunities will consist of scraping, painting and providing minor home repair, assisting local community minded organizations, visiting the elderly and coordinating a YouthWorks Kids Club. Kids Club will be a hands-on, high-energy afternoon program offering games, crafts, skits, songs and interactive lessons all designed to help kids learn about Jesus.

For more information regarding YouthWorks! and Hands of Hope Ministries, visit www.youthworks.com and www.hohm.org.  If you have a project or social service program and would like volunteer assistance please contact David Potter at davidp@youthworks.com.