We want to invite you in to something exciting this Christmas:  being a blessing to those we have committed to sponsor through Give Grace.  As members of our community and of the global church we hope you will share in our joy in blessing our children this Christmas.  Read carefully the suggestions below as there are guidelines for gifts.  On December 6, the last day of school and last Encounter of the semester, we will have a time to bring the gifts forward and Grace Campus will ship them in time for Christmas.  We hope you participate - Bring the gifts to encounter next week.

What To Do:

1. Wrap your gift

2.  Label it with a post-it:
boy/girl
age
country

3. Bring it to Encounter on Dec. 6.

CHINA

These 9 children are infant-toddler age and are from the Philip Hayden Foundation as well as another orphanage, House of Grace. Gifts for them would include small stuffed animals, infant or toddler clothing, or blankets.
Another option is to put money in an envelope towards formula or diapers, marking the envelope for what it should go towards.  We will not need cards for these children as they are too young.
UGANDA

We have 8 children sponsored:
3 boys, 5 girls, and the house mom.
The boys are 6, 10, and 12.
The girls are 9, 11, and 12.

The type of suggested gifts include:  backpack, age-appropriate Bible, t-shirts, small toys, school supplies, crayons, coloring books (for the younger ones).

Do NOT give anything requiring
batteries, candy, or food.
No books with too many american references, videos,
CD’s or DVD’s or cash.

DO send Christmas cards
(that aren’t overly americanized).
Please do cards for individuals, not the group, and put their name on the outside.

There was an argument among them as to which of them would be the greatest. But Jesus knew their thoughts, so a brought a little child to his side. Then he said to them, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me, welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.” Luke 9:46-48

As of yesterday, Give Grace, better put, the community behind Give Grace is now sponsoring 9 children in China, 8 children in Uganda, and a house mother caring for the children in Uganda. What helps me smile is the hope of those 36 eyes beholding the face of Jesus one day, or their quickly growing hands being raised before the Throne one day, or their tongues proclaiming the greatness of God in their own language. Just to know that we can share in a small part of other peoples lives, sincerely caring for them brings great joy. The promise that in doing so, we welcome their Father, who made them, sustains them, and loves them. That’s beautiful.

Step over to the media section on the site and you can see their faces.

Today, we wrote our first check ($3600) to partner with Jonathan Smyth who will be soon moving to China to teach English and share his life. Jonathan has been a huge part of Grace Campus since its beginning and we could not be more proud of him. His love for people speaks through his life and willingness to go. We are expectant of how his simply being there will be a blessing to many. Enough said.

On December 6th at Encounter, we’ll be collecting gifts for the orphanages in both China and Uganda. If you would like to participate in this effort, please contact us : info@gracecampus.net

-Matt

We recently received pictures of the girls we are blessed to sponsor in Uganda. It’s really exciting to think we will meet them next spring. Be sure to visit the media tab where you can see their faces and pray for them by name.

We are presently  putting together final details for our trips to China and Uganda next May. On the very first night of registration, both teams exceeded our planned group size. This is a great problem to have. We will keep you posted as these teams finalize.

Give Grace will begin sponsoring our first team member to begin serving in China beginning in February 2008. More details to come in the weeks ahead.

-Matt