2009 has
been filled with exciting growth of our network and ministry to the poor!
We have prayed about how we would approach ‘the economy’; the Global economic
crisis as well as the downturn in retail sales everywhere you look.
Seeking out God’s will for our 2009
path has been a joy and an adventure. When you are working as part of
God’s army you are called to do many things that do not make sense in the
world’s perspective. When we are called to help the poor, it is not just
when we feel like the economy is right, but we are to obey with blind faith,
using all the experience, skills and wisdom that He gives to us.
I can only say that HE is changing
lives, one by one, each and every day. Mine, the HT mission team and each
person that we have a relationship. I am going to take a bit from a TV
host and give you our HT “top 10”:
1. Official
HT Ministry Offices @ Martindale Executive Center
in Glendora
2. Caroline
Sakanashi, Retail Manager of HT Handicrafts – new retail division!
3. Kathy
Gaulton – named Azusa
-Glendora Soroptimist of the Year
4. Dedication
of “Wapi Maji” Well in Kakuyuni,
Kenya
5. Expanding
Mega Church Network and Regional Gift Fairs
6. Bryan
Clay, Gold Medal Olympian – Heavenly Treasures Celebrity Spokesperson
7. Changing
Lives Tour – David Gaulton – HT Ministry Artist
8. HT
Ministry Team – FMWM US
Missionaries
9. 2009 Urbana “Business as Mission”
Seminar – presented by Kathy and Christina Gaulton
10. Retail sales YTD October 1,
2009– UP 61%!
We were also blessed by three short term missionary teams this summer
in Kakuyuni, Kenya. Led by Keith Tanita, 28
people served the HIV/Orphan community at the HT Guesthouse, local schools and
church. The teams each focused on different aspects of need.
·
Agriculture
– 500,000 seeds were taken and the local HTK staff were trained on how to grow
the seedlings and transplant to double dug beds. We are already realizing
sales from the amazing vegetables!
·
“Wapi
Maji” Well – water from the highest producing borehole in the community was
made available to the community. Water is now distributed 7 days a
week. Pastoral training and women’s seminars were held.
·
Dental
care – 400+ teeth were pulled in four days and 100+ kids and adults had
fluoride treatments.
Helping the poor through micro enterprise development is amazing and
exciting... just to think that since 100% of the sales proceeds are reinvested
into the project that handicrafts can change communities as we work together
and God provides!
“Do all the good you can, by all the means you can, in all the ways you
can , in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people
you can, as long as you ever can.” -John Wesley
I hope that is true of my life.
Kathy