Algonquin Area Used Toy Sale for Africa

Just think if you could leverage all your kid's unused toys and allow them to get some new toys all the while helping children in Africa! Well you can!

This year is the 5th annual USED TOY SALE FOR CHARITY and this year it is hosted at St. John's Lutheran School at 300 Jefferson Str. near route 31 in downtown Algonquin.

Here is how you can participate:

1. On Wednesday and Thursday, August 20 & 21 from 1 - 6pm in the activity center at St. John's (follow the signs), you and all your friends can donate toys to be sold at the sale by dropping them off.

Make sure to label each item (except stuffed animals) with a price. Children’s toys, books, games, puzzles, videos, or stuffed animals only (No car seats or clothes, please.)

2. On Friday and Saturday, August 22 & 23 from 9am - 4pm, you and all your friends can come back and shop with your kids for any toys they might want to get. There is also lots of other fun stuff like RAFFLES, CONCESSIONS, T--SHIRTS...and a comedy and magic show by professional entertainer, Pete Kovacevich, that will follow a fun, brief presentation by Bright Hope International (around 1 p.m.).

Last year we donated over $4600 to Bright Hope! This year we plan to raise money through this toy sale and send some Somolian refugee children to school in Nairobi, Kenya. We're excited to give our children the opportunity to sacrifice some toys so that other children can go to school.

Thanks for your part in serving the poor. We hope to see you before or at the sale!

Barb Olsson - barbolsson@gmail.com
Jody Gustafson - gusto89@gmail.com

Tammy Massey & Heidi Ames - Willow Creek Africa Trip Update

Hello from Johannesburg, South Africa!

We are on our way home now from Zambia, two planes down, two to go. We had a very relaxing weekend visiting some nearby falls, sang with a local church, and enjoyed the local beach on Sunday. Our last two days went very well and we ended the workshops feeling full--God definitely was at work. I think this trip will affect many people as the teachers go back to their classrooms and share what they've learned. You'll all get a more detailed letter (and pictures!) in the future but I wanted to thank you again for your continued prayers.

Take care,
Tammy

Baby Dedication - The Schneider Family

Congratulations to the Joe and Mandy Schneider of Algonquin on the dedication of Allison. Last Sunday was a beautiful day for a beautiful family. Blessings to them!!

Area Serving Opportunity - Carpentersville

We are going to be working on Elsa’s house 138 Memory Ln, Carpentersville on August 16th at 8am. We could be working on the inside or outside of the house or on the retaining walls in the yard. I do know we need some electrical work done too.

A few points of information:

Please park in the same place as last time (ON PARK AVE)
We will not be supplying lunch and water for the day so please bring some for yourself
I will follow this email with another letting you know the tools etc. you may want to bring (once I know the scope of work)
We will start the day at 8am with a short devotional and prayer, then start working.

To serve contact: Mike Rapach mike_rapach@yahoo.com

Tammy Massey & Heidi Ames - Willow Creek Africa Trip Update

Hi from Samfya!

God is blessing this trip to Africa in so many ways. Our goal was to build relationships with the teachers, encourage them, and give them ideas to use in their classrooms. The workshops up to today have far exceeded these hopes. We have shared and laughed, sang and danced, encouraged and empowered. The Samfya teachers have taked our ideas and made some amazing projects. We now have the weekend to rest and enjoy the area, with two more days of the workshops on Monday and Tuesday. Please keep praying as we finish the work we've been given.

Tammy Massey

Tammy Massey & Heidi Ames - Willow Creek Africa Trip

Hi all,

We do have access to a computer here so I'll try to send these updates a couple of times. We arrived in Samfya, Zambia on Sunday afternoon after 2 plane flights (one a 12 seater) and a 1 hour bus ride. We definitely are in a rural area. Many homes do not have electricity and are made of bricks and thatched roofs. We spent Monday touring the area including a couple of schools and planning for our workshop. Today the workshop started with dignitaries making introductions and a short speech. Then we spent time trying to get to know the participating teachers. Tomorrow we'll go more in depth. Please continue to pray as we grow our relationships and attempt to help them with creative ideas to get around the lack of resources.

Tammy Massey

Student Impact - Opportunities

Student Impact kicks off their school year ministry in just a few short Sundays, on August 24th! They have continued to grow in numbers over the past year and now they are in serious need of some great small group leaders!! Do you know anyone? Or maybe you'd like to meet with them and see if it's a good fit for you?

High school years are so difficult already, so it is critical to provide each student group with a great leader! Or would you like to serve in another way? They also have needs for greeters at the service, serving opportunity coordinator, and more! Think about it and send any ideas to Jen Oxford, the Dundee-Crown Leader for Impact at jen.oxford@willowcreek.org.

A Neighbor's Story about "Locks of Love!"

"I'm ready to donate my hair now, mommy." These were the words I longed to hear from my 6 year old daughter after waiting a very long time. Elizabeth has had her long hair since she was a toddler, and it just kept growing. We had talked many times about how some of her hair could be given to another little girl who cannot grow hair. She just wasn't ready to do it and I didn't want to force it. I wanted this to be her decision. Now after a couple of years of occasional nudges, Elizabeth decided on her own that she was ready to donate her hair. Out of the blue, she just said, "I'm ready to donate my hair now, mommy." My head jerked toward the back seat of the car and I asked her to repeat what she just said. I couldn't believe it. So, that same afternoon we drove to the Great Clips parking lot.

Thankfully, our favorite hair stylist, Monica was at the store that day. We found that Elizabeth's hair cut would be FREE since she was donating to Locks of Love. So, in four separate sections, 10 inches were measured and cut. I was a little worried Elizabeth would be regretful of her decision, but instead she was smiling the entire time and to this day loves her new do! It was a beautiful moment and I am so proud of her! And not only was the haircut free, but Great Clips also sent the hair to the Locks of Love organization on our behalf, so we didn't need to ship her donation either. They took care of everything.

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. They take a minimum of 10 inches of donated hair to make a wig for those who cannot grow hair. They also send a certificate of gratitude in the mail confirming that they received the donation. I would encourage any young girls or women out there to donate their hair, if at all possible. It truly is better to give than to receive. Please check out the website and see if you might be a candidate. http://locksoflove.org/

Submitted by Mary Stevens

Russ Family Dedication - West Dundee

Congratulations to Rob and Deborah Russ on the dedication of their daughter Kendall this weekend. It was a great day celebrating with their family!

Hansen & Erickson Wedding

Congratulations to Hansen and Erickson families on the marriage of their children Kim Hansen and Ronnie Erickson on August 1, 2008.

The Hansens live in Algonquin and the Ericksons are from West Dundee