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ONE YEAR LATER
A Word from the Director
What’s going on out there in this hectic world? The basic standard of living is jumbled up. The needs are tremendous in these economically shaking times. Aggressively, the number of homelessness increases daily. The definition of homelessness changes constantly. Families with children, who used to be part of the middle class income group, are now looking for shelter... Many people only live one paycheck away from becoming homeless. Unemployment rises! Job, food, shelter and transportation are almost becoming amenities. Let's not take these things for granted anymore! We all know the challenges of this season.
The dust is settling. There's an obvious need for a new breed of organization. HYN has found a clear niche in the midst of all this. HYN is a place where people feel cared for, and we often find answers for their needs. HYN strengthens the Orlando community, by finding resources and services for those in need. Through valuable partnerships with churches, corporations and other non-profit organizations, together we transform communities, one neighborhood at a time. In this process, we help to enhance, grow and organize local leaders and their programs in our community. We beautify their neighborhoods, and we change people's lives, by bringing hope, love and opportunity for spiritual development. We mend the fruit issues without losing focus on the root issues.
Almost one year has gone by. HYN has almost served 1000 people; we have contributed 21 different construction activities; we have assisted 254 people in their job searches; we've helped 30 people from becoming homeless; more than 95 people received counseling; and in 9 occasions we helped widows to upkeep their homes. There's much more HYN has accomplished to bring positive change to the lives of those in need. Please visit our website: www.hynorlando.com
In September, we're starting "The Door of Hope project". Just through one selective partnership with the Orlando Mobile Home Park and the Total Restoration Transformation Center, we are planning to offer hot meals, clothing, teaching and preaching several nights per week, counseling and life coaching, employment facilitation and the hosting of other community services in a hopeless sector in town. Beginning January 2009, "The Door of Hope" will open its doors to bring light, hope and love to a neighborhood in need.
We are entering into our second year and to keep HYN's operations going we need your support. One of our partners committed to cover the wages of the director. This season is now ending... We're bringing all the needs of HYN to God and the community. We believe that it's God will to continue the great work that we've started and He will touch the hearts of others to step up to the plate and make contributions so we can keep going. This is a wonderful opportunity for corporations to become involved through their donations, to show how much they care for the community of Orlando. HYN goes to places where businesses would never set foot...
For further information on HYN or any other need that you may have, please contact us at (407) 839-5507 or write us at general@hynorlando.com
Alex Gerritsen
general@hynorlando.com |
How to Pay Forward
Dale Leary was homeless and living under a bridge, when the youth pastor of Legacy Life Church, (a partner of HYN), approached him and offered prayer and solace. Unable to find a job up North, Dale and his fiancee came to Orlando in search of work, but to no avail. Doors were closed everywhere. One person we were fortunate enough to help go to a God encounter a few months ago, found his way to pay forward by hiring Dale to work for his company and also supplied him shelter. Dale was able to get on his feet, and he and his fiancee have recently married. Our businessman has been blessed with a hard worker and a new man in Christ.
Ken Tassey and his organization, Total Restoration Transformation Center, joined HYN. Along with other supporters, we are renovating an outreach center on Orange Blossom Trail. The outreach program will be a beacon of light in a neighborhood filled with the darkness of alcoholism, drug abuse, homelessness and prostitution. It will provide a safe haven for those who are in need six evenings per week. There will be hot meals, clothing, all while sharing the love of Jesus. Ken is an evangelist at heart. Together with HYN, we are looking for preachers, teachers, skilled laborers and other volunteers to get this project up and running within the next two months.
Antwane Mills grew up in a violent neighborhood in Boston, where he fell victim to the street. At age 18, Mills was sentenced to 18 months of prison. When released, Mills moved to Orlando for a fresh start. He met his current fiancee Keely Clark, who had a little girl and together they had a little boy. Although Clark works as an R.N., Mills was unable to find work. Between debt and the daycare fee, their finances were in bad shape and their relationship suffered. Mills said, "It was during this tumultuous time that we made a decision to dedicate our lives to Christ, and not the world." Circumstances began to change. Through their church, Mills found a job. Through a partnership with a new local school, HYN found free daycare for a few months, so this family could have a new start and recover financially.
A young student, William Roper, fell into bad times. On the verge of being homeless, he walked into one of our partnering churches, Church in the Son. They contacted HYN, who was able to provide temporary shelter in the Orlando Mobile Home Park, (another HYN partner), in exchange for 20 hours worth of handyman work. One condition was that he'd have to be actively looking for regular employment. During this process, William accepted Christ in his life. He's now a full-time employee with the park. He met the love of his life, Elimar Mireles, and now is engaged to be married. Both will be baptized within the next few weeks.
hyn
general@hynorlando.com |
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A Family in Need
Elizabeth suffers from diabetes and the complications that come with it. Her daughter, Arlene, suffers from a seizure disorder, and has been in a coma once. Elizabeth's young adult sons died early from heart disease. The Rios family shares a one room home that includes Elizabeth, her daughter and four children.
When the roof began to leak, Elizabeth refinanced her home in order to pay roofers to fix it. She hired roofers who stole the money and left a gaping hole in the roof. When the rain came, the house was flooded. Insurance did not cover the damage.
HYN put a tarp over the roof to keep it from leaking, and would like to help this family. We need roofers and materials to complete the job. Please contact us to help this family in need.
Helen Brown: A Success Story
Helen Brown is a hard worker, outgoing, loves to entertain people, and is a widow of many years. As the floor in her home became increasingly worn to the point of being dusty, she was too embarrassed to invite friends over. Since she was working, she was denied aid from other agencies. That's when Help Your Neighbor stepped in and installed new flooring in her home. In just a few hours, with the help of caring workers, her floor was installed. Helen Brown has seen hope, and her outlook on life glowed. Now Ms. Brown can reach out to others, just as HYN reached out to her.
HYN Renovates Home and Heart
Ed Gonzalez has been fighting muscular dystrophy (MD) for over 20 years. His condition had worsened to the point that he was unable to get in the bathtub without falling. His wife, Nilda, called an ambulance once when he hit his head. Another time she had to try to get him out of the tub by herself. The situation was getting worse, and the routine of bathing was cumbersome at the least. Help Your Neighbor (HYN), Northland Church, volunteer vendors and contractors, along with some neighbors, banded together to renovate the Gonzalezs master bathroom. Now Mr. Gonzalez can take showers without fear of being hurt. Instead of hurdling the bathtub, he can wheel his cart directly to the shower. Throughout the home improvement project, God gave opportunity to strengthen the faith of those who came together to help, especially the Gonzalez family.
A special thank you goes out to all the volunteers for their compassion and hard work.
Ed Gonzalez
general@hynorlando.com |
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Family in Despair
A young family is homeless, living off the generosity of others in order to stay off the streets. When this mother fainted, she was hospitalized and tested for clotting of the arteries. Meanwhile, she was unable to work and the medical bills began to pile up. This father stayed home to care for their children; ages two, four and five. With no income, and no way to pay the rent, they were evicted. Through the help of friends, they have been able to stay in a hotel, but this is only temporary. The mom is able to work again, but her income does not meet all the current needs. Life can change in an instant. Do you want to help this family? There are several ways you can bless them. They need economical housing, furniture and daycare for the children. When daycare is found, the father can go back to work in the manufacturing industry. If you have contacts in this industry and could help with his employment, this would be a significant help. Any financial donations would help with utility hook-up fees, rent deposit and other necessities. Pray for this family and their future. The Lord hears our prayers for the needy!
Summit Church on Rescue Mission
"A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in his holy dwelling;" Psalm 68:5. Summit Church became the arms of Love as they reached out to a widow who recently lost her husband and father of their three children. Volunteers from Summit Church, headed by paint contractor Hector Santiago, completely painted the exterior of their home. One Saturday morning, in less than four hours, this exuberant group finished the job in four hours. Summit Church, a local hardware store, and Help Your Neighbor all donated supplies. Thank you, Summit Church, for being a good example of servant leadership and showing the love of Jesus to a family in their time of need.
widow
general@hynorlando.com |
Volunteers: Our Heartbeat
Amidst the labor and Amidst the labor and meeting practical needs is a loving God who shows Himself strong through the hands of volunteers. The heartbeat of Help Your Neighbor is the volunteers who offer their time, skills, compassion and love. The need is huge, but one family at a time HYN is determined to help. An example of one practical need met was when one home was leaking due to rotten siding. HYN repaired some soffits, vents and replaced some structural columns. A local hardware store donated all the materials.
The following stories are just a sample of how HYN has reached out to the community in Love, from the perspective of those who have chosen to sacrifice their time for others.
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A carpenter by trade, Hector Santiago reached out to a family from his church whose husband has been ill. My satisfaction comes from helping someone in need. I believe tithing is not only with money. Tithing can be done with your time, skills and talents as well.
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Brett Bicker has a heart to take care of a widows family. Look inside yourself, so that you dont get too busy about yourself only, he said.
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When a widow he knew asked him for help, Wayne Thompson gladly pitched in. Working and helping with and for those in need really makes me feel good, he said. Step out of your comfort zone and get involved.
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Steve Slechta wants to exhort people to try it out! He goes on to say that there are good people who need help, and good people that want to help. Its nice to be appreciated, he said.
Opportunities abound for those with the courage to look beyond themselves and meet the need of someone else. Is there a practical need you can meet? Do you have a resource that could help someone else? Are you able to give financially? Will you volunteer?
We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Thes. 1:2-3.
Talent Renewed
HYN is designed to look after the community in God's strength. One woman, who battled domestic abuse, wrote the following poem after years of ignoring her God-given gift of writing. Her abusive husband had told her she had no talent ... so she believed him. God gave her the courage to pick up her writing pen again, and this is what she wrote:
Warrior Women
Through these past years of pain and torment I had lost all hope,
Starting a new life tough times make it hard to cope.
The battle is constant in trying to look towards the future,
Unable to erase from my mind the years of torture.
But, in God's plan He introduced me to the Warrior Women,
Who have helped me see the reality of what I have been given.
To walk a new path of freedom for my son and I,
Away from the damage of my husband's lie.
I am thankful for these women of strength, wisdom and grace,
That have truly shown the glory of God's face.
freedom
general@hynorlando.com |
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The vision of HELP Your Neighbor has become a reality. It is so exciting to see lives of people transformed through acts of kindness....
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Recently, we discovered a widow who was in despair... She had received notice of fines from her homeowners association as a result of the poor condition of her lawn in the neighborhood. HYN raised the awareness of this need and then the volunteers came together to purchase, deliver and install the pallet of sod that was needed. They even corrected her lawn and irrigation system to prevent any future damage and assure that her new lawn would be maintained properly. This widow, who was overwhelmed in her circumstances, received hope and encouragement through a women's small group who reached out in love and comforted her in time of need assisting her with an overdue utility bill.
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A young mother with a two-month baby ran away from abusive situation seeking safety... HYN found temporary safe housing and food to create a healthy, safe environment for the young mother and child. This young mother received love, counseling and prayer to restore and assure a healthy self-esteem from years of abuse. She now has hope again as she begins her new life of safety.
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A close family lost their Dad at a young age... HYN became aware of this delicate situation and created community awareness to unite the forces and resources of our city by revealing the needs of this tragic circumstance. Volunteers came together to love, encourage and comfort the family during this time of loss. Many acts of kindness were given to this special family from their friends, neighbors and the local churches. The family received an unexpected surprise when a refrigerator was donated and delivered by a local Christian appliance store to meet the need and to contain the food donations received.
These are just a few of the many recent stories that have happened right here in our community. As HYN has created the awareness of the needs that exist in the lives of those around them (their neighbor), people have united with others to use the sources and resources available to be able to make a difference as the need is met and people receive encouragement and hope again. It is amazing what can be done when we unite and each one begins to help. As you have read these stories, you may now have thoughts of ways that you can help others.
Please do not hesitate to contact us today as you too begin to HELP Your Neighbor. You may desire to give a taxdeductible gift in one of the following ways: a cash donation, services, some resources, or materials.
You may also want to volunteer in various ways as the needs arise. Please let us know of your skills, talents and experience so we can use them to bless others. Remember that GOD has instructed us to do this simple truth that will not only change us, but it will also change those we give it to ...Love your neighbor as yourself.
widow
general@hynorlando.com |
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The Gift Shop Thank You!
To all who were involved with The Gift Shop (TGS): Donors, Volunteers, Intercessors, Helpers,
First, please forgive me for taking so long to communicate. As most of you know, I lost my voice through the process, and believe it or not, it has only just returned in the last few days. Hopefully much needed rest and balance is coming in 2010.
We want to shout out a warm Thank You! TGS was a Great Success! We were blessed to supply gifts for parents and children alike.
Per our Loving Hut we fed over 2000 throughout the day. Thank you to the Loving Hut for providing our guests with free food and love throughout the event.
Thanks to Luisa Applegate, for feeding the volunteers with delicious home cooked meals during the event. Plus, Panera Bread, Dominos Pizza, and Subway were kind to provide food for the meetings preceding the event.
We also had, free face painting for all, thanks to Cody Duncan and Abby Pritchard. We still hear about how much the children loved their new look, not to mention their fun in the bouncy houses (provided by two companies - Party Inflatables 4 Less and Bounce and Fun). Thanks again for the donation of the houses. The children had a blast!
It was exciting, to watch as the people stood in line to receive their free gifts. Many received the greatest gift of all, Jesus. We had our stage set across the street from the line, so while they waited they could not help but hear the Praise and Worship not only ministered to by Resound's prayer set, but also entertained and ministered to by artists such as CarolynPankalla, Steffanato, Wade Williams, Josh & Maria, D-Bry, Faith, Nina Cummings, Bille Graham, and C 1. Thank you all, you brought us into His presence.
As Resound team sang, and lead their prayer sets, Pastor Leah felt a boldness come over her and began sharing the Gospel. She then asked those listening to raise their hand for salvation and prayer. The response was incredible. Hands went up all through the crowd and the Resound students and our intercessors prayed with them one by one. Numerous souls were saved on this day. Praise God!
Thank you Pastor Leah, Larry and the Resound Church for your boldness and sacrifice. Also Marcia Thorsell, "You are a blessing thanks for the donation of your sound equipment." You have all given so much of your time, prayers, and encouragement and endless volunteer hours for all of our events. Your love and support mean so much. You Rock!
Kenworth Reeves with World Hope, who ran the stage and entertainment, had the brilliant idea to strategically place the stage by the line. Thank You for all your hard work and loan of the stage. Your friendship and support means so much. You did an Awesome job with the One God Movement and TGS. Thank you for all those little phone messages that keep me laughing MMOG!
We truly appreciate Pastor Enric Richards and King's Way Baptist Church for being so gracious, the second year in a row, opening their doors to not only offer their church facility for our event, but also volunteers, supplies, and prayer. Through you, we found Lynn Latham, what a blessing. Thank you Lynn for your leadership and for connecting us with Downtown Baptist to store all our donations, not too mention the storehouse of gifts you gave to TGS. Thanks to all of you for your commitment, hard work and sacrifice.
TGF also had a drawing for those in need of a turkey's or children’s bicycles for Christmas. Over the past month, thanks to Church In The Son, we gave away over 80 turkeys. We were able to help Stephanie Richards, of Mending Hearts Ministries, give families under her ministry turkeys. She, in turn, found extra bicycles and was kind enough to give us some additional bikes for families in need through our drawings for TGS. We were able to deliver over 18 bicycles to those in need. There were tears and thank you's galore for all the gifts, food, and toys. Many of the testimonies will be up on our HYN website hopefully before the end of January. This is how a body works in unity.
We had 50 toys on Monday, and by Saturday it was like the bread and the fish. Increase came and as the Gift Shop closed, we had enough to bless some of our loyal ministries like Resound, House of Praise, Rockin The Nations, and New Destiny, King's Way Baptist Church, with toys, books, turkeys and more...
We love it when God shows up in such a miraculous way. You know TGS was not a success because man, but by the favor of God!
Families were blessed with many gifts for everyone. Not only did people go home with new gifts, but also with other useful things (like clothing, shoes, and household items) from our Secondhand Christmas Shop.
Pamela Brady and Florida Hospital Centra Care gave free health Care; and Carol Burkett with the Orange County Drug Free Coalition, gave tips for drug awareness, offering up Magic tickets for the best listeners.
Thanks to Pastor Alex and Church In The Son for your help in getting the word out for donations, volunteers, and the source of all those turkeys.
Thank you to Jay and staff at Onsite Safety for their contribution and toys. Thank you.
Pastor Dave and Dawn Taylor, You are always there when we need you. Your love, support, encouragement, faithfulness and prayers have meant so much to me over the past 28 years. Both of you are dear to my heart.
My new Assistant Publisher Ashley Gay, who helped diligently weeks in advance, and the day of with TGS while in training for Cornerstone Connection. You are sent from heaven. I appreciate you, and all your hard work, support, encouragement and prayer. You are a blessing in my life, along with Jan Morales, you never got a break as you diligently stayed busy day and night with all the preparations. In fact Jan, Ashley, Dennis and Amy Parker, Liz Shayestehpour, Linda Trimble, Regina Applegate, Glen Chastain, (who also led our intercessor room, and supplied truck to transport all supplies) all stayed till 2 AM setting up TGS the night before. Thank you so much for your sacrifice and persevering to the end.
Also, thanks to Bunny and Joe Ciaramitaro for decorating the rooms; as well as Liz Mendoza-Simpson, James & Renee Miranda, from House of Praise and Andrea Webb. Your help made the event special.
What a team of workers! All the volunteers, there are so many I can't name them all. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! Without your sacrifice, we could have never pulled this off.
Thanks to whoever brought the truck full of oranges (There is nothing like fresh OJ in the morning). If anyone knows who they are, please let us know.
Not to mention those who sacrificed their time to take charge of our security: Chaplain Wade, Chaplain Myers with OPD and Bishop Cal.
Thank You to: Michael Scott Clay for being our photographer. The pictures help us relive the experience. They are Awesome!!Zach Firestone for keeping up our website, Monica Alberta for our new logo/branding TGS, and Lamaro Smith for creating our flyers. You are a Blessing! We look forward to sharing your work on the website.
We also want to recognize those who gave donations, gifts, as well as volunteered their time at the event: Linda, Mark and family with Bob Heinmiller Air Conditioning, Onsite Safety, Brian Mitnik, Nature's Market, Wet & Wild, Publix, Walgreens, Get Organized, Miss Trendy Clothing Boutique, Joyce McEvoy, Virginia Biggs with New Biginnings ministries. Because of your selfless giving, we were able to have new toys for our families.
We have heard so many testimonials of unforgettable moments and special highlights from many of you, if you could take a moment, (it doesn't have to be perfect) and share your special memories with us. We would appreciate it, so we may put it on our website, and Facebook.
Thank you so much for the sacrifices you made to make this an unforgettable event, and for having faith in the vision. You are a blessing!
Please forgive us if we have left anyone out. There were so many to thank.
May this 2010 give you an over flowing return for all that you have sown and given of yourself to build the kingdom.
Sincerely,
LuAnne Anderson
Founder & Publisher
Cornerstone Connection Magazine
Please visit :
www.cornerstone-connection.com
www.oneGodmovement.com
www.hynorlando.com
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