It’s Show and Tell Day!! I think I love these days almost as much as my kids love getting to take a toy to school and share it with their class! I’m linking up with my girl, Andrea, to show and tell you a little more about myself. 🙂
Today the topic is….
Mission Trips or Service Organizations
To be honest, I’ve never been on a far from home mission trip. When I was younger, I never had the desire to go. So I’d help out with local things…backyard bible clubs, giveaways at our church, and that kind of thing. Now, I’d love to go on one to share the love of Christ with others in a far away country. It’s on my Bucket List. 🙂 When my children are older, (and more self sufficient) sign me up!! 🙂
But for now, there are PLENTY of ways we can share Christ and serve! *I must note that I’m not saying the Slaughters are great at this kind of thing. We definitely need to be doing LOTS MORE of serving than we do. This is just a list of some of the things we do, have done or have been a part of in the past…
*Serving in Our Church-probably the easiest way to get involved in your church is to SERVE. Maybe that’s the children’s ministry, the welcome desk, or helping park cars. It looks different for all of us-the hands and feet, right? We can’t all be the hands or the ears. 🙂
*Fellowship of Christian Athlets (FCA)-A sweet family from our church became really involved with FCA at the exact same time another random friend was encouraging Tab to get involved. God works in mysterious ways, right?? For the last year or two, we (mainly Tab) has been involved with our local FCA chapter. They’re doing AMAZING things!
*Angel Tree-This program is run through the Salvation Army. Every year children whose families need some assistance with some Christmas cheer are placed on trees all over our city. (I’m sure you have this in your city too.) We choose an angel or two and help their parents provide an awesome Christmas for their kiddos.
*Taking a Meal-This one seems to be the easiest for me. I think because I have to feed my own people, so why not feed another family at the same time, right? My group of friends is crazy encouraging. If you are sick, have a baby, or are just having a horrible week…my people are going to bring you a meal. I love being a part of a group of girls who is so uplifting!!
*Mission Regan-This nonprofit organization was started by an amazing couple (and also one of the funniest couples) in our Sunday School class. They collect supplies, medical equipment, and medication and send them all over the world. They’re bridging the gap between people who have too much and those who barely have enough to survive. They also share Christ with every individual they’re encountering. Awesome Ministry!!
*Operation Christmas Child-This is the program where you choose a boy/girl and the age. You fill a box with lots of goodies and it gets shipped overseas to spread Christmas cheer to children literally all over the world.
*Love in a Bag-This is one the Slaughters are currently working on. I know I saw this somewhere on the internet so I can’t take the credit. 🙂 But this weekend we were in Kansas City and several times encountered homeless people. Every single time we saw someone who was holding a sign, Ebby Lee had SO many questions. I love that her mind was working and she was trying to figure out ways to help them. We came up with the idea of making “Love in a Bag”. We’re going to fill some bags in our car with things like bottled water, toothpaste, toothbrush, food, and a blanket. Any time we see someone homeless, we can give them our “Love in a Bag”. We talked about this on the way home from Kansas City and when we arrived we had two wrapped random blankets from drug reps sitting on our front porch. I have NO idea who put them there, but my first thought was, “They’ll be GREAT for our bags!”.
Now it’s your turn!! I’d LOVE to incorporate more ways for our family to serve and be more mission minded. Please send me your ideas!!
Have a GREAT day!! XOXO
Join us next time when we share our Christmas Decorations!
If you’ve wanted to learn more about R + F, now is the time!! My team is having an online party on Thursday night! There will be incentives and lots of information if you’re interested in hearing more. If you’d like to be a part of it, please comment with your FB name and I’ll make sure to invite you to the party. I love a party where I can be in my pajamas. Don’t you? 🙂
The Love in a Bag is amazing! My mom first did that with us YEARS ago and now my husband and I are going to do it as well!
I love the ideas!! The Shull kids need to try some of these too!
What a great idea!! The love in a bag is perfect–thanks for sharing!! Xoxo
LOVE IN A BAG is so cool! We are going to have to do that too!
Do you read the Upper Room daily devotions? Today it's all about God's place for me and serving. You are so right when you say you can serve close to home as well. Thanks for the ideas! 😊
Love in a Bag… I need to start this with my kids. It's the perfect intro to service for young children. GREAT IDEA!! 🙂
This is a super inspiring post….especially this time of year. I am always looking for ways to be a better servant and for my kids to be involved as well. Definitely going to look into some more of these programs!
Great ideas! Our small group did "Love in a Bag" last winter (but we didn't have that great name for it;)Each family bought items and we got together and divvied them up into bags and each family took some to keep in their cars in case they encountered a homeless person. So many ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus!
Love in a Bag is great! I need to make one. My mom recently gave me a sample she had of RF paste and I fell in love with how it made my face feel. Would love to learn more! Laci Murray is my Facebook name! Look forward to hearing more.
Your ideas are great! We have been meaning to put together "blessing bags" similar to your idea and have in the car…but just haven't yet. I need to get on it! I also pass the same lady every morning selling our homeless paper on the corner, and I want to roll down my window, ask her name and hear her story – but I have been so apprehensive. These posts are encouraging me to get to it!
Love in a Bag – this is my favorite! Kids truly want to help and I love that you are giving her a way to show love to others. And, the blankets being on the porch?! Totally a God thing! 🙂
We love the angel tree! We "adopt" a little boy and a little girl every year and shower them with gifts.
I love all of your other ideas as well!
My aunt does the same thing for homeless people. I've always meant to do make a couple of bags and keep them in the car. Summer time is a no-go on that, but right now is a perfect time. She would but water bottles, canned food (with the pop top), peanut butter crackers, wipes, toothbrush/toothpaste, and a few other goodies.
Missions in our own community are JUST as important as international missions. As believers, we are called to be missionaries every day! Love your sweet heart, Erika!