Tuesday's Volunteers

Well 3 days late isn't too terrible. I had fallen behind with work so the Berean blog wasn't updated on Tuesday so even though today is Friday this is Tuesday's news.  We had a large amount of mail again. It really is nice to see the program growing. Many many letters come in thanking the Berean Prison Ministry for the Bibles and studies.  It takes many many volunteers to get the letters read, the studies processed, the Bibles here, wrapped and mailed out and most of all the hundreds of people that give their time to grade the studies. Prisoners LOVE getting mail and look so forward to seeing how they do on their lesson. We had a one letter come back with a study that had been graded and NOTHING was written on it, not a well done, not a single mark.  This was so disappointing to the prisoner that he wrote about it AND sent his lesson back to show us. Please please people if you are grading the lessons the prisoner would really appreciate remarks on how they are doing. Some of these prisoners are lifers and don't have much to look forward to except their mail and some prisoners tell us this is the ONLY mail they receive.  Tuesday we had a very good group of volunteers. Marvin started out reading letters but when the others started arriving he was put to work on the computer.

The other Marvin was put to work opening the studies. We so much enjoy Marvin's smile. He also asks us riddles as we are working.  

 Below mom and Chuck are opening the studies and putting them in order. 

  Kathy and David are our main readers. David went into the hospital on Wednesday and they put him in intensive care. We ask for prayers for him. He is such a big part of this ministry. He not only reads for us but he is on the Berean board.

 Jeanette enjoys grading and loves to read the comments from the prisoner. If we were to vote she would be voted 'most enthusiastic!'

 Once the letters were read and all the studies processed they all moved into the other room to start stuffing and wrapping the Bibles that were to be mailed out on Tuesday. We were running a little low on Bibles so were pleased that by the time we were finished entering all the names of the prisoner wanting a Bible we had enough for all that had requested this week plus just THREE extra. That was cutting it a little close. Hopefully we can get a skidlow here by next Tuesday. 

 Bill Schick arrived to help today. Bill is the director of Berean and we are thankful when he comes to help. He comes each week to collect all the lessons and Bibles to be mailed out then takes them to the post office but sometimes he arrives after we have left the office. 

 Below mom is preparing the lunch. She is always willing to do what ever is needed and of course lunch is ALWAYS needed. 

We had a good day and I am thankful for all the help.

Come ONE Come ALL

We have Pastor Zsolt in America right now. Pastor Zsolt opened a church for the Gypsy people in Romania and the Gypsies embraced the gospel with their entire tribe.  Pastor Zsolt will be speaking at the Peoria AC Fellowship Hall THIS Friday August 24th, 2018 at 6:00 pm.  ALL are invited. If you have ever wondered why Berean sends people over to Romania, Pastor Zsolt will explain the saving of souls and the amazing transformation the Gypsies have made since they have been exposed to the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We would love to have you, please come!

6:00pm Friday Aug 24th, 2018
Peoria AC Fellowship Hall
7405 W. Route 150
Edwards, IL 61528

Late Mail

Our mail was late today and everyone got to take advantage of empty tables and no work.

Well that isn't quite true, Marvin and I worked on the certificates from last week and we had a whole crew in the other room working on folding studies and stamping envelopes. Ellen is out of town for a wedding and when Bill went down to the post office, they said he wasn't approved to pick up the Berean mail. He showed them his card, told them he was the director and is there every week dropping off Bibles and studies AND he had the box key.  Bureaucracy! When he walked into the office we all erupted into cheers.

Then went right to work to process it all. We had some computer problems and some mail problems which were time consuming.  Today we were not able to finish until around 2:00 pm. We had 120 Bible requests and over 200 studies to mail out. We took a lunch break then went right back to work. Sure was thankful for the good help today and thrilled we were able to get it all done even starting late.

Another Good Day

As I wasn't here last week it could have been a very hard day but the volunteers came anyway last week and worked until close to 4:00 pm getting everything done. A special thanks to Marvin and Robin. Marvin worked on the computer until late afternoon on Tuesday then Robin came in again on Wednesday and got the Bibles all ready to be mailed by herself.  All of that work meant this week instead of doing 2 weeks worth of mail we ONLY had to do this week. We had a really good group of volunteers today and everyone just went right to work.

Mom made the lunch today and it was really delicious.

We were finished with everything except the certificates. Hopefully those can be done next week. Marvin is gone this week and I'm not sure I can remember how to do them. It was another good day. 

Growing Again

Berean is growing again. We got back a LOT of the first set of studies which means that pretty much everyone asking for a Bible is also doing the Bible study. We needed another pallet of Bibles and Jacob brought them first thing. Below David and Jake have just finished unloading the pallet and were talking about the warehouse issues.

 We had a lot of studies come in, below Jan and Chuck are working on one table while Shirley and mom work on the other opening the studies.

 Robin was in the other room stuffing and wrapping the Bibles.

 Jeanette and David were our only readers today, although Shirley also reads when a letter comes with a study. 

 Mom is more than willing to help out where ever she is needed. Below she is working on opening the studies. She also corrects problems which is what she is doing with the pen. Her big issue is when the prisoner folds each study individually. She wants them all folded together. It makes it much easier and saves a lot of time for the opener. Now just so the prisoner knows she isn't mad, she always includes a happy face.

Marie came in with a lot of fresh produce from her garden. Marie also helps out where ever and when ever she is needed. 

 Marie usually brings help with her. Timothy, her youngest came this day to help out. He will be getting his cast off soon. 

 Below Robin is showing Jan how to run postage, always an important job. Bruce usually does this job but wasn't here Tuesday. 

 Once the Bible labels were printed the volunteers formed a chain with someone adding the return address label, someone else adding the Prisoner's name and address and another person adding the postage stamp then Robin packing them back in the boxes for Bill to take down to the post office. 

We had a good day Tuesday with everyone working hard were able to finish right around noon. I'm very thankful for the help and the prisoner anxiously waiting for his Bible should be thankful too when it arrives quickly.