Tuesday's News on Saturday

The camera was left at the Berean office Tuesday. It was picked up on Wednesday but there was so much other work to get done that this blog just got skipped until now. So this is Tuesday's news on Saturday.  We had a smaller group of volunteers Tuesday as some of our volunteers are on vacation and some were at TAG.  That didn't seem to matter we still got everything done and in good time.

 The studies were opened and processed with the help of  mom, Vonnie, Glenna, Shirley, Ray and Shirley.

 Jeanette and Mark did most of the reading of letters with Shirley helping them when needed. As soon as the studies were finished our group started wrapping Bibles. 

 Bill came in to run the postage machine and after that was done he and Mark loaded his car with Bibles and studies he was sending to Galveston Texas along with the Bibles we were mailing out.

We worked efficiently and joyfully and were glad to finish before lunch. Another good day!

Letters

One of the first letters Marvin opened this morning had to be read out loud and when he was finished reading the letter we all burst out laughing. 

 The letter stated that the prisoner wanted a Bible and wanted to start the Bible study because he heard after finishing all 50 lessons he would get a certificate AND $100.00.

 That just isn't true.  We are not sure where he would have heard that but can you imagine how big this program would grow if it was true!

In the picture below Vonnie has mom and Shirley stuffing envelopes while she keeps it all organized.

 In the other room Jeanette, Marvin and Kathy were all busy working on letters while Bill and Mark worked on the computers. 

 After all the mail was processed, we all went into the other room to start wrapping Bibles for today's mailing.

It wasn't until after lunch that Marvin shared some of another letter and asked us to pray for this prisoner. So I'm asking you or anyone that reads this to pray also. This man is in prison for murder, he admits to murdering the couple (his relatives) that took him in to live with them after he was released from jail. He wants help, needs help, he writes that he thinks he is going crazy.  Please pray that this man could turn his life, heart and soul over to Jesus who can and will forgive even the vilest of sinners and heal his mind. He will still suffer the consequence of his actions but will no longer be in the clutches of the evil deceiver who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

The Fall

Our day at the Berean office was not quite as expected. It started great. We had plenty of help. Below are a few pictures.

 Marvin's wife Gale baked us a couple of pumpkin pies. Now Gale's pies are not made with canned pumpkin and of course she makes her own crust.  WE ALL enjoyed that special dessert. 

We had another good productive day at the Berean office but at the very end, just as we were finishing up lunch mom fell. She was leaving a little early to take her car to Peoria Tire and Vulcanizing to get the tires checked and the oil changed, grabbed her purse and coat and turned quickly, tripped coming out of the hallway and fell face down, putting a big goose egg on her forehead, smashing her nose into the concrete floor, and cutting her hand. Her glasses didn't break but cut her nose when she slammed down. She was bleeding quite bad and had to stay down until we could get the bleeding stopped. When she was able to sit up and we thought maybe get to the car, she had to lay down before she fainted. Mark Kieser helped get her onto the floor.  Bill Schick helped clean up the blood then drove mom's car to Peoria Tire. Chuck Hemmer followed him then brought Bill back to the Berean office to get his car.  When mom felt a little better she was helped into my car and taken home, given an ice pack for her forehead and nose, an Aleve for the pain and settled into her chair for a nap.  One never knows how the day is going to end.

Really Good Group

We had a really good group of volunteers today at the Berean office. Each person knows what to do and how to keep everything running smoothly. We didn't have as much mail as last week but had plenty of work to keep everyone busy until lunch. Below are a few pictures of the morning.

The next time we will be working in this office is Tuesday Jan 14th and we welcome anyone that wants to help.

Wrong Day but Great Volunteers

Our Berean day is always a Tuesday but with New Years Eve landing on a Tuesday and so many of our volunteers had plans that day we decided to meet on Monday this week.  We had 270 studies come in that needed to be processed and 71 Bible requests and with the 5 of us working we had everything done, including lunch by 1:30 pm. Glenna not only had to open the mail she also had to run the postage machine.

 Marvin got almost all of the letters read while Mark and I were processing studies. Once we finished with the studies Mark helped Marvin read letters. 

 Chuck was kept busy applying labels and we sure had a lot of those.

We were all pleased when the last envelope was sealed and the last Bible wrapped, labeled, stamped and boxed up for Bill. Bill arrived to haul everything down to the post office around 1:15 pm and caught us eating lunch.  After lunch Marvin worked on the certificates and backing up the computers.  What a good productive day!

Check Back After Christmas

We had another good day at the Berean office getting lots of mail processed and quite a few Bibles mailed out. Marvin couldn't make it today as there were baptisms at the jail. Mark also couldn't make it as he wasn't home yet from Gulf Shores. When Shirley walked in she was told that she had to be a letter reader today.  She wasn't happy but still smiled and went right to work.

 She was very pleased when Kathy showed up. The two of them got all the letters read today.

We were very glad for each person that volunteered today. 

 Vonnie, Chuck, Ray, Glenna, Shirley and Joyce were busy opening and processing the studies.

Bill was busy using the postage machine.

 As soon as the studies were ready for stuffing the group headed out where Robin had everything organized. Robin also brought in a delicious treat of home made candies. 

We had everything done by noon and enjoyed a nice lunch together before heading out.  There will be  NO WORK at the BEREAN OFFICE on DEC 24th.  We will try to fit one more volunteer day before the end of the year so check back after CHRISTMAS.  Praying everyone has a wonderful Christmas day celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. 

Small Group Big Results

We had a smaller group of volunteers than usual but we got a lot done. Of course it helped that Robin came. Below Marvin is showing her which printer to use with that computer to print out more studies. Robin keeps our bins full and that is not a small job.

Ray, Shirley and Shirley opened and processed the study mail.

 While Marvin and Jeanette read letters. 

 Bill is always glad to see everyone helping out. He takes all the studies and Bibles to the post office for mailing.  Today he told us how he was able to save thousands of dollars. We needed to order more Bibles and he was on the phone with the publisher and got a pretty decent price for the Bibles we have been sending out but just felt that he needed to wait. Not long after he got on the website and found these same Bibles were placed on sale with a savings of $1.50 off the price of each Bible he was quoted. He ordered 7000 of them. We should have enough Bibles for a while.

As soon as all the studies were all opened and labels applied they went into the other room where Robin had everything organized for stuffing envelopes and wrapping Bibles. 

We easily got done by noon today. We were enjoying our lunch when Lukie came in with a big treat. The TAG group had ordered too much food and she was here to share it with us. We enjoyed the thumbprint cookies and special brownies. A big thank you to the TAG ladies!