The Blessings of Last Christmas

Download a PDF of the original February 29, 2020 newsletter complete with pictures.

February 29th 2020

Dear Faithful Supporter:

Thank you so much for your generous support to the children in Africa and Appalachia. I am excited to say that your donations and designations of Christmas gifts to these two groups enabled us to bless the children and their families in both places. 62 children in calf Creek Hollow receive Christmas stockings, socks, deodorants, gift cards, fruit and other needed items because of your generosity (see pictures). the children were so excited and appreciative to have something for Christmas.

We were able to provide the students (200) at Hope Academy school in Nairobi, Kenya a Christmas meal that fed 1200 people (the children and their families) as well as give a monetary gift to the teachers and staff who volunteer their time every day of the year to take care of the students because poverty is so great. There is never any money to pay the serving teachers, but because of your generosity we were able to give a gift of $50 to each teacher and staff member (10) as a thank-you for their selfless giving. The children were given bags that contained fruit along with candy. The pastor had a Christmas story for the children and shared the gospel with the people. Many made a decision to follow Christ because of the experience that they have had that God cares for them due to your faithful support. You are definitely the hands and feet of Jesus to these people who have nothing except for their faith.

Your gifts provided for support for these families through the end of February. Now we need your help again. Please give deeply so we can continue to help your children and the 62 children in the hollows. Help us find a way to save their church. Thank you in advance for your help and your donations. I greatly appreciate your willingness to bring light and hope to dark places.

Sincerely yours,

Marsha J Grahek, President

Christmas 2019 awaits…

Download a PDF of the original November 8, 2019 newsletter here.

November 8th 2019

Dear Faithful Supporter:

During this Thanksgiving season, I want to thank each of you for your continued support to the 200 children in Nairobi, Kenya and to the 60 children in Inez, Kentucky in the hollows. I feel an overwhelming sense of gratitude as I think about the impact we have made together on the lives of these children and families. This season the children and their families are going to bed with a sense of excitement and expectation because you have shown them over and over again that you are faithful in your support for them. I remember last year the wonder and excitement that the children in Kenya felt as each one held a gift in his or her little hands of small bags of popcorn, bubbles, and candy. To us it may seem such a small thing, to them it was a major miracle.

We took school supplies, food, shoes, clothes, coats, lap blankets and many other items to the Cow Creek Hollow children this summer. We want to be able to provide them once again this Christmas with math Essentials, undergarments and other items that many times they go without due to their circumstances of extreme poverty. Remember, 90 cents out of every dollar you said goes directly to the support of each children.

As the Christmas season approaches, or organization is already in prayer for the children and families that depend on us for any type of Christmas blessing. I am asking for you to give deeply and help create a special Christmas miracle for these children. Please help us once again provide a Christmas meal for the 200 children that attend and their families. Also help us provide food and small gifts for the 60 children in calf Creek Hollow. We also need donations for support for these children in the upcoming year. Thank you in advance for your help in your donation. Please know that I’ve always appreciative of any size gift that you can give. Thanks again for making the Christmas season a special time for these children. Without you, these children would have nothing.

Sincerely yours,

Marsha J Grahek, President

Appreciation for the blessings of Christmas 2018

Download a PDF of the original February 2019 newsletter complete with pictures here.

February 20, 2019

Dear Faithful Supporters:

Greetings to you from the children at Hope Academy in Nairobi, Kenya and the children at Calf Creek Hollow in Inez, Kentucky! The children are still elated about their special Christmas celebration this year. The celebrations for both groups of children was truly a miracle!

At the beginning of December, when I looked at Project Respect’s available bank account balance, I spent much time in prayer reminding God that he loved all these children more than I did and that there was no more money available for any type of Christmas celebration this year. Both groups were praying along with me and my board for a miracle. And as always, God is never late. Project Respect received a donation from In His Steps International Ministries that was a supernatural provision! The donation allowed us to provide gifts for the 55 children in Appalachia and also for the Christmas meal for the 200 children that attend Hope Academy in Nairobi, Kenya. There were 1,075 children and family members that attended the Christmas meal. I have attached pictures so you can see what a blessed Christmas they had! (I haven’t received pictures from Kentucky, yet.) Don’t worry, each of your donations was very important to make sure the children receive daily food and support!

Along with food and soft drinks we were able to provide each child with their own small paper bag filled with popcorn, candy, and bubbles. The children were absolutely amazed since they do not have anything like that they can call their own. This was the first year that we were able to provide more than just a meal. We were also able to provide the workers with $20 each and the message that God cares about them and He has not forgotten them. There was much singing and dancing at the school and church with the tangible evidence that God had not forgotten them and loves them dearly!

There was also rejoicing going on at the Homecoming Church in Inez, Kentucky as the children in the hollows received much needed socks, toiletries, clothes as well as longed-for toys that they never dreamed they would get. They, too, understood that the Christmas gifts were a result of God’s great love for them.

I need your help once again. Christmas is over and the children still need your help and support. Please help us again to provide for these children. Their belief in your love and concern about their welfare is unwavering. You have proved to them that you will not abandon them. Please send your most generous donation so we can create another miracle! From the bottom of my heart, I say “thank-you”!

Sincerely yours,

Marsha J. Grahek, President