Hello family and friends,

Justin and I are going to Mississippi in a few weeks, from November 5-9, with Grace Church of Ridgewood to volunteer in The Mendenhall Ministries (TMM).

TMM’s Mission: To break the cycle of poverty in the lives of at-risk people through a holistic ministry that demonstrates love and facilitates reconciliation through the body of Christ.

TMM’s Programs: TMM purchased and facilitated the development of a 120-acre farm, a Christian school, the first Head Start program in the county, a recreation center, thrift store, law office, healthcare center, low-income housing, and elderly housing. They run a volunteerministry that provides opportunities for Christians to demonstrate the love of Jesus and assist in the process of improving the quality of life of the people in rural Mississippi, promoting reconciliation between black and white, rich and poor, and expanding the horizons of volunteers by facilitating life-changing experiences.

TMMs programs not only provide services to the residents of south-central Mississippi counties but also serve as models for other communities to learn from. Justin and I look forward to the opportunity to serve alongside the TMM staff as they serve their community. We pray the Lord equips us on this trip with a hunger and openness to learn from the experience and to grow further in our love for the Lord and in our compassion and love for his precious children.

Everything we raise goes toward transporting ourselves and our equipment down to Mississippi and for supplies we need for the work we will be doing. Any left over money will go towards improving their quality of life. Last year we were able to buy a new kitchen stove for one of the staff residences.