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April 2011
Bridges to Sudan in The Community
Thank you,Thank you,Thank you!

Dear Sharon,

This special edition of our Newsletter is being sent to highlight our shining stars who keep us afloat at Bridges....  God has faithfully sent the right people for the right reasons at the right time. Volunteers are ALWAYS the backbone of any organization but especially to Bridges.    Since we do not receive any private or government funding, we could not survive any other way.  
 
Some of the comments our volunteers have shared about volunteering are shown below:
  • "It gives us an opportunity to share our love of Jesus with all the people who may not know Him!"
  • "When we volunteer we  always get far more than we give to the other person/people!"
  • "The memories we receive in volunteering can never be  taken from us.  They are carried in our hearts forever!"
  • "We teach those we serve by example, and now the Sudanese are volunteering to give back to others!
  • "We learn from each other when we work together as a team."
  • "Bringing our talents and strengths together to help others is a wonderful gift - why not share it?"

May you see some of what has been done by extraordinary people..................  Enjoy!

 

Joyfully in His service, always and all ways

Momma Chol  (aka Sharon Svihel)

Volunteer Spotlight!!! - Janet Reiprish

Janet Reiprish
Janet Reiprish and Sawsan Ali volunteering as a team
Janet Reiprish - volunteer with Bridges to Sudan since January, 2010
  
Janet is a one-of-a-kind volunteer.  Not only does she help at Bridges in a variety of ways, but she also is very active on Christ Church Mandarin's Mission Team, is a Team Leader in the nursery at the church, AND she currently holds the position of stateside contact for Mid-India Christian Mission in Damoh, India.  She is responsible for helping raise financial support for approximately 120 disabled children.  She also helps the son of the missionaries whoreside in India.  He is going to school here in Jacksonville and she always helps him with errands and fulfilling his needs as required.
  
Janet continues to use her great time management skills to be a listening ear for many, many friends and family members. She is an absolute delight and shares her positive attitude with everyone she comes in contact with.  
  
Here at Bridges, Janet is a jack-of-all trades.  Nothing is too big a challenge and she has been a blessing to many of the refugees helping with medical appts, running errands for them, helping take them to legal and immigration appts, and just being a 'friend' to those in need. She loves the children and has helped with them as needed too.  We often see the children running from one end of the church to the other to greet her.  And she in return, has a great big bear -hug for them! And this, my friends, is what gives others a sense of love and security.  
  
Janet is heading up our PGA Birdies for Charities fundraising event again this year.  Thanks to her help we have been able to support the PGA and this in turn has helped us raise donations which have been critically needed for  emergency needs of our clients. (If you are interested in helping please visit www.birdiesforcharity.playerschampionship.com to participate but don't wait!  The deadline date for this is May 11.  All monies donated are actually given to Bridges to Sudan). 
  
When asked if she had any advice for someone who hasn't volunteered she shared her favorite quote from a Helen Steiner Rice poem: "The more you do unselfishly, the more you live abundantly.... For only what you give away... enriches you from day to day" 
Snippets from wonderful volunteers in action 
  
Please take a minute to enjoy the pics and notes included about many of the volunteers who help ...
  
LET'S CONTINUE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE AND HELP OTHERS REACH THEIR POTENTIAL HERE AND OVERSEAS!

 

Nhial

 

Nhial Kou, is one of our volunteer Board Members for Bridges to Sudan.  He has been integral in helping with interpreting, providing counsel and in providing information about the Sudan when we need help with these issues.  Nhial is a fulltime employee at World Relief Organization and works at Swisher Int'l Inc too.

 


Santa
  
Santa visited a Sudanese family during the holidays.  He also has a special talent building our website and helping with the distribution of documents.  Thank you, Mr. Joe Merkley!

 


  Pappa Dave
  
Looks like another comic is helping the Sudanese ladies at the holidays!  Pappa David, that's some 'get up'!

 


Three Sudanese KidsThese are 3 very special Sudanese kids who love to help and make a difference. 
Thank you to the Elmahi teens, Ayoup, for helping with administrative and hands-on projects, Elizabeth and Nesritt for your help with field trips and now with cards, and filing and who-knows-what!  You're a blessing and in return you get to have Pappa Dave's  cooking and conversation!  Wow! 
  

 


UNF Panel
  
UNF Honors Panel Liz Granite and  Debbie Ansbacher volunteered their time on a panel with UNF Honors Students.  This type of presentation serves to educate and provide awareness about the entire refugee community including the Sudanese.

 


Cornelius Duot

 

Volunteer Cornelius Duot helps with presentations at churches, schools and other opportunities to talk with children about the great education system we have in the US and tells about things in a 3rd world country.   He is a fulltime student and a CNA at Cathedral Gerontology fulltime since 1996.  He received honor when he graduated at FSCJ and is now enrolling in the nursing program.  His dream is to continue helping people with their medical needs, here and overseas.

 


 Tina Jaeckle & Falma Moses

 

Dr. Tina Jaeckle, Founder of Bridges to Sudan, and Falma Moses, both volunteer in many areas.   Here they were helping with an awareness project at Works of Art where Bridges was presented with a check for our community work.

 


 

 

Anna Baumann

 

Anna Baumann and  Freedom Blast 2010 Catherine VanCleve Baumann are mother and daughter team. Anna developed a Bridges to Sudan club at Episcopal High School and Catherine helps with transportation and communication for their project work.

 


 

Where would the children be without you?  And the families?  Thank you so much for making a big difference in teaching social skills and providing times for the children to have fun and other times when they were giving back to their parents!

 

Volunteer Opportunties! 
We are in need of helping hands. If you are able to help, please go to our website to download the application and mail it in to us!

We are looking for help with the following:
  • Grant research
  • Grant Writing
  • Fundraising Ideas
  • New Fundraising Events
  • Collecting items for the holidays

Please contact Momma Chol with any questions at

904-731-7143 (office)

Issue: VI
Sudanese Girl
In This Issue
Volunteer Spotlight
Snippets from wonderful volunteers in action
Projects: Book & Bracelet
Business Partners
Volunteer Opportunities

PROJECTS  

War Torn Sudan

This book contains the heart-touching story of Simon Monytou Arop of Southern Sudan compiled and written by Rev. Henry Munyori of Africa wheels of Hope (K) in Kenya.

 

Simon's wishes are to inform the world at large of the War Torn Sudan which affected Southern Sudan's people for more than two decades. Sudanese refugees have gone through very hard times as the world spectates.

 

As a refugee, Simon has stayed in Ethiopia for 3 years, then in Kenya where he obtained his primary and secondary education. He is now an American citizen who will not settle until he finds Sudan established and liberated.

 

If you are interested in supporting Simon's passions to help in the Sudan and purchase the book for *$10.00




Bracelet

Bracelet that is being sold for *$3 and monies raised are being used to feed the starving children of Sudan. For more information on this project or to purchase, click link below.


BUSINESS PARTNERS  

Fazzini's

By making a purchase from Fazzini's you can support us! With every purchase Fazzini's plants a tree and donates a portion of the profit to Bridges.   

This is a great way to give back to the community while enjoying gourmet beverages.



Pepsico

PGA's Nationwide Open to support Bridges to Sudan. All of the money used to purchase tickets from the link below will be donated to BTS. For $25 you can attend the tournament everyday.  Tell your friends and family.




Want to Learn More About Making a Difference?  

 

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830-13 A1A North #108 | Ponte Vedra Beach, FL 32082
 
Phone 904.731.7143
  

© 2010 BRIDGES TO SUDAN: is a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization. Donations and contributions are tax-deductible as allowed by law.

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