Hi.  I’m one of the women in the class at SOS right now.  Why am I here?  Well, when I first started, I thought I was here to help others, and to learn new skills.  Honestly, after I have been here for a while, it’s much more than that.  It’s bringing someone special out that is inside of me.  I am here to put my life together.

Since I’ve been here, I’ve thought a lot about change.  What is change?  Change is moving from something old to something new.  It could be a place, thing, people, jobs, or just inside yourself.  In this case, I am talking about myself.

When you start having ideas to change, it is easy.  Then when you begin doing the action steps…well…it becomes very hard.  Your life is like a bunch of shoelaces all knotted up, and you don’t know where to begin or stop.   But I have discovered that God’s plan is awesome.  He puts people and things in my path to make change easier. 

Here is a scripture from Jeremiah (29:11-14) in which I hear God encouraging me:  “‘For I know that thoughts that I think toward you’, says the Lord, ‘thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.  Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.  And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.  I will be found by you’, says the Lord, ‘and I will bring you back from your captivity.’”

-SG

This week in the Getting Ahead in a Just-Gettin’-By World workbooks, our women took a thorough and unflinching look at all of their personal resources.  Each woman individually assessed her own status in the areas of financial, physical, emotional, mental, social support, relationship, spiritual, hidden rules of class, language, integrity, and motivation resources.   We understand poverty, and conversely prosperity, to be about the extent to which we have resources in all of these areas–not just finances.  And we can see how they are all intertwined–our strengths can be used to build up areas of weakness, just as crisis in one area can be a debilitating burden on the resources we are using.  There were teary eyes as women came to terms with their own situations–realized strengths they didn’t know they had, clearly saw areas that needed work, felt the intense desire for the safety and security that comes from having more resources in all these areas.  Now they are onward…planning their personal paths to prosperity one step at a time.

We were blessed to have yet another volunteer group helping out at Soup of Success for two days last week!  The !Explore program is a theological program for high school youth through AMBS, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, which is located in Elkhart.  Through this program, they explore theological questions, develop their gifts in leadership, and do service in the community.  We were thrilled that they decided to connect with the Elkhart community this year to do their service projects, and that Soup of Success was one of the agencies where they volunteered their time!  While at Soup of Success, they helped put together soup, cookie, and dip mixes and got to learn more about Church Community Services, our Client-Choice Food Pantry, and about the needs in this community. 

Below, Kent (!Explore Event Pastor) and Joseph (AMBS Campus Host) sort beans in preparation for making Ruth’s Five Bean Soup!

!Explore participants (below) putting together dip mixes.  This group assembled and tied 162 Double Chocolate Kiss of Mint cookies, wrapped 216 Santa Fe dips, assembled and tied 341 All-American Chicken & Stars soups, and assembled 274 All-American Chicken & Stars spice packets in just two afternoons!  Thanks for your help, !Explore, and we hope to see you back next year!

I received a phone call at CCS Wed. afternoon that lead to an unusual encounter.  We get many calls for help but this one was from a pair of social monks who are hitch hiking around the country for 40 days and 40 nights to document how ordinary people go the second mile in helping others.  I was skeptical at first, but after extended conversation and checking out their web site, http://www.socialmonk.com I decided to meet them and help them on the next leg of their journey.  These two young men, friends for seven years, wearing monks habits, felt called by Jesus’ ministry and teaching to make this exploratory journey.  A third young man with a video camera is documenting this journey and their many encounters with a wide range of people.  One of their discoveries–how often help came from the most unexpected sources and people.  Their appearance as “monks” has led some to offer them confessions they never expected to hear.  They are finding that people are basically good and want to help.  When their documentary is completed it will be on youtube which can be accessed through their web site.
-Dean

Here’s what several of the women in the current class at SOS had to say when asked, “What are you most proud of in being at SOS?”

“What I am most proud of having at Soup of Success is Money Management class, because that class has helped me manage my income and has helped me save money out of every check and pay my bills on time.  I also spend less money than I make.” -LW

“I am proud to be chosen and be part of Soup of Success.  The different skills and life training I’ve had here cannot be paid for with any amount.  Tears of joy and tears of sorrow fall down from each others’ eyes.  Soup of Success is my life now and leads me to be a super woman.” -RC

“Going through Money Management has made it so I look at my finances and bills very differently.  I’m also getting in touch with my inner self…a task all in itself!”   - AR

“What I am most proud of in coming to Soup of Success is that the staff here are very involved with the participants.  They care for where we may go in the future.  Learning about myself is awesome and fun.  The only thing is sometimes the truth hurts when you face it.” -SG

“I am so proud to be a part of SOS.  It really blows my mind that 3 little letters can mean so much and have so much packed into it!” - FA

“I have learned so much that I never knew about before.  Things  that help me everyday and will help me out in the real world.   It feels so good to be able to feel me changing week by week.”  - WS

“I am proud that I have made it to this point of the program regardless of my barriers.  I am proud of making new friends and learning beneficial life lessons from the best and friendliest staff in town.  Last but not least, I am glad to have shed some pounds from walking to and from work every day, from the other side of town.”  - DR

“I am proud of finding my strength and wisdom.  It helped to stop and look inside of myself.  With a little more help, I hope to find happiness too.”  -DM

In the month of June, 155 individuals provided 436 hours of volunteer time assisting with soup production!  Groups included Fabric Services, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Waypoint Community Church, Southside Fellowship Church, Prairie Street Mennonite Church, Church of the Living Word, River Oaks Community Church, First UMC of Goshen, Current & former employees of the Department of Family Services, Wednesday’s Table - 1st Presbyterian Church & the Catholic Heart Youth Work Camp.

Thank you to members of “Wednesday’s Table” small group from 1st Presbyterian Church in Elkhart for coming and helping us make soup mixes!

Youth from all over the country gather each summer for the Catholic Heart Work Camp.  Each year, SOS is blessed to get one of the teams for 4 days during camp.  This year, the youth were invaluable help with SOS soup & dip production,  yard work, and moving “extra” stuff from the current building to the new CCS warehouse.   It’s great to be able to spend some extended time with this group each year and get to know themo n a more personal level.

One of my all-time favorite, summer things to do is spending the weekend at the lake with friends.  This past weekend was the first “Lake weekend” of the summer, and it was wonderful!  We typically have a few guests popping in and out, and we like to have stuff on hand that is easy to prepare and won’t take up valuable time from enjoying the lake itself.  I decided to whip up a batch of our SOS Turtle Brownies to have on hand.  (Did you know that all you need to do is add 1/3 C. of hot water to the mix and stir it up? - EASY!)

So I went to pop them in the oven and realized that the oven had not preheated, and in fact, was not working - at all.

My husband Mike, ever the creative problem solver, threw the pan of brownie batter on the grill and they turned out wonderful! 

We ate grilled brownies all weekend long and got tons of compliments!

If you try this at home, be sure to not place the pan directly over coals, and move it around 4 or 5 times during baking.  We had to add another 10 minutes to the baking time on the recipe card, and it helped to keep the cover of the grill on. 

Next time, we are going to grill potato soup…

Enjoy your summer!     - Betsy

The Board of Directors of Church Community Services (CCS), the local joint outreach effort of some 50 churches in Elkhart County, has appointed Theodore (Ted) Z. Stanley as Director of Development for the 40-year old organization.

Stanley has had a career as a fundraising professional executive that has spanned more than 35 years. He began his career with the Glenmary Home Missioners’ Development Office, a Roman Catholic home mission group headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio.

This was followed with 15 years of service with Church World Service, the overseas relief and development agency of some 35 Protestant, Orthodox and Anglican communions. This began with his appointment as Ohio CWS/CROP Regional Director, working out of Columbus, Ohio. He then was asked to come to the Elkahrt National Office of CWS, where he was instrumental in adding Direct Mail and Planned Giving Programs to the traditional support bases of special events (i.e. the CROP Hunger Walks), along with denominational and governmental support for the work of Church World Service. Most recently he has been president of his own fundraising company, Stanley Associates.

In his new position, Stanley will be manager of the Capital Campaign recently launched by Church Community Services to add much needed space for the agency’s food pantry, crisis assistance, and Soup of Success, a women’s empowerment Job and Life Skills Training Program.

He can be reached at 574.361.9910 or at the agency’s number: 574.295.3673.

The above is a truth spoken in one of Maya Angelou’s poems, which the graduates, staff and volunteer mentors of Soup of Success recite together at our monthly reunion nights, celebrating our shared support, our sisterhood of success. 

Last Thursday night, I basked in the synergy of 30 different women from all over our community–ages 23 to 84–retirees, professionals, job seekers, homemakers, students, women with disabilities, service and retail workers–married mothers, single women, single mothers, grandmothers, great-grandmothers, step-mothers, and women with no children–teachers, gardeners, entrepreneurs, scientists, readers, nurses and artists–So different from each other, from different circles, and yet one in our understanding of the power of women and the power of women together.

We ate taco salads and cookies prepared by Elkhart Valley Church of the Brethren.  We made a rainbow of clay figures with which to introduce ourselves to the group.  We played silly question games.

I particularly enjoyed watching our new mentoring pairs meet one another.  Each woman at SOS is matched with a volunteer from the community who agrees to be an encouraging support on the path of growth, building resources and economic security, pursuing dreams.  I’m excited for them to discover each other’s gifts, to see life and our community through new lenses, to find new parts of themselves.   Their introductions were inevitably slightly awkward, but by the end of the evening, they were sharing laughter, encouragements and phone numbers. 

I smiled watching the seasoned mentoring pairs surrounding our new pairs, knowing the stories they’ve shared, the problems they’ve solved, the successes they’ve celebrated.

This, after all, is one of the secrets of success.  Join with others.  Assemble your team. 

You don’t have to go it alone.

For more information about mentoring at Soup of Success, click here.

I look forward to hearing from you.

-Kathy

The  2008 Spring “Tea with Ruth and Friends” was held on May 3 at Living Faith Fellowship Church in Elkhart.  This year’s tea raised $3045 for CCS and it’s  Soup Of Success program, over $400 more than the last Spring tea! 

 Jack Donis serves tea with a smile.

One of the unique opportunities available at the Teas are free car rides with Steve Stoner (below) and his beautiful antique car.  Steve attends both the Spring & Christmas teas and is available to answer questions, pose with pictures, and even chauffer you on a little jaunt around the neighborhood.

The 1927 Model A Ford drew attention parked outside of the Living Faith Fellowship Church in Elkhart.

Don & Ruth Rockwell (pictured below) are long term supporters of Church Community Services.  Don, a former CCS Board member, works as a part time client counselor working directly with clients in crisis.  Don also serves as the Financial Officer, managing our books and fiances.  In 2006, Don was named CCS’ “Volunteer of the Year”.  Ruth leads a team of over 100 volunteers in implementing (2) Victorian fundraising teas each year.  In addition to the many “labor-of-love” hours dedicated to tea preparation, Ruth also serves as the Congregational Partner (liason) for River Oaks Community Church.  In 2007, Ruth was awarded the Soup Of Success “Souperwoman Award”  in recognition for going above and beyond.

There are plenty of activities available for the littler tea guests as well including:  children’s crafts, face painting, games, and of course - tea!

Tea goers are delighted by the wide array of amazing delicacies available.  There are even people on hand to explain what each item is along with information of it’s origin and history.  Tremendous treats to delight both young and old!

Along with the admission fee of $5 and a canned good for the CCS pantry, “Tea Baskets” are one of the ways that the tea raises funds for the agency.  All but 4 of the 142 gift baskets made for the event were sold.  The baskets were available in all sizes and themes.  Whether you were looking for a special mother’s day gift, or something for baby, anniversary, birthday, etc., you were sure to find a unique, affordable gift for every need.

Below, members of a local Red Hat Society club browse through the themed baskets available for sale.

Already, the tea volunteers are hard at work on the Christmas tea.  Mark your calendars for December 6, 2008!