Friday, January 21, 2011

I'm making my baby's blanket!





















The edging you see on this first image is going to be cordinating ribbon loops.  :)  The brown and white spaces on the other image (as well as the lettering on the other image) will be chocolate and white minkie fabric.  I cannot wait to get this project done.  I think it's going to turn out FANTASTIC!

Wednesday, January 19, 2011

It's 2011 and I am just now getting back to this blog??

Wow!
I honestly cannot believe how time flies. It amazes me that I have been so bad at blogging since my last post. Hopefully with this new year, new habits will be form which will result in new blog posts.
What is Matthew 25:40 Ministries been up to since the last post? Below are just a few highlights that will give you a brief idea.
2009 - The rest of 2009 was a bit slow where ministry was concerned. My family and I took some much needed time of relaxation and down time. We despirately needed it. I did make contacts with a church in Murfreesboro, Tennessee called "World Outreach Church" where Pink Cross was concerned. The ministry coordinator and I spoke on possibilities of getting other women involved with PCFactory by means of crocheting and knitting items for outreaches.
2010 - In the spring of 2010, I found a box of things I had started to make for Pink Cross before my break. I spent most of the spring and part of the summer finishing up those projects.
For example, there were 20+ make up bags that needed zippers and liners installed, partially finished scarves and hats. I was able to get those done and set them aside for the 2010 Christmas Box Outreach. I was also able to make key fob key chains and other smaller items for outreach use, too!


In June of 2010 my husband and I received the news that our family of 4 would be expanding! We are currently 7.5 weeks away from welcoming our third son into this world. As a result, the summer of 2010 was very slow moving as I was experiencing the lovely symptoms of the first trimester of pregnancy. I was able to finish up some of the projects mentioned before but nothing new was started.
Fall and Winter of 2010 I began to branch out and make contacts with local women's groups in order to share the mission and focus of The Pink Cross Foundation and PCFactory (the part of Matthew 25:40 Ministries which helps Pink Cross). My goal was to educate the women on the distruction and abuse the men and women of the industry experience DAILY and call them to action for the their sake. I have had the joy of speaking to Celebrate Recovery groups and women's sunday school groups at First Baptist Church of Manchester, Tennessee. The response from this church has been refreshing. I have been able to take full boxes into their church, have women gather around the boxes and pray blessings and annointing over the lives which the items inside would be delivered to. We have prayed for those who struggle with sex addiction as well. One women's group sponsered the Christmas Outreach by paying for the shipping to get all supplies out to California to be handed out. Still others have signed up for crochet clinics to learn patters for items we are currently producing such as amigurumi teddy bears, PCFactory hats, scarves and art journals. On the 27th of this month, we will have one more "sit and do" gathering where people will bring their incomplete PCFactory products to finish up so we can add to the inventory we currently have which will be shipped out at a moment's notice.
There have been other local business women who have helped out the Pink Cross and PCFactory as well this winter.

Thirty-One Gifts: At an open house on the 2nd of January, I met with a consultant who helped organize a special shipment out to California. The January special for Thirty-One Gifts were the small and medium thermal totes for $8.00 each and embroidery for just $1.50 on those items. That's $9.50 for each item which would have normally been around $17 each! Praise God! We sat and discussed fabric patterns, embroidery style and color and encouraging words/sayings that would convey the love of Christ, PCFactory and The Pink Cross to anyone who received one.

Creative Memories: At this same open house, a CM consultant helped me to pick out amazing printed papers, stickers, etc to be used to create handmade Valentine's Day cards for the girls. She also offered the use of any of her person tools and supplies to help with the completion of this project. Isn't that amazing?? She also offered to purchase the items at cost so that our ministry funds would be stretched that much further. The generousity just amazes me.

I've even had a teen here helping to make handmade gift bags for Christmas items such as hot cocoa, apple cider, body wash, lotions, etc.
What do I expect for 2011? That's a good question. 2010 was a good year but this year I am going to change things up a bit. I plan to let God lead the way this year. I believe that when we step in and do things on our own initiative, we hinder what God might have in store for us and our ministries. Though amazing things happened for us, though many stepped up to help, I regret that I probably jumped the gun on some projects and as a result, they probably weren't as amazing as they could have been.
Most importantly, I am going to begin keeping an inventory of items for Pink Cross to use in their outreaches. Instead of relying on my own plans, deadlines and abilities to get a certain projects done, I plan to create items and keep a rolling total of items available to send. I believe this will eleminate my prideful tendancies to overwork myself and others in order to get unrealistic goals accomplished. So many times I have felt defeated because I have fallen short on my own goals of what I have wanted to reach as far as numbers of items sent. II am allowing God to guide my time, project ideas, etc...I believe that the production will line up better with the need of Pink Cross automatically. When we "let go and let God," so many times I wonder why I hadn't done it sooner. That's my biggest goal for 2011. To let go and let God in more areas than just my ministry. After all, he is Elohim...our Creator. We were created FOR Him and HIS glory. We were not created for our own glory and our own prideful ego stroking.

Below are ways you can help me this year:
1. PLEASE please please pray that I am able to stick with my new way of running my ministry. Please pray that I let go and let God so that my efforts, supplies and help are maximized to the full potential. Pray favor over our funds. Pray that when we go to purchase supplies things are on sale. Pray that we are never in need of supplies or helping hands. Most of all, pray God is glorified by the works we perform and the lives changed by our efforts.
2. If you are interested in helping with crocheted or knitted items, please contact me to find out more information as to how you can help. All supplies are provided (yarn, etc)...all you need are the hooks/needles and time.
3. If you'd like to help with beauty products which will be placed inside handbags, make up bags and other gift bags, I'd be very much appreciative.
4. If you feel lead to sponser part or all of a shipment of supplies out to California please contact me! If you have information as to how we can ship at a lower rate, that would be great too! We spent $88 to get the 2010 Christmas Outreach supplies to California this year. It is NOT cheap!
5. If you'd like to donate directly to Pink Cross and help with their expenses, which are more than anyone really realizes I am sure, you may do so by donating on their website: www.thepinkcross.org Every outreach, convention, website, literature track, printed bible etc costs money and they need your help to make that possible.
Thank you for everything up to this point. I know you will be blessed if you decide to be involved.
God bless you and your families,
Andrea

Monday, July 13, 2009

Call to action! Pink Cross Foundation

Hey everyone!

I am writing today with another call to action! I am currently in need of individuals who are willing to help me make the hats and clutches for the Pink Cross Foundation. Shelley's outreaches are about to begin again and I want to make sure she has plenty of supplies. I don't want a single woman to have to leave her booth without a personally handmade gift. :)

If you need proof that these gifts touch people click here, and here. Here (look at their faces...they are shocked that anyone cares) and here! These are only a few of the beautiful people that have been touched by someone spending an hour or so of someone's time creating make up bags and hats. If you knew that you could probably save someone's LIFE by spending an hour with your crochet hook, wouldn't it be worth it?

I have contacted several churches about their women's ministries helping and am waiting to hear back from them. If you're one of those churches, please email me with information on how I can help with your first round of materials for the ladies who are willing to help me out. As one person, I can only do so many and am VERY thankful that you are considering helping me, help Shelley and the Pink Cross Foundation!

Sincerely,
Andrea

Tuesday, June 2, 2009

Two new items for Pink Cross!

Hi everyone!

It's been a while since I last wrote. I've been trying to get my handbags up off of the ground and got distracted by having my wisdom teeth extracted a little over a month ago. I'm having some complications from that surgery but God is seeing me through on his own time.

The first item I have created for PC is a secret. You'll have to keep checking back until Christmas time! Hopefully then I will have all of the items for the Christmas Boxes complete and ready to ship by then!

The other item is for mailings and trade shows. In addition to the make up bags and the hats, I have created a really beautiful clutch which is also crocheted. I'm using charms that I purchased back in January (because they were on sale) as the closures. I'm sure they will be a huge hit. They, too will be lined just like the make up pouches.



I hope this post finds you all well. I look forward to hearing from you all soon!

Sincerely,
Andrea

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Prayer Shawls for Pink Cross

I got the package from Shanon today and inside was the purses she made and the prayer shawl sample. I really like it. The book that she sent to me with the pattern inside showed a little different of a border and I kind of like it. We'll probably do a little of each of the different styles.



Upon looking closer at the shawl, I saw that she had put the prayer that was prayed over this shawl while it was being made on the INSIDE! What a sweet sweet addition. I think it really makes it what it is!



In the pictures below, I couldn't resist trying it on! It's a perfect size and very comforting. I can't wait for Christmas to come so the women can be surrounded by the love of Christ anytime they feel the need!


Thank you Shanon for all of your hard work on this shawl. You are going to touch lives for Christ. Please know that God is smiling because of your obedience of using your talents to reach people for Him!
I'll post the purse pictures later. I'm off to line a bunch of makeup bags and purses.
Andrea







Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Another address for prison pen-palship

CODEY ANGLIN #1284335
SMITH UNIT1313 C.R. #19
Lamesa, Texas 79331

His mother wrote to me via http://www.prisonministry.net/ and asked for a pen pal for him. This is what she had to say:

"Could you add my son to the list for male christian pen pal. HE needs encouragement and direction. He is set for PAROLE IN MARCH."

Thanks everyone for pitching in!

--------------------------------------

Here are some deathrow men who would like to have a Christian pen pal as well. A man named Michael sent this list to me. Help if you can!

James Rising 99B1525
Clinton Correctional facility Annex
box 2002
Dannemora, NY 12929

Bubba Phillips 187810
Osp Deathrow
p.o. box 97
McAlester OK 74502-0097

Wesley Ruiz 999536
Polunsky Unit Deathrow
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, TX 77351

Thomas Whitaker 999522
Polunsky unit Deathrow
3872 FM 350 South
Livingston, Texas 77351

John Quintanilla, JR 999491
Polunsky Unit Deathrow3872
fm 350 south
Livingston, Texas 77351

Please pray for these men even if you don't feel comfortable writing to one of them. Thanks for your compassionate heart!

Wednesday, January 28, 2009

I love this bag!

I will be making more of these for Pink cross, as long as I have the yarn to do them. This is a Suede yarn - super soft and thick! It's satin lined like all of the others. Wooden handles complete this look. I will either be putting a white cross on the right hand corner or a charm somewhere to spruce it up a bit!

Anyway enjoy the pictures!





These pictures really don't do justice to how nice this purse looks. I should be getting a package from my dad this week and I'm told my camera is inside! Yeah!! No more terrible photo shop work to get the colors simi-correct.
God bless you!