The co-chairmen of your Mission Team have just had an awesome experience. We joined Nancy Pennington on a mission trip to China in September. Nancy was invited to lead a conference for English-speaking missionaries near Kunming in Yunnan Province. Nancy was

encouraged by the Lord to create a team to go with her. She invited eight women—all anxious to serve our sisters in Christ.

We arrived at the conference site (would you believe the location was Hot Springs?) the day before the 124 participants arrived. We had purchased pounds of Starbucks coffee in the Hong Kong airport and one of our group served as hospitality chairman. She had two 12-cup coffee makers and for two days she turned out aromatic coffee as fast as she could fill the pots!

One of the young ladies in our group served as Worship Leader and was joined by her sister singing praise songs for each session. Some of these ladies had not worshiped in a group for some time. They are often quite isolated in the locations in which they serve and cannot participate openly in worship. Some had not been served Holy Communion in months. The worship services were definitely praise services and very moving. How very blessed we are to be free to worship as we choose and not worry about who might be checking on us.

One of the young singers is a hairdresser and she did 55 haircuts at the conference! Haircuts in remote areas in China are hard to get! They were so excited!

We were particularly moved by the women who came to us quietly and thanked Woodlands Presbyterian Church for their scholarships. Woodlands provided ten $60 scholarships. There were women who could not have afforded to attend without our assistance.

Noranne and I know from the experience we had facilitating small groups that being a missionary in China is not easy. And we felt rewarded that so many of these women expressed gratitude to us for our interest, encouragement and support. We did so little and they have dedicated everything to spreading the love of Jesus!

—Mary Jo Kurten and Noranne Glezen

Operation Christmas Child 2009

Woodlands Presbyterian Church offered 244 shoe boxes. At our church the total for this Relay Center was 2440. Libby Farley says, Thank you to all who helped by giving boxes and all who helped at the Relay Center.

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD. Woodlands Presbyterian Church set a goal of 250 shoeboxes to fill this year. There are still 70 decorated shoe boxes ready for you to fill for some unfortunate children. Collection week is November 16 – 23. We need volunteers to register the boxes, make sure they are rubber-banded and placed in large cartons. Please select one day, or more that you can be at the church to help. A signup sheet is at the Operation Christmas Child table in the Mission Fair.

2009 MISSION COMMITMENTS WOODLANDS PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

Alpha International in London, England (Erin Gourlay)
Change Point, Hot Springs, AR (JoAnn Carter)
Everyday Strength-Cancer Books Distribution-WPC, HSV, AR
Faith Fellowship Food Bank (Lucy Swayze)
Firefall Ministry (Jim and Nancy Pennington)
First Presbyterian Church of Slidell, LA (Kevin Krecji)
Ferncliff Camp and Conference Center in Little Rock, AR (David Gill)
Gideon International Bibles-HSV, AR (Ken Smith)
Glenhaven Youth Ranch in Plainview, AR (Quentin Swafford)
Heifer International (gift animals)
Joy Offering-WPC, HSV, AR (PCUSA)
Lyon College in Batesville, AR
Master’s Table in Hot Springs, AR
One Great Hour of Sharing (PCUSA)
Oaklawn Chaplaincy Outreach Project (Chaplain Rick Mann)
Operation Christmas Child-Samaritan’s Purse-HSV, AR
Pharr Community Outreach Project (Dale Anderson)
Potter’s Clay in Hot Springs, AR (Elizabeth Brakebill)
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance –PDA (Arkansas)
Presbyterian Global Fellowship
Presbytery of Arkansas in Little Rock, AR
Quilts for Charity-HSV, AR (Phyllis Spencer)
Samaritan Ministry in Hot Springs, AR (Jan Lagan)
Small Group Therapy in Hot Springs, AR (Wanda Raper)
Teen Challenge in Hot Springs, AR (Tim Culbreth)
University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, AR
Vera Lloyd Center in Monticello, AR (Lynn Whaley)
(updated 6-1-09)

Mission Team member, Nancy Kennaugh, center, attending a recent Teen Challenge "Flea Market"

Many items can be found at the Teen Challenge "Flea Markets" on Fridays & Saturdays

Teen Challenge offers hope to those with life controlling problems. It is one of the most successful programs in the world. The residents learn to embrace the Christian faith, which transforms their lives. 50 men reside at the Arkansas Teen Challenge. Funds are continually needed in order to run the program.

A new Teen Challenge building is now complete enough to hold a flea market on Fridays and Saturdays. There is a good selection of furniture, utensils, and clothing. One can even find pianos and organs for sale! All donations are appreciated.

This building is located on Highway 7 south.