Changing the World Two by Two

First Lutheran Church is changing the world! That’s a big task, but it is a task we are confident we can accomplish  through our Lenten 2012 fundraising project: Heifer International. Through Heifer International, we will “Fill the Ark” by purchasing animals that help villages and families. The most important gift they will receive through our efforts will be the gift of hope, because our donation helps families become self-supporting. This isn’t a handout; it’s a way out of the cycle of poverty. And the best part is that each family that receives an animal must pass on the offspring of that animal to other families, so the hope becomes contagious. And it all starts here, at First Lutheran, with your gift to help “Fill the Ark."

This congregation-wide effort will be led by the kids, who will fill their “ark banks” with money weekly and bring it to church, but everyone will have a chance to contribute to this effort. To fill the ark, we need to raise $5,000 during Lent (that’s $1,000 a week!) Each week, we will feature different animals, two by two, and explain how they help a family become self-sufficient. That listing is below. Thank you for your partnership in this effort! It will be educational, fun, and an amazing way to express God’s grace in your life by giving to others. $5,000 has never bought more!

Remember, one little raindrop doesn’t amount to much, but if you add the raindrops up, you make a “flood” of
difference in the lives of others.

Help Fill the Ark with These Animals!

Week One: 
2 cows to bring milk and income to families in Kosovo
2 trios of rabbits to provide food and income to families in Vietnam
2 donkeys to supply animal draft power to families in Zimbabwe

Week Two:
2 beehives to help families in Mexico earn money through the sale of honey and beeswax
2 sheep to help families in the United States produce wool
2 llamas to improve livestock bloodlines and produce wool for families in Bolivia

Week Three:
2 flocks of geese to help families in China better their nutrition and income through the production of eggs and meat
2 goats to help families in Poland provide milk for their children and earn extra income
2 oxen to families in Cameroon to help pull plows and cart.

Week Four:
2 flocks of chicks to help families in Cambodia improve nutrition and replenish their land
2 trios of ducks to help families in Thailand generate income through the sale of eggs and birds
2 trios of guinea pigs to help families in Peru add protein to their diets and earn income.

Week Five:
2 water buffalo to help families in the Philippines increase rice production through animal draft power
2 camels to help families in Tanzania transport water and earn income
2 pigs to help families in the Dominican Republic attain greater self-reliance