The Shepherd’s Hands
394 Chapman Road Saluda, SC 29138
www.theshepherdshands.com

DECEMBER 2014 NEWSLETTER

It’s been a good year at the mission, and we praise the Lord for people like you who have made it possible. We ministered to 828 families this year through the clothes closet and food pantry. We provided some furniture to needy families.
I wish it were possible to name every individual who came to help us during the year but there are too many to name. We had six teams that came and ministered through VBS, Block Parties and school supply day.
We need 14 individuals to operate the mission on distribution day and we only have 12 that come regularly and not everyone is able to come each month. We need at least four more individuals who could join in this ministry on a regular basis. Marianne and I always go a week ahead to receive the food and restock the pantry and clothes closet. Our Van leaves on the Friday before the third Saturday at 7 AM and returns Sunday morning.
We would like to be able to set a schedule so that we could know who will be going each month. If you feel that God would have you to join in this ministry to the people of Mercer County WV, please contact me at 864-980-4568 or theshepherdshands@gmail.com. We need your help and would be very grateful.
Since out last update we had our Thanksgiving distribution and thanks to a gracious individual we were able to provide a turkey to each family.
December was a great time; we had 114 children who were provided Christmas gifts through our “Adopt a Child” program. Let me thank those individuals who made this possible. Harris Baptist Church in Greenwood, SC, provided the gift bags to each child including gloves, socks, chapsticks, hats, candy and a toy. We sincerely appreciate Harris providing these bags.
Each adult received a gift of their choice of items from our shelves in the clothes closet, plus each family received a health kit provided by the Rocky Grove Baptist Church in Sally, SC. Everyone who came through the mission also received a bag of fruit along with the regular food bags. Lotion was provided by Ward Baptist Church and Laundry detergent by Ridge Springs Baptist Church. The people were thankful for these extra gifts.
What a joy to be able to help these individuals who come to the mission. We have signed up 41 new families in the past 3 months and it’s putting a strain on our food supply but God provides each time so that we are able to take care of them. The needs are great but our God is greater in helping us to meet those needs.
A word on our generator; thanks to you our supporters we received all the funds needed for the purchase. It has arrived and will be installed January 10th, another milestone has been accomplished.
Not everything was good that happened this month, our faithful helper Junior Owen accidently shot himself while bear hunting. The blast took the entire muscle off at his right shoulder. The doctors are unsure what his usage of the arm will be with the muscle gone. He has no strength to pick up things. Junior, Charles and Jerry were so faithful in picking up our food and unloading it at the mission. Pray for healing for Junior.
We look forward to the New Year knowing that greater things are yet to come. We already have our summer filled with teams coming to work on the mission and homes in the area as well as to provide VBS and Block parties. Please pray for this ministry as it has grown beyond our wildest dreams.
Wishing you a very Happy New Year.
Mayhew and Marianne West
PS: A very special word of appreciation to our faithful, we love you and thank God for you.
Also due to my email provider not able to work in my Windows 8, I am having to change the email address. My new email address is, theshepherdshands@gmail.com. If you would like to continue receiving these newsletters please reply to the new address. I have over 200 email addresses which make it impractical to type each of these into a new computer.