3130 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310 703-960-9505 Fax: 703-960-5156 cameron@cameron-umc.org
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3130 Franconia Road, Alexandria, VA 22310 703-960-9505 Fax: 703-960-5156 cameron@cameron-umc.org |
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During the December 2001 holidays, Jerry Carter sent a letter to his wife, Lois, describing a sad story he was seeing around him. Jerry was stationed in Kosovo as part of the United Nations peacekeeping forces. He noted that the children had very few warm clothes to protect them from the cold weather. Although relief efforts were providing some benefits to the people of the region, graft and corruption within the local government blocked much of the assistance.
Deciding to take matters into his own hands, he asked Lois to mention the plight of the children to our church family and ask them to help. He requested that they send any spare children's coats they might have directly to him so that he could personally get these coats to needy children through the local school. Cameron members responded immediately, but they were not the only ones. Whenever Cameron members mentioned the project at their workplaces, in their neighborhoods and in their childrens' schools, other people were also inspired to participate. As a result, over 100 large boxes of clothes childrens coats, sweaters, gloves, hats and lots more were quickly shipped and about 100 more followed a few weeks later. The folks that didn't have spare clothes gave money for postage.
Want to see the result? The coats warmed the children of Kosovo. The pictures below will warm your heart. (click on a small image to get a larger view)
Jerry is back home now, but just before leaving Kosovo, he sent a email to Cameron members. It is just below the pictures.
A MESSAGE FROM KOSOVO
I thought that I would take a moment to write you a note on the eve of leaving Kosovo to express not only my appreciation, but the appreciation of the Commander and soldiers of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, Task Force Falcon, to you and the Church for the donation of clothes for the school that they support. I sent pictures back with Lois earlier and she told me that you had posted them for the congregation to see. What did not come back were the conversations that I had with the Commander. He was very appreciative of the clothing, and said that he looks forward to Tuesdays, since that is the day that they go down to the school. He said that when they took the clothing to the school, the teachers, knowing which of the children had the most need, let them pick through first, and then let the other students go through the clothes. He said that all were very happy to receive the clothes and I think the students look forward to Tuesdays also. What you missed in the pictures was the bright eyes and smiles that the kids have for the soldiers every Tuesday that they go to the school.
I think that the congregation would be happy to know that the young men and women who represent America are doing more than just keeping the peace over here. They are participating in many projects that have little to do with the mission, but a lot to do with how we think and feel about our responsibility to other people of the world. They have that desire to reach out and help when they see a problem, and often they do. The school is only one example of how they express this desire. I believe that you can be very proud, not only of the men and women who represent you over here, but also of yourselves and our Church for making a difference in a place where a difference is needed.
I send back to you the thanks of these young men and women for your contribution, a contribution which assisted them in making a difference. I send back my thanks also, for I was just a conduit between the Church, the soldiers, and the children.
God bless,
Jerry
