Reachout Ministries

touching hearts, changing lives Fall 2009

We Have Tax Exempt Status ! After a long time and a lot of work by our board, we are pleased to announce that we now have 501c.3 tax exempt status. All gifts and contributions to Reachout Ministries that have been made since January 2009 are tax deductible for 2009. This includes a portion of the price of a pound of Crimson Life Coffee. Five dollars of the price of each pound is tax deductible. When you buy five pounds or more, three dollars is tax deductible. If you have sponsored a child or given to this ministry this year, you will receive a receipt at the end of the year for tax purposes. No receipts will be sent for coffee purchases. You are given a receipt when you receive the coffee. That can be used for tax purposes. Needless to say, we are very happy about this. We believe that we can now move forward to expand our ministry to the poor in Guatemala.

Malnutrition In Guatemala Malnutrition has become a major health problem in Guatemala. We recently received a news article translated from Spanish from our coffee supplier. The article addressed the severity of malnutrition in Guatemala. The article is titled, “Hunger is killing Guatemalans”. The following is from that article. Mayra is 16 but looks 8. The spontaneous smile on his face shows his will to live though the dreams of his own age seem

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to have vanished in this region known for its lush vegetation. According to UN figures 49% of Guatemalan children under five suffer from chronic malnutrition. This is one of the highest rates in the world and first in Latin America. On September 9, the government of Guatemala declared a "state of public calamity" to tackle the famine suffered by thousands of poor families brought on by drought that has left at least 462 dead. Reachout Ministries is working to supply necessary nutrition to the families that we work with. We have increased the amount of nutritional cereal given to our families. We have committed to increase our support to reduce malnutrition in the Chiquimula area.

Goals Set For Scholarship Program For 2010 The board of Reachout Ministries in cooperation with Pastor Otto and Lily Bonilla has agreed to sponsor 45 children next school year. This is an increase of 17 new children added to the program. Please pray that new sponsors will come forward to help supply the needs of these children.

Guatemala, food, and all other travel. It also includes all tips, taxes, and fees. What it does not include is food purchased in the US and personal souvenirs. You will need a valid passport. Apply now if you don’t have one. We will be staying in a local hotel in Chiquimula and eating most of our meals with Pastors Otto and Lizbeth Bonilla and their family in their home.

Coffee For Kids November Trip It’s not too late to join us as we go to Chiquimula in November. We will be leaving from Flint Michigan and flying to Atlanta Thursday November 12. The next day we fly to Guatemala City where we will be met by Pastor Otto. We will return Friday November 20. Much of our time there will be spent with the children in the program and their families. We will be having a party for them. We are also planning a fun day for them. We are considering going to a mall, playing video games at an arcade, perhaps seeing a movie and having lunch at McDonald’s. Although these seem like normal activities for elementary aged children, they are things that these children have never done. Because of the extreme poverty of their families, our children have not had any of these experiences. We may also be doing some painting at a local school. In addition, we will be distributing clothing to needy families. Each person on the trip takes an extra suitcase with gently used children’s clothing. We welcome the donation of any gently used children’s clothing. We are also planning to work with the children to improve their English. We invite anyone who would like to go with us to come along. It is always a great trip. We have a lot of fun, get some work done, make new friendships, and have our lives changed as we change the lives of others. If you have never been on a mission trip, I would encourage you to consider it. It will change your life. You will never be the same after you return from a cross cultural mission trip. It broadens your perspective on the world. It also gives you a good understanding of people who live in countries and circumstances different than we do. The cost of the trip is $1200. That includes all airfare, accommodations in Atlanta and in

No, we are not giving coffee to the children. The sale of our coffee, Crimson Life Coffee, is helping to support our mission work in Guatemala. I have told several people that every time they drink a cup of our coffee, they are helping change the life of a child. Their coffee consumption helps a needy child go to school. We are now supplying coffee to a restaurant and two coffee shops. We also have many individuals who regularly buy our coffee. In addition to our mild Santa Rosa and full bodied San Marcos, the following flavors are available: Amaretto, Butter Rum, Caramel Nut, Chocolate Mint, Chocolate Swiss Almond, English Toffee, French Caramel Crème, French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Hazelnut Crème, Irish Crème, Toasted Coconut, Autumn Spice, Cinnamon Pecan, Egg Nog, Peppermint Cream, Peanut Butter Toffee, White Chocolate Peppermint, and Ginger Snap Cookie. All coffee is available in ground or whole bean and regular or decaf. Let us know if you would like a pound (or more). Our coffee can be shipped anywhere. The cost is $10 a pound and $8 a pound for five or more pounds. There is no tax. Part of the cost is tax deductible as a gift to Reachout Ministries.

new shoes

that is what makes us different. Consequently we are seeing positive and lasting results.

new tennis shoes bring a smile

Success Stories We spoke with Pastor Otto and Lily recently about the success that children in our program are having. They told us about Luis Alfredo. Otto said Luis was very sad. His father was an alcoholic. He beat Luis and intimidated him. Luis lived in a very dysfunctional home. But things have changed for him. He is now one of the best students in his class. Because of his son’s academic success, thanks in large part to Otto and Lily, Luis’s father has made significant changes. He has stopped drinking and has begun attending church. A similar story is true for Christian. His father was also abusive but is changing. The scholarship program is making a difference. Our logo, changing hearts, changing lives is really true. We are changing lives, we are changing the future, and we are changing a community. Otto wrote the following to our board: "Sometimes I get a headache when I think what would happen to these families if they would stop receiving your support. So we really appreciate and valuate a lot the efforts you are doing for them so thanks a lot for it." He made a point of saying, "We don't just give away things". That is part of what makes Reachout Ministries different from other programs. People who receive from us are held accountable and are expected to participate in the program. The children are required to attend school regularly and the parents are expected to participate in classes to improve their family life. Families frequently become involved in church. Stories like those of Luis and Christian are becoming more frequent. Other mission organizations give food and other things to people to benefit their lives but don’t teach them to value what they receive or expect the recipients to become more responsible. We do and

Lily’s tutoring class

Proud of his new shoes

Renewal Time If you sponsor a child (or children), it is now time to renew your commitment for the next school year. You will soon be receiving a card asking you to renew your sponsorship. The card has a place to indicate your decision. It is a tear off card that can be returned to us. Thanks to all of you for helping make these great things happen. Thanks for helping change hearts and lives. Together we are changing a community one child and one family at a time. Gifts For Kids We will be taking gifts for the sponsored children when we go to Guatemala in November. Please

contact us if you have a gift for your child. We are planning to give gifts to all the children in the program. In the past, only the children whose sponsors sent gifts with us were given gifts. We feel that no child should be left out. They all love to receive gifts even if they are small and inexpensive. Please let us know if you would like to help purchase those gifts by making a contribution toward their purchase. Remember, all contributions to this ministry are now tax deductible. YEAH!!!! This newsletter is written and edited by Fred Beach, Executive Director of Reachout Ministries. Please let me know if you would prefer to receive this newsletter by e-mail or if you wish to have your name removed from the mailing list. All newsletters sent outside of the United States will be sent by e-mail. My e-mail address is: [email protected].

touching hearts, changing lives 247 E. First Street Ovid, MI 48866