God at Work

The past two weekends God has been doing some great work through MP! Last week a family of 5 kids (4 girls and 1 boy) got new shoes at Payless Shoes. We had a terrific time and the kids and the the volunteers were SO blessed!

Then the next Satruday (Feb. 6) we took a trip to the ARC and God did his thing again! There was more than $400 worth of clothing purchased for these same 5 kids for $100!

This is one terrific family and the kids are pretty fantastic. MP is so grateful to all those that donate their time and money to reaching out to families in need at the Sangre de Cristo apartments.

MP is now in the second year of serving the families of Sangre de Cristo apartments and we continue to be amazed by what God is doing through us!

There is still need for shoes and clothing at Sangre de Cristo so we will keep being His hands and feet serving our neighbors. Come join us!

MP update

Mission Possible is still on the job! Last fall, winter and spring MP was able to help approximately one dozen kids who live in the Sangre de Cristo Apartments with shoes and clothing.

In the past week the Lord has used us to provide for local families in need. Friday MP purchased diapers for a Mom who is struggling financially.

Then on Saturday we went shoe shopping with a family of 7 and then to MacDonalds for some late breakfast. The Lord also provided the funds for MP to help pay an electric bill for the same family. God is so Good!

Saturday we will be taking the family shopping for clothing. Thank you so much to all of you who support this ministry! We couldn't do it without you!

GOD works through YOU!

Central High School's FCA Steps up!
(Central High School)

Recently I had the opportunity to speak to the Fellowship of Christian Athletes at Pueblo Central High School. The group meets during lunch on Wednesdays where they share Little Caesar's Pizza and fellowship. I wish we had done something like that when I was in high school. What an awesome thing they have going.

I took a jug of "Believer Bands" and shared what God had led me to with MP. This is a terrific group of young people. We talked, shared and even prayed in a public school. God is so GOOD!

Little did they know that God was using them at that exact time to touch someone.

The seventeen bands that they purchased during that lunch (with $34 going to MP) on that Wednesday made a difference in the life of a young single mother of two. This girl has a two year old son and a two month old daughter. She is trying hard to get her G.E.D. as she never made it to high school. On Saturday we took her shopping for clothes at The ARC.

She told me that her boyfriend had just taken all of her money for the month and that she was very depressed. She also said that getting clothes for her two children was a blessing on a very difficult day.

That blessing came from God.

She shopped and picked out 6 tops and 6 pairs of pants for each of her children and the total for the shopping trip came to $25 (Saturdays are 1/2 price days so we got about $50 worth of clothing). That $25 came from the $34 raised just days earlier at Central High School. God continues to amaze me each and every day with how he uses us to touch the lives of those around if we just allow Him to use us.

We dropped her off with a bag full of clothes and a new bible. This girl now knows that someone cares about her. And by letting God use them, the kids at Central showed her that not only do they care, but so does our Father! PRAISE THE LORD AND ROCK ON CENTRAL FCA!!!!

The following are Central students who have signed on to be a part of Mission Possible:
Bou Anaya, Eddie Jaramillo, Ryan Trujillo, Julie Sanchez, Monica Dupler, Charissa Hines, Chris Archuleta, Daniel Martinez, Zac Acosta, Rachel Quintanilla, Johnny Quintana, Gianna Angelino, Victoria Hendrickson, and Steven Starcer. (No, I didn't forget Mrs Bridget Trujillo)

I know there are more... If I left you out, or you want to get on the list please send me an email (bryankelsen@msn.com). I look forward to hearing from you!

Let's pray that God continues to use us to make a difference in the lives of others in His name! Bless you guys!

What's been happening?

Good question!


Since November Mission Possible has made a difference in the lives of several families at the Sangre de Cristo Apartments in Pueblo.

New shoes and socks have been purchased for each of the ten children who have been refered to MP. They have also received clothing from the ARC thrift store.

Originally clothing was purchased after parents provided sizes and what the need was, but we have discovered that it is a LOT more fun for the kids, parents and volunteers if we take them on a shopping trip to the store. Then they can pick and chose what they'd like to have as well as trying things on to make sure they fit.

MP volunteer Deann Montini went along on a recent shopping trip to the ARC with two little girls and their mother. She reports that she had a great time. She also was instrumental in helping hem the pants that the girls had selected. Thank you so much Deann!!!

IN THE WORKS

Mission Possible will be adding another aspect to serving those in the Sangre de Cristo Apartments. Plans are underway to spend time at the complex helping families with needs that they may have for help with things such as laundry, house cleaning, or any other chore that might need to be done.

We are excited to be able to show those who live in the complex that there are people who are about them and are willing to get their hands dirty helping out. Keep an eye on this blog for dates and times if you would like to be a part of this event.



FUND RAISING

Mission Possible continues to raise money through the sales of the Belief Bands. On one side they say "I Believe" and on the other they say "John 3:16". The bracelets are available for $2/each with 100% of the proceeds going directly to addressing the clothing needs of children in the Sangre de Cristo Apartments.

We are a grassroots ministry and as such have yet to grow to a size where we would be able to be considered a non-profit (there are lots of hoops to jump through to get that) but God-willing we will grow to that size in the foreseeable future. We have received several donations greater than the $2 Belief Band price. Thank you to all who have both bought bands and who have been generous with their money to support this ministry.

Mission Possible will rarely have much of a balance in the bank as we feel that the monies raised need to be applied as soon as it becomes available. Money in the bank doesn't benefit anyone so we will continue to trust in God to provide for us to serve those in the apartments.

Some background

Last November I was out looking for a feature photo that would be used on one of our newspaper's section fronts. It was a fairly mild fall day. The sun was shining and I was driving around town looking for something of interest.

I had no idea that what I was about to find was going to be much more than just a subject of a photograph.

I was driving past the local low-income housing project when I spotted two kids playing in the leaves. I drove around the block and came back to where I had spotted them. They were moving the leaves with a rake and a snow shovel. They were dressed in t-shirts and jeans. I saw their mother sitting in a chair nearby keeping an eye on the youngsters. I approached her, identified myself and asked her if it would be okay for me photograph her children for the newspaper. She said it would be fine and then I told the kids (as I tell all children who see me taking their pictures) to just ignore me and go back to playing like they were before I got there. Kids are pretty good at that adults on the other hand, not so much.

I moved off to one side and used a telephoto lens (300mm) to photograph them playing. It wasn't a cold day, but it wasn't warm either. The two, brother and sister, didn't seem to mind. It was then that I noticed that they were running around outdoors in their socks. I had seen this kind of thing before and really never paid much attention to it. It was little more than a footnote this time as well.

I thanked the mother, waved goodbye to the kids and left. The photo didn't run the next day. It was published the day after that. When I saw the paper, the fact that the kids were in just socks really hit me. I knew that I needed to go back to see that family. I made a couple of 4x6 prints of the photos. The photo of the little boy was the one that got in the paper so I made sure to take one of his sister for the family as well. I grabbed a few extra copies of the paper and headed to the projects.

I went to the door of the family's apartment. The mother answered the door. I presented her with the papers and the photos. Then God took over. I said that I had noticed that her children were not wearing shoes when I had been there before. I asked her if I could buy her children shoes. I had never done anything like this before and I had photographed many people who were in greater need than these folks. I believe that God was talking to me. He may have been talking to me before, but now I was listening. The mom told me that they had shoes, but what they needed was pants, shirts, and a winter coat for a toddler that I didn't even know she had. I told her I would get the clothes if she'd let me buy them shoes too. She smiled and said "Sure."

I got all the necessary sizes and told the mom that I'd be back some time in the next couple of days. I headed directly to Payless Shoes. I bought two pair of shoes along with a dozen pairs of socks and never had more fun buying shoes in my life! Then I headed to the ARC to see what was available in second-hand clothes for these kids. I found several pairs of pants, shirts, and even the winter coat that the family was in need of. I could swear that I was walking on air.

All in all it took me about an hour to get the items that the family needed. I returned to the apartment. When mom answered the door I held out my hand holding a large bag of clothes and shoes. She took it, smiled and said "Thank you." It was at that point that I said something I had never heard myself say before. "Don't thank me, thank God." "This came from him, not me." It wasn't something that I had planned to say, it was just what came out. I knew at that moment that what I had been experiencing was the Holy Spirit working through me.

In that one afternoon I felt like I was able to accomplish more than the entire 21 years I had spent working as a photographer at the newspaper. I can tell you that if you asked me now if I would trade my entire career for that kind of an experience, I would tell you that I would in a heartbeat! I doubt I would have said that a year ago.

While walking back to my truck I realized that there was more work like this to be done and that there was no way I could bankroll it. So I prayed and thought about it. In the meantime God was working. I had done a freelance job some months before and if your image is selected for the cover there is a bonus fee that is paid to the photographer. I discovered my photo was selected for the cover. when I received the payment I went to work to use it to help more children in the projects.

God led me to design bracelets. They are like the ones that Lance Armstrong uses in his "Livestrong" campaign to battle cancer. The ones I designed say "I Believe" and John 3:16 on them and are red in color. I purchased 500 of them at .50/ea and have been selling them for $2/ea. The proceeds all going to help additional families in need.

I have named the venture "Mission Possible". I have gotten a good deal of support from the church I attend, The First Church of God. I have also found that many folks are willing to give a couple of dollars to help make a difference in the lives of local kids. The money pays for basic clothing needs for children in the one housing project, nothing else.

I found an amazing woman who works at the Boys & Girls club in the neighborhood who helps us. She identifies need, contacts the family to see if they are interested and then she passes the information along to me. We are on our way to helping the fourth family and hoping to assist many more.


That one afternoon completely and totally changed my life. God moved in me and I will never be the same. I now know that I was put here to serve Him and those in need. I feel so used! And I absolutely love it!

This photograph was worth much more than 1,000 words.