Dresses Brighten Day in La Llanes, El Salvador

Left to right: Josseline, Marina, Marta, and Carmen.

Ismael (a leader in the La Llanes canton) called everyone near and said some beautiful words of gratitude. He mentioned that most everyone has clothing – but when they buy something “new” – it isn’t new. They buy used clothing that people sell on the streets of Berlín. This was a special gift to have something new.

I told them a little about you (Park Avenue Presbyterian Church in Des Moines): ‘...that a group of women with the gift of their sewing hands and with their hearts full of love... made clothing for their brothers and sisters. You had heard about them in our stories and were moved to raise funds for their water tanks… and even after that, you kept them in your hearts and wanted to do more. So, here we were with these gifts made with love, and I told them again (they had your letter—see excerpt below) they are always in your prayers.’

During the give-away and as we were leaving, people came up to us for a hug and to ask us to tell you ‘thank you’. And that they are also praying for you. And to please greet everyone.

So, please, accept our words of thanks. With all our hearts (the community, the Pastoral Team and me) we say thank you. Thank you for your beautiful gift: for the time and effort it took to make them, for your hearts that were touched by God. And then so touched – moved to share with your new family in La Llanes.

Blessings to all of you. With great affection and gratitude,

~Kathy Mahler and the Pastoral Team

(especially Blanca, Cecilia and Idalia who shared in this give-away)

“Today, I took a suitcase full of 85 little dresses, big dresses, and shorts for the girls, mothers, and boys of La Llanes. Our ladies of the church have been sewing dresses and shorts for sometime. Our church was so generous with providing money for the water storage containers, we wanted to do something personal. So we have sent these clothes with the delegation of the Dallas Center First Presbyterian Church, and are asking that you see they get to La Llanes. The dresses are so cute and we wanted the girls, moms, and boys to know that someone far away thinks of them, prays for them, and loves them enough to make them lovely garments to wear. We hope that they will enjoy them and get lots of good wear out of them... We just want them to enjoy their clothes. We appreciate your work and love of the people. The work you do is so important and I know that God smiles each time he sees you with the people. God bless you each and every day. Thank you for your help in getting the clothes to our friends.”

~Mary Lou Briles, Park Avenue Presbyterian Church.

Attend the Presbytery Holiday Open House

Merry Christmas!

The Des Moines Presbytery will host a Christmas Open House at the Des Moines Presbytery Office on Friday, December 2.

Everyone is welcome to join us and visit our office from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. We’ll have appetizers, treats and punch available, so stop by and celebrate the season with the Presbytery staff!

From your Presbytery staff:
Rev. Phil Barrett, Rev. Goanar Chol, Kim Coulter, Nancy Lister-Settle and Betty Dyer

The Outstanding Older Adult Award Goes To...

For two years now, the Des Moines Presbytery’s Older Adult Ministry Task Force has asked our church sessions to submit nominations of an outstanding senior adult for this award that recognizes mature, service-minded and Christian modeling of faith.

This year's nominees and their families were honored at the Presbytery's Nov. 8, 2011 Stated Meeting at First Presbyterian Church in Oskaloosa. They each received a certificate during the ceremony and a free meal hosted by the church. The winner was Luree Straup from First Presbyterian Church in Allerton, Iowa. Luree does the daily devotions in the Mission Yearbook and is currently reading through the Bible – for the third time! She received a special commemoration plaque.

Congratulations to all 13 nominees—you are all winners in God’s eyes! Thanks goes to each church and their sessions for the following nominations:

• Al and Emily Wyckoff (Ankeny)
• Barbara Boatwright (Des Moines, First)
• Mary Lou Briles (Des Moines, Park Avenue)
• DeVerne Dixon (Indianola, Trinity United)
• Gene Freese (Atlantic, First United)
• Harriet George (Clive, Heartland)
• Madonna Jack (Hartford, Community United)
• Bob Mahaffey (Des Moines, Union Park)
• Kathryn Renoe (LeRoy, First)
• Luree Baker Straup (Allerton, United)
• Lola Timmins (Ottumwa, Westminster)
• Dianne Van Gorp (Oskaloosa, First)

And the award goes to Luree Straup, (Allerton, First).

The OAM Task Force members felt all were qualified – even over qualified! And it was very difficult to center on one person, from the amazing report of the walks in faith over many, many years. Each person’s story will be highlighted in the monthly OAM eNewsletters.

Their lives will be inspirations to us all to never retire from listening for God’s whispers.

Older Adult Ministries Task Force Moderator Darlene Shepherd or 641-673-5793.