Joyce Van Ravenstein Champion

Funds Raised: $3,219.55 CAD  |   Donated: $1,195.00 CAD
Joyce Van Ravenstein image

This is me - with my son, Kevin and beautiful daughter-in-law, Matildah!  This was a very special and joyful day - their wedding last Oct. (2011)!  Our entire family was able to travel to Zambia to share in this wonderful event.

We continually pray that God will be near to them and especially in the work they are involved in with vulnerable and abandoned children.

Will you partner with them as well, through prayer and if you are able, through financial support?  In helping them, they can help and reach out to more children in the area they live.

God bless you two.  You are doing amazing work!

Following

  • Love Global Foundation
  • Kevin and Matildah Van Ravenstein

Posts

  • Visiting the Village of Kabuyu, near Livingstone, Zambia

    Recently Kevin & Matildah were able to travel to the village where they have been helping needy families and also getting sponsors for children who aren't able to attend school.  Last fall when Kevin came  to Canada for his sister's wedding, he was able to gather 3 huge suitcases full of donations from his home church.  The families in the village of Kabuyu, near Livingstone were excited to see them return with so much!

    This video shows the delivery of the donations at the village which they are hoping to be able to visit 3 or 4 times a year.

    We have been so blessed and are thankful we can show love to these people in Zambia through this gesture.

  • Old and young together helped roll coins for a morning.

    Old and young together helped roll coins for a morning.

    Many hands contributed to the work of these rolled pennies.  Donations of many denominations of coins (and even some bills), donations of many hours spent sorting and rolling, tallying up the final amounts - and we're finally ready to deposit them in the bank.

    Fortunately the financial institiution I deal with was good enough to take them all in one shot, although I had to make 4 trips to the car back and forth, as the boxes of coins were so heavy, I could only carry one at a time! 

    Thank you to all those who contributed in some way! 

    May you be blessed in your giving.

    Heading to Mission's Fest to check out the Love Global booth and hear Darian speak at a workshop!

  • Table full of rolled pennies (and other coins)

    Table full of rolled pennies (and other coins)

    As many of you know, the penny is gradually being phased out of the Canadian currency.  The government hasn't given an exact date when this will happen, but I thought it would be a great idea to get the word out there that I will be collecting pennies and taking them off people's hands and have the proceeds donated to the cause of Kevin and Matildah Van Ravenstein's work.  These missionaries strive to help the children in the village where they minister and also in the transition homes where they are employed in Zambia, Africa.

    At the beginning of this year, we had some people get together - seniors, youth and some in-betweeners, and we rolled close to $500 worth of coins, in only a few hours.

    It was a great time of community building, of sharing time, and getting to know one another, both young and old.

    Many people have since given pennies to me (and other coins as well), from my place of employment, my church, and family and friends that know me.  It's been great to see people wanting to contribute in this way, but also a place where they can conveniently unload their years and years of accumulated pennies!  

    I will continue to accept pennies until such time as the government or financial institutiions no longer accept them and will hold penny rolling events as they are accumulated.

    Thanks for your support, love and prayers towards this cause.  We really appreciate it!

  • Hi everyone - over the last 2 years especially, I've been led to pray for and moved to provide additional help to children in other parts of the world. 

    I have become a Champion to help raise awareness and support for my son Kevin and his wife Matildah, who work in Zambia, Africa.

    They work in two specific areas of Zambia.  In Lusaka, their job is to help with transit homes and schools that are run by Christian Alliance for Children in Zambia (CACZ).  They also volunteer and support children in one of Zambia's many villages near Livingstone.  They try to visit this village 4 - 5 times a year and sponsor student,s as well as bring donations to the school and also the surrounding village.

    In these villages (or compounds), sometimes the only thing holding a child back from receiving a much sought after education is just a pair of shoes or a uniform.  School is free for all children in Zambia, but often the family is too poor to provide their children with these required items to attend school.

    When Kevin was in Canada recently he spoke at our church's youth group one evening.  He asked how many of the kids here had never had access to a computer.  Not one of them put up their hands, as all of them have never known what that means - to not have access to a computer.  Some of the children Kevin has met in Zambia don't know what a computer is, some have never seen a textbook or a library book, let alone ipods, iphones, and all the other technological gadgets we have in such abundance in North America.

    Would you consider partnering with us and help provide an education for just one child through supporting Kevin and Matildah in their work? Here are some tangible ways you could set aside a few dollars that won't hurt your pocketbook too much:

    1. Give up 1 or 2 coffees or specialty drinks in the next month.

    2. Saying no to the 2nd glass of wine or beer when going out for dinner.

    3. Walk, bike or take transit to cut down on your fuel bill.

    4. Buying the next needed item of clothing at a thrift or consignment store instead of the brand name, more expensive shop.

    5. Cutting out some fast food meals or "extras" at the store.

    6. Passing on your birthday money, or a portion of it.  Or the person who wants to give you money - have them make a donation to Kevin & Matildah through this page on Love Global.

    7. Cut out a few cigarettes per week - (does anybody still smoke anymore?)

    8. Buy one less expensive Christmas present, or stocking stuffers, so that a donation can be made for some malnourished or uneducated person in another part of the world.

    These are just some very basic suggestions.  And, as we all don't like to be told what to eat, drink, buy, etc,, myself included, sometimes it is a good reminder to take stock of all the things we do have available to us and are blessed with.  We have opportunity to just run (or literally, drive) to the store and get pretty much whatever we want and when we want it.

    Let's be a little more aware of others in the less commercialized areas of the world - to help clothe, feed and assist just a little something, as we head into the Christmas season of giving, peace and joy, once again.

    By raising support and awareness through this page in support of Kevin & Matildah, some of the needs mentioned above can start to happen and they can pass on to others in these communities and situations.

    Please don't feel pressured to give, although every donation, whatever the amount, is so gratefully accepted. Your prayers are very much appreciated as well.

    Blessings to you all.

    P.S. - We're also looking to increase our monthly donors to Kevin & Matildah's work.  If you feel called and led to contribute a monthly donation, so that funds are more consistent and regular for the ministries they carry out, that would help increase the provision and assistance they so very much require in order to continue the work they do in these 2 areas.  Thank you so much.

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