Volume 84 Issue 1 Jan. Feb. 2014

From the Friendship House By Paula Rowell

In This Issue: Page 2 — From The Executive Director Page 3 — Christmas Fun Page 4 — From The Friendship House Page 4 — Thanksgiving at the Mission

Visit us on the web at www.ugmgraysharbor.org, and see us on Facebook at Union Gospel Mission of Grays Harbor

Holidays at the Union Gospel Mission

Thanksgiving came and went rather suddenly this year. The day was cold but inside the mission it was warm and friendly. When you walked in you first saw 5 volunteers and Doug Jones our kitchen manager in the kitchen look-ing like they were having a wonderful time. Look around and you see the deviled eggs that Thor Lauritzen makes every year and is always a favorite. Keep looking and you find the pies, lots of pies, along the counter. These were brought in by different people around our community who wanted to make sure everyone had a wonderful holiday. You could smell the turkey and green bean casserole still in the oven. Out in the sanctuary you see the tables set with orange table covers and people sitting around just waiting for dinner to be-gin. All have smiles on their faces and a warm greeting for you as you pass by. Soon the service begins as men’s director Mark Bailey steps up to give the Thanksgiving message. Then comes dinner, the plates are heaping with food. No one leaves hungry or wanting. You hear lots of laughter and praise for the meal. Many thanks are given as people begin to leave. There is no place like the Union Gospel Mission for Thanksgiving. I am glad I came. Thanksgiving 2013

Here we are starting a new year. And I am wishing I could say every goal I set in 2013 was ac-complished, but they are not all done yet.

One of the things we discuss with a new client is that they must set short and long term goals. For many of the women entering Friendship House, that is a monumental task. Having lived their lives from crisis to crisis, they have not learned how to plan ahead in order to ‘get ahead’.

Andrea and I often have to help them set goals. We suggest things such as applying for low-income housing, enrolling their children in school, finding a doctor, etc.. Long-term goals are of-ten schooling, a job, more permanent housing. The goals are not cut in stone, but they help us know how to encourage and direct them. Please pray for the women as they begin to look for di-rection for their lives, and that they would have the courage to follow through with the goals that are set.

Thanksgiving at the Union Gospel Mission

Published By Union Gospel Mission of Grays Harbor 405 Heron Street P.O Box 859 Aberdeen, WA 98520-0913 360-533-1064 ph. 360-533-6202 fax www.ugmgraysharbor.org Gary T Rowell Executive Director Board of Directors Pete Schave President Debbie Myhre Vice President Gary Barnett Secretary Ron Roffler Treasurer Bonnie Anderson Charles Capoeman Mike Poitras

Gary T Rowell

Happy New Year

I saw a Frank and Earnest cartoon the other day; in it one was say-ing to the other , "No wonder we're in such a mess, the Old Year never hangs around to tell the New Year how to do things". I think that is the way a lot of us are, we never look back to see the mis-takes we made or the things we did right. If we did perhaps it would help us make fewer mistakes as we live our lives. I once had a friend I never really considered too bright, but he did come up with a statement that was quite good. He said, ''

We need to learn from other people's mistakes because we don't have enough time to make them all ourselves". As we enter the New Year maybe we should take time to look back at the past year, and perhaps see things that would make our lives easier. The most important help to make our life smoother is to ask God to guide us in our lives. The Bible tells that He is the Beginning and the End and He knows all about us, if this is true who better could give us direction? I pray that you have a HAPPY AND PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR!!!

The Board and Staff at the Union Gospel Mission and Friendship House

would like to wish you a very Happy New Year!

It is so much fun to stand on the stage at the Sons of Nor-way building and look out at the sea of children’s faces that are waiting to see Santa arrive. It is even more fun to hand them a gift and see their faces light up. These gifts for some are the only gifts that they will receive for Christmas. It was a great birthday party with hot dogs, cake and games, a visit from Santa who told them the Christmas story of Jesus. Lots of toys were donated so no child had to go without. Many volunteers showed, some from New Beginnings Open Bible church, and this year we had the court from the Grays Harbor Mounted Posse Indoor Pro Rodeo Court show up to help. It is just as much fun to give an adult who has no place to go, or any family to share Christmas with a nice dinner, good Christmas music, and a few nice gifts. That is

just what we did at both the Friendship House and the Un-ion Gospel Mission. On Christmas Eve all the men got to-gether at the mission to open their gifts after a nice dinner. The women did the same at the Friendship House. On Christmas day we served a nice meal to anyone who wanted to come in and eat. On Dec. 19th we went over to the Aberdeen Log Pavilion and had a dinner for homeless and low income adults. After dinner we handed out gifts to each person there. It was a great time.

Thank you to everyone who helped and those who donated gifts, food, and money to make the 2013 holidays special.

Talking with Santa

Christmas Fun

Union Gospel Mission and Friendship House Needs for 2014

Deodorant Small Shave Cream

Diapers Ladies Hygiene Products

Powdered Milk Eggs

Green Beans Sugar

Chicken Base Beef Base Seasonings

Milk