Alternative Gift Market

The weekend before Thanksgiving First Presbyterian Church, Kerrville, TX held their Alternative Gift Market. This type of ‘Market’ is where charities from around the world setup tables with information regarding their organization so those wishing to do so can make a contribution for a friend or loved one in lieu of a gift from Amazon, Walmart, etc. For example one organization digs wells to provide clean drinking water in poor countries. Some participants had tangible items you could purchase made by people whose only source of income comes from the sale of these items. One such organization had soy candles of various sizes and fragrances made by women who have been rescued from sex trafficking.

This was the second year that Wounded Warriors at Nebo has been invited to participate. Our ‘Gifts’ were: Spiritual Fitness $10; Care Giver Respite $25; Couples in Crisis $50; Family Christmas R&R $100.

Richard & Sharon Ready to tell the Nebo story

Obviously receiving the donations is wonderful and helps us to continue serving veterans both active duty and retired. However, every bit as important is raising the viability of the ministry. It is amazing how many local people have never heard of us and what we do.

So thank you, First Presbyterian Church for including us in your market and thank you to all of the generous people who purchased gifts.

Happenings

Christmas Request

Chaplain Thompson was recently transferred from Fort Sam Houston, San Antonio, TX to Korea. He reached out to us this past week asking for Christmas Decorations. He said it’s pretty bleak there and many of the troops have little or no family so he is making a special effort to bring a little of home to the base. His plan is to decorate the basketball gym which will be open to everyone so that when one walks in it will lift their spirits and put them in the “Christmas Mood”. He says it is difficult to get those kinds of decorations there so is asking for our help in obtaining them.

We have set up a Wish List on Amazon that you can peruse, select what you want to send, purchase it and have it delivered directly to the base in Korea. The only big ticket item is the tree however, it would be a great gift for a group of friends to pool their money and purchase or perhaps a Sunday School Class. You get the idea. What is Christmas without a tree? Here is the link to the list https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/dl/invite/4Ev7Udc?ref_=wl_share

Be sure to use the following shipping address: HHB 1-38TH FAR . Unit # 15735 . APO . AP . 96224

Shipping time is 21 days so place your orders quickly so they will have the decorations well before Christmas.

I’ll ask the chaplain to send pictures of the celebration.

God Bless You and thank you for your support.

Happenings

Pampering and Relaxing

It finally came together! Wounded Warriors at Nebo has been working to have a care provider weekend for almost a year. This is a new program we are testing to see if it is something that is needed and helpful to care providers. This weekend was the ‘Proto-Type”. It could be called Pampering and Relaxing.

There was a ‘meet and greet’ Friday evening followed by dinner. Then Saturday there were several sessions with the counselor where the ladies shared experiences, got acquainted, and received tools to potentially help improve their roll as care provider to their husband. Later they were treated to a manicure or pedicure then explored Main Street. We all met at Hondo’s for dinner before they went to the concert at the BackDoor. Of course it rained but that didn’t seem to dampen their excitement and enjoyment of the venue. Sunday everyone attended services at Fredericksburg United Methodist Church prior to returning to San Antonio.

We had a lot of help making this happen. Use of a guest house was donated for the event, a local Christian counselor donated her time, Friday’s evening meal was prepared and served by a local volunteer, Hondo’s gave us a break on Saturday’s meal and tickets to the Billy Ray Cyrus concert were donated. And of course GOD was directing everything.

Feedback has been very positive so we look forward to more of these events.

To see more photos of the event click on “Photos” on the Menu bar on the home page then select the Pampering and Relaxing Album.

Happenings

Creativity

On Tuesday, 17 September, Ruth and Sharon arrived at the WFSC (Warrior Family Support Center) ready to make two cards, one Halloween and one Sympathy. Eight ladies: spouses, warriors in transition, retirees, etc., joined them for a morning of creativity and fellowship. Although we provide a sample card and materials, we encourage everyone to use their artistic license making their cards unique. Of course dessert followed completion of the class.

If you missed this class or just want to try your hand at card making come to WFSC on October 1st. Jan and Jackie will be there to start class at 10 a.m. And please remember, Men are welcome in fact some of the most creative participants have been men. See you then!!

Happenings

Card Making

Yesterday, 3 September, Margie and Mary joined us at WFSC and made two fun cards.

The first one was whimsical with cows inside and out. It’s called “A Flap Fold Card” because of the way it opens.

The second card was a beach scene. Sponging was used to create the background.

It was a fun day and the peach cobbler dessert provided by one of the Wounded Warriors at Nebo volunteers was delicious. AND the DAR provided wonderful chocolate cookies to pass around to the people at WFSC.

We will be back 17 Sept so join us for some fun, creative fellowship.

Blessings

Happenings

New Volunteers

Say hello to four of our newest volunteers!! Left to right: Nancy Stolpe, B&B/Guest House Liaison: Molly Sagebiel, Major Donor Team & Data Entry: Tammie Searles, Recording Secretary and Pat Wilkins, Bookkeeping. We are so blessed and excited to have these women join the Wounded Warriors at Nebo Ministry and look forward to working with them. If you have a heart for helping people and would like to be a part of an organization that ministers to the wounded, injured and ill including their families then let us know. Although we are located in Fredericksburg, we work with the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Sam Houston to provide respite to those in treatment and/or transition there.

To learn more about our ministry and what we do go to the Home Page, About Us and Events. Our Facebook Page, http://facebook.com/ww.nebo has photos and stories of all our events. You may also email us at info@wwnebo.org .

Happenings

August 6th Card Making Class

We had 7 people join us for card making at WFSC (Warrior Family Support Center) last Tuesday. We were having so much fun that Sharon & I both forgot to take pictures during the class. Thankfully we have the samples so can share them so you can see what everyone made.

After the class we enjoyed a yummy Gooey Butter Cake made by a volunteer in Fredericksburg. If you are in the area next Tuesday, August 20 come join us. The class starts at 10am and is usually over between 11:30am and 12:00pm. Jackie and Jan will be teaching and of course there will be a really good dessert.

Happenings

New Chaplain

Tuesday we had the pleasure of meeting and lunching with the new WTB chaplain in addition to Chaplain Thompson who is being deployed to Korea and Chaplain Assistant Cincotta who will be here to help Chaplain Shannon get acclimated to his new assignment. It has been a pleasure working with Chaplain Thompson. His passion for helping those in pain, both physical and emotional, was in inspiration to all involved. He will be missed.

However, we are looking forward to working with Chaplain Shannon who expressed a desire to continue with the Retreats, R&Rs, Couples in Crisis and Spiritual Fitness events that we organize and host. He is the fourth chaplain that Wounded Warriors at Nebo will have worked with since the ministry started in 2011. God has really blessed this ministry by sending chaplains who are willing to work with us to help the wounded, injured and ill and their families in whatever way we can.

Day Event

Nimitz Golf Classic

Every year the Nimitz foundation has a golf tournament as part of their fund-raising activities. This year Wounded Warriors at Nebo was honored to be a part of that. We had three warriors who rode back seat in WWII airplanes doing a fly over to kick off the golf tournament at Boot Ranch Golf Club. Saying they were excited is obviously an understatement. All had flying experience but said this was like nothing they had ever done. In addition, there were 8 golfers who participated in the actual golf tournament. It was a perfect day with a breeze to offset the high temperatures. One of the joys of this event was seeing wounded warriors and their family again whom we hadn’t seen since they were medically retired. Each golfer was paired with a foursome. It was obvious at the close that new friendships had been made. Anthony Iwuchukwu, one of our wounded warriors, was on the team winning 3rd place in the tournament. What a wonderful day.

To see more pictures click on “Photos” at the top of the page. They are also posted on our facebook page.

Day Event

Kick Up Your Boots

May 26th was our annual fundraiser featuring Bernie Nelson and Thomas Michael Riley in concert. What a great night!! Great Music! Packed Crowd! Generous People! It was a perfect storm. People were competitively bidding on silent auction items and trying not to miss any of the great music. We interrupted the music from time to time to draw prizes. Grand prize, $1,200 toward a cruise from any port to any destination, was won by Nathan Crenwelge. Second prize, $1,000 in $50 gift cards went to Jim Heupel. Third prize, $550 cash, to Farley Hemphill. In addition, there were multiple gift baskets, gift cards, etc won. People’s generosity was overwhelming and not just those attending the concert but all who purchased tickets for the drawing and donated items for the silent auction. In addition to the numerous local supporters (Fredericksburg and surrounding area) there were many who were visiting our fair town from Houston, Midland, New Mexico to name a few. GOD really blessed this fund raising event. Proceeds will help WWAN to provide respite to the wounded, injured, & ill active military, medically retired veterans and their families.

In a true act of selflessness and generosity, several winners of both the drawings and silent auction items immediately gave their winnings to a warrior(s) attending the concert or donated their winnings back to WWAN to be used at a future event for the warriors.

SPECIAL THANKS to Western Edge Cellars who provided the space for the concert and their staff for excellent service, Inn on Barons Creek for discounted rates for the warriors who attended and all the tireless volunteers whose labor is priceless.

Click on “Photos” on the menu at the top of the page to see more photos from the fundraiser.