Week: July 9 – July 15

We are in the middle of summer and the heat is intense. Even though it may be uncomfortable for us to work in the heat, we thank God for the hot sun that dries the peaches so we can send them to hungry people around the world!

A big thank you to volunteers from Escalade Youth Group (Fullerton, CA), Jericho Road Church (La Mirada, CA), and Refinery Kingsburg (Kingsburg, CA), Woodlake Presbyterian Church (Woodlake, CA), day groups from Radiant Visalia (Visalia, CA), the Johnson family, the Ennamorato family, Mission Builders, Summer Staff, full-time staff, and backpackers from Malaysia, Japan, Mexico, France, Peru, and Columbia!

Because of your hard work:

536,000 pounds of peaches were processed this week

37,117 pounds of dry fruit are ready to ship

150,000 servings of soup are packaged

Thank you for your obedience, perseverance, and generosity! May you be blessed by all the good fruit of the Spirit!

“Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Colossians 3:17

SUMMER VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHT: KATIE NALTY

Called “Mama Nalty” by the students in the First Presbyterian Tacoma Church youth group, youth leader Katie Nalty has been coming to Gleanings almost every summer since 2005.

A kindergarten teacher and mother, Katie has always been teaching and caring for young ones, and God gave her the vision that she will watch over preschool-age kids to high school-age kids as her ministry.

“I feel a call from the Lord to be a ‘watchman on the wall’ for our youth, and for the children at our church,” Katie said.

This year marked 11 years since her first trip to Gleanings, although her church has been sending volunteers all the way from Washington for 22 years straight.

“I feel like God is calling me back [to Gleanings] every time. I like to see the kids’ spiritual growth, and I want to be consistent.”

One of her favorite things about Gleanings is how the trip has been instrumental in the lives of the students she mentors. “The students learn how to discern God’s direction,” Katie said.

Katie is proud of the fact that students who participate in the Gleanings mission trip are likely to do more outreach in the future.

“Many of the students in our youth group have come to do DTS [Discipleship Training School] because of their experience at Gleanings,” Katie said, “including Bethany [Waits], who is now on staff at Gleanings. It helps them to see that the body of Christ is bigger than just our church. It expands their vision for what is possible for them.”

To Katie, Gleanings has always felt like a home away from home. “Every time we arrive and see Rod [Lawrence], he says ‘Welcome home,’ and he gives us a big hug. Gleanings is like a home away from home, a spiritual place.” It’s a home where she can fulfill her calling to be a mama hen to her students in one of the most transformative mission experiences of their lives.

For all these reasons, Mama Nalty will continue to come back to Gleanings for as long as the Lord calls her and the Tacoma team. She is proud to serve with an organization that does what she calls First Church work: “Where you are serving the widows and orphans and the poor.” 

“Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:35

SHARE THE LOVE

On Saturday, volunteers shared the treasures they found this week at Gleanings:

• “You are here to serve. You are here to help impact people’s lives.”
• “God, your will be done. I’m here to serve you.”
• “We talk about Gleanings a lot throughout the rest of the year.”
• “It’s home here. It’s my home away from home.”
• “This work is hard. It’s OK to say this work is hard. We don’t do this work for ourselves; we do it as service to God, and that changes everything.”

“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord . . . “ Colossians 3:23