Fresh Manna - The Opening of a Dream!

March has been a very fruitful and encouraging month as Naomi had the opportunity to travel to South Africa for the grand opening of Fresh Manna, the restaurant concept created by Noleen Glasgow, the recipient of one of Wellspring’s first individual grants. Noleen is the perfect example of why Wellspring exists. She is a woman who found herself in the midst of some very difficult circumstances where she could have easily lost hope. But she had a dream and the motivation to pursue it and with the support of Wellspring and a few key others, she dedicated herself to realizing those dreams. This month proved to be just another step for Noleen as she continues to pursue a positive and self-sufficient life for herself and for her son. We are incredibly proud of Noleen and so excited for this new phase of her life where she gets to enjoy the fruits of her labor!

Zamar Academy Christmas Dinner

by Naomi Zacharias

For Christmas, Wellspring hosted a Christmas dinner for the children of Zamar Academy in Chennai, India. This is a Christian school that serves underprivileged children from the slum areas of Chennai. 137 students and their families attended the event. Each student was given a school bag with a pencil set and toy inside.
Click here to see the video of their celebration...the angels dancing to "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree" has to be my favorite...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jfHhzcO5c0

From South Africa to Disneyland

by Naomi Zacharias

We have often spoken of Noleen and her story of courage and strength. She successfully changed the course of her life when she received a scholarship from Wellspring. Graduating at the top of her class from culinary school, Noleen has since been a chef at a four star hotel in Cape Town.
She and her son, Jomei, traveled to Phoenix, Arizona, in October to share her story with friends of Wellspring. She showed enormous courage and invited people into her story of much pain suffered, but the remarkable restoration that lights up her eyes. On their way home we sent them to Disneyland, for what is a trip to the US that does not include an introduction to Mickey Mouse? I had to leave for a trip, but left them safely in the hands of a good friend, LV Hanson from the Catalyst team, who took them with friends to the happiest place on earth...

http://www.vimeo.com/7528974

Fair Trade Month

Fall is here. And October is now about more than costumes and candy. October is Fair Trade Month.

Fair trade is an organized social movement and market-based approach that seeks to engage small producers in developing countries in the global retail market. The movement serves many purposes: as an advocate for the local producer, to promote environmentally responsible standards in the production of goods, and to provide a sustainable effort to fight poverty. It focuses on exports from developing countries to developed countries. Products such as coffee, cocoa, sugar, tea, bananas, honey, cotton, wine, fresh fruit, chocolate and flowers are common items available through Fair Trade. Handicrafts are also available at select retailers.
Fair trade respects the labor, talent, and self-sufficiency of the individual, it rewards a strong work ethic, and combats poverty and many of its horror-filled effects. Through our every-day choices and selections, we can each fight against poverty, hunger, abuse, and human trafficking.
Check out the website http://www.fairtrademonth.org to learn a new fact about Fair Trade each day, and different ways to support this global effort.

Slice of Infinity: "You Have Done It Unto Me"

Some food for thought. Check out this Slice of Infinity by RZIM apologist Margaret Manning:

http://ls.egen.net/MessageView.aspx?sid=167786636&cid=167772742&textonly=0

ABC Nightline Link

Attached is a link to a portion of the transcript for the ABC Nightline program on sexual exploitation that aired last week:

Tracking Suspected American Pedophiles in Cambodia
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/inside-investigation-alleged-sex-predators-cambodia/Story?id=8579591&page=4

How to help end sexual exploitation
http://abcnews.go.com/Nightline/end-sexual-exploitation-cambodia/story?id=8579638

One of Wellspring's beneficiary organizations, NewSong Center (also called Agape Restoration Centre), is highlighted in this link. Please contact us by email to naomi.zacharias@wellspringinternational.org or by phone to 770-449-6766 if you have any questions.

Nightline on ABC

ABC’s Nightline will feature a story on sex trafficking in Cambodia that is expected to air on September 16th, 2009, with two follow-up pieces for the evening news in the days thereafter. One of the follow-up stories will feature a girl called 'Bella' from the NEWSONG CENTRE which is run by one of the organizations we work with, AIM4ASIA in Cambodia. Nightline usually airs late in the evening so check your local listings. http://twitter.com/Nightline
Newsong Centre is a rehabilitation center that cares for young girls who have been sexually abused and tortured. Through intensive counseling, medical care, education, and a safe home environment, Newsong Centre is helping to reintegrate them into society at their pace. If you would like to know more about Newsong Centre, please let us know.