Faces
It’s all in wrist for a major project to take off A
seemingly typical trip to the store for Emma Herek and her grandmother turned into so much more, not only for her family but also for a community in Malawi. Emma thought about buying a couple of bracelets until her grand- mother suggested the 12-year-old make them herself. After a trip to the arts and crafts store, followed by a few successful creations, Emma and her sister Claire, members of Grace Lutheran Church, Elroy, Wis., real- ized they could sell the bracelets to raise money for those in need. So Mission Malawi was born
(www.missionmalawi2013.
blogspot.com). The goal was to raise $10,000 to dig a well for a village. Within 10 months that goal almost has been met.
“At first I didn’t think we would make it,” Emma said. “We didn’t know how many people were willing to donate to things like this.” The idea to help in Malawi was inspired by the girls’ grandfather, Robert Berg, former bishop of the Northwest Synod of Wisconsin. “As a mom I’m quite proud of them coming up with the idea,” Melissa Herek said. “It’s pretty excit- ing to know about all of the wonder- ful connections we’ve made through this, with Christians throughout the United States and all over the world. It has been a great opportunity.” Wesley Dunbar, pastor of Grace,
100 plus
Hailey Leis (left), Brooklynn Steinmetz, Claire Herek, Lauren Miller and Emma Herek make bracelets to raise money for Mission Malawi. To keep up with demand, the Hereks throw parties with their friends, where they socialize and have fun while creating the jewelry, which they sell for $4 or $5 each.
echoes those sentiments: “[Claire and Emma] have caught the vision of Jesus’ calling to love as he loved us. Like so many young disciples in our confirmation program, they are socially aware, spiritually in tune, creative and willing to dream big. The Malawi Well-Water Project looks likes a 21st century fulfillment of God’s promise in Acts 2:17 that ‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh.’ ”
Melissa Herek said that, like many sisters, the girls sometimes argue, but
they don’t disagree when it comes to helping others. Emma said, “Doing something for somebody else is a way to make the world a better place. And after helping a few people you want to help more with bigger and better things.”
Next year the family is visiting Malawi for the dedication of the well. And the sisters already have their sites set on raising funds for another one. The bracelets may be small, but they make a big impact.
Jeff Favre Favre is a contributing editor of The Lutheran.
103: Helen Strand, Glen Cary, Ham Lake, Minn. 102: Nina Good and Lena Miller, St. Paul, Edinburg, Va.; Marguerite Herberg Wold Schmidt, Trinity, Stillwater, Minn. 101: Stella Carlson, Bethesda, Moorhead, Minn.; Rose Ringhand, St. John of Cedarbrook, Ait- kin, Minn. 100: Alice Batrow, Tabor, Branford, Conn.; Esther Hegg, Washington Prairie, Decorah, Iowa; Esther Johnson, Emanuel, Modesto, Calif.; Evelyn Johnson, Lund, Gully, Minn.; Flora Johnson, Servants of Christ, Indianapolis; Jorgen Jorgenson, Leeds, Leeds, N.D.; Althea Lund, Trinity, Longview, Wash.; Mildred Monke, St. John, Dickinson, N.D.; Pauline Snyder, St. John, Richfield, Pa.; Ephraim Solyst, Kerkhoven, Kerkhoven, Minn.; Gustie Thorson, Trinity, Thief River Falls, Minn.
June 2012 43
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52