Blessing Hands News
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College Scholarships:
We now have twenty-three Blessing Hands college students studying everything from nuclear engineering to tourism. We have scholarships for thirteen female students and seven male scholarships. I am pasting in a thank you letter from one. The three scholarship students from last year have returned to their colleges also.
I am too happy to express my mind. You are very kind for giving me a chance to go to college, how can I thank for your kindness? When I become a teacher, I will give my big love to all the students. Is that a good way?
Our supported college students have to maintain good grades and reapply in the spring for the next year. We encourage them to do a three hour service project each semester that they self-report to their Blessing Hands online group or by e-mail to us. One of our college students, Cen Wanman (Doris), has recently won an English speaking contest and advanced to compete in the provincial contest. You can see her picture here.
Friendship Art Show:
The open house for the Friendship Art show sponsored by Sister
Cities of Morehead and Blessing Hands went very well. You can see
some of the paintings from the show online at
http://blessing-hands.org/paintings.aspx., and the pictures of the
reception are located at
http://picasaweb.google.com/blessinghands/FriendshipArtShowReception.
The paintings are for sale with the proceeds going to poor students
in Yangshuo. Three college students from China served Chinese tea to
our guests. We showed the Chinese news reel that was made of the
Friendship Art Event in Yangshuo last summer. About 55 paintings are
on display, and the winner, determined by a people's choice award,
will represent Yangshuo at the International Sister Cities Young
Artist's Showcase in 2008. A Chinese delegation from Yangshuo
visited Morehead recently and really enjoyed our Friendship Art
show.
Sister School Matches:
Seven Sister Schools have now been matched with the help of the W. Paul and Lucille Caudill Little Friendship Grant, Sister Cities of Morehead, and Blessing Hands. The first batch of pen pal letters has gone out to their pen pals in China. Sister School boxes containing fine art items are being prepared for exchange between the Sister Schools. Marvin Moore, Rowan County Superintendent of Schools, greeted the Yangshuo Delegation at a luncheon at McBrayer Elementary School. Mr. Zhou, the Director of Education in Yangshuo County, toured three area Sister Schools along with Mr. Zhou from Yangshuo City Government and Mr. Wu, the former chairman of the People's Political Consultative Conference in Yangshuo's area. They got many new ideas from viewing our schools from elementary to college level.
Qinzhou Ingathering:
Qinzhou has just finished their fall gathering of students to receive their tuition. I've been getting thank you notes all week. I am including one here for your pleasure.
Hello! I am a blessing hand-student. My name is Suhui. I am from
Guangxi Qinzhou Zhaixu Middle School of China. This is the first
time that I write e-mail. So I am very excited.
I am very happy, because I got the money from Blessing hand.
Blessing hand gives me a big help! Thank you very much, Betty! And
could you make friend with me? I am expect to received your write!
Pen Pals:
You can tell from this letter that the students are eager to write pen pals. If any of you would like to write one of our students by e-mail, please let us know. We have been matching them with youth groups, schools, sororities, and clubs. Nancy Sartor from Morehead would like to write to a Chinese adult. Her e-mail is pecantal@hotmail.com. She is especially enjoys quilting and needlework.
Morehead State University Student Helpers:
Our Blessing Hands intern, Megan Mraz, is speaking in area schools
about her experiences in Yangshuo last summer. She is available to
speak to your group, if you are near Morehead. We also have two
volunteers from the Students for Free Enterprise Club working on our
IRS 990 form and making suggestions about our bookkeeping. Three
Morehead State University computer students have taken their senior
projects with Blessing Hands. They are working on creating a data
base program that will help us keep up with information, improving
our website, and creating a Google Earth overlay that will show all
the locations of our students and schools. Our local university has
a policy of encouraging practical experiences for their students
with area nonprofits.
Pizza Hut Promotion:
On Tuesday November 3 and 13th, Pizza Hut in Morehead will be giving
a donation to Blessing Hands for every meal bought with a coupon
bearing our name. Come eat with a purpose.
Taiwan Program:
Blessing Hands has funded a trial program in Taichung, Taiwan for one year. Emily Hsu, a graduate of Asbury Seminary, is the director there. We are starting with ten children that need support for school supplies and one child that cannot afford tuition for school. Emily works with a local Taiwanese church network called the Family Church.