 SUMMARY
Each year Bridgette Mongeon, sculptor and owner of God's Word Collectables, chooses one or two nonprofit organizations for which she creates a sculpture to help with fund raising. Maretha Maartens, editor of Finesse Magazine in South Africa, heard the sculptor¹s Call for Organizations and invited Mongeon and her daughter, Christina Diliberto, to visit the three South African missions they support. Maartens' hope was that Ms. Mongeon would consider one mission for this fund raising effort. The result has been inspiring for all. The final choice for a mission was Tabitha Services for Children at Risk (TSCR). TSCR works with children in the squatters camps and those abandoned because of aids.
Ms. Mongeon has extended her support beyond the sculpture, helping to spread the word of the needs of the children in South Africa. She has also been invited to sit on the board of a new organization that is being developed to help with the children who are being  displaced by the African AIDS epidemic.
She encourages others to get involved and has assisted in the the following areas:
Web site-A web site has been created depicting the needs and information of each mission that was visited as well as a description of some of the programs below. www.godsword.net/africa
Pen Pals- Ms. Mongeon encourages adults and children to be teamed up with a Christian in South Africa. Agreeing to correspond with their pen pal and pray for them. Pen pals can also send care packages
Educational Sponsors- School is not free in South Africa and the children are often beaten if they do not have their monthly fees. Ms. Mongeon is looking for ongoing sponsors for each child.
Book Drive- The children do not have access to books, individuals are encouraged to send reading material.
Quilt Project- Ms. Mongeon is working with the leaders of the missions in having them send quilt squares that are created by individuals at the missions. She is also looking for volunteers in American to put these squares together into quilts that will be auctioned off on the God¹s Word web site. The proceeds will go directly to the missions.
SAMPLE INTERVIEW QUESTIONS
• Did you come in contact with Black Magic while in South Africa?
• How can people in American become involved with a mission as far away as South Africa?
• How was your daughter effected by this trip to South Africa and by what she saw?
• Was there a time, while on this missionary journey that your safety was in jeopardy? RESOURCES
AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEW
• Numerous photos and slides of Africa
•Sculpture of children created for fundraiser
• Web site-www.godsword.net/africa
• Phone conversation with director of missions in South Africa
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