What an awesome day hosting the Moments with Mom event at the O’Daniel Unit! We were so excited to see 21 families participate and spend this special day with their moms and grandmothers! Our volunteers had such a great time helping with crafts, fun games…including sack races, cookie face, ring toss, bocce ball, Yahtzee, egg races, Twister and head hoop basketball. Face painting was a big hit with all ages, with many getting adorned with sport themed tattoos.
We were so appreciative of the 15 helpers from the Unit who worked very hard alongside the volunteers to help make this day so amazing! They helped decorate on Friday night, led a fun Bingo game for the families, served food and organized and cleaned up at the end. Such a great group of women with beautiful servant hearts!! All the families enjoyed their lunch together as they ate hot dogs with all the fixings and then spent time watching the movie and playing table games with each other….including Skip-Bo, Dominoes, Fish, Uno, and more.
The moms and their families were quick to share with us how much they appreciated this unique day. A day where they they could enjoy their whole family being together and playing together. One lady shared that she felt as if she was bursting with love. Each family got to take home a family photo to help remind them of this wonderful day together. As always, it’s an emotional moment when they have to say goodbye. Many long hugs and families praying over each other is always such a sweet sight to behold.
We want to thank all of our 19 D4C volunteers who gave their time, energy, and resources to make this day possible. Being able to provide a day like this for these precious women and their families is one of our greatest privileges! We pray that God will continue to bond these families together and that these special days will remain cherished memories for them.
More Special Moments
While our Moments with Mom event was going on, a few of our volunteers were also able to celebrate the Mom’s in a couple of the special housing areas of the unit. It was a great time of fun, food and fellowship! See below for what a couple of them had to say.
A special thank you to Teresa Rogers, Gail Beltz, and DeAnne Barber for their heart to always go into these different areas and minister to these ladies. We know that they carry the love and presence of God with them and it always touches the hearts and lives of these women in a mighty way. God is so gracious to give us these opportunities to be His hands to them!
Volunteer Teresa:
“We had a fun time with the ladies playing charades and spoons. We also watched a movie and enjoyed great fellowship. We concluded the day with amazing prayer time, thanking God for food, fellowship and fun!”
Volunteer DeAnn:
“Disciples 4 Christ, led by Susan and Bob Neyra, knows just how to reach into the ladies hearts with what they bring to them. I am always blessed to be a volunteer with this ministry. When I go, I pray and ask God to help me be a light of hope and encouragement, but always come away the one more blessed from the time spent with the ladies there. On this particular weekend outreach I was gifted with the privilege to spend some time with some ladies that normally don’t get to participate in the activities. The fellowship, food, fun and laughter we shared made them feel at least for just a few hours they were experiencing what it was like to be free again especially when they were eating the chili dogs with all the trimmings. The games we played they hadn’t played since they were a child and it brought such joy and smiles and laughter that helped them forget for a moment that life was different now. We were able to watch a movie together with popcorn. Aside the fun and games, we also spent time praying together and encouraging them in their relationship and walk with God. I am so thankful for this ministry that ministers to the whole person, spirit, soul and body and helps men and women realize they have a second chance to choose life over their circumstances with God’s help.”
