Sonlighter stories

We've enjoyed hearing from you about your Rice Bag Project experience. You still have time email your photos! Send us your family or group snapshots from the Rice Bag Project at sonlight@missionindia.org.

(By sharing your stories and photos you give Mission India permission to publish this information on our website and/or in other print materials.)

Katie, Abby, and James turned their lemonade stand profits into a life-changing gift for women in India!

Chris and Sarah in Indiana wrote:

Our three children, Katie, Abby and James [pictured at right], had a lemonade stand during the neighborhood home tour this year. They had a good day with nice weather and met many pleasant people. The girls had figured they could make money by selling lemonade at 50 cents a glass and were mostly out to have some fun "playing store" and make a little bit of money. Many people gave them a dollar or two instead, saying it was really good and too cheap. I was concerned they would have little regard for the value of a dollar as the money kept coming in relatively easily.

They never mentioned to anyone what they were going to do with the money, even us. Sarah and I thought they were saving money for a Wii game system, since they didn't get that for Christmas for their birthdays. Instead, they said they wanted to give it to a mission, but they didn't know which one.

Shortly afterward, we heard about the Sonlight Mission India project. Intially gave to that from their allowance. They determined to give their saved mission money to this project as the weeks went on and we read more about it and are glad to see the bag empty and ready for the next filling.

Now I know why people were so generous towards our kids; the Lord knew what was going to happen, even when we didn't. I was afraid they were going to be corrupted lemonade barons and instead their hearts were right and they were blessed. They are now saving money for an animal through another mission.

Thank you for bringing this mission to our attention and we pray the Lord's will in its use to accomplish His purposes.

Cera in Oregon shared:

Thank you for this enriching opportunity. My children and I have had our hearts opened through these last few weeks. Reading the story of these women in India has given me a greater sense of call to help those whom Jesus calls us to serve. Thank you!

Dorothy in Florida emailed:

Kevin (7) and Jessica (5) live in South Africa. Here they are doing some gardening to earn extra money for their Rice Bags!

My Wednesday night group comprises of 2 and 3 year olds. I was looking for a mission focus that was hands-on and that could involve the entire family on different levels. I explained to the kids that we are collecting money to help someone learn to read. I sent more detailed information home with the parents and let them decide how much to share with their child.

I don't know about the other children but my kids (ages 6 and 9) loved finding coins on the floor, in the car, on the road and ... well you get the idea. They would yell, "Mommy I found some money for the rice bag!" and run and put it in. One time, I left a $1 bill on the table and it went in the rice bag.

Jill in Michigan said:

Our church is a rural church in northern Michigan. We have about 80-100 people in our congregation on any given week. We are small but we try to do our share of reaching people for Christ.... I am in charge of Sunday School. I have been trying to get the kids and adults to realize that we need to be generous to others as God has done for us.

I do Sonlight curriculum with my 3 daughters and saw the great opportunity that Rice Bag Project could be to impact India for Christ. I also saw it as a way for kids and adults to realize that change, even though a small thing, can multiply into something that can cross oceans and cultural barriers and do something mighty for GOD. I wanted them to realize that if everyone does their small part than GOD would do the rest and make it go further than we could imagine.

The kids have been very excited. The enthusiasm has spilled over into our whole congregation. People who don't attend Sunday School have taken a Rice Bag and are doing it as well. We have some who have filled the bags several times and we have people counting down until the day for collection arrives. Our way has been very simple, but it seems to be working. We will be excited to see what transpires.

Sharon in Pennsylvania shared:

The small part we have done for this ministry has been a blessing to my children and me. I was explaining to my 6 year old son that some of the people in India cannot read; for example they may not know what the number 4 looks like. He was doing his math at the time (one of his favorite pastimes). When I checked on him later he asked if he could make a copy of his math page and send it to that lady. What lady? "You know, Mom, that Indian lady that doesn't know #4. I have a lot of number fours on this page."

Elizabeth and Markus count their coins!

We have learned so much about India. We are praying that many people's lives are changed as they trust Jesus and learn to read.

Trisha in South Carolina says:

We have been reading our emails and learning more about India as we save our change. The kids have especially enjoyed the pictures and watching the short video clips that are suggested to learn how kids in India live, play, etc.

Since it is now Week 7, we decided to count our money. We didn't have as much as we would have liked, so Elizabeth (6) and Markus (4) [pictured at right] decided to empty out most of their piggy banks to fill our rice bag. Each week they put money in their piggy banks, and this week it is much lighter!

Praise the Lord that it will go to help and even save people in India!

Email us your photos and stories from the Rice Bag Project at sonlight@missionindia.org.