In today's economy, who doesn't want to save a buck or two or three or more? Who doesn't appreciate a "win-win" situation?
In today's society, who hasn't seen a neighbor in need? Whose conscience hasn't been pricked by the excess of material blessings, while many around us are obviously less advantaged?
At Midway's ShoppE at Rose's and at Kathy Garzon's Second-Step Home, the needs of others are considered. In the second chapter of the Book of James, it is written, "What's the use of saying you have faith if you don't prove it by your actions? That kind of faith can't save anyone. Suppose you see a brother or sister who needs food or clothing, and you say, "Well, good-bye and GOD bless you; stay warm and eat well" -- but then you don't give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do? So you see, it isn't enough just to have faith. Faith that doesn't show itself by good deeds is no faith at all -- it is dead and useless...Just as the body is dead without a spirit, so also faith is dead without good deeds." 
At Rose's -- good deeds abound. Through Midway's kindhearted and generous givers and because of smart shoppers -- all funds earned from this ministry (the "baby" of Midway's young-at-heart "mother hen," Pat Baize) -- have provided for such diverse good works as:
- helping orphanages in China, Mexico, Cambodia and Ecuador with clothing, school uniforms, washers and dryers, food, high chairs, beds and "half" of a pick-up truck
- providing motorcycles for two national pastors in the Philippines to enable them to minister to remote tribes...also providing these same families with a gas cook stove and medical care
- making Bibles available to troops deployed in Iraq
- buying Turkish-language Bibles for missionaries to distribute
- helping teens and young adults raise funds to go on mission trips
- contributing toward a well for clean drinking water in Kenya
- helping Second-Step Home with clothing and household items
- providing funds for a pastor's seminar in Nepal
- assisting a church plant in an inner city area of San Diego
- sending funds to provide a car for Filipino missionaries serving in India; car repairs for missionaries traveling on deputation; several computers; guitar to Kenya; mattress and box springs for missionaries in Sweden; washer and dryer for a missionary family (with four children) in Germany; optometrist visit and new glasses for an 8-year old daughter of missionaries in Mexico; travel expenses back to the US for two missionaries to be with their dying parents; moving expenses in Cambodia, Bolivia, Australia and Iraq; emergency assistance for a missionary who had been shot and needed to move (fast!)
- surprise CHRISTmas offering for nearly two dozen missionary families for whom things were very tight
- funds for the children of Naselesele village -- used to buy children's backpacks for each village family, crabnets for a couple women who each had four school children, shoes for a couple kids, funds for a couple widows, Fijian-language Bibles. (This is but a very short list of all the many, many good works accomplished through the ShoppE at Rose's.)
From the "mother hen's" own words: Odd things some of them...and not always glamorous. But Rose's strive to meet needs and make missionaries' lives easier by providing practical help and encouragement. We particularly like to meet needs that would fall under the radar of other mission groups. We are blessed with a great group of dedicated workers, generous donators and avid shoppers who make all this happen! Never underestimate the power of "little ol' ladies"!!! (Hmm...i would rather say "mature young 'uns"!)
This CHRISTmas, with the hustle and bustle of preparing for the celebration of JESUS' traditional birthday of December 25, we can all take part in the joyful "win-win" situation of helping others in need by shopping at The ShoppE at Rose's, confident that all the monies received will be put to good use conscientiously and with GODly integrity. Your hard earned dollars go a long way at Rose's as you shop for your loved ones because of fantastic low prices for practical and unique items which fill all the nooks and crannies of this most unusual shop.
As James wrote -- faith without good works is dead. So when the giving and receiving of the CHRISTmas season has passed and all the turkey and ham and apples pies and chocolates have gone to the gut and hips -- remember that like the EverReady Bunny commercial, your dollars keep on going...morphing into practical and unusual material aid to those in need all over the world.
It really is so much better to give than to receive, whether to give plenty or but the little we can afford. GOD searches our hearts and sees our genuine desire to help and bless others for His sake. And our GOD is a good Father Who blesses 100-fold those who allow themselves to be His instruments of blessings to those in need of a helping hand.
GOD Himself has said He loves a cheerful giver! (II Corinthians 9:7) And to give in the spirit of CHRIST, agape -- is to give in deed, indeed!
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