UPS & DOWNS, October 1999

WAYFARERS' HOUSE NEWS

WELCOME to Kathie; Ja'net and Monique; Jawanda and Nakia; and Sharon.

Farewell and good wishes to Carol, Pam, Yvette and Lisa.

HAPPY OCTOBER BIRTHDAY to Sharon!

WILDWOOD RETREAT

Meeting Ground workers and the DELTA staff from Harrisburg , PA report that they learned a great deal about each other's program from their retreat on October 1 and 2 in Wildwood.

WAYFARERS' WOMEN MAKE LUNCH

Women of Wayfarers' prepared lunch for marchers whose 400-mile hike was taking them along Route 40 to New York City and the United Nations in their move to draw notice to the plight of poor people who work at temporary jobs with no benefits and, therefore, often no health insurance.

The march was sponsored by the Poor People's Economic Human Rights Campaign. The United Nations is one of the organizations which has promoted family planning and contraceptive use, an important fact now that the world's population has reached 6 billion. At this pace, humanity is adding 78 million people every year. For ore information on the march, see the Cecil Whig, October 12 and 13, 1999.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

Do you know someone who is interested in helping us at Wayfarers' House? We can use more volunteers to help sort and store donations, to set up rooms for new residents, to provide child care during Parenting/Communicating Group 6:30 -7:30 on Wednesday evenings and on Monday evenings, 6:00-7:00 for Bible Study.

To volunteer, call (410)398-4381 and ask for Marsha.

Volunteers meet monthly to discuss matters related to their work at Meeting Ground. Their most recent meeting, convened by volunteer staff member Barb Dugan, was held at First Presbyterian Church on Main Street.

VEGGIE TALES

Perhaps you have read in Newsweek, in the newspaper or in one of the church journals about a new cartoon series of videos that is making a big hit with small fry. Veggie Tales feature animated vegetables, such as Junior Asparagus, Larry the Cucumber, Bob the Tomato and Frankencelery, not as you may have thought, to teach nutrition, but to provide youngsters with a Biblical perspective on handling everyday fears and on dealing better with situations that often trouble them.

Wayfarers' children have been sampling some of these on loan from the Cecil County and New Castle County Libraries. Kids of all ages have reported liking the wry humor, catchy songs and colorful animation.

ON THE MEND

In addition to our being happy to see residents and staff, and also volunteers, recover from the round of fall colds, we are very glad to see Kathy recovering from surgery and Ashley mending from broken bones.While Ashley (7) is being teased for trying to fly without wings or licence, we are all so grateful for her surviving a fall from a second-story window on Main Street in a freakish accident.

Cindy, and the rest of us also, are so happy about the safe arrival of her sister's baby boy last week, whose appearance was earlier than first scheduled.

PUPPET THEATER ACTIVITY

The stage for the Wayfarers' House Puppet Theater has been in use recently as the children and Marsha Mazza start rehearsing for the shows they produce for groups in the Elkton area. We are eager to hear what productions these actors have in progress; they appear to be enjoying their "work."

WHAT WAS GOING ON IN CHESAPEAKE CITY LAST FRIDAY AND SATURDAY?

According to the Ups and Downs sleuth Natalie, there was a Ghost Walk with some professional storytellers who, along with their interested listeners, were led through the town by the Grim Reaper as a murder mystery unfolded. There was talk of Merlin and witches as well. The Boy Scouts, shifting from their customary activity of helping the elderly cross streets, provided a Haunted House for children of 10 years and under.

All ages were invited on a twenty-minute hayride (for a fee), and we have not even gotten to Hallowe'en yet. Happy Trick or Treating everyone!

THANKS

Our thanks to Anna for her faithful term of service as night monitor at Wayfarers' House

Thanks, too, to all the women from Wayfarers' who helped to clean up the flood damage inflicted by Hurricane Floyd at the local athletic club.

Gracias to Lynn Rodden for getting us started on the season's packaging of herbs, a money raising project for Meeting Ground which Lynn directs all the way from the purchase of spices through packaging, advertising and selling, usually herself managing a booth at near-by bazaars and fairs.

A GUESS WHO

Did you know it was Anna who used to drive the young Cal Ripken to Little League practice? The Orioles' famous third baseman grew up with Anna's son in Aberdeen, MD.

This month 's mystery person was recently awarded a prize by Pacem in Terris, an organization that works for peace in our society. He is often seen at Wayfarers' House.