Today's speaker was our own Paula Blessman.
Paula participates in two volunteer organizations that are active in the Republic of South Africa, specifically in Limpopo Province in the northeast part of the country. One is Blessman Ministries, Inc. (BMI) founded by Dr. Jim Blessman and his wife Beth and headquartered in Urbandale, IA.  This organization has been active in South Africa since 2004.  They provide nutritional food packs ("Meals from the Heartland") to 7,500 students daily.  They also supply thousands of donated eyeglasses and shoes.  Providing farming education and fresh produce are also BMI goals. They run a 20 acre research farm in cooperation with Iowa State University and the University of Limpopo. Current new goals are to provide safe water supplies and flushless toilets for rural schools. BMI provides jobs for local people in construction, well drilling, farming and micro credit projects like sewing, baking and construction. 
 
The other organization in which Paula is active is Days for Girls International which was started in 2008.  She is a team leader for Team Cedar Rapids, IA.  This volunteer group makes and distributes feminine hygiene kits. Dr. Blessman and wife Beth and other volunteers (Paula included) teach girls in south Africa about reproductive health and hygiene.  Days for Girls has reached over 400,000 women and girls in 100+ countries.
 
If you would like to help Days for Girls, here's how.  Volunteer at home or during local workshops to make kit components and assemble kits.  Donate supplies or money.  Pray for the success of the effort.  Go to South Africa as a volunteer (a Rotarian outreach event is planned for September 24-26, 2017).  For more information, speak to Paula or go to www.blessmanministries.org. There is an online donation option at the website. You can also donate by using Amazon Smile or Thrivent Choice Dollars.