Sherrill is an Alpha volunteer in a Canadian prison for women, she recently shared at the Alpha for Prisons weekly prayer call the inspiring story of how approximately 150 inmates in her facility responded to the need of poor widows in Egypt.

A prison officer and the Chaplain went on a short term mission trip to Egypt, under the auspices of "Think and Do".  The founder of "Think and Do" is an Egyptian Christian leader, whose vision is to serve poor communities in Egypt; spiritually, psychologically and materially.

One of their projects gives poor widows a pair of ducks so that they can start a self-sustaining business. $17.00 provides a pair of ducks.

 An enthusiastic Chaplain inspires others

The Chaplain came back fired up by this mission, she shared her experiences with the inmates challenging them to give toward "The Ducks for Widows"project. The 150 inmates in the facility responded enthusiastically and raised a total of $900.00 Then the Chaplain challenged the volunteers and staff to contribute as well, and a further $2,100.00 was raised, for a total of $3,000.00

 Going back to Egypt

The officer plans to go again and has invited Sherrill to join the group. As word spread, other staff members expressed interest in going, so it is likely that an interesting group of people, some Christians and even a few who don't profess faith will go next time.

Praise and Prayer

Sherrill asks all who read this to praise God for the response to the fund, especially from the inmates who gave sacrificially from their meager commissary accounts. A real example of Jesus' parable of the poor widow in Luke 21: 1 - 4. "He . . . saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. "I tell you the truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these . . . gave . . . out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." Many studies have shown that the poor are proportionately more generous than those better off.

 Please also pray for the next trip to Egypt that God would make it a transforming experience for everyone.

 You can learn more about "Think and Do' at www.thinkanddo.org