Graduation Day, A Cause for Celebration!

I love starting my day with a Mercy graduation. It is very grounding and centering for me. 

The praise and worship, testimonies of past pain and the healing that has begun at Mercy Ministries, prayers and words of encouragement from the staff, the after-care plans and then the wonderful opportunity of presenting the gifts to the graduates that so many people have helped to provide. 

Today gifts were given to these special young women: 

~Megan

~Katie

~Stephanie

~Tamara

~Ashley

~Jen

Please pray for them often as they continue their journeys and begin this next exciting phase of their lives!

Nancy mentioned verse Jeremiah 29:11 during the ceremony. She referred to God's words "these are the plans I have for you." She was putting together pieces of several of the girl's journeys and how it was apparent that God knows the plans He has for us. We only need to trust and listen. 

This stimulated me to come home and look up the verse. The Bible I am using for study has prayer and study helps by Stormie Omartian. I don't think she'll mind if I paraphrase from her "Going Deeper" section in Jeremiah.

'For I know the plans I have for you, 'declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future'.  Jeremiah 29.11

God's plans for us can sometimes take a long time to show themselves. It's easy to lose heart and become discouraged during these waiting times. I am far too familiar with waiting! It's important for us to stay plugged in to God during these times. 

We need to seek God and pray about our future. We then must be diligent and obey God. Every step of obedience will bring us closer to the future God has planned for us. We must listen to God's voice - he will lead us. God promises that we have a good future and reason to have hope. Trust Him in both! He will deliver!

Ok - a quick plea for Makeovers for Mercy. Today we gave away $1,500.00 worth of product. We are honored to be able to bless these girls and thankful for all the people that have helped to provide. 

We need your help to continue to grow this effort. Please contact me to find out how you can help. It's fun and very fulfilling! 

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019

Follow-up to It's All About the Planning

It's pretty clear to me that whether you plan events over a long period or identify an opportunity and "throw" the event together quickly, the important thing to do is HAVE events! (Teresa will be ever so happy to hear me admit this! )

The GOOD news is that over the last several weeks both Keller Williams Murfreesboro and Keller Williams Green Hills have hosted events supporting 'Makeovers for Mercy'.

I've just added the orders together and figured the money raised. Both events were quickly put together and a total of approximately $300 was raised for our Mercy effort! How AWESOME is that!!

THANK YOU Keller Williams!!

The challenge to me is to continue to grow this thing. I've had some interest expressed by Team Leaders of several other local Nashville KW offices to explore events. Like we teach our agents - it's all about the Lead Generation. The responsibility turns to me to find other open doors.

I intend to have a belief that the ocean of prospects is so huge for me that no matter how many calls I make or customers that I get that I can't even make a dent in the supply.

This "Intent for the Week" is taken from Selling from the Heart: Weekly Visualizations, Inspiration and Strength for those that Sell by Michael J. Durkin.

'Makeovers for Mercy' can take many forms. Call me for ideas!

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019

It's All About the Planning

It's all about the planning and isn't it? Well you can take a long time to plan or you can take action and plan quickly!

I'm always trying to identify opportunities to raise money for Makeovers for Mercy (M4M). Holding one on one makeovers or small makeover events is just NOT cutting it! I've got to broaden my base. The more people I can get to try our products, the more money I can raise for M4M.

In the office last week, I ran across a catalog that one of our agents had out, with a note on it saying - "let me know if you'd like to order something"....

I called the agent and suggested that at some point we co-host an event - in effect, broaden both of our bases. I could invite my database, she could invite hers...sounds like teamwork to me!

Bottom line - we decided to host the event on the day she had planned, but changed the location to our Keller Williams Green Hills office instead of her home. I threw together an email invitation, started talking it up in the halls, now we'll see what happens!

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com

The Lotus Flower

I've spent the day working on this blog. First I wanted a template that "matched" my intentions for the blog. I hope you like what I've come up with. It is a work in progress, much like the girls at Mercy Ministries.

I've chosen the LOTUS flower to represent this blog because of it's symbolism and how it reminds me of the journey the Mercy girls experience. Lotus blossoms represent BEAUTY and SUCCESS!

Lotus flowers start off as a seed in the bottom of a pond, in the smelly MUCK and the MUD. Yet they grow. As they grow, they eventually make their way OUT of the mucky, smelly bottom of the pond, through the water and to the TOP where they become a BEAUTIFUL, SUCCESSFUL flower.

This metaphor struck me.

You can be born into the worst possible situation, much like the lotus, but with considerable growth and determination, you can get to the top of the "pond" and become something more than what you were born into.

YOU can become the BEAUTIFUL, SUCCESSFUL "flower" at the top of the pond!

When I attend Mercy graduations, I see "beautiful flowers" that have grown while at Mercy, with great spirit, determination, purpose and empowered by their relationship with Jesus Christ.

...Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire...they saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them. Daniel 3:25-27

Thank you, Jesus, that when the heat is on in our lives, You get in the fire with us and are faithful to those who are faithful to You.

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019

It's Thanksgiving week and I cannot believe how this month has flown by! I am so thankful for the relationship I have developed with Mercy Ministries via my business partner, Teresa Bennett. 

Mercy has helped me to think "outside" of  myself; I hope that my involvement will leave the world a little bit of a better place. I am personally blessed each and every class and graduation that I attend at Mercy. The "Mercy Girls" work so hard at moving forward, day by day, into their new lives. I admire their strength. 

Some of our activities for November have included:

• November 6th: 5 graduates BLESSED with gifts from Makeovers for Mercy. Please pray for Lauren, Jama, Abbey, Tabitha and Hannah as they begin this new phase of their lives. 

• November 14th: Teresa hosted a fabulous "Styles of the Season" party attended by 40+ wonderfully supportive women! We were treated to fashion and makeup tips for the upcoming holiday season by Dawn D. Totty, owner of "The Head to Toe Woman"; we also were blessed with the musical offerings of Michelle Gold. It was a fabulous evening, great networking, visiting with old and new friends, awareness and money raised for the Mercy girls to boot! 

• November 18th: Mickie Howell of Keller Williams Realty - Murfreesboro hosted a "Beach Party". We spent several hours pampering the women of the M'boro office with foot spa treatments, facials, paraffin hand treatments and a wonderful beach themed visualization exercise. All designed to pamper and relieve stress. The additional benefit? Money raised to purchase products for future graduates of Mercy Ministries. 

I've just received word that the next graduation is set for December 9th; 6 girls are scheduled to graduate.  The gifts we are able to Bless the girls with, thanks to ALL of your generosity, are valued at $250.00. The need is great to continue to raise funds. 

Special thanks this month to Teresa Bennett, Mickie Howell, KW Murfreesboro, Dawn D. Totty and Michelle Gold. 

Makeovers for Mercy Events are FUN and can be tailored to your group!

Please let me know if you'd like to help...in addition to fundraising, we need your prayers for our mission, for the girls at Mercy, for the staff of Mercy and the work they are doing.

May you have a blessed Thanksgiving wherever you may be. 

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com

jan.orga@mac.com
615-400-3019

Six Graduates Celebrate New Life

This week the Nashville Home is celebrating the freedom of six young women who just graduated from Mercy Ministries in Nashville and Monroe! These girls have experienced the true freedom and joy that comes from having a relationship with Christ.  

Check out the stories on the Nashville website

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019

Graduation Day!

Another Fabulous Graduation Day at Mercy Ministries!

What an experience to witness the testimonies of and blessings bestowed upon the graduates by Nancy Alcorn and the staff of Mercy Ministries. I always come away from the graduations feeling a mixture of emotions: humbled, grateful, honored, blessed, tearful, spiritual, happy, joyful, enlightened and uplifted, just to mention a 'few'.

I was particularly touched today by a mother quoting from Isaiah 61, vs 1, 3...

He has sent me...to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

Receiving beauty for ashes! I don't think it can be explained any clearer what Mercy is doing for these girls.

Congratulations to Caitlin, Kris and Jordan. May God continue to bless you with wisdom and knowledge so that you may see His truth in every situation.

Many thanks to our supporters for allowing us to BLESS these girls with gifts provided by Makeovers for Mercy. Teresa and I would like to thank the agents of Keller Williams Realty - Nashville and our other clients for their support making this all possible. We need continued support - please contact us to find out how YOU can help!

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
janorga@myarbonne.com

Mercy Ministries Video Blog

Check this out!!

http://mercyministriesvlog.blogspot.com/

Watch Nancy as she provides updates on Mercy Ministries!


Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019

Prayer Partner Update

Received via email from Nancy Alcorn a few days ago:

I am traveling to St. Louis this weekend for several speaking engagements. I will be speaking to a group in the community on Saturday night (September 13). I will also be doing the three Sunday morning services at Faith Family Church in Shiloh, IL (St. Louis area) - at 8:00 AM, 9:30 AM, and 11:00 AM. Then I will be speaking to a large group for the Fellowship of Christian Athletes Sunday night at 5:00 PM. Please pray for favor and for God to move and touch peoples lives during each of the times we share, and that He would continue to divinely connect us with people for His purposes.

I will be traveling to Los Angeles next weekend to speak at a womens conference called God Chicks. Please pray that will be a very powerful and effective time of ministry as well.

Please continue to pray for the girls in the program. We want to also update you with the names of our current residents because weve had quite a few girls graduate. (Check out some of our graduate stories on our website). For your convenience, I have attached a new list of names so that you can print it out and put it in your Bible.

Please continue to pray for our finances. This continues to be a challenging situation. Pray for God to touch the peoples hearts who are able to give extra at this time. Pray also for our monthly partners to be blessed so that they can keep their monthly commitments.

I was pretty shaken this morning as I got off the phone with a pastor from Louisiana who is very close to our ministry. He shared with me that he has an 11 year-old girl in his congregation that is pregnant. Her mother took her to get an abortion yesterday, but she couldnt go through with it, so she ended up calling this pastor for help and he called me this morning. Even though our age limit begins at 13, we will probably make an exception for this girl because she has no one and no where else to turn. The first thing we are recommending is that she be taken to the doctor to get a good physical and to find out how far along she is. Please pray for this young girl this is obviously a very devastating situation, and very indicative of the state of our nation.

Trinity - Kris - Joyia - Tara
Briany - Samantha - Jackie - Amanda
Emily - Tabitha - Jennife - Maddy
Brittany - Megan - Jama - Jennifer
Elizabeth - Caitlin - Tamara - Hannah
Deanna - Laura - Leisha - Sylvia
Heidi - Ashley - Haley - Kristin
Emily - Jackie - Chelsea - Sarah
Taylor - Georgianna - Stephanie - Stephanie
Hailey - Cindy - Jordan - Kimberly
Katrina - Britin - Kendyl - Lindsay
Ruth Ann - Morgan - Emily -Jennifer
Esther - Susan - Ashley - Cami
Ruby - Katie - Andrea - Erin
Jennifer - Amy - Carla - Brittany
Kelley - Chrystal - Sarah - Kelly
Kerry - Sandra - Chelsea - Kristi
Bonnie - Ashley - Rachel - Kelsey
Jessica - Carrie - Nichole - Ally
Ashley - Ashleigh - Chelsea - Kalie
Hannah - Charlice - Laura - Danielle
Abby - Jessica - Lauren
Hannah - Abby - Jill
We appreciate each of you so much,

Nancy

Nancy Alcorn
Founder and President



15328 Old Hickory Blvd, Nashville, TN 37211
phone: 615.831.6987 fax: 615.760.1113
http://www.mercyministries.com

Please join me in supporting these young women and MM in prayer!

Blessings,

Jan
www.jan.orga@myarbonne.com

What are "Makeovers for Mercy"?

"Makeovers for Mercy" is the brainchild of Teresa Bennett, my "upline" in Arbonne and partner in this effort. Without her I would not have been introduced to Mercy Ministries (MM) and would therefore, not have experienced the MIRACLES and TRANSFORMATIONS that are occurring daily at MM! I will remain forever grateful to Teresa for this introduction.

"Makeovers for Mercy" are makeovers for clients AND makeovers for residents and graduates of Mercy Ministries. The makeovers for our clients and monetary gifts from sponsors generate the funds necessary for us to provide 1) makeovers for MM residents and 2) FREE Arbonne product gifts for the girls at graduation!

Fifteen residents of Mercy Ministries in Nashville, Tennessee participated in the first “Makeover for Mercy” event on February 27, 2008!

The “Makeovers for Mercy” class began by discussing God’s order in nature and how that translates into skin tone, hair and eye color. Yes, there is a correlation! Each girl was given a worksheet and analyzed their skin tone and best complimentary colors.

In preparation for make-up application, the girls washed and moisturized their faces with Arbonne Intelligence Cleanser and Day and Night Moisturizer. Foundation colors were determined using the f.y.i. arbonne line for young women. Instruction for make-up application techniques were given using the Impact Your Image program developed by celebrity make-up artist Krista Embry. This is the exact program used with clients for the “Makeovers for Mercy” fundraising events. Visit Impact Your Image.

As our class time came to a close, each girl received a f.y.i. arbonne magazine with health and beauty tips and information. It was so exciting to surprise them with the news that money had been raised for each of them to receive gifts of skin care and make-up!


Be a part of “Makeovers for Mercy”!

Here’s how:

• Sponsor makeovers/products for residents
• Ask your employer to sponsor
• Sponsor as a Business Owner
• Tell others about the opportunity!

Blessings,

Jan
www.janorga.myarbonne.com
615-400-3019