Quiet Time- Help Needed

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked. Luke 12:48
This week Quiet Time will be a little different because I need your help. A little background first...Through the amazing wonder of God's plan I came to meet some faithful people doing God's work. I was lucky enough to go with these people before Thanksgiving to Choctaw County, a small place on the Alabama/Mississippi border, to deliver food to families in need that had been donated to this group. We spent the day not only giving food to these people, but also praying with them. They were the poorest of the poor, yet they seemed happier to give thanks to God than to receive food. One family we visited literally only eats what they can kill. They live in a trailer belonging to someone else and have practically nothing. I took this picture in the trailer because I was moved that in this desolate place on the wall hung these two pictures (on either side of the flag)....
I had to include this picture because these faces make my heart melt...
Each and every one of their stories is moving. These people are good people who are trying their best to get out of their current situation. I couldn't believe that this exists here, that people could live without food, clothing, heat, water. In the past Patrick and I had sponsored "angels" and donated to organizations, but to see these places and meet the people first hand was life changing.
This is where I must ask for your help. For Christmas the group has adopted these families but their needs outweigh our means. While ideally the children would all get something special like toys, they need school uniforms, shoes, coats and school supplies desperately. The families need food, money for water tanks, any clothing available-new or used. They were supposed to come to Birmingham (they are 2 hours away) for a Christmas celebration, that has not worked out but we are still trying to do some celebration for them.

First and most importantly we/they need prayers. I know everyone is strapped right now or you have your own charitable cause but prayer is free! And more importantly prayer is far more powerful than anything that can be bought.

Second, if you would like to help in any other way it would be most appreciated. I hate to ask this on the blog, but this an outlet God gave me and I am called to use it. If you think you could help in any way or you would like to have more background information on these families please e-mail me @ mariannestrong@aol.com or you can e-mail Lisa (the organizer) @ LALA2541@aol.com . As always thank you for reading these posts, it means so much to me!

You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. 2 Corinthians 9:11