World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008 - (Page 41)

had not been able to move the sheep, some of whose bodies now lay on their sides, bloated and plastered in the cracking mud. Black Sheep Creamery was barely three years old when the flood struck. Brad and Meg had begun keeping sheep when they discovered that their “second” was sensitive to cows’ milk. To gain some skills, Meg had attended the annual Women’s lambing Week at the Heifer ranch in Perryville, Ark., in 2003. Only weeks before the flood, the Gregorys had donated some of their award-winning cheese to a local Heifer benefit. So it wasn’t a surprise when, just five days after the flood, Heifer’s community relations coordinator for the Northwestern U.S., Eliza Penick, and eight Heifer volunteers showed up at the Gregorys’ farm with boots on and shovels in their hands. They spent the day scraping the foot-deep muck out the barn. “The Heifer volunteers were wonderful,” said Meg. “They helped to clean out the barn. It had 3 feet of water in it.” And when she could be disheartened, she is thankful instead. “We still have a long haul ahead of us, but God has been good and people are His wonderful tool.” Photo by Sharon Hall Photo Religious student groups on the campus of San Jose State University came together to raise money for Heifer. FA S T I N G To End Hunger ach year, members of Muslim Student Associations (MSAs) on college campuses across the country fast to raise funds for a charity of their choice. In 2007, the MSA at San Jose State University in San Jose, Calif., chose Heifer International as its charity. Billal Ashgar, MSA treasurer, worked with advisor Julie Sparks, of the Heifer International Club at SJSU, to organize the event. As word of the event began to spread across campus, something unexpected happened. Other religious organizations took notice of what the MSA was doing and decided to join forces. The Jewish Student Union, Mosaic Multicultural Center, Campus Catholic Ministries and the Comparative Religious Studies Program set aside doctrinal differences to take part in this ground-breaking event. Seventy students from various religious backgrounds pledged “no food, no liquids, no negative thoughts” from sunup to sundown on December 4, 2007. At sundown, participants celebrated their accomplishment by feasting on Indian food while a series of speakers addressed world-hunger issues. With support from local businesses, individuals and other students, the fast raised more than $3,000 for Heifer International. “I believe [this collaboration] sent a message that people are growing increasingly tired of the current conditions and are now willing to overlook their contrasting lifestyles [to accomplish] something meaningful,” said Harold Bell, president of the Heifer International Club at SJSU. “I feel that their unity made this more than just your average fundraiser.” E Members of SJSU’s Muslim Student Association spearheaded a “voluntary fast” on their campus in December 2007. With the help of other student groups and local businesses, they raised $3,000 for Heifer. www.heifer.org May/June 2008 | WOrlD Ark 41 http://www.heifer.org

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008

World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008 Contents Letters For the Record The Good Life Asked & Answered Why Water Matters The Carbon Hoofprint From Farm to Table Healing History Mixed Media Heifer Spirit Heifer Bulletin World Ark Market Calendar First Person

World Ark Magazine - May/June 2008

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