LEGACY Ins-tute. She oben goes above and beyond to make sure that each job is done to perfec-on as a way of giving to our charitable mission. Thank you! Ms. Rosemary Reed has been volunteering in the GSLI office for the last several months, helping Wimbai with day-‐to-‐day administra-ve chores like organizing files, typing various documents, prin-ng labels, mailing informa-on to LEGACY Ins-tute speakers and par-cipants, picking up lunches for LEGACY, typing up supporters databases and running other errands to free Wimbai to focus more on par-cipant recrui-ng, program development, and training. Ms. Amanda Hover, the owner of Champagne Jewelers, who was among the first supporters of the Footprint campaign, leaving a “large footprint” and showing concern for the future genera-on of leaders. Ms. Brenda Case, the co-‐owner of Lowry-‐Dunham, Case and Vivien Insurance, who has faithfully invested
Mutonono Family Update The Mutonono family is growing, and now with three members: Wimbai, Lena and liNle Stephen Davis. Paren-ng has been the most rewarding part of our lives. We learn a lot about each other, grow more in love, pa-ence, and kindness, and enjoy our family laughs (which happen quite oben because of liNle Stephen’s contagious smiles and laughter). There is nothing like having a child teach you the meaning of the word “sacrifice.” But at the end of the day when you are enjoying your family dinner you know that it is all worth it. In April Lena’s mother was able to travel from Ukraine to visit with us, which was a huge blessing for her and
in LEGACY Ins-tute both this summer and last summer by providing scholarships for some of our par-cipants. Mr. Kirk Hartsell, the owner of Dante’s Pizza who has been a faithful in-‐kind donor throughout the year, providing us with pizza for LEGACY Ins-tute lunches. Mr. Dan Pearlman, an Aus-n, TX based entrepreneur and web designer, who has volunteered his services, exper-se and resources to design the new GSLI website. Check it out at www.gs-‐li.org. Ms. Sondra Lantzer, who has faithfully assisted us with the designing of fundraising flyers and newsleNers. The Village Church-‐Lutheran has given us a lot of encouragement, helped us with adver-sing, and supplied lunches for week two of LEGACY this summer. We appreciate everyone’s involvement and pray God’s richest blessings on each of these and on those who work behind-‐the-‐scenes anonymously!
for us. She enjoyed learning more about America, loved spending -me with her grandson and cooked our most favorite Ukrainian dishes! Since she has a 5-‐year mul-ple-‐entry visa she will probably come again soon. We would like to take a moment to thank you, our friends in the United States who have sent us gibs for Stephen in the last 8 months. Having a family that is so far away we never felt lack of care and love! We apologize for having been out of touch with you lately as the adjustment has made us all aware of the fact that some things may have to be on a backburner for a short -me. We will con-nue keeping you updated through the GSLI quarterly newsleNers. Many blessings, The Mutononos
BRIDGING THE GULF Spring/Summer 2013
From the Execu-ve Director’s Desk
How Do You Measure Success? Gree-ngs from the Gulf South Region! Recently I heard a presenta-on by Angela Lee Duckworth, in which she shared her ideas on what makes a person succeed. As a PhD candidate in Psychology, she tasked herself to research the vast area of “success” and its “ingredients.” She discovered that it was not the smartest that succeed, nor the richest; it was not the most experienced in a par-cular professional field or the most well-‐connected. The people that succeed the most, be it in school or work,
were the ones who had “grit.” It was those who were able to “s-ck with their task” as long as it took and who eventually saw it blossom. Somehow we as human beings, no maNer what our background is – African, American, or Russian – are wired for success. Though Chris-anity speaks a different message through the famous Mother Theresa’s quote, “God didn’t call us to be successful, just faithful,” we s-ll find ourselves yearning to see and touch the mul-ple fruit of our labor in this world. Unless we are dealing with some personal insecurity, I believe that our longing for success is a reflec-on of
God’s desire for us to accomplish our tasks well, to bear fruit, and to hear the much desired “Well done.” In my personal reflec-on -me I ask myself if I have worked well on the liNle that has been entrusted to me, if I have been faithful to remain despite the challenges, if I have commiNed myself without reserva-on and no turning back. As you know from our previous newsleNers, Gulf South Leadership Ins-tute has been focusing more on serving the community through coaching and mentoring the future genera-on of leaders in Southern Louisiana. In the last year alone we have served more than 25 young men and women, encouraging them to pursue their dreams, focus on comple-ng their basic educa-on, and be responsible stewards of what has been entrusted to them: health, talents, and financial resources. LEGACY Summer Ins-tute 2013 brought in over 40 students from different backgrounds and walks of life. Together, they learned basic skills like budge-ng, inves-ng, responsible spending, and worked in teams to create and market board games to reflect what they learned in an interac-ve way. This endeavor of training youth would not have been possible without your grit either. You are a part of this success, and when I look back on the past year’s 10 par-cipants (2 on the first day), I know that we would not be where we are without your faithful contribu-ons, your prayers, and your encouragement every step of the way. Thank you for being with us this year! Please, read more in this newsleNer, and I hope to hear your feedback! Blessings, Wimbai Mutonono
Learn more at www.gs-li.org