A box of books, children in need, and two beautiful women doing God’s work were brought together in Cleveland, Ohio.

A box of books, children in need, and two beautiful women doing God’s work were brought together in Cleveland, Ohio. Pastor Bonnie has spent the last seven years preaching God’s word in the projects of Cleveland. Trying to raise funds for her own non-profit organization “Cleveland Kid’s Church,” she presented a request for assistance from the South East Kiwanis Club. That is when Natalie Friedl, Development Director of Community Assessment & Treatment Services, Inc., Kiwanian, and long time friend of Lisa Umina made a connection. Storing some books for Lisa after her move to Mexico, Natalie found the perfect place for them… in the hands of Pastor Bonnie’s nondenominational congregation for children as an Easter present. The timing was impeccable. Eighty books were donated by Halo Publishing International to make sure that the children of the church had something they could hold on to that represented the meaning of Easter.

Lisa met Pastor Bonnie and wonderful Cliffon, a three year old Milo Fan at the Arabica Coffee Shop in Slavic Village during her last trip home. With limited time in Cleveland, Lisa made no hesitation to spend time with her new friends, learning about their lives, their mission, and their new found friend, Milo. She learned of how Milo with a Halo has become an inspiration to a young African American seven year old who has never been in the same school for more than a year. This year, in a predominately Hispanic school, he struggles to fit in. A copy of Milo con um Nimbo will not only help him learn Spanish, but to make friends with those around him. Saddened, but inspired, by the story of a young girl who has recently lost her mother, Lisa learned the Milo Moments has touched her life.
In a part of town that is all too familiar to Lisa, but with new friends, tells us all so many things…that Milo is doing God’s work all over the world, that new friends are a great find, and that home is not where you live, but where you are at the moment as long as you know that God is with you.

For more information about Cleveland Heart Reach, please contact Bonnie Sliva, Pastor and Founder at 216-440-0287.