MID-ATLANTIC BRANCH Newsletter
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2021 Spring/Summer MID-ATLANTIC BRANCH Newsletter Malawi Sends Thanks Shipments Outlook MAB receives an outpouring of gratitude from Africa. Shipments are determined by specific requests from our destination partners. Here are the latest updates. December 4, 2020, was a loading day like any other but soon led to an unexpected outcome. Volunteers packed On March 26th, a 40’ container with food, clothing, medical aids, bicycles, despite nationwide and other items. The container was sealed and sent off, trucking delays and and then we waited. Word came three months later on two cancellations, March 8th that the shipment had arrived in Malawi, Norfolk secured a Africa, and a handful of photos showed initial unloading container for our activities. Nothing unusual, all as anticipated. second shipment to the Republic of Georgia. Pre- staging let just six volunteers to load easily and And then, in late April, a flood of pictures, reports, (Continued on page 3) videos, and personal letters came in, and we realized just how great an impact the shipment made. God worked directly through MAB to change the lives of so many! Social Media Boosts MAB Mission With heartfelt expressions of love and gratitude, the people of Christ Mandate for Mission Church in Lilongwe Personal Facebook postings bring in new donors. conveyed to us their deepest thanks for all they had been Higher volunteer attendance and faster materials given. Bishop Harvey Chabinga wrote, “Thousands processing have been blessings, but in late February of lives have been touched.” Forty-eight churches clothing donation levels dropped perilously low. For benefitted from the container’s contents – pastors almost two months we received only a few bags of eagerly accepted bicycles to reach distant parishioners, donations at a time. Then Beth Brown, daughter of 1,200 impover- volunteer Ruth Hewlett, posted donating information ished families about MAB on neighboring community Facebook sites. were given food The very next day local residents started bringing in and clothing, clothing! Since the posts first appeared in mid-April, we and many medi- have welcomed 20-25 new guests, all happy to receive cal aids went to literature about our mission, some returning several a needy clinic. times, others expressing an interest in volunteering. We learned that Our donation levels have returned to normal. We can’t many people thank Beth enough for ‘taking us viral’ and broadening joined churches Waiting for the container to unload our reach in the local area. (Continued on page 2) “As for you, brothers, do not grow weary in doing good.” 2 Thessalonians 3:13 Page 2 M id - Atlantic Branch Great is Thy Faithfulness! Malawi Sends Thanks Donations pour into the warehouse. (Continued from page 1) An amazing thing happened at the warehouse – after after witnessing the generosity months of pandemic-restricted activity, donations of members sharing material have poured in the last four weeks! By God’s good goods, that Mozambique favor, our watermelon bins are overflowing. Lutheran citizens starving under Covid churches (St. Timothy’s in Aston, Hope in Levittown, restrictions were fed with Christ Memorial in Malvern), with Episcopal Church of nutritious meals, and that the Advent in Kennett Square and Grove Methodist in children went back to school West Chester, all staged creative ‘drive-by’ events because of new clothing. where donors gave clothing without leaving their Bishop Harvey went on to say, Joyfully showing soccer balls cars. The donation quantities were amazing. “Those that are able to speak English are so grateful for the Bibles…that they will Special mention goes to St. James Lutheran Church increase their spiritual knowledge and can teach with on Long Island that went ‘all out’ to fill a 26’ truck. Liz sound mind of scriptures.” Best of all, joyful people Wagner and her Outreach Team worked with their shared personal videos and letters of gratitude with us. congregation, preschool, friends and family to We encourage you to see and read their testimonies on promote a month-long drive. They asked their town our webpage at www.ogt.org/branches/mid-atlantic/. Lending Comforts Society for help and received wheelchairs (with extra new wheels!), walkers, canes, Bishop Harvey concluded, and crutches. When OGT volunteer Rob Hall arrived “Poverty is very huge in Africa, with the truck May 15th, local Boy Scout Troop 301 particularly Malawi, BUT YOU helped load Bibles, bicycles, new underwear and CAN CHOOSE TO TRANSFORM socks, and medical equipment. Liz emailed, “It was an ONE LIFE or ONE FAMILY or a exciting happening and we were thrilled to help! CHURCH.” Looking forward to doing this again!” None of this could have happened without your love, prayers, and donations. Thank you for choosing to help the people of Malawi! Proud new owner of a bicycle ball uniform shirts. In total, 15 more boxes of sports clothing are ready Scout Troop 301 loading team at St. James, NY to ship. More good news: Rich Kuegler of Penn Fusion Soccer We have only heartfelt Club in West Chester, PA, generously made us the gratitude for everyone beneficiary of their two spring ‘Passback’ events in who heard our appeal which parents donated uniforms, shoes, sport bags, for donations and took and equipment. Rick Knowles, General Manager of action. Thank you for United Sports Training Center in Downingtown, PA, being an answer to many oversaw the first collection and helped us load the prayers. Truly, our cup bags. Thank you, Rich and Rick! We also acknowledge runneth over. Volunteer Jack Royer with Rick Knowles at USTC Passback event Coatesville HS that donated soccer, tennis and foot- Praise the Lord, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! For great is his steadfast love toward us, Page 3 2021 Spring/Summer Newsletter Shipments Outlook ‘Wishes’ Do Come True (Continued from page 1) Boscov ‘Wish List’ resonates with supporters. efficiently. Thanks to your generous financial donations, The Wish List, a new way to support our mission by over 70,000 Outreach Program meals were included safely shopping from home, is catching on. Volunteer among the 1,130 boxes of clothing, shoes, and blankets. Sandy O’Hedy worked with Boscov’s Department Store Additionally, medical equipment, sports gear, 20 bicycles last fall to set up a registry of items to ship to people in and a sewing machine all went into the container. need. Liz Wagner, and friends from St James Lutheran on Long Island, bought 50 packages of socks and Much to our delight, the underwear from the registry, as well as towels and container cleared customs washcloths for making Hygiene Kits. Using Thrivent just six weeks later on May Action Team dollars, Cliff Kraft bought additional 6th, and distribution hygiene supplies for us to assemble 140 kits (18 boxes). through the International Thanks to everyone who took part in this program so Charity Fund Peace in far – great teamwork! The Wish List is a year-round Senaki City began. program anyone can shop from anytime. If you would Area coordinator Turpa like to participate, visit www.boscovs.com and enter Gugunava happily wrote, OGT MAB in the gift registry login, or click HERE. “…the quality was too good…everything was defi- nitely one of the best we Excited children discover meals have received…for many of Delivering Donations? our beneficiaries, it would be a dream to receive all these, but now that it is reality, I am sure they will be Use these instructions to the Jennersville warehouse. overjoyed. In different cities and villages of the Follow GPS directions to 8 Federal Samegrelo-Zemo Svaneti region the aid will provide relief Road, West Grove, PA, 19390, to socially vulnerable families, displaced persons, the turning from West Baltimore Pike disabled, victims of domestic violence and more.” onto Commerce Boulevard by the Dansko warehouse. Proceed to the A week later, Turpa wrote OGT sign (pictured left), turn right again and sent photos. She and then right again into the park- said the people were, ing lot. If you have a carload, drive “delighted to receive free up the ramp at the end of the parking lot (yellow arrow food, after all, due to the below); blow your horn and we will guide you in. If you crisis and pandemic, every- have just a few items, ring the doorbell at either the thing is expensive and hard main entrance, or at the top of the metal stairs (red to afford. Kids also received arrows below) and a volunteer will help you. The ware- bicycles. Their eyes were house is open Wednesdays from 10am to 2:30pm and sparkling from happiness.” the 2nd and 4th Saturday of each month from 9am to 1:30pm. Contact warehouse manager, Roger Hazzard, We can’t wait for additional with any questions, (302) 883-1760. pictures as more donations are distributed. A new bike! and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord!” Psalm 117 Orphan Grain Train Our Mission Statement Mid-Atlantic Branch In loving response to Christ, the Servant, the Orphan Grain Train movement encourages and enables God's people to share personal and 89 Line Road material resources in bringing Christ's name and character to needy people, both far and near. Malvern, PA 19355 Mid-Atlantic Branch Purpose Phone: 610-644-4508 E-mail: [email protected] To build a Christ centered team who can use their God-given talents to be a blessing to others through their service in the Mid Atlantic Branch of Website: www.ogt.org Orphan Grain Train fulfilling the Mission Statement of the OGT movement. Warehouse Location: Genesis 12:3 - "I will bless those who bless you … and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." 8 Federal Road West Grove, PA 19390 "I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you." John 14:18 did YOU KNOW? what's AHEAD..