Recent Shipment Passes Suez

     Our recent Orphan Grain Train--Michigan shipment carrying a treasury of theological books and ecclesiastical supplies such as altar ware, baptismal fonts, etc, tools, clothing, quilts, and a 16-foot boat has passed through the Suez Canal and is temporarily located today at the port of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

     Our 40-foot container left Sebewaing September 28 and went by rail from Detroit to Hampton Roads, VA, before crossing the Atlantic and Mediterranean.  The precious cargo is now slated to depart Jeddah this coming Sunday, Nov. 19 to off-load ten days later at Mombasa, Kenya.  From there it will begin a 2,010 km inland route by truck to Yambio, South Sudan.

     Please pray with us for its final safe arrival by Christmas to the ELCSS/S and Concordia Lutheran Institute for Holy Ministry.

Seminary students of the CLIHM

Sundresses by the Hundreds

     Five months before we even began operations in 2019, Lynette Seiler delivered to us over 700 sundresses sewn by dear ladies of St. John Lutheran Church, Ionia.  (You read that correctly: seven hundred dresses for little girls).  Two years later Lynette arrived with 500 more.

     And the ladies were not finished.  Hundreds more (often called pillowcase dresses), lovingly sewn, were again received here in Sebewaing just recently.  Few material donations affect us as deeply as these.  May God bless the women who are so generous with their time, efforts, and Christian care.

Good Shepherd Crew

     A wonderfully eager group of folks from Saginaw and members of Good Shepherd Lutheran Church paid a visit November 9th to our Orphan Grain Train Center.  It was the first time for most to see our warehouse and operation in full swing.  After a “walk and talk“ to learn about the Orphan Grain Train mercy and care mission, they enthusiastically pitched in for an hour to help sort and pack clothing.

    Our thanks to Lyle and Marlene Brewster of Good Shepherd who arranged the visit and have often brought a loaded trailer of goods for us from donors throughout various locations in the valley.

Thoughtful of Our Volunteers

   

     In a singular gesture of kindness to our OGT-M volunteers, Nancy Pinnow stipulated the beautiful supply of quilted purses she hand-sewed be first offered to them.  Nancy sent her creations from her home in Illinois and specifically wanted our center volunteers to choose one for themselves before the remainder would be packed for recipients elsewhere in the world.

     You can see from the smiles how much her kindness was appreciated. 

16' Boat Overhaul for Shipment to the South Sudan Lutheran Seminary

ALMOST LIKE NEW

In the course of four days, Jeremy VanTol completely refurbished the boat 
donated to Orphan Grain Train--Michigan for shipment to the
Concordia Lutheran Institute for Holy Ministry (CLIHM)
The boat will allow students who must supply their own livelihood the 
opportunity to fish for their own food needs.

One Box at a Time x Thousands

     Max and his sister, Emelia, help load McDonald's French fry boxes from Marlette to be brought to the Sebewaing Center of Orphan Grain Train.
     There the boxes become the province of Roger Bloomfield, our faithful "box man."  Roger reverses the boxes to hide exterior markings such as expiration dates which can be problematic in foreign ports and then tapes them for use by our volunteers who fill them with relief goods of all kinds.

We especially thank the McDonald's Restaurants
at Sebewaing, Bad Axe, and Marlette, MI
for keeping our mercy mission supplied with the
essential components to enable sending relief
around the world.

Orphan Grain Train Extension Flint

 

     Martha Kellaway is coordinator for the exciting new extension of Orphan Grain Train--Michigan in Flint.  She and her volunteers are already receiving, sorting, and boxing donated goods from that region of Michigan.
      She and Pastor Jeff Frechette of St. Mark Lutheran Church where work is being done in space provided by the congregation, just received a load of boxes which when filled will be brought to the OGT Center in Sebewaing.

Grace Lutheran, Fairgrove Hosts Harvest Benefit for Orphan Grain Train

 

.... where gravy and generosity overflowed.

Quilts = Care and Compassion

      Nancy Brown prepares to box ninety (90) beautiful quilts just delivered to us from women at St. John Lutheran Church, Au Gres.

     Quilts were also received from Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland and elsewhere thanks to the loving work of many Christian women.