Simultaneous Deliveries

 

     Judy and Maynard Chaussee from Trinity Lutheran Church, Midland (center), and Michele and Michael Marone from Trinity Lutheran Church, Oscoda all happened to arrived at the same time to deliver beautiful quilts prepared by devoted women in their respective parishes.  

    These friends also toured our branch and learned first hand the marvelous ways God is blessing the mercy ministry of Orphan Grain Train here in Michigan. 

Loading a Container August 22 for Malawi, East Africa

This was the Michigan branch of Orphan Grain Train's

first shipment to Africa 

(tenth shipment overall) 

     Volunteers included an enthusiastic team of students from Christ the King Lutheran School, who loaded 1,594 boxes of clothing, shoes, quilts, hygiene supplies, toys, school backpacks, school kits, and sewing machines.
     God bless those who prepared these goods, those who sent them to those in need, and those in Malawi who will receive them.

      Although we had to re-schedule for a week later, volunteers helped for a couple hours on Tuesday, August 22.  A 40-foot shipping container arrived at Orphan Grain Train in Sebewaing at 10:00 a.m.  We had the inventory ready and loaded within a two hour window.  These are great and joyful occasions for our Michigan branch.

Beautiful Help from the LWML South Macomb Zone

      Hygiene kits prepared by women of the LWML Macomb South Zone were brought to Orphan Grain Train by these terrific friends: Caroline Alnip and Kate DeVeny of St. Peter Lutheran, Eastpointe; Nora Baars of Hope Lutheran, Warren, and Wilma Wagner also from St. Peter's.  Here they are with branch manager,  Pastor Dave Reed. 

We are on the Verge of Making the Long-awaited Shipment to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Sudan

     FINALLY ... after two years planning, the special shipment to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Sudan and Concordia Lutheran Institute for Holy Ministry appears to be cleared of all logistical and documentary barriers.

      This is the closest we have been to sending this load on its way.  We hope to send the shipment in September.  Delays for many months have been beyond our control.  Civil unrest on the border between South Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, compliance certificates, and unavailable freight forwarders all taught us patience. 

      But it looks like we have a breakthrough.  We have verbal assurance from Flexport, a freight forwarder, which is willing to carry this container with ecclesiastical and relief cargo all the way to Yambio.  Please continue to pray for success.

Quilts and Shawls

Judy and Wally Laux bringing an abundance of quilts and shawls from
the LWML Blanket Makers of St. Lorenz Lutheran Church, Frankenmuth. 

"I Was So Impressed"

      Sandra Schafsnitz and Lucy Markhart from Christ Lutheran, Reese delivered goods, and are here being helped by Orphan Grain Train--Michigan volunteer Roger Bloomfield.  Sandy wrote after visiting our center the first time, “I was so impressed with your warehouse and organizing skills… BTW, Miss Lucy will be 92 this month.”  One is never too young or old to share in the Lord’s mercy ministry.

Pastor Peter Anibati Abia at the LCMS Convention

     For two years Orphan Grain Train--Michigan has dreamed and worked to gather a shipment of ecclesiastical and humanitarian goods to send to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of South Sudan/Sudan (ELCSS/S).  A full shipment has been ready for months, but regulatory challenges, freight arrangements, and other interruptions beyond our control delayed our attempts ...

                  --- UNTIL NOW.

    It now appears we have a freight forwarder willing to carry our container all the way to Yambio, South Sudan.  We have the material; we have the means; and God-willing, we soon will have a loading date locked in. 

     Contemporaneous with our project for South Sudan has been the blessed news that the ELCSS/S has been welcomed into altar and pulpit fellowship with The Lutheran Church--Missouri Synod.

     Pastor Abia with whom we have been communicating these many months is here greeted by LCMS President Matthew Harrison on Sunday, July 30, at the synod convention being held in Milwaukee while marking this step of Lutheran unity.   

     It is our prayer that Orphan Grain Train--Michigan plays a small part in encouraging the spiritual  lives and daily human needs of our brothers and sisters in South Sudan.  Orphan Grain Train--Michigan has ready to ship over 150 cases of theological books for the Concordia Lutheran Institute for the Holy Ministry which is training men there for the holy ministry.  And that is only the beginning.  We hope to announce a loading date early in September.  Please join us in further prayer for this initiative and the blessing it can be to many.