Flint--St. Mark Packers Make Vanguard Delivery

      Orphan Grain Train—Michigan’s secondary packing station in Flint made its first delivery of goods November 21.  Martha Kellaway is coordinator of this Flint extension of Orphan Grain Train’s work now in operation at St. Mark Lutheran Church.

     Young people and members of the St. Mark congregation on Sunday made up a brigade to carry boxes to fill a trailer.  Those goods were then delivered to our OGT Center in Sebewaing for eventual shipment around the world. 

     With this vanguard effort, the Flint volunteers collected valuable goods.  It was a joy to receive multiple cartons in the following categories:  Women’s winter tops, Men’s suits, Blankets and quilts, Stuffed toys, Bedding and sleeping mats, Purses and handbags, Mixed linens, Towels, Adult diapers, Women’s winter bottoms, Men’s shoes, Infant and toddler wear, Men’s winter bottoms, Underwear, Men’s coats, Women’s shoes, School chairs, Walkers, Canes, and more.

     As the Flint packing station expands, humanitarian goods may be donated at St. Mark Lutheran Church, 5073 Daly Blvd. any time during church office hours.  You can find a "wish list" with this link -->.Michigan Wish List.

As Regular as the Seasons

     We can almost gauge the coming of a new season by the arrival of Fred and Eugenia Roemer.  Multiple times over the last four years the Roemers have come to Orphan Grain Train with deliveries from St. John Lutheran Church in West Branch.

     The St. John congregation is one of those parishes which has advanced the mission of Orphan Grain Train with people generously responding.  Once this winter passes and spring comes, you can be sure Fred and Eugenia will be back again.

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.