International Shipments #16 and #17 on their way to Haiti and Guatemala | |
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For several months, civil unrest in Haiti has left organizations unable to safely send humanitarian aid into the country. Although our partner Food For The Poor has offices in Haiti, due to port closures and the safety of their team, they stopped shipping containers into Haiti until now.
On Wednesday, June 12, we were able to send our first shipment back into Haiti this year.
The need in Haiti is great – they have consistently been in a crisis for years, because of both man-made and natural disasters.
David Draeger, assistant to the Bishop of the Methodist Church in Haiti, has been living at Midwest Mission for the past several weeks. He was unable to fly back into the country after being in the States to visit family and churches, so he connected with Midwest Mission to join us in serving people around the world from here in the United States.
It was a special moment to be able to pray over the container of supplies with David present. His organization works alongside Food For The Poor, and they have received goods and supplies in the past.
David was able to share about the grim reality of living in Haiti, and the danger humanitarians are in as they try and do good. But, there is hope, as help is beginning to return to those who need it most.
You can hear his story in the shipment prayer circle here.
In this container, we sent:
- 160 Layette Kits
- 330 lbs of Fire Equipment
- 31 Bikes
- 31 Electric Sewing Machines
- 118 Little Girl Outfits
- 115 Pillowcase Dresses
- 760 Cover Them With Love Quilts
- 4 Home care beds and mattresses
- 10 Electric hospital beds and mattresses
- 4 Wheelchairs
- 27 Canes
- 40 Pairs of crutches
- Other medical supplies
Value: $178,114.69
We are thankful the ports have opened and it has been deemed safe and smart to send items into Haiti again. Please be praying that the supplies arrive safely, and that they will reach those who need them most! Pray for the people of Haiti, that they will have hope and peace beyond all understanding, despite their circumstances.
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On Thursday, June 13, we sent an Angels of Hope shipment to Guatemala! The items on this container will be distributed to children’s homes throughout the country. Many of these homes use all of their financial resources for food, leaving no funds for necessities like cleaning and hygiene items. Our Angels of Hope containers provide these basic supplies so they can keep a clean and healthy home for their children to grow and thrive.
The shipment included:
- 540 Home Care Kits
- 1,120 Personal Dignity Kits
- Disinfectant Wipes
Value: $48,328.00
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Serving the World from Right at Home | |
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We are always in awe of how you serve from wherever you are. Whether it is assembling kits, or making handmade items, your dedication to loving people in a practical way is inspiring.
You don’t have to go on a mission trip, or visit Midwest Mission, to make a global impact. You can do it from your living room, your fellowship hall, or from your classroom!
Here are a few recent stories of how people have made an impact from home:
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Dick Becker
Dick Becker, from Memorial UMC in Terre Haute, IN, is a long-time volunteer with Midwest Mission. He has served on several trips to our campus, and he has been a dedicated volunteer from home, as well!
This past year, Dick made his 10,000th one-handled school bag for Midwest Mission! WOW!
It is hard to fathom one person making 10,226 bags since 2008. Dick, using his skilled talent, and heart for serving others, made it happen.
Thank you, Dick, for your dedication to this ministry. There are literally thousands of children who have a bag they can call their own thanks to the work that you do.
For all of you who spend time sewing, crocheting, knitting, etc… thank you. Each handmade item, skillfully crafted with love, is such a meaningful gift for the recipient. They have something to call their own, that someone they might never meet spent hours (and sometimes days, weeks, months) creating for them.
If you are interested in making handmade items for Midwest Mission to send around the world and around the corner, visit midwestmission.org/patterns.
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Willodene Lindle
This is Willodene, from Sweetland, Iowa, with 31 Little Girl Outfits that she has recently sewn. Members of Sweetland Methodist Church have helped her with donations and fabric, but Willodene has done all of the sewing. Last fall, she made over 100 Little Girl Dresses for an organization in Africa. This year, she was curious if Midwest Mission had use for the pillowcase dresses. Our answer was, “Of course!”
“Willodene will be 90 in August,” said Mary, Sweetland’s pastor. “A widow still driving, mowing her own lawn, attends two Bible studies a week, and still lives on her century farm. She’s a rock in our little rural Global Methodist Church.”
May Willodene be an inspiration to us all, that no matter your age, ability, hobby, or interest, you can be a missionary, serving God and his people, from wherever you are.
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Avon UMC
Mary Marty is a Volunteer Leader for Midwest Mission, serving with us for several weeks out of the year. After one of her two-week stints as volunteer leader, she took home knit fabric that had come into Midwest Mission with an idea in mind.
Ladies at her church, Avon UMC (Indiana), have a Turban Project. When Mary presented the material to the woman in charge of coordination, she was so excited to receive the material, and was especially elated that it was “happy” material!
The women cut out 75 turban that will be sewn by several seamstresses from the church. The turban will be distributed through Indiana Medical Center and the Cancer Center.
“It was exciting to know Avon UMC could use it quickly,” Mary said. “They were almost out of knits!”
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We want to equip you with the means to serve internationally, domestically, and locally, however is best for you and your family/congregation.
Visit midwestmission.org/at-home to learn how you can participate in our mission wherever you are.
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Please be praying that the supplies arrive safely, and that they will reach those who need them most! Pray for the people of Haiti, that they will have hope and peace beyond all understanding, despite their circumstances.
"And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Philippians 4:7
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Our 2023 Impact Report is available for download! Using the button below, you can download the report and share with someone you know! | |
June Church Bulletin Insert | |
We offer monthly church bulletin inserts that you can slide in your church's bulletin. These inserts keep your congregation up-to-date on our current needs and upcoming events! | |
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Midwest Mission Weekly Projects
Work of the Mission Volunteers
Work Done
- 15 Electric Sewing Machines
- 580 Personal Dignity Kits
- 18 Desks
- Sewing
- Desk Shop
- Poly Shop
- Bike Shop
- Off-Site Pack preparation
- Count into inventory
- Cleaning
- Painting
- Mailer
- Groundskeeping
Mission in Motion
Student Kits
- 170 — Illinois Great Rivers Conference
- 100 — Iowa Annual Conference
Personal Dignity Kits
- 154 — Illinois Great Rivers Conference
- 80 — Iowa Annual Conference
Rice Meals
- 1,337 — Iowa Annual Conference
Disbursements
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Rooted and Rising, Milwaukee, WI: 46 Bed Packs, 96 Hygiene Kits, 460 Student Kits Value: $9,492.00
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Common Cup, Hutchinson, MN: 51 Personal Dignity Kits Value: $816.00
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South Side Christian Church, Springfield, IL: 576 Toothbrushes Value: $576.00
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The Giving Place, Tolono, IL: Cleaning and hygiene supplies, baby items Value: $466.00
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Love Packages, Butler, IL: 2,363 lbs of reading material Value: $1,181.50
Midwest Mission is able to do this work because of your generous donations and willingness to volunteer. Thank you!
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Share some GOD news with those you love! | Do you have family or friends that need some GOOD News - GOD News - to uplift them? If so please click on the button below and share the link provided. The more we can spread the word about the work God is doing here, the more we can make the world a happier place. | | |
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Here are three ways you can get involved at Midwest Mission:
1. Host an Off-Site Event
We have several hands-on mission opportunities you can host at your location! Visit midwestmission.org/off-site to learn more. Contact Melissa Brookens at 217-483-7911 or melissa@midwestmission.org to book your event or for questions.
2. Serve From Home
You can serve people around the world from right at home! From sewing, to assembling kits, there's something for everyone. Learn how at midwestmission.org/at-home.
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3. Volunteer at Midwest Mission
We have dates available in 2024 and 2025! Have questions or need assistance in booking? Contact Pat Wright at pat@midwestmission.org or 217-697-4063.
Click here to check calendar openings and to reserve your spots.
2025 and 2026 Volunteer Calendar is open for dorm reservations!
Go to our Reservation Calendar, log in, reserve your rooms, and submit payment for your Non-refundable Reservation Fee via credit card or electronic check. We will email you the Access Code to reserve Volunteer Shifts for your team. You must complete this step for your team to volunteer at Midwest Mission.
For local teams and individuals: Volunteer Shifts will only be available 3 months ahead of time. For example, December 1, 2023 you will be able to reserve Volunteer Shifts for March of 2024.
Midwest Mission Iowa
If you would like to do the Midwest Mission Experience at our Jefferson, IA location, visit midwestmission.org/iowa - or reach out to Melissa Brookens.
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Volunteers at Work
June 10-14, 2024
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Mary Marty
Brownsburg, IN
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Salem UMC 1
Evansville, IN
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Salem UMC 2
Evansville, IN
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Springfield First UMC Sewing Group
Springfield, IL
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St. Joseph UMC
St. Joseph, IL
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Troy Methodist Church Youth
Troy, IL
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Bellflower IL UMW
Bellflower, IL
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Ryan McClintock
Rochester, IL
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Richmond UMC
Whitewater, WI
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Grace Global Methodist
Ogden, IA
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We are so grateful for all our local and regular volunteers, and the time they give towards volunteering at Midwest Mission. We appreciate their passion and dedication to the ministry! | | | | |
