Volunteers/Volunteer teams come from all over the Northeastern US to spend a week in Maine doing work that is physically tough and rewarding (and volunteers say it's fun!). We need you! If you haven't signed up for summer 2022, please consider doing so soon. We already have 12 teams coming and some weeks are full. You can find available dates and an application on the website MATE Housing Ministry Have questions or need to check a date? Email our Operations Manager, Dan Flint, at housing@missionattheeastward.org.

Application for repairs: If you or anyone you know needs assistance with housing repairs, applications are available on the website or in various locations in towns throughout the western central Maine area. For more information or assistance, email MATE at office@missionattheeastward.org or call (207)713-6283. Mail completed repair applications to: Mission at the Eastward, PO Box 206, Farmington, Maine 04938.

MATE Housing Ministry home repair pauses at this time of year, but cold weather has not stopped progress on the McCleary House renovation. A small and highly skilled group of volunteers from Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, MA; Bedford Presbyterian Church, NH; Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, NJ and others are visiting MATE in February to share their gifts.

As we work on the renovations for McCleary House, we are mindful that this will ultimately be a temporary transitional home for a family or individual who needs a safe place to stay. How do we make it a home? How will we provide hospitality? How will we serve? While we have received enough in donations and grants to pay for the remaining repair work to be done, we still need contributions for operating the house: utilities, plowing, household supplies, etc. We will also need volunteers to help with hospitality for the residents and all kinds of things.

MATE will collaborate with other non-profit organizations to provide services required by transitional housing guests. In addition, members of Fairbanks Union Church, one of MATE’s mission partners, along with other volunteers from the community and MATE, will welcome McCleary’s guests.

Some ideas: We need helpers to:

If you are interested in volunteering for hospitality with McCleary House guests, please contact MATE at office@missionattheeastward.org.

I gave a sermon once where I asked the congregation if they found out now that Jesus was coming to dinner tonight, how would they welcome him? What have you got in your fridge you could feed him? Would you make a place for him to spend the night? Would you loan him a coat or give him a shirt if he needed one? Would you listen to him? Would you sit with him in silence?

We are afforded the opportunity as Christians to both give and receive the gifts and blessings of hospitality. But what is hospitality and what does the Bible say about it? According to the dictionary hospitality is defined as “the friendly and generous reception and entertainment of guests, visitors, or strangers.” And I think that’s what we think of, mostly about hotels and conference centers, really.

“Then the king will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; ³⁵for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, ³⁶I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.’ ³⁷Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? ³⁸And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? ³⁹And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’ ⁴⁰And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’”

If YOU found out now that a stranger in need was coming to your house for dinner tonight, would you welcome him? What have you got in your fridge you could feed him? Would you make a place for him to spend the night? Would you loan him a coat or give him a shirt if he needed one? Would you listen to him? Would you sit with him in silence?

Ann Marie Simone, Board Member

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2

This Bible verse frequently comes to mind when I’m up in Maine volunteering with MATE. There’s no doubt that the beautiful mountains of western Maine are one of the reasons that I return year after year. For me, it is a place where I feel closer to the Lord.

When you serve on the Board of a Christian non-profit like MATE, resources are always a concern. Will we have enough volunteers and money to do the ministry that we feel God is calling us to? As a Board, we frequently remind ourselves that if we are doing what God has called us to do He will, just as this scripture says, provide. As we look back on 2021 we see the truth in this.

I am pleased to report that from a fiscal perspective, MATE had a very good year in 2021. We increased the numbers of individuals, Mission Partner Grantors, Mission Partner Community Members/Businesses, and Mission Partner Churches from the prior year. Although the number of work teams and volunteers was still not back to pre-pandemic 2019 levels, we increased greatly over 2020.

MATE’s 2021 expenses were close to double that of 2020 because we were doing so much more ministry. With consistent giving from individuals and mission partner organizations and increases in revenues from work team fees and new grant monies, our revenues were about 44% more in 2021 than in 2020.

More information about the past year is available in our 2021 Annual Report which is now posted on MATE’s website.

The MATE Board is so grateful to God for blessing us with so many faithful contributors and volunteers. And we extend our heartfelt thanks to all who have supported MATE and its ministry to reach the last house on the last road.

In His Service,

Nancy Flint

MATE Treasurer

NOTE: The abbreviated 2020 financial statement, as created by our independent accountant review, is available in the 2021 Annual Report at MATE's website. If you would like a copy of the full 2020 financial statement or the 2021 financial statement upon its completion in the spring of

2022, please email your request to treasurer@missionattheeastward.org.

Check out the website http://www.newenglandglow.org/ and the public New England GLOW Facebook page.If you have any questions please contact New England GLOW.

New England Glow and Camp Wilmot are hosting the 2022 Middle and High School Winter Weekend on Friday, February 25 at 5 PM – Sunday, February 27 at 9 AM at Camp Wilmot! Guided by the biblical stories of Ruth and Jesus we will reflect on the meaning of “Home”, the different ways we feel at “Home”, and how we can build or find a “Home” in our own lives.” The cost is $100 per youth. If the cost is prohibitive, scholarships are available.

Contact newenglandglow.rym@gmail.com or campwilmotdirector@gmail.com for more info!