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Greetings!
Wayne Yoder, MDS U.S. Board Chair, took time to share a word of gratitude after visiting each MDS region during the past few months.
What a privilege it was to be able to attend each of the four regional annual meetings this fall. We often hear the term that MDS is a “grassroots” organization, which holds very true.
But while Bermuda, Kentucky Blue, St Augustine and Tall Fescue are all types of grasses, each one serves a purpose unique to its area, and requires a distinctive climate in which to flourish.
I once knew a man who hauled Ohio topsoil to Florida to grow a lawn like he had in Ohio; even with replaced soil the grass that grew well in Ohio didn’t grow well in Florida. Likewise, each MDS region serves unique purposes in the area in which it is located. The challenges of meeting a need in Pennsylvania are much different than those of meeting a need in coastal Alaska. I heard many stories of folks across the country, finding ways to be the hands and feet of Jesus for those affected by disasters.
The purpose of my visiting each regional annual meeting was to help MDS envision its response to disaster survivors for the next several years. We are responding to an increasing number of disasters, causing growing demands on the MDS staff and fleet. We are happy to be planning increased capacity to meet those needs.
As I heard the stories from the regions, I not only felt a sense of gratitude but also a sense of excitement about the growth of MDS and its position in the disaster response world. May we continue to serve with love, compassion, and competence for the next 75 years and beyond.
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