Orphan Grain Train - "Relief for Human Need Worldwide"

Regional Divisions

Colorado West Division Summer 2009 Report

by Anita Boette

“Orphan Grain Train’s Mission: In loving response to Christ, the Servant, the Orphan Grain Train movement encourages and enables God’s people to share personal and material resources in bringing Christ’s name and character to needy people, both far and near.”

At our June Committee meeting we were blessed to have our new secretary, Janet Gordon, take over the responsibilities of recording the minutes.

Dick Tuers made a presentation to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League at Ascension Lutheran in Littleton. He was pleased with the turnout and the response. Jill Leary spoke to a group of nurses at St. Joseph Hospital about Orphan Grain Train.

Division Chairman Lou Boette reported that the donations for the support of the Orphanage “Luga” in Russia are continuing to be received. Adopt an Orphanage project director, Rev. John Reehl, thanked us again for our continued support of this project. This orphanage is also a boarding school. In Russia a boarding school is for children that parents are unable to care for. The children go home on the weekends and often did not have a meal that whole time. There are so many children in need and more orphanages need sponsors. Pastor Reehl did mention that Orphanage Grain Train is currently sponsoring 54 orphanages, five prisons and three hospitals. He was very thankful for all the help.

Lou was a delegate at the Lutheran Church—Missouri District Convention held at the Doubletree Hotel in Denver on June 18-20. Orphan Grain Train Colorado West Division had an exhibit table. Anita Boette was there promoting Orphan Grain Train and was pleased with the results. We now have several churches that are open to hearing more about Orphan Grain Train.

Dick Tuers met with the leader of the Rocky Mountain District Disaster Relief Program. Orphan Grain Train International asked regional divisions to consider membership in the state VOAD (Voluntary Organization Active In Disasters). If we belong to this organization Orphan Grain Train Colorado West could almost immediately be of help in time of disaster. If any one wants more information on either disaster organization please call Lou Boette at 303-453-1270 or Dick Tuers at 303-424-1212. Please keep all of this in your prayers.

We have received more quilts from Mt. Olive Lutheran in Aurora. And quilts from Messiah Lutheran in Grand Junction and First English Lutheran in Salida, Colo. are on the way. Just keep them coming! We do have fabric and batting if anyone is interested in making quilts to donate to Orphan Grain Train. Call Ursula Tuers at 303-424-1212.

Orphan Grain Train Colorado West has sent $7,500.00 to Orphan Grain Train International for shipping expenses.
“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.” John 14:18

Colorado West April 2009 Report

By Anita Boette

” ..And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” Matthew 28:20

Orphan Grain Train’s Colorado West Division has been able to ship all of the donations that were sitting in our warehouse for too many months. A hospital bed and a Hoyer lift is finally on the way to Norfolk, Nebraska. It took eleven volunteers and the driver of the Orphan Grain Train truck to load approximately 450 boxes that included some donations that were labeled Madagascar. We received these donations from a member of Messiah Lutheran in Longmont. Medical supplies from a contact in Montrose and some donations from St. Joe’s Exempla cardiology Department in Denver are also finally on the way. The Denver Rescue Mission has accepted the donations of religious material and other books etc. Ursula and Dick Tuers made this contact and will deliver the items to the “Saving Lives Through Jesus Christ” extension of the Rescue Mission. They are located at 6090 Smith Road in Aurora.

Bill Heinicke in Cortez, Colorado is recovering from blood clots in his lungs. Bill and his wife Pat are our Western Slope Representatives. Their quilter group is busy making quilts. Eternal Savior Lutheran Church in Lafayette Co. has been donating quilts to us for a short time now but have almost hit the 100-mark. We are so grateful for these commited women of the Lord. We had quilts from Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Longmont also added to our count. The count in the warehouse is past the 1,000-mark.

We are looking forward to our first Wisconsin Style Fish Feed for 2009 at Mt. Olive Lutheran in Aurora, Colo. on March 22 at noon. Our next Fish Feed will be at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Loveland. This is a Saturday evening date at 5:00 PM at their new facilities.

Garage sales are in the works. We always appreciate all the interest shown to our work and and the many prayers from all of you on our behalf.

Some of our board members are interested in working with the LCMS Lutheran World Relief through the Rocky Mountain Division to set up a local Disaster Relief program. We hope to resurrect the interest. When we make more progress we will let you know.

Dick and Saundra Eichacker have kept the contact with Suzie Belles Near New Shop at 4165 Wadsworth Blvd. This is the shop formerly known as Tessabelles. We will continue receiving the discards of clothing and other various items.

Orphan Grain Train’s Adopt an Orphanage program is still receiving donations to help sponsor “Luga #2 Orphanage” in Russia. May God bless you all for this. Messiah Lutheran in Longmont has enough members that have committed to sponsor an orphanage also. Praise the Lord!

For more information call Lou at (303) 453-1270.

Our motto from John 14:18 reads, “I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.”

June/July 2008 Report

Submitted by Anita Boette

The familiar passage by now,“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” -John 14:18 will never lose the appeal for the volunteers of Orphan Grain Train. Because of this we are going forward with sponsoring the shipment of a container to Bugembe, Uganda. If you read the May update and/or the information passed out at the Peace Lutheran Fish Feed on March 30, 2008, you will have the story behind this Mission. The container shipped will be left on site and used for storage. The volunteers at Peace Lutheran are busy getting prices on items for the Crisis Kits to be sent and Trinity Lutheran volunteers in Cortez, Colo. are doing the same for the Birthing Kits.

GARAGE SALES:
Dorothy Curtis and her family are very busy with accumulating items to sell for a much awaited Garage Sale. There have been weather delays and other events that have kept a sale from going forward. It will happen soon we and we will keep you updated. We pray that the youth will be able to lend a hand.

ADOPT AN ORPHANAGE:
Connie Kuhlman received a letter from Pastor John Reehl with some information about the Luga Orphanage and also some long-awaited photos. The letter states that Pastor Reehl is hoping to visit the orphanage this summer and we will get more clarification of the conditions there. At this time the belief is that this a combination of a boarding school for mentally disadvantaged children and serves as an orphanage for other children. The Russian co-workers are Nicolai and his wife Valentina who have purchased supplies for these children with the funds received from all of the participants of the ADOPT AN ORPHANAGE from Peace Lutheran. Pastor Reehl says thank-you for your support and continued care and sharing with these special children.

LWML-LHM-CONVENTION-UTAH-IDAHO PARK CITY UTAH May 2-4 2008 Attended by Lou and Anita.
The board members from Peace Lutheran were very supportive of this effort to have a display for Orphan Grain Train Colorado West Division. Many people we met were aware of Orphan Grain Train and had been collecting underwear, quilts, etc. and under some circumstances were able to get them to Norfolk. We did get them up to date with the DVD recently received from the OGT Int’l Office in Norfolk. Our main focus was to give them a more visual sense of what we are all about.

They had several servant events and one of them was to assemble Global Care Packages for Lutheran Hour Ministries. These packages are distributed by Orphan Grain Train to countries where needed. The donations received were school supplies and a toy for each bag filled. The bags can be used as a back pack. We were able to transport 110 bags to the warehouse in Thornton, Colo.

FISH FEEDS:
Mt. Calvary-April 13th we served 65.
Bethlehem- May 4th we served 89.
Next one will be July 20th at Mt. Hope in Boulder. Time is approximate at 5:00 p.m.

SUMMER BREAK
Now please keep us in your prayers as we continue the work of this hands on Mission. We cannot mention all of the people that give of their time and money but they know who they are. God does give us all a special gift and asks us to use it. The summer break will give us time to regroup and reflect on what is ahead of us.

Please use the website and take advantage of all the information here. Call Lou at 303-453-1270 if all else fails!

June/July 2008 Report

Submitted by Anita Boette

LWML-LHM-CONVENTION-UTAH-IDAHO PARK CITY UTAH May 2-4 2008
Attended by Lou and Anita.
The board members from Peace Lutheran were very supportive of this effort to have a display for Orphan Grain Train Colorado West Division. Many people we met were aware of Orphan Grain Train and had been collecting underwear, quilts, etc. and under some circumstances were able to get them to Norfolk. We did get them up to date with the DVD recently received from the OGT Int’l Office in Norfolk. Our main focus was to give them a more visual sense of what we are all about.

FISH FEEDS:
Mt. Calvary-April 13th we served 65.
Bethlehem- May 4th we served 89.
Next one will be July 20th at Mt. Hope in Boulder. Time is approximate at 5:00 p.m.

Please use the website and take advantage of all the information here. Call Lou at 303-453-1270 if all else fails!

May 2008 Report

Submitted by Anita Boette

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18

This was again demonstrated by members of Peace Lutheran Church and visitors on March 30th , 2008.

RESULTS from Wisconsin-Style Fish Feed fundraiser:
1. Number served: 165
2. Number of helpers all total was 28! We want to thank our grandson Matt from Strasburg, Colo. that came to help. He was asked by his school to participate in a humanitarian project and he chose Orphan Grain Train.
3. It is hard to put into words the gratitude of the recipients for the participation of so many people.
4. SO A GREAT BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU! We look forward to seeing all of you and more next year.

ADOPT AN ORPHANAGE
Connie Kuhlman has reported that the commitment checks are coming in at a record pace. Thank you and please keep it up. We are awaiting some photos from the orphanage so keep you eyes on the display board. But don’t hold your breath as it apparently takes time to coordinate this with Pastor John Reehl’s co-worker Nikolai.

UGANDA - BUGEMBE - AIDS ORPHANS EDUCATIONAL TRUST
We provided the attendees at the Wisconsin-Style Fish feed on March 30, with information on the project we are working with called AOET (Aids Orphans Educational Trust). This is a grassroots, nongovernmental, nonprofit organization founded by Sam and Nancy Tushabe. Joan and Dee Zanders of Norfolk, Neb. traveled with friends to Uganda and saw for themselves the work being done. Many children are without homes due to loss of their parents, with the biggest cause being the increase of HIV/AIDS. AOET does not believe in institutionalizing these orphans; instead they prefer to place them in homes that will adopt them. Schools are being built and up to now 13 of the goal of 25 homes are finished. The couples that agree to adopt children live rent-free for four years and are taught skills in parenting along with other needed training. These schools have daily religious education and prayer time. Clinics are also operating. Orphan Grain Train International has sent one container with medical equipment and supplies included.

Colorado West Division of Orphan Grain Train has agreed to fund the shipment of the next container to Bugembe. The container will stay on-site for storage and we will purchase this container. We have been blessed by the support of various donations, fish feeds, garage sales and financial help from the Peace Lutheran Outreach Board.

Part of the project mentioned gives us the opportunity to assemble CRISIS Kits for those that suddenly find themselves in desperate situations. BIRTHING Kits are being assembled in Cortez, Colo. under the leadership of Bill and Pat Heinicke.

Lou attended a quarterly board meeting in Norfolk, Neb. on April 18th and 19th to get more information to pass on to all of you. This project will be funded by proceeds from the fund raisers we have. However if anyone wants more information as to how as an individual or group can help please call Lou at 303-453-1270. Other churches are also being given the chance to participate.

Bill and Pat Heinicke are very eagerly promoting Colorado West Division Orphan Grain Train in the Four Corners area. We have extended to Messiah Lutheran in Grand Junction, Colo. where approximately 100 people were given the word at a Sunday Morning Bible Class. A congregation in Durango may become involved soon as well. The Quilting Group from Trinity Lutheran in Cortez have 60+ quilts for distribution! One hundred hours were put in by these ladies. HOW AMAZING IS THAT? We are also awaiting the arrival of more quilts from Faith Lutheran Church, Johnstown, Colo. along with the ones received just recently. Their adult bible class was able to send a great contribution too. We are thankful that they are getting involved.

Our monthly board meeting was held on April 8th and there are several projects and ideas being considered. Watch for them. More presentations are being planned, banners, fund raisers, etc. I hope to follow up on these next time. Space is limited!! More volunteers are needed. Pray about this. God does love a cheerful giver of time and talents.

May God’s light shine on all of us and may He prompt us to do His work always.

Colorado West Division Committee
Call 303-453-1270 for information

March 2008 Report

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18

We as Colorado West Division of Orphan Grain Train do want to thank all of the people that have participated in the Adopt an Orphanage Program. The response from this division is very heart warming. The totals as of this writing are 37 families, 4 small groups, and 7 individuals. All of these have been added to a large group of sponsors throughout the 18 divisions of Orphan Grain Train International.

Pastor John Reehl from Grand Island, Nebraska has attempted to “retire” many times from doing mission work in the Baltics. It seems as a lot of retirees he is always being drawn back to doing the Lord’s work. In a recent letter sent to us he shared with all of the divisions and individuals that are a part of this program how important and extremely useful this outreach has become.. It is a fact that the financial support from the “Lutherans in America” to these orphanages has helped in many ways, he wrote. The health of the children has improved greatly from the medicines and vitamins that have been provided to these orphanages. By providing vitamins to one particular orphanage that has mentally-ill children, they can be better treated because of better health and avoid being transferred to different clinics. This avoids the ‘over the cuckoo’s nest’ type of treatment. Keeping them in this safe environment leads to a more normal and humane care outcome.

The whole orphanage program does continue to grow and currently Pastor Reehl along with his wife June are working with others to support 46 orphanages in five countries. Nikolai, one of Pastor’s helpers said that 3,000 children are being helped in Russia alone. There ministry also includes three hospitals and five prisons. Personal items for women are very much appreciated as a result of this effort. Financial support has been very beneficial to our efforts to bring more and more believers into love for our Lord and Savior.

It does remind us of how fortunate we are in this great country of ours. There is a need in so many places not only in those countries far away but right here in this land of plenty. CWD does have a mission to raise funds for these needy places be they not far from Arvada Co. or many miles such as the needs still in the Katrina area, Greensburg, Kansas and the Ysleta Mission in El Paso.

We are beginning to do presentations again and had a successful and inspiring experience at Faith Lutheran in Johnstown, Colo. Pastor Clare Skov shared some of his Adult SS time with us on January 20th, 2008. A DVD highlighting the Katrina Hurricane events and the relief that was instigated by OGT International caught the interest of the class. This was new information to the members and some are now anxious to become a part of the CWD-OGT. We will let you know the progress next month.

In the Quarterly Teleconference held by the Orphan Grain Train International Board of Directors a reference was made to the need in Sudan where 6,000,000 people are displaced and areas are in shambles. There are pockets of Christians there (millions) and many school children are without supplies and desks etc. To hear the kind words that “Jesus Loves You” is now in great demand. Chairman Lou will follow up with Pastor Wilke to see if CWD-OGT can get involved to give aide to the Sudanese people. Our Division does not ship overseas containers directly but did agree to help fund shipments that would leave the Norfolk headquarters to needed countries.

So in closing we can see that the Lord’s work is never done. How well we know as the scheduled Fish Feeds will begin. Please mark you calendars for March 30th at Peace Lutheran. Time is after the 10:30 Service. Come see how it works but most of all enjoy the cooking of “Alaskan Pollock,” better know as poor man’s lobster.

One of our biggest need at this time is quality warehouse space. We are waiting for God to answer that prayer.

May God bless all of you—We do not claim to do everything but we do do something. Serving the Lord is His command to us.

Anita Boette

January 2008 Report

Submitted by Anita Boette

It almost seems like Christmas celebrations and then ringing in the New Year is so routine that now plans that were made and enjoyed are distant events. However, it is our prayer that we do not allow the Christmas Spirit to just be in us for a few days. We pray that all of you as well as the Orphan Train Colorado West Division “gang” will prayerfully and with great joy keep the Christmas Spirit alive not only in our hearts but in our deeds as well. We as humans cannot thank God enough for giving us the best gift of all - His very own Son.

We can show our love to others and give them some hope and joy in their lives. People without hope live a life of sorrow and confusion.
Orphan Grain Train International does offer “Relief for Human Need Worldwide”. One of the programs we offer is “Adopt an Orphanage”.
This gives individuals, families, or for example “Small Groups” a chance to participate.

Our congregation is now sponsoring an orphanage close to Luga, Russia. This orphanage is home to approximately 60 special needs children. At $10.00 a month this is hardly a sacrifice to any of us.
For children in orphanages that are left with little hope and of course are in need of just the everyday necessities it is a miracle because of the help this provides. Pastor John Reehl heads this program. He makes sure all funds are used correctly through an approved person. The great need to help the abandoned children and adults in the poorest rural regions in Russia and other Baltic countries is still there. Pastor Reehl and his wife June have served these countries as spiritual leaders for many years. He said that there are many more orphanages that need to be “adopted”. He will keep us posted. Some of the funds sent will almost for sure be used to purchase Bibles for the children. Connie Kuhlmann can be reached at 303-421-3951. Thank you for a great job well-done for these children. Approximately 29 families, individuals, and established groups are now reaching out.

This orphanage that is for at least the next year our responsibility is about 80 miles southwest of St. Petersburg, Russia. Luga played a pivotal role in World War II by delaying the German advance on Leningrad for over a month. A university and three Institutes of Technical Education are found there. Neighboring cities are linked with rail lines. The population is approximately 40,000. Our prayer is to continue the aid past one year.

Colorado West Division also reached out to blizzard-stricken ranchers in south-eastern Colorado in January of 2007. With the approval of the CWD members $2,000.00 was sent to the aid of the hurting ranchers. Cattle and other livestock were starving and freezing in the harsh conditions created there. These funds were routed through the disaster response office at Orphan Grain Train’s National Headquarters in Norfolk, Neb. to the Colorado’s Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) here in Arvada, Colo. The restricted funds to be used for help to the ranchers only. Lanelle Krueger, a member at Messiah Lutheran in Longmont and a member of CWD spoke with Terry Fankhauser, Executive Vice-President of the CCA earlier this month.
Power was lost for days, reported Fankhauser, and approximately 345,000 head of cattle were at risk. Fortunately no one suffered major injuries and no deaths were reported. It did leave 15,000 head of cattle to perish.

Lanelle learned that the CCA did not have as a part of its mission a disaster response component. “We do now” Fankhauser said, explaining that the CCA, Colorado Farm Bureau and Colorado Livestock Association have together set up a permanent revolving fund for disaster response. The CCA did keep the farmers informed as to where the donations came from. “We are very appreciative of your organization,”
said Fankhauser, adding that such generosity at the time gave the ranchers a “ray of hope” when needed.

So in closing we started the year of 2007 from reaching out to help the blizzard-stricken ranchers in Southeastern Colorado to giving hope and comfort to an orphanage in Luga Russia! Many many miles apart! God is certainly uplifting the CWD in such a way that we can give hope and joy in times of need and utter despair. We can be a witness for the Lord. “Jesus loves you” is the message that must be heard throughout this world not only at Christmas but everyday.

Lou can be reached at 303-453-1270 for any questions.

January 2008 Report

Submitted by Anita Boette

We can show our love to others and give them some hope and joy in their lives. People without hope live a life of sorrow and confusion. Orphan Grain Train International does offer “Relief for Human Need Worldwide”. One of the programs we offer is “Adopt an Orphanage”. This gives individuals, families, or for example “Small Groups” a chance to participate.

Our congregation is now sponsoring an orphanage close to Luga, Russia. This orphanage is home to approximately 60 special needs children. At $10.00 a month this is hardly a sacrifice to any of us. For children in orphanages that are left with little hope and of course are in need of just the everyday necessities it is a miracle because of the help this provides. Pastor John Reehl heads this program. He makes sure all funds are used correctly through an approved person. The great need to help the abandoned children and adults in the poorest rural regions in Russia and other Baltic countries is still there. Pastor Reehl and his wife June have served these countries as spiritual leaders for many years. He said that there are many more orphanages that need to be “adopted”. He will keep us posted. Some of the funds sent will almost for sure be used to purchase Bibles for the children. Connie Kuhlmann can be reached at 303-421-3951. Thank you for a great job well-done for these children. Approximately 29 families, individuals, and established groups are now reaching out.

Colorado West Division also reached out to blizzard-stricken ranchers in south-eastern Colorado in January of 2007. With the approval of the CWD members $2,000.00 was sent to the aid of the hurting ranchers. Cattle and other livestock were starving and freezing in the harsh conditions created there. These funds were routed through the disaster response office at Orphan Grain Train’s National Headquarters in Norfolk, Neb. to the Colorado’s Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) here in Arvada, Colo. The restricted funds to be used for help to the ranchers only. Lanelle Krueger, a member at Messiah Lutheran in Longmont and a member of CWD spoke with Terry Fankhauser, Executive Vice-President of the CCA earlier this month. Power was lost for days, reported Fankhauser, and approximately 345,000 head of cattle were at risk. Fortunately no one suffered major injuries and no deaths were reported. It did leave 15,000 head of cattle to perish.

Lanelle learned that the CCA did not have as a part of its mission a disaster response component. “We do now” Fankhauser said, explaining that the CCA, Colorado Farm Bureau and Colorado Livestock Association have together set up a permanent revolving fund for disaster response. The CCA did keep the farmers informed as to where the donations came from. “We are very appreciative of your organization,” said Fankhauser, adding that such generosity at the time gave the ranchers a “ray of hope” when needed.

Lou can be reached at 303-453-1270 for any questions.

Winter 2007-08 Report

Submitted by Anita Boette

Our Division under the leadership of Lou Boette has been able to fund shipments for several overseas containers, funds to the hurricane area, the transportation and collection of pianos and organs. Some of the later went to Bangalore, India. We have shipped over 760 quilts. Hotel linens from the Brown Palace and Doubletree hotels are being used in clinics in third world countries as are the medical supplies from Exempla- St. Joe’s. The Ysleta Mission in El Paso is benefiting too. Financial assistance was given to the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association for the blizzard-ravaged ranchers in southeastern Colorado last winter. The garage sales and Wisconsin-Style Fish Feeds are our biggest fund raisers.

A Satellite of Colorado West Division in Cortez, Colo. looks forward to expanding its efforts to the Grand Junction and Durango, Colo. areas. Pat and Bill Heinicke are the leaders there and are donating an industrial sewing machine to Orphan Grain Train.

We are asked many times about what you can do to help. Prayers are always needed - we especially have a need for a quality warehouse. We have a 501 (C) (3) status so a tax deduction could be worked out. Our prayers are that someone will answer these needs. We have an awesome God, a God that is constant, a God that never sleeps nor slumbers, a God of comfort and hope.

He has commanded us to extend our hands out to-the desperate and lost people that are without hope. Isn’t this what Christmas is all about? Isn’t this what Christians should be all about?

May you all have a peaceful and blessed Christmas and New Year. Thank you from all of those that have been helped by you. Prayers have been answered and hope has been given to so many. Thank you from the Colorado West Division Committee for making this possible.

Please call Lou for any questions at 303-453-1270 or e-mail at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

An added note, we had a great time at Trinity Lutheran Church in Greeley, Colo. A Wisconsin-Style Fish Feed was held on Nov. 4th at noon. Thank you all for coming and please plan to have us again. We are thankful for your prayers and hands-on help. Your generous contributions will help many in need.

Colorado West Division Fall 2007

Orphan Grain Train Celebrates 15 Years of God’s Blessings at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Loveland, Colorado

Submitted by Lou & Anita Boette, Colorado West Division

In observance of 15 years of God’s blessings upon Orphan Grain Train, the Colorado West Division (CWD) recently returned to the birthplace of Orphan Grain Train activities in Colorado - Immanuel Lutheran Church in Loveland - to celebrate and acknowledge the congregation’s foundational role in establishing Orphan Grain Train. During the congregation’s annual Wisconsin-style Fish Feed OGT fundraiser held Saturday, Oct. 13, 2007, the 70 people attending enjoyed a formal program carried out under the theme, “Then and Now: Look How Far We’ve Come” presented by members of the Colorado West Division committee.

CWD Chairman Lou Boette of Thornton, Colo., longtime supporter of Orphan Grain Train, served as master of ceremonies for the program. It was designed to help those attending fondly recall Orphan Grain Train’s formative years, beginning in 1992, and capture the excitement of getting “on board” this newly formed humanitarian aid “train”, not knowing exactly where or how far the “train” would go, yet knowing they wanted to be a part of those “fueling” the growing movement.

In 1992, following the breakup of the Soviet Union, Rev. Ray S. Wilke of Grace Lutheran Church in Norfolk, Neb., joined fellow Lutherans on a mission trip to Latvia and Russia where they met people with “no hope” and in desperate need of spiritual, emotional, and humanitarian aid. In response to requests for help, Rev. Wilke envisioned a train traveling through America’s Midwest, picking up cars of donated grain along the way, until it reached a port from which the grain would be shipped to feed starving orphans in Eastern Europe.

Upon his return to the U.S., Rev. Wilke and Clayton Andrews, president of Andrews Van Lines, a worldwide transportation company, co-founded Orphan Grain Train. Railroad operating protocol prevented the original grain train concept from being practical, but Orphan Grain Train was born nonetheless. Within a year, ‘Grain Train’s first shipment, a container of clothing and quilts, arrived in Riga, Latvia.

Today, Orphan Grain Train is a 501(c)(3), recognized service organization (RSO) of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, built on a network of volunteers. Orphan Grain Train’s 18 regional divisions stretching coast to coast collect, pack and ship more than 150 semi-loads of donated clothing, relief supplies and humanitarian aid each year and raise funds to pay shipping costs.

Celebration activities at Immanuel’s Fish Feed began with the reading of a “letter of reminiscence” from former member Tim Sweeney, an early-day Orphan Grain Train activist now living in Arkansas, which relayed Immanuel’s initial success in recruiting volunteers, collecting items and securing a warehouse with the goal to ship a container of aid to Latvia - a feat accomplished in 1993. Francis Sedlacek, a member of Immanuel and Orphan Grain Train’s first Colorado “state representative,” added supplemental commentary.

Immanuel’s worship service on May 23, 1993, was designated as “Orphan Grain Train Sunday” and thus was founded the Rocky Mountain Division, which at that time encompassed the entire state of Colorado. After a period of inactivity, division headquarters were re-established at Julesburg, Colo.

Lanelle Krueger of Longmont, Colo., was on a volunteer team that followed Rev. Wilke’s team into Latvia in 1992. She showed slides of the trip at a potluck that followed Immanuel’s “OGT Sunday” worship service in 1993. She is currently a member of the Colorado West Division committee so returned to Immanuel to participate in the 15th anniversary celebration. Sporting a 1993-circa “OGT-Keep on Truckin’” pink lapel pin, Krueger showed slides of Colorado’s first warehouse in west Loveland and some of the items donated at that time. This prompted the audience to share a few stories of early-day efforts to collect items and medical equipment - very heavy medical equipment before they even had a warehouse!

The program continued with a PowerPoint presentation that, with several fun audience participation trivia questions, reflected OGT’s growth and progress over the years up through present-day CWD activities.

The presentation included pictures of Loveland’s first collection truck for donated items; early- and present-day warehouse facilities in Colorado and Norfolk; a quick overview of OGT’s website and disaster-response efforts; and several facts and figures such as: OGT began holding national conventions in 1999, shipped its 1,000th container in 2005, and has shipped aid to 40 countries on five continents.

It was further explained that the Rocky Mountain Division was divided in the fall of 2005, with the Colorado West Division being chartered at that time. Headquarters for the RMD remain in Julesburg, Colo., and the CWD is headquartered in Arvada, Colo., its warehouse in Thornton, a north-Denver suburb. The presentation also acknowledged those congregations that were particularly helpful in assisting the CWD at the time it was chartered.

CWD activities over the past two years include collecting and shipping aid to Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso on a regular basis; shipping organs and pianos to the Gulf Coast following Hurricane Katrina; assisting financially with shipments to the Gulf Coast, Kyrgyzstan and Ecuador; “adopting” students in India by providing them financial support; and providing a financial contribution to the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association to assist ranchers in southeast Colorado following the paralyzing blizzards in the winter of 2007.

Chairman Boette, speaking on future activities, encouraged support for OGT’s “Adopt-an-Orphanage” program. The program recruits individuals and groups to financially support orphanages in the former Soviet Union with monthly contributions. Hundreds of orphanages await adoption.

The celebratory program concluded with announcing the winning silent auction-bidder of a handmade quilt and the audience standing and singing the common doxology as its way of acknowledging from whom all blessing flow to, through and from Orphan Grain Train.

For additional information on how to actively engage with Colorado West Division, or to schedule a presentation or Fish Feed fundraiser, persons may contact Chairman Lou Boette at (303) 453-1270, or e-mail .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Colorado West Summer 2007

“We are assured all things work together for good to those who love the Lord.” Romans 8: 28

God has blessed the Colorado West Division of Orphan Grain Train with a new vision and some more volunteers.

Teamwork is the name of the game and we are anxiously awaiting our first pickup at our warehouse in Thornton, Colo. Working conditions are not as favorable as they were at Bethlehem. However all members are adjusting. SO PLEASE KEEP YOUR EYES AND EARS OPEN for us for better and larger warehouse space.

We did have a chance to ship all accumulated donations to Norfolk on Tuesday, August 7, 2007. After a trip to Ysleta Mission in El Paso, Texas, Lloyd Dennert stopped at the Thornton warehouse. His next stop was Loveland, Colo. at a paint store that has been donating paint to Orphan Grain Train. It is always a thrill to see the truck with the Orphan Grain Train logo. Many volunteers stepped up to help load.

We also had some special help from our grandsons Garrett and Nolan. Daniel and Steven, grandsons of Janet and Dave Gordon along with their friend Mitchell were put to work too. It opened the door to encourage more work for the Lord. The loading went very fast.

Now we can start over and hopefully do a good “housecleaning” before we get set to pack again. We shipped approximately 412 boxes and 60 bags of pillows and mattress pads. The later was a donation from the Doubletree Hotel. We sort directly to Ysleta Mission and 37 of the 412 boxes will be sent on the next trip to El Paso from Int’l Headquarters, Norfolk Neb.

Our fundraisers are continuing and another garage sale was held on July 20th and 21st. It requires much work for Dorothy Curtis and her family. More volunteers seem to be there when needed and the CWD of Orphan Grain Train thanks all of them. Another great success. Please call Dorothy if you would like to assist: (303) 424-4074. Some funds are realized with sale of Casserole carriers and potholders. Norman Nehrig is our seamstress for these. Quilt kits all assembled are available at our display table.

Mt. Hope in Boulder, Colo. came through as usual and hosted a Wisconsin-Style Fish Feed - the Christian Fellowship under Pastor George Hesse was a blessing. We are planning to go back next year.

July 29th was the long awaited Fish Feed in Cortez, Colo. at Trinity Lutheran. The event was to have been held at the City Park but a scheduling conflict meant it was moved to the church. Kurt Jostes from Norfolk made the trip with us as did Dick and Ursula Tuers and Arlene and Bob Swenning. We were thankful for all of the help that the congregation supplied.

We were all pleasantly surprised at the response to the “feed”. Bill and Pat Heinicke are the leaders of the CWD Orphan Grain Train satellite in the Four Corners area. A quilt was made by a member of Trinity Lutheran and auctioned off at the Fish Feed.

We hadn’t realized that Mesa Verde National Park was so close to Cortez. On the way back to Thornton we were able to stop by and see the ruins.

Lanelle Krueger our newest member from Messiah Lutheran in Longmont, Colo. is in Kampala, Uganda on a Mission Trip. She has been looking forward to this trip. They visited a village called Kateete and were greeted by 50-60 children who were very anxious to touch them and shake hands too. Lanelle has been sending updates almost every day and she will have a full account when she returns.

This is all for now. The summer is almost over and of course we pray for cooler weather and more energy to do the Lord’s work. The Annual International Convention for Orphan Grain Train will be held September 21 and 22, 2007 in Norfolk, NE. Click here for details and registration information.

“I will not leave you as orphans, I will come to you.” John 14:18

Submitted by Anita Boette- Public Relations

Spring 2007

It is time again to update the Colorado West Division activities. Since the last writing we have moved to a different warehouse. We knew it was too good to be true to be able to stay much longer in Unit 14 at Bethlehem in Lakewood, Colo. The scramble was on to locate another warehouse and have Norfolk send a truck to empty us out. On March 15, one day before we were to be out of the warehouse, relief came from a driver making a return trip from the Ysleta Mission in El Paso, Texas. It was a fun day and the people helping will never forget that day. It was sad too but the memories will linger on. We had about 700 boxes plus some 60 boxes for the Texas mission.

We were quite by accident able to find a different place for our sorting and packing. The son of one of our members was given some information about a storage unit for rent. The address is 145th and Washington St., Thornton, Colo., just a hop and skip for some of us to get to. We did have quite a time moving and getting organized since this is one big room. All the packers do not seem to mind the change of pace and adjusted quite well to the new surroundings. This warehouse has a country atmosphere and it gives us a sense of freedom. However this will not last long as across I-25 about 1/4 mile away we can see the shopping mall coming our way.

Otherwise we are just moving forward. We have shipped over 500 quilts now since we became a division. We received 435 lbs. of canned items from Peace of Christ in Ft. Collins and were able to transfer this to the Road Runner Van for delivery to Ysleta. We have done two Fish Feeds this 2007 and will do the third on April 15th, at Peace Lutheran in Arvada, Colo. The next one will be held at Peace with Christ in Ft. Collins at noon. This is their third one and we hope to continue yearly.

Lest I forget the first Fish Feed for 2007 was done February 25, at Messiah Lutheran in Longmont, Colo. Lanelle Krueger did a PowerPoint presentation on her volunteer trip through LHM in the Katrina Area. She did an excellent job and everyone was quite inspired by it all. She was quite impressed by the work that Orphan Grain Train is doing in that area. Lanelle will join our Orphan Grain Train committee this June. She has many good ideas on promoting this division and so with God’s help we can grow much bigger yet.

Since the last update God chose to take Jim Curtis away from our midst and we really miss him. He was so fond of Orphan Grain Train and available at almost anytime. The garage sales have not been held yet as the weather has not been favorable. Jim and his family did the sales and the family will now carry on without him. Dorothy is anxious to get started as her storage items for the sales are overflowing.

The latest report from Bill and Pat Heinicke in Cortez, Colorado is as follows: Trinity Quilters put in 47 hours in the month of March. They will dedicate 50 plus quilts at Trinity Lutheran on April 29th for Orphan Grain Train. This extension of Colorado West Division also has ten big bags of good children’s clothing that will be shipped to the District Office too. The Fish Feed that we will hold in Cortez on July 29th is being advertised. It will be in the City Park and the whole day will be reserved for Orphan Grain Train. We welcome the enthusiasm from this group.

Lou and I will attend the board meeting in Norfolk, Nebraska on April 20th and 21, 2007. New opportunities are always coming to spread the good news about Orphan Grain Train. We are so happy and privileged to do so. God has used these two ordinary people to work for Him with the help of some extraordinary people.

Public Relations-Anita Boette

Winter 2007

“Humble yourselves before the Lord, and He will lift you up.” James 4:10

Welcome 2007!

We have been a regional division for a little over a year. With the Lord’s help and guidance we pray that our effort has been God pleasing. We are a group of energized Christians working well together with great joy.

We love to do Fish Feeds!! We can also always fill in at LWML meetings, schools, Sunday School class etc. to tell the Orphan Grain Train story. We try to keep up with Katrina Relief and DVD’s are available as well. Call Lou Boette for a speaking or fish feed date at 303-453-1270 or .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

We continue to collect clothing. We are always in need but are concentrating mostly on children’s and men’s. We always take new and nearly new items and are also a drop site for Global Care Packages.

In addition to collections we are raising funds that make it possible to be of financial aid and will continue to support efforts such as Katrina Relief. We have funded the shipment of a container out of Norfolk to Kyrgyzstan and at our monthly meeting voted to send financial help to the blizzard stricken area in Colorado for losses suffered by the farmers and ranchers.

We also assist the Sudanese families that Bethlehem Lutheran is sponsoring with clothing as well. The Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso, Texas is another of our recipients.

The Brown Palace and the Doubletree hotels in Denver continue to give us their linens that they no longer use. Of course we do still receive quilts as one of our top priorities. We are so blessed in having a charming volunteer that does much of our quilt tying. I do not want to exclude Exempla St. Joe’s Hospital for their donations of medical supplies.

Bill and Pat Heinicke in Cortez, Colo. (members of Trinity Lutheran) are keeping up their end of the Division. They are sharing the Katrina story with groups such as LWML women. Bill also is going to local hospitals. Pat has a group of women that are making fleece mittens and some quilts also. As soon as we receive a report we will share it with you.

It really is quite an event when Dorothy and Jim Curtis along with their daughter, Jana decide to hold a garage sale. The Lord is working through these people and has blessed Orphan Grain Train with funds to be used for various projects. Items that are in good condition can be donated for the sale.

We had a big scare about one month ago when we received a message that we might have to share our warehouse space with the pharmacy. It appears that the committee that oversees our space has rented all available units and now may need half of our area. We were very disturbed as that would be a definite negative for us.

Bethlehem Lutheran in Lakewood, Colo. has allowed us to use an unoccupied unit in their medical building just south of the church, rent free and with all utilities paid. However they were very concerned that we maybe could not carry on the Orphan Grain Train mission if our space was compromised. After some discussion and the possibilities of doing some minor remodeling they came up with some plans that will be passed on to their rental committee. If these plans are accepted then we can stay. Please keep us in your prayers.

June 2006 Update

Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not men. - Ephesians 6:7

This passage serves as a good reminder when we begin to boast and take the credit for what the Lord really does through us. The Colorado West Division of Orphan Grain Train has such dedicated and faithful servants that as the days come and go the joy and pleasure of doing this mission does open more doors of opportunity. Praise the Lord!

Many thanks to the Lutheran Women’s Missionary League (LWML) for providing a grant of $3,000 for Colorado West Regional Division!

We enjoyed having a visitor from the UEMI in India. Dick Tuers met him at Denver International Airport and Norma Nehrig provided an overnight stay. Both of them were amazed at the stories he had to tell. The Adult Sunday School Class at Peace Lutheran listened intently while the visitor from India spoke of his mission work with the UEMI (United Evangelical Mission of India), a relief partner of Orphan Grain Train. For more information about UEMI, visit http://www.uemi.org.

Word got around that organs were needed in the Gulf Coast for churches that are being rebuilt or restored. We now have five organs and five pianos, one altar, a baptismal font and pulpit. We have one more organ to pick up before they will be shipped south.

Moving pianos.

A special dinner was held at Bethlehem Lutheran on June 8th for Rev. Brandon Simoneaux and his wife Tricia. Rev. Simoneaux is the pastor of Christ our Savior Lutheran Church in Harvey, Louisiana. The Rocky Mountain District was very instrumental in helping renovate, repair, and return this congregation to operational status following Hurricane Katrina. Rev. George Hesse of Mt. Hope in Boulder, Colo. represented the Rocky Mountain District at the Rededication Service for the Harvey Church on April 30th.

Last but not least, the K-Wall Paint store in Thornton, Colo. has been donating gallons of paint that are returned for one reason or another. The total so far is 113 gallons and these will be used in the Gulf Coast area.

Check the Colorado West events page to see what special events and fund raisers are scheduled for the coming months.

Colorado West Regional Division Chartered

Colorado West was chartered in December 2005. Since it was formed out of the existing Rocky Mountain Division, our work has really not changed much except we just keep growing! God somehow has taken us under his wing and that is a great feeling.

We continue to collect National Geographic Magazines, encyclopedias, and medical supplies from several sources, “linens and things” from the Historic Brown Palace Hotel in Denver, children’s clothing, new or near new underwear, and the old standby—quilts. What joy and satisfaction the women have found in sewing quilts for so many needy people. Clothing is donated on a regular basis as are school supplies, and hygiene items. Most of our donations go directly to Norfolk and local missions. We sort and pack in an unused dental office that was passed on to us from Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Lakewood, Co. We plan to service some more missions in Mexico and continue to give to Road Runner for Christ that delivers there donations to the Ysleta Lutheran Mission in El Paso, Texas as well as the Hopi Indians in Arizona.

The “Wisconsin Style Fish Dinners” are becoming famous. God has blessed us with many donated items that are quite appealing to the general public, but are not suitable for sending overseas or local missions. These items have been sold with permission from the donors at garage sales.

Now, under the leadership of Lou and Anita Boette, our committee members number approximately 35 people and we have many congregations involved. What a humbling feeling, that ever since we became part of the Orphan Grain Train in 1994 we realize that God does use ordinary people to do extraordinary things. As part of the very beginning of Orphan Grain Train in the Rocky Mountain area it has been quite a journey. Keep us in your prayers and we do know that in His time and when He is ready God answers prayers. We are ready to serve any new challenges that He sends our way.

Officers:

Lou Boette—Chairman
9706 Harris Court
Thornton, CO 80229-2431
.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Ruth Young—Recording Secretary

Bonnie Musick—Treasurer

The rest of the members do speaking engagements, fish dinners, garage sales, sorting, packing, quilting, public relations or what ever is needed.

Please note: The Colorado West Division includes New Mexico and the state of Colorado west of U. S. Highways 85 and 285, and the Denver Metro within the 470 loop. The eastern half of Colorado is included in the Rocky Mountain Division.