Regional Divisions
Maryland Division
Orphan Grain Train Aiding Haiti
Recently, the Orphan Grain Train, in cooperation with LCMS World Relief and Human Care has shipped over 500,000 “Kids Against Hunger” meals to Haiti. Cash donations of any amount will help the survivors in that beleaguered country. Checks may be sent to Orphan Grain Train, PO Box 1466, Norfolk, NE 68702-1466. Please write “Haiti” on the memo.
Also, Orphan Grain Train, Maryland Division, is planning to ship a 40-foot container to Haiti as soon as possible! In addition to medical supplies and other materials, we need clothing sorted and packed from churches. If you are able to help, please contact Elfie Eberle at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or Ron Phipps at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
Thank you for you support and helping send Relief for Human Need Worldwide!
Maryland Division mailing address:
Orphan Grain Train Maryland Division
c/o St. Paul Lutheran Church
31 Roscoe Rowe Blvd.
Annapolis, MD 21146
(410) 544-1621
Photos taken when close to 30 folks gathered at the Maryland Division in March 2009 to pack clothes bound for Nicaragua, Kyrgyzstan, and Appalachia in the U.S.
The room resembled a bee hive, but no queen bee!
Box closers John Zindorf, Pastor Hatcher, and Hal Curtis enjoy a light moment.
Here they are celebrating after sorting and packing over 135 boxes of clothes.
Maryland Region Division Nicaragua Shipment Update
This summer, another 40-foot container was sent to Nicaragua with a variety of materials that, as you can see below, were greatly appreciated by the recipients. In addition to a dental office x-ray machine, sewing machines are already being used for a sewing school which will enable people to not only make clothes—but also sell them.
Children, hungry for education, will use the school supplies with gleeful enjoyment.
Also, several cribs and bassinetts will provide comfortable and secure beds for newborns. In addition, hundreds of boxes of clothes along with crutches, wheelchairs, and canes were welcomed by all.
New Church - Chinandega, Nicaragua
Here is a picture of the beautiful new church Martin Luther in Chinandega, Nicaragua. We will be shipping a rose window for one of the openings in this church in our next container!
How about an Orphan Grain Train “Undie Sunday?”
Destitute people around the world need the very basic necessities. Thousands of children in Nicaragua and Kyrgyzstan helped by Orphan Grain Train, Maryland Division, often do not have good underwear and socks. Often with only the shirt on their backs, it is difficult for them to obtain good clothes, not to mention:
UNDERWEAR!!!
How can you help?
Collect new underwear for Orphan Grain Train Maryland Division to send to needy people! Men’s, women’s, boy’s and girl’s—all sizes are needed. Announce an “Orphan Grain Train ‘Undie Sunday’” and offer a prayer that day for the people who will receive your gifts. Please send your boxes of new underwear to: Elfie Eberle, St. Paul Lutheran Church, 31 Rowe Boulevard, Annapolis, Maryland, 21401.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact Elfie Eberle, Board Chair, at 410-544-1621 or email her at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).
And the Lame Shall “Walk”
As shown by the pictures below, Orphan Grain Train’s Leon, Nicaragua warehouse provides a wheel chair to a man who has been bedridden for six years because of an accident. He responded to a radio spot offering assistance to folks who needed help. He thanks God and OGT for his new “carchair!”
Photos courtesy of Ricardo Arguello, LHM-Nicaragua.
Warm Boots from Little Children
The mission of Orphan Grain Train touches people of all ages. And often little children can inspire us all! The following is a letter we received.
“Our children, Emily 7 years old, Katie 5 years old and Henry 3 years old, are proud to be able to buy 3 pairs of warm boots for the Orphan Grain Train. The children raised the money by setting up a lemonade stand in our neighborhood. They love wearing boots, no matter what the season and thought it would be great to buy other children boots, too.”
Notice that the sign is advertising “free” lemonade, but the neighbors felt funny without giving them some money. So when the question was asked, “How much for the lemonade?” the oldest would proudly announce, “It’s free, but we are accepting donations.”
The proud mom and dad report that the children can’t wait until school lets out so they can raise more money for Orphan Grain Train.
Bundles Bound for Bishkek
On April 17, 2007, the Maryland Division of OGT will pack a container of clothes, hospital equipment, and other materials destined for Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
In preparation for the shipment, the Boy Scouts of Troop 346 in Pasadena, Maryland sorted and packed winter and summer clothes for the people of this poor central Asian country. Guided by scout leaders David Phipps and David Ellis—and fortified by bagels and donuts—they worked together to pack over sixty boxes.
The tradition of teamwork found in scouting is shown in these pictures as each boy got the job done. We are very appreciative of their hard work and dedication. And we know the people of Kyrgyzstan will be thankful, too!
Nicaragua Mission-Vision Trip - February 2007
Elfie Eberle, Chair
It’s hot, sticky, inspiring and deeply humbling. It’s Nicaragua.
I asked if I could have one Mama, one pot and six children out in one of the poorest barrios - Santa Patricia. I wanted to field-test and take some pictures. When I arrived, there were 15 mamas, one pot, and 35 children. My little packet of nutrition from “Kids Against Hunger” seemed sadly lacking. But we started anyway with the wood fire under a rusty grate out in the yard.
The 15 mamas chattered good-naturedly about what should go in the pot first then decided on some oil, chopped onion and the rice mixture from the packet. To my amazement all the children and the mamas watched this pot boil for 30 minutes - patiently and expectantly.
Empty bowls of all sizes and types were held out to gratefully receive a tablespoon of food. The conclusion was “rico” - tasty - and “send some soon.”
I must admit I could not help but think of our own children. We have in such abundance. Orphan Grain Train will be shipping a container of this food to Nicaragua in March. It will cost $4,000 to ship the container.
The Lutheran Mission headquartered in the city of Chinandega has 17 churches served by 12 ordained Pastors and 22 deaconesses. All this, through the mighty hand of God, has happened in 10 years. This is the very first Lutheran presence in this country.
Each church has a Christian school taught by the deaconess. These children learn the 3 R’s and, most for the very first time, hear that they have a Savior who loved them so much he died for them. And what’s more, he walks with them now. All this happens because generous people scholarship these children for $90 a year. There is always a long list of children waiting for scholarships, and you can help as well. Just send $90 for Nicaragua Scholarships to Orphan Grain Train - Maryland Division at 308 Oak Manor Drive, Glen Burnie, MD 21061. A list of the deaconesses’ needs is also available at the bottom of this page.
An ambitious building program is underway which will include an administration building, a church, a seminary with accompanying dining hall, classrooms and dormitories. This Seminary will serve all of Latin America. The Admin building has been completed and construction on the dormitories and sewing school has been begun. The pace of construction is always linked to the flow of donations. For example, the church, see picture, is just a shell and desperately needs a roof before the rainy season comes. The cost of the roof is $9,500.
Churches of cinder block are being built one by one in the 17 communities. These churches are a beacon of hope among the bleakness of 70% unemployment, abysmally substandard housing, hunger and disease. It stands as a sentinel of faith and love. There are churches currently in 5 communities. Each church costs approximately $20,000. Prices in Nicaragua are on a steep rise.
To go to Nicaragua is to meet people whose faces sparkle with the joy and hope of faith in their Lord Jesus Christ. This, in spite of the fact that they are abjectly poor. It is a high privilege to be among these people of God.
Nicaragua Deaconess Needs - 2007
$7 for a Bible - 2,500 needed
Construction paper
Paper
Pencils
Pens
Paint brushes
Watercolors
Crayons
Rulers
Flannel graph for teaching Bible stories
Bible Maps
Maps
Scissors
Toys
Hand puppets
Donations of any size are very much appreciated.
If you would like to help with any of these projects, please send your donation, indicating its goal, to the address listed below.
More Bundles Bound for Bishkek
On October 11, 2006, another container was sent to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan from Maryland Division. This time the items included hospital beds, warm clothing, linens, shoes and warm boots. In addition, a slew of crutches and canes filled out the inventory.
Ed the packer taking a well-deserved break.
A hungry crew taking a pizza break.
Dean and Ellen happy about a job well done.
Packed and ready to be shipped.
Maryland Division Ships First Container
As shown in the following pictures, the Maryland Division of Orphan Grain Train packed and shipped a 40-ft. shipping container full of materials to Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan in April 2006.
The items included 200 boxes of hospital clothing, 70 boxes of clothing for men, women, and children, 225 boxes of blankets and linens, 17 boxes of craft supplies, 13 boxes of school supplies, and 12 pieces of school furniture. In addition, 53 pairs of crutches, 12 canes, 11 walkers, and 4 wheelchairs were also part of the shipment. This was the first container shipped by the Maryland Division since its 2005 inception.
On top of that, Elfie Eberle, the chairperson of the Maryland Division, and her husband Bill went to Bishkek in April 2006. They carried with them over 165 aneurysm clips and 20 shunts, valued at $80,000, each of which will save a life. These devices were presented to the chief of neurosurgery, Dr. Mamytov.
Dr. Mamytov writes: “We have already had twelve operations and introduced shunts for hydrocephalic children and one aneurysm clip. This has been done free. Both relatives and neurosurgeons of our clinic highly appreciate your help and support. Clips and shunts are very expensive but very valuable. We want to assure you we use them only for poor and needy people of Kyrgyzstan.”
It is clear that God has blessed Orphan Grain Train!!
Maryland Regional Division board members at a recent meeting. From left: Chris Eberle, Elizabeth Stone, Ellen Phipps, Laura Hess, Ron Phipps, Dean Castle, Marilyn Spletzer, Karen Haynes, Elfie Eberle (Chairperson), Lisa Mackey.