Regional Divisions
May 2013 Rocky Mountain News
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Rocky Mountain Branch Spring 2012
On June 2, 2011, we at the Rocky Mountain Branch had a first. The volunteers pictured loaded a 40 foot overseas container of clothing to Belarus, which was a job in itself. Then an Orphan Grain Train 53 foot semi arrived within the hour, and the same helpers loaded the semi of hospital equipment and other goods to Norfolk. Left to right: Heinz Piehl, Julesburg, Dick Dawson, Julesburg, Dennis Nienhueser from rural Sidney, NE, Rich Wilhelm, Julesburg, Twane Reker, rural Sidney, NE, Gary Narjes, rural Sidney, NE, and Walt Narjes, rural Sidney, NE. Opie the mascot strolls in front, he belongs to Dick Dawson.
April, 2011 McCook, NE local helpers along with Heinz Piehl and Dick Dawson loaded the Julesburg OGT truck with the entire donated dental office of Dr. Don Blank, who was retiring. All this equipment then was shipped to Norfolk, and will be going to a mission.
Once or twice a year, Methodist Colorado State University students travel out to Julesburg for the weekend, to help at our warehouse. They like coming out here, and helping the needy. This past March 31, 2012, they came and helped sort and pack, and do other chores. Rex Nicolaus from Julesburg cooked goulash for the crew.
Heinz Piehl has been invited to KNGN Good News Radio 1360 AM out of McCook, NE twice now, and spreading the good news about Orphan Grain Train. He speaks about 30 minutes. Now the folks at KNGN want him to have a call in segment, to answer questions from listeners.
Orphan Grain Train Rocky Mountain Division
Warehouse Location: I-76 and Colorado State Highway 385, Julesburg, CO 80737
Warehouse hours are Wednesday and Saturday mornings, 9 to 11 A.M. We close the day before a holiday and on holidays so our volunteers can enjoy the day with their families. Our volunteers have sent ten (semi-load) shipments from the Julesburg warehouse in 2008 and four shipments in the first half of 2009.
So many wonderful miracles have happened to us we thought it would be nice to share them with you:
1. We have a satellite collection point at Epiphany Lutheran Church, Castle Rock, Colorado which is about 20 miles south of Denver. They have been collecting clothing for us since 2003. Ken and Dottie Bockelmann and their volunteers have been doing a wonderful job. We are so thankful for Epiphany Lutheran for allowing us to help the needy. A few years ago, Epiphany congregation also collected the $4,000 needed to purchase our truck.
2. Since Orphan Grain Train is still working at the Katrina relief area, I thought I could share with you two stories. Back in 2005 our Sedgwick County Sheriff received a telex from a sheriff in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, thirty-six hours after the hurricane hit. He was desperately in need of clothing, shoes, diabetic and other medical supplies, disposable diapers and bottled water. Several sheriff’s departments in our area got together and collected the medical supplies, diapers, and water, and loaded it into a National Guard troop truck. Then they drove out to our Orphan Grain Train warehouse, where county inmates loaded the rest of the truck with the needed clothing, covered everything with tarps, and left directly for Hattiesburg. The drivers took turns driving, and arrived within 24 hours of the telex!
A second Katrina miracle. The Sisters from St. Patrick Catholic Church, Sidney, Neb. called us right after Katrina. They knew we were doing relief, and they wanted to know what they could do to help. We asked them to collect hygiene items, and gave them a list of items. They did one better, they contacted the Sidney Public High School to compete with their Catholic School to see who could collect the most items. Three days later we received a phone call from the Sidney HS Principal to come and pick up the items, there were so much, these items were all over the halls and creating a hazard. These items were all taken to St. John’s Lutheran Church in rural Ogallala, Neb. where men, women and children were waiting with gallon Zip-lock bags for assembling. As soon as they were done, Heinz Piehl and John Heidemann drove the completed packets (37 large boxes full) in our Orphan Grain Train truck straight to Norfolk, Neb., where they were loaded on the next semi truck headed to New Orleans!
3. 2007. We needed to move from our previous John Deere warehouse, and nothing in town or anywhere near was suitable. Our board members voted to build. One acre of land was donated to us. Blueprints, title work, appraisal, some of the surveying, some of the actual building, and some town services were donated. Many grants were received, and an interest free loan was given to complete the warehouse. Praise the Lord!
4. Quilts. We receive quilts from over twelve churches in our area. All of these lovingly sewed quilts give comfort to needy people, both in the states during disasters, and overseas.
5. Thrivent Financial Chapters continue to match monies collected during fundraisers, to help us pay for shipments.
6. May 2008. Windsor, Colorado suffered a tornado. An ABC reporter was on scene that afternoon and gave the list of immediately needed items. Windsor is about 150 miles from Julesburg. After receiving permission, early the next morning several men loaded our truck with 248 boxes full of quilts, baby and children’s clothing, jeans, and shoes and drove to the distribution point in Windsor. It was a scene that Heinz Piehl and Paul Kerschner will never forget. The Windsor volunteers were in “awe” that help could come so fast!
7. Box Butte Hospital in Alliance, Neb. continues to donate good medical equipment for missions. When Heinz arrives with our truck, all available employees come out and help, and then donate their own extra clothing.
8. Kathy Most and her crew from St. John’s Lutheran, in rural Ogallala, Neb. continue to collect and pack clothing for us!
9. Our volunteers are the most wonderful, giving people, who come faithfully twice a week to do the Lord’s Mission Work as HE has taught us! Our Board members give of their time and talents consistantly. Brad Brackhan comes whenever needed, Paul Kerschner gets our boxes from Greeley and brings them out to us and comes whenever needed, Ken and Dottie continue to sort and pack. Thanks to Dick Dawson and Jan for managing the Julesburg Warehouse. We have a new and capable secretary, Muriel Nelson. You do a great job. Thanks to all of you!
One final note, we all give thanks for John Heidemann, who gave so much time for a Mission that he loved. He is missed.
Respectfully submitted
Orphan Grain Train, Rocky Mountain Division
For more information call: Muriel Nelson (970) 520-0886 or Heinz Piehl (970) 580-5215