outreach
Bethlehem ' s " Holy Rollers "
One of Bethlehem ’ s global mission partners , Global Health Ministries ( GHM ), supports Lutheran mission hospitals and clinics in countries deeply challenged by poverty . Most of these health facilities lack even the most basic supplies , like bandages . Many lack access to clean water , making sterilization difficult – it can be a challenge to have enough clean bandages for daily needs . GHM ships bandages , rolled by volunteers here , to supplement their limited supply . Some of those bandages – around 2,000 each year- come from Bethlehem .
Bethlehem members who live at 7500 York Cooperative in Edina gather with friends during the year to roll bandages for GHM . Rolling bandages is also one of our Women ’ s Day of Service projects . The bandages are made by ripping donated white sheets into 4-inch strips , pulling off the loose ends and rolling the strips onto a spool . Finished bandages are shipped by ocean freight at the request of partner hospitals in Cameroon , Central African Republic , Liberia , Madagascar ,
Many families cook over a fire in the center of their hut , and injuries are not uncommon , especially for children . This young girl is recovering from burns at Ngaoundere Protestant Hospital .
Nigeria , Tanzania and Zimbabwe . They are sent along with other supplies and medical equipment , from thermometers to x-ray machines .
GHM has sent more than 1,454,000 rolled bandages overseas since it began this ministry in 1987 – that ’ s 1,652 miles of bandages !
A Helping Hand : No Storm Can Shake Sukri ’ s Calm
The life of a refugee is not easy , and Shukri is no exception . After fleeing Somalia ’ s civil war , Shukri spent twenty years living in a refugee camp in Kenya . However , her optimism and strength never wavered . She explains , “ The night I left my home , I thought I was going to die . When I survived , I thought , ‘ I can do this ! I have life !’”
After twenty years in the camp , Shukri came to the United States . The transition was easier because she was reuniting with family in Minnesota . However , she remembers the first time she saw someone who was homeless . “ I felt so sad . It made me realize we all need each other and can ’ t survive without one another .”
Today , Shukri is an anchor of the school community at Our Saviour ' s English Learning Center , part of Our Saviour ' s Community Services , one of Bethlehem ' s Outreach partners . She continues to serve others as a volunteer in the morning lower level math class , before attending class herself in the evening . She says , “ When I see the students benefit , it makes me feel very good !” Shukri ’ s smile and friendly nature help new students and teachers feel welcomed and included . But Shukri only sees herself as giving back . Without the English Learning Center , Shukri believes her life would be very , very difficult . “ All of my children speak English , and I couldn ’ t understand what they would say . Now I understand , and they can ’ t hide anything from me !”
Our Saviour ' s Community Services is always looking for new volunteers seeking to directly impact the lives of immigrants and individuals struggling with homelessness . Whatever you choose to do , serving meals in our Emergency Shelter or teaching math or computers in our English Learning Center , you will make a tremendous difference to the people we serve . Contact the volunteer coordinators at volunteer @ englishlc . org or volunteer @ oshousing . org to learn more .
Women ' s Day of Service
February 11 , 9 am-1 pm
In February , Iverson Hall will hum with activity as women and girls gather to work on a variety of service projects . One project will be assembling Newborn Kits to send to health workers in Africa . Each Newborn Kit includes two cloth diapers . We ’ re working ahead of time to provide enough diapers to fill at least 200 kits – that ’ s 400 diapers ! Did you know we can make diapers from your old t-shirts ? Drop off t-shirts in the WDOS bins or at the church office and we ’ ll cut and pin them ready to be sewn . Packets of t-shirt diapers ready for sewing can be picked up at the church office . Lighter color t-shirts , adult size large or larger , and at least 50 % cotton are best for turning into diapers for newborns .
We will also be assembling as many Hospice Kits as we can . Global Health Ministries ' ( GHM ) supply of these kits has been outpaced by requests from mission hospitals , so more are needed . A list of items included in these kits can be found on Bethlehem ’ s website . Thanks to a generous donation , GHM is able to match donations of some items for Hospice Kits so your gifts will be multiplied ! Bring donated items to the WDOS table in the Gallery Sunday mornings in January . Questions or for more information , contact Kim Dickey , 612.799.9147 or Ann Senne ,
612.922.4172 .
Tour Global Health Ministries Tuesday , January 17 , 9:00 am
Have you ever wondered where our Women ’ s Day of Service Kits go ? Join us on Tuesday , January 17 for a visit to Global Health Ministries in Fridley . Tour the warehouse and meet the volunteers who receive and process the projects we send to GHM . For more information , to carpool or to let us know you ' re coming , contact Ann Senne at deanannluke @ gmail . com .
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