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On the high seas

3/8/2012

The 40’x8’x8’ container filled with 1,181 boxes of assorted InGathering kits, robes, paraments, medical supplies, Sunday School materials, soft toys, HON material (to name a few items) is on the high seas headed to Lagos, Nigeria. With the help of 14 volunteers, the container was loaded in 2 hours on March 1. A pray was offered before the doors were shut and a seal was placed on the container. 

The container traveled to the east coast, was loaded on a vessel headed for the port of Apapa/Lagos. Paperwork has been sent to Stephen Habu, a United Methodist Police Department Executive, in Abuja who will take charge of the shipment upon arrival approximately April 18. He will secure its release, get it through customs and have it loaded on a truck with driver/guard to travel to Jalingo, the final destination. Here it will be met by our Iowa work team volunteers, who with the help of Nigerians will get the boxes, equipment and supplies to their designated destinations. 

A big thanks to all the persons/churches who collected and prepared kits, who donated requested items, gave postage money, to Russ Potter, our INP shipping coordinator, Kevin Moore, the INP volunteer coordinator, Kelly Fischbach and other helpers for the gifts of time given to get this gift of love sent to our U.M. Church family in Nigeria. What is the cost to purchase the container, provide travel documents, shipping, customs charges, demurrage and transportation to the UMC Secretariat in Jalingo? Approximately $21,000! A lot of money but contents could/would not be purchased if money were sent instead of items. The real value of the container’s contents is close to $220,000. 

So…Iowa United Methodists:

  • The kits you prepare here in Iowa will get to Nigeria.
  • The kits are expression of Christian love to our partners in ministry in Nigeria.
  • The kits are needed and welcomed with bright smiles, shy looks of gratitude, tremendous joy and lots of curiosity!

Nigerians say “Na gode” to you Iowans as they see Christ’s love in each kit.   

-Beverly Nolte