OH -October 11

October 11, 2007

Thursday, Oct 11, 2007

Dear OH Family,

I had hoped to send out my newest update with the news that our shipment was in Kuwait and ready for packing. Unfortunately that is not so. Our thermal underclothing did arrive and has been released from the port. A consignment of 1,000 units will be delivered to my home this evening. Tomorrow evening 1,200 caps, gloves, and socks will be delivered – God willing. The coats, I’m afraid are still on a ship due to arrive, I’m told, in the coming week. Until they are here and finally released from the port we will hold off packing our winter bags. I’ll keep you posted when a date is set to begin our hard work!

In the meantime instead of idly awaiting our shipments OH family members have been very, very busy getting the word out about our mission of mercy with some wonderfully heart-warming results. Allow me to share some of those highlights with you now. . .

· An invitation to speak at a BLS meeting on October 2^nd netted many volunteers for this season’s OH outreach. Women from all walks of life have graciously come forward offering OH their skills and time that we may meet our goal of warmly clothing 8,000 (or more) of Kuwait’s neediest BEFORE winter sets in.

· The KTAA has announced its decision to gift OH with revenues of their annual bazaar to be held in November at the Radisson SAS Hotel. OH will have a table there as well selling the handicrafts that a dedicated group of Indian women have made over the summer months. I encourage you to watch the local newspapers for dates on that upcoming bazaar and be sure to stop by the OH table to show your support!

· The Royal Society of St. George – Kuwait has graciously selected OH as the 2007/2008 (Kuwait) recipient of their fundraising. Activities are organized throughout the year and open to anyone who wishes to attend. So please show your support of OH by support the RSStG. Information about the where’s and when’s of their activities may be found on: kuwaitsaintgeorge@yahoo.co.uk

· The American Embassy Chapel donated KD 725 last week! Through their generous donation we are able to purchase the hats, gloves and socks I mentioned earlier in this update! Thank you Pastor Dave and congregation for your continued support!!

· Julie B. of the BLS held a fundraising coffee morning this week and through her efforts is able to contribute nearly KD 200 towards this year’s outreach.

· The Saudi Arabian Chevron wives met with me this week to discuss plans for their participation in fundraising. The discussion was animated as they began to plan out an event that is sure to help OH in a significant way! Also through the sale of t-shirts, donations, and a tidy sum earned through Pam Nixon’s weekly summer coffee mornings I left the camp with well over KD 270 in my OH jar!!

· The American Business Council of Kuwait has agreed to make a donation of KD 200 towards this year’s mission of mercy.

· Director of BSK, Madame Vera Al Mutawa made a generous donation today! Thank you!!

Some more great news brothers and sisters ~ OH – KUWAIT now has new committee members to help run this ever-growing mission of mercy! Please welcome aboard the following ladies:

· Victoria Cole ~ Advisory

· Kathleen Nicholson ~ Volunteer Coordinator

· Becky Rawls ~ Fundraising Coordinator

· Chelly O’Connor – Fundraising Coordinator

· Jaye Lynn Lester – Office Administrator

Aban Dias will continue to liaise with the TCN community supervisors so that we may know who is to receive our winter bags and where we are to make those deliveries. She will also continue to manage the OH inventory of coats, hats, socks, gloves, thermal underclothing, and any other material donations that are received.

OH is currently in need of several other committee positions to be filled by committed and hard-working volunteers. If you or someone you know may is gifted with skills and expertise in the following areas, kindly contact us at your earliest convenience:

WE NEED:

· Photographers: anyone with a digital camera who is able to attend deliveries or packing dates at my residence. I will need around four volunteers to shoot pictures, please.

· Accountant: Our current Accountant, Denise Al Shammari is looking for someone who might like to take over keeping the books for OH. If you know how to manage a spread sheet on Excel and are good with numbers ~ please let me know. Denise will surely be happy to help you get acquainted with her accounting set-up.

· Publicity: Our beloved Pam Nixon will be leaving Kuwait in January and we’ll need to find someone who can follow in her footsteps (she’s leaving behind some pretty big shoes, too!). If you think you might be interested I can hook you up with Pam so that she can impart some of her wisdoms to her successor. . .

· School Liaison: This committee position would require the right person to volunteer his/her time to visit schools throughout Kuwait in the hopes of garnering their support. I am a firm believer that if we bring the children into our community service/humanitarian outreach they will carry the belief/conviction into their adult life. They ARE tomorrow leaders!

Now one last point of business before I close up ~ the new OH email address will become ophopeq8@yahoo.com effective the next time you receive an update. Today’s update will be the last update that you receive via sheryll105@hotmail.com or operationhopekuwait@yahoo.com. If you do not wish to receive future updates simply let us know by sending an email to ophopeq8@yahoo.com . Place “unsubscribe” on the subject line. We don’t want to lose OH family members but do understand if you wish not to participate.

In the warmth of the October afternoon sun it is difficult to imagine the cold ~ but the cold will arrive soon enough. We have a lot to do in a short time. I am faithful that we will make our deadline of 8,000 winter bags by the end of December. I am also faithful that the good Lord will provide by softening the hearts of men, women, and children all across Kuwait. Your help is most appreciated.

In closing I’d like to share a short poem I came across just this morning out of a publication called, “Our Daily Bread”. It blessed me greatly and reminded me again that God is the blessed Author and Finisher of OPERATION HOPE – KUWAIT.

Open my eyes, Lord, to people around me,

Help me to see them as You do above;

Give me the wisdom and strength to take action,

So others may see the depth of Your love.

(written by K. De Haan)

Thank you for giving me the privilege of calling you family.

Blessings,

Sheryll Mairza

Founder