OPERATION HOPE – KUWAIT
A Mission of Mercy
November 17, 2007
Greetings OH Family,
In the18 years of living in Kuwait I've been to Jahra twice. Once several years ago to deliver some home-made food to homesick soldiers at some camp I don't remember the name of, and last week when we delivered more than 600 winter coat bags to our needy brothers and sisters working at the Al Jahra Hospital.
We were accompanied by Mr. Faisal, Vice Chairman of the Kuwait Society for Social Welfare and several of his office staff (thank you to Sheikha Bibi Nasser Al Sabah for arranging that). We were warmly welcomed by the Director of the Al Jahra Hospital, Dr. Khalid, who permitted us to distribute the winter bags.
As our brothers and sisters filed out of the hospital to receive their gifts smiles, words of thanks and gratitude, and joy were seen and heard all over!! Our Kuwaiti helpers took part in the distribution, which added something quite special to our delivery! Let me just say this ~ the Jahra delivery has been THE best experience we've had to date! The volunteers and I left there amazed and excited about how the presence of the Lord was with us all. We were thanked over and over again by our new Kuwaiti friends for gifting the needy. As we departed one Kuwaiti man said, "You OPERATION HOPE people are angels sent from heaven."
· We've received a request from Honeywell to outfit 180 TCN's working in one of their warehouses with coats. We are privileged to serve them!
· 200 winter bags were delivered to a labor camp for Telegu speaking workers.
· And another 100 bags were delivered tonight to a labor camp in Jahra.
· 20 coats went to the Allergy Clinic at Al Sabah Hospital
· On Thursday 60 students, their teachers and principal from the Lighthouse Academy (of the National Evangelical Church of Kuwait) came by bus to pack winter bags. Students representing grades 3, 4, & 5 packed 1,200 bags in just under 2 hours time! As students filed back onto their buses to return to school each took a bag along to gift someone in need. Their principal, Mr. Rob made a donation on behalf of the school of KD 300. OH thanks you!!
· Yesterday I received a check of support from the American Embassy Chapel ~ Catholic Congregation for KD 1,500. What an enormous blessing that will be to our current balance!
· Our current outstanding balance is KD 14,090.
· The English Language Congregation hosted a luncheon this week highlighting OH! What a blessed time it was to share all of what God has done and continues to do through this mission of mercy with the pastors and their wives. Thank you to Senior Pastor Jerry Zandstra and his beloved wife, Jacque for your support!!!
· Proceeds from a mini-home-bazaar (Nov. 19th) are being earmarked for OH. Thanks to Brenda and Julie for organizing the event and for supporting the work OH does. A hug to our beloved Becky for manning the OH table on that day.
· This Tuesday a group of ladies from a morning Bible Study group are planning a Thanksgiving dessert raffle to benefit OH. (Brenda you cannot imagine how much you and all you do for OH will be missed when you and Bob leave Kuwait . I pray the Lord will send another just like you! What a servant's heart you have!!!)
· Kuwait 's largest Charity Bazaar is set for Friday, December 7th from 10 AM – 7 PM at the Movenpick in the Free Trade Zone. Entrance fee is KD 1 per person with all proceeds being donated to OH, so please show your support by attending!
· We are still in need of about 20 volunteers to help out at the bazaar on the 7 th! If you are able, please RSVP your commitment to Kathleen on mailto:ophopevolunteer@yahoo.com. Your help will be greatly appreciated!
· The British Ladies Society is hosting their annual holiday bazaar at the Radisson SAS Hotel on Tuesday, December 4 th from 3 – 7 PM, with proceeds to benefit OPERATION HOPE – KUWAIT.
A few nights ago a dear sister told me about a Bangladeshi man digging in her garbage can. He was, of course looking for aluminum cans to sell for recycling. She offered him a coat and at first he was reluctant to take it as he had no money. She insisted it was a gift from God. He happily took it. His life won't be the same ~ whose is when we are gifted unexpectedly?
Friday morning a wise and caring sister commented that (American) Thanksgiving was approaching and that we could be thankful we were giving out coat bags and not receiving them. Thanks for that reminder Christine!
How very blessed so many of us are ~ we have a roof over our heads (most likely beautifully decorated, too), clothing (often times designer ~ no less) on our backs, cars to get us to and from where ever we desire, more food in our refrigerators than we'll actually eat, and gyms to exercise off all the excess pounds when we DO eat all the food in our refrigerators. We have monthly salaries that likely exceed two years of accumulative wages for the average TCN laborer. Most of us have our families around us and for those who are far from family we have the luxury of internet, telephones and airplanes to keep us closely knit to them (and the freedom to use them whenever we wish).
I've struggled lately with which direction God would have this mission of mercy go. Some folks advise, "go this way", and others advise "go another". Sometimes I get off the beaten path and get so confused. Bottom line is I want to do what is right! So recently in my quiet time with the Lord I asked, "Lord, where do we go from here?" Opening my Bible to Jeremiah 17 I read through it and closed my book. Later in the same day I asked of the Lord the same thing, "Where do we go from here?" Once again I opened the scriptures to Jeremiah 17. Where do you suppose I opened the Bible the 3rd time I asked? JEREMIAH 17.
But that's not all ~ the Bible study I'm in right now quoted part of its lesson (one I failed to do ~ by the way) from Jeremiah 17. Is your hair-raising yet? I know mine was (and still is when I recount this true story!) So I'm going to close tonight with Jeremiah 17:5-7.
"Cursed is the one who trusts in man, who depends on flesh for his strength and whose heart turns away from the LORD…..But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him."
I'm trusting in the LORD for His perfect provision. He knows what we need ~ when we need it ~ how we'll get it. If He is pressing upon your heart to help out in any way ~ big or small ~ please do it. There is nothing quite like obedience!
One last thing… if you're free on Friday, November 23rd at 3:15 PM we'd love to have your help to pack another 1,200 winter bags. RSVP to ophopevolunteer@yahoo.com
Have a blessed Thanksgiving!
Faithfully,
Sheryll Mairza
Founder
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