God provided items for the 4th container in His wonderful fashion.

A hospital North of Shelby was doing a housecleaning of items and planning a big garage sale. Not only did they let us come pick out items we needed but they also gave us large stainless steel items to haul off for recycling providing cash for things like wood for crates.

One of the our team had an associate at work ask if her church could use a brnad new transparency projector. She knew her church didn't need one but both the hospital and Bethel Bible School could use one so she said, of course. The source of the projectors was told about the Mali Project and he donated 2 projectors. Isn't God good!

Zanesville, Ohio - 9 year old Thomas Young heard about the Mali Project on Sunday October 23rd and his reaction to the sewing needs of Mali was, "We can do that!" What did he mean? Well, Thomas is a very special 9 year old, he sews and he is part of a sewing club. Every great tailor got their start somewhere and Thomas learned from his mom and grandmother. Last year Thomas made a jacket!

So when Thomas heard about the Mali Project, he decided there were things his club could make. Check back to see what Thomas does for Mali and the Lord by using the gifts God gave him. What are you doing?

Bedford, Pennsylvania - The Shelby team traveled to Bedford to share their story of the Mali project. After returning home they received a call, a lady who attends that church said her husband used to be a truck driver and they had 2 sea containers they could give the project if we are interested. Of course we are interested. Isn't God good!

California & Utah: Helen Darby reports that women are getting excited about the Mali Project. Women in a retirement home are putting old collections of fabric to use, boxes are being prepared to send to Shelby and people visiting in churches to talk about the Mali project. Additionally, the Mali project ideas are being applied to a work in Ecuador. That is so exciting! Let's keep working toward Christ's return!

July 2005

Story 1: One of the smaller area hospitals called the second half of July to tell us they were disappointed they couldn't gather much to send to Mali, they thought the response would be better. Anyhow, they had 3 Mayo Stands to give us. PTL! We hadn't been able to locate Mayo Stands anywhere except a company who was going to sell us 2 for $125 each. Now we have three, for free!

Story 2: In searching online for a hemoglobimeter one of the team members emailed a company called Technomedia. After explaining the project in the email the team member asked if the company would donated or sell a hemoglobimeter to the project, not realizing the company was in Moscow, Russia. A response came back. Yes, they would donate a hemoglobimeter to the project!! It has already arrived in Shelby, Ohio.

Story 3: MedWish (read more about MedWish in this Internet Article) had several of the things we needed, for free, at their location in Cleveland. Jean asked if they had digital thermometers and before she could say she needed 7, the woman in charge offered her all they had, how many?... 7.

Story 4: Possibly one of the most amazing stories regarding the timing of God - While at MedWish, Jean and her husband, Mike, started looking through boxes and crates and found some crates that had Gov't Issue on them from former mobile hospitals. Upon further investigation they found anesthesia machines and OR lights, new, never been used, but dated in the 70's. We had given up on anesthesia machines for this trip! The amazing part, some of these items were packaged in Shelby, Ohio!! God brought them home!!

Story 5: Norwalk Alliance VBS set a goal to raise the money to purchase the equivalent of 2 baby cribs. That would be $150. By the end of VBS they had $600 - 8 cribs. Isn't God good! (The Alliance Church in Marion, Ohio had previously raised enought money for 33 baby cribs.)

June 2005

Updated Story 1: Robert from Lexington, Kentucky has been saving surgical instruments for 10 years and met our team in Louisville to give us his collection. Robert, you are great, we have already put together several sets to send to Mali. Surgical Instruments are very expensive and this is an incredible gift! Additionally, MedCentral has a staff person going through these instruments checking for nicks and damage that would make them hazardous with the HIV/AIDS problem in Mali. Thanks to MedCentral for their abundant support. One complete surgical set has been put together and close to a full second set as well. These intruments collectively are valued at over $8000. Thank you Robert for letting God use you for Mali, years in advance.

Story 2: Dan, at a local school supply company, received a call from Jean for glassware and he had just, that day, planned to send some overstock and samples to another site and was happy to give them to us. It's a God thing!!

Story 3: We needed a pan balance and ha not been able to locate one. Jean decided to check E-Bay and sure enough, there was one for sale. She decided to email them and ask if they'd be willing to donate the balance and yes, for the cost of shipping we are getting the balance.

Story 4: One of things we were having trouble locating was metal pans and trays. In our disposable society these are often plastic. An organization in Louisville, Kentucky had several of our needed items (IV poles, Blood pressure cuffs, etc) and were able to purchase them for 20 cents/pound!!! We now have some of the needed metal pans.

What a blessing it was for the Shelby Alliance team to work at General Council manning a booth about the Mali Hospital Project. We were able to meet so many of you and hear of your passion for the hospital as well as other projects God has put on your hearts. We returned home to more supplies in our church. In fact, we can no longer use our fellowship hall until the first ship's container goes out - it is too full of supplies. What a blessing!