Hi, I'm Dustin Comm
with the Maranatha Minute.
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Due to COVID-19,
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the last time
Maranatha volunteers served
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in the
international mission field
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was March 2020.
00:00:08.47\00:00:10.54
But in early December,
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a small group of volunteers
landed in Cote d'Ivoire,
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for Maranatha's
first international project
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in nearly nine months.
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Volunteers joined
Maranatha's local crew
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to continue construction
00:00:21.15\00:00:22.48
on the Niangon
Adventist Secondary School.
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They laid block
for an office building
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and constructed restrooms.
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Most of the work on the project
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took place at
the Niangon School,
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but volunteers
also helped construct
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Maranatha's first one
day church in the country.
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The Avegou Seventh-day
Adventist congregation
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previously met
under a bamboo structure.
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Once their new
strong frame was erected,
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church members immediately began
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to build up the
walls on their own.
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If you're also ready to get back
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into the mission field,
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visit maranatha.org/volunteer
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to see a list of
upcoming projects
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around the world.
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Tucked into the
conifer hills of Central Oregon
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along the south
Umpqua River is what some say
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is the most remote
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Seventh-day Adventist
Academy in North America,
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Milo Adventist Academy.
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This rural campus
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sits at the foothills
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of the Southern
Cascade Mountains.
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There is no
cell phone reception,
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the internet is spotty,
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and the nearest grocery store
is about an hour's drive away.
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But the lack of
convenience has made up for
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by the beauty of the location.
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The secondary boarding
school was established in 1954
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and over the years
more than 3,000 students
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have walked through the halls,
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lived in the dorms and
graduated from the program.
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But more than five decades
of educating young people
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has taken a toll on
the physical campus,
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which is why Randy
Thornton, Principal of Milo
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contacted Maranatha
more than four years ago.
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I've been familiar,
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been aware of
Maranatha for decades,
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growing up in Adventism,
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and seeing the amazing work
they've done for a long time.
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And I got to admit,
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I just saw an
opportunity for Milo
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to be blessed with a
lot of volunteer labor,
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we had a lot of
things that we needed here.
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The first year welcomed a
group of high school students
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on Ultimate Workout, a
mission trip for teenagers.
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The Milo project
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was the first
time Ultimate Workout
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was held in the United
States rather than overseas,
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and the experience
made an impact on Randy.
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And the thing about Maranatha
that has really captivated me,
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I'm certainly grateful
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for all of the incredible
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physical plant
work that gets done.
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But your model
of building people,
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and the way that I see
people changed in serving
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is just incredible.
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And so that, really...
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Yeah, we keep on hoping that
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we'll get a
project every summer.
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Because we've
got a lot of things
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we'd like to accomplish
for God's kids here at Milo.
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Randy's hopes were fulfilled.
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Maranatha
renovation projects at Milo
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have become almost
an annual tradition.
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But in 2020,
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the streak was
about to be broken
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because of an unexpected
threat called COVID-19.
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By early March,
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the novel Coronavirus
had been declared a pandemic
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and the US government began
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to unroll a series
of travel restrictions,
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most Maranatha projects
had to be postponed for months.
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But by early summer
in the United States,
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some areas were
starting to open up
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for carefully
monitored activities
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and volunteers were
getting antsy to serve.
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So when the annual Milo project
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started creeping
up on the calendar,
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volunteers started
knocking on the figurative door.
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Leroy Kelm is a
longtime volunteer
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and leader for
Maranatha project.
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Like the typical
Maranatha volunteer,
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he's one who can
rarely sit still.
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Well, I just knew that the...
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What I can get the
list that Lisa sends me
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and it seemed like it
grew, and grew, and grew
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and people I talked to said,
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"You know, I need to
get out of the house."
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'Cause I did call
a few people and say,
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"You know, what do you think?"
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And they said,
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"Well, I'm getting bored.
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I need to get on
getting doing something.
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So let's get out and do it."
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So most of the people I
think are really receptive about
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getting out and
let's get something done.
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Ed Jensen is a
Maranatha board member
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and volunteer.
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He has served as
the project coordinator
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for multiple Maranatha projects.
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And he was slated to lead Milo.
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I went on a project
in February to Alabama,
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and then I had three projects
lined up in April and May,
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but they were all...
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Those months are
totally blocked out.
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So June was the next
month after April and May
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and I thought,
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"Well, they'll
probably block out June too,
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'cause the outside statistics
of COVID infections and all
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were going a little crazy.
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So I fully expected
this one to never happen.
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But then it never...
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Nobody was saying
no, nobody was saying no.
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After a thorough
discussion with leadership,
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site visits and
research on Oregon guidelines,
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Maranatha
decided to move forward
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with the project in faith
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and with a long
list of protocols
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for safety and health.
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Soon, there were 50
volunteers registered,
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the maximum number of people
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allowed to gather
under COVID-19 rules
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for Douglas County
where Milo Academy is located.
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Given its rural location
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and low number of
cases in the county,
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Milo appeared
to be an ideal site
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for a first
project during COVID.
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As Ed looked
through the volunteers,
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he saw that a number of
them were medical professionals,
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quickly he began
calling and asking them
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to be part of a
medical team for safety.
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I was a nurse for over 30 years,
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but I was an
infection control nurse
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for 25 years.
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At first when Ed called me
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I thought about it for a minute,
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and then I said,
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"Well, you know, Ed,
I've done this a long time,
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it doesn't take too long
to get my brain back working.
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And I had worked
with Ed before so I said,
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"Yes, I'll do it. I'll do it."
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I...
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Just in asking questions
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and discussing with
our project coordinator,
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and the questions
I was asking, he...
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It became obvious
that I'm a physician,
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and that I had some
background experience
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with COVID and planning.
00:07:09.99\00:07:12.19
And so then I was
asked to just kind of be,
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meeting of the minds,
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so to speak of a
group working together
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to come up with
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all of our different
background information
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to put together
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to see if we could come up with
the safest plan for everybody.
00:07:25.47\00:07:28.04
Arlene, Michelle
and two more nurses,
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Lori and Julie
formed a medical team.
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Together, they created
a system of safety checks.
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In the mornings, we
take their temperature,
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and they use hand sanitizer.
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We do it again in the evening
and do the hand sanitizer.
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We record it just that yes,
they passed, not what it was,
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but just that they passed,
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we want to have a trail
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so that if Douglas County
Health Department does show up,
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we have proof
that we are monitoring
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and tracking everybody.
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There's markers on the floor
when they come in the door.
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And we have our
own hand sanitizer
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separate from
the one on the wall.
00:08:07.52\00:08:10.05
And then you'd go through
line, we keep our six feet away,
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we wear masks and the tray line,
00:08:14.22\00:08:18.56
and then we clean
the tables, chairs
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after every meal.
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One thing that I was
really grateful for is
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that Ed Jensen in
behalf of Maranatha
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was number one concerned
about our population, our kids.
00:08:30.84\00:08:35.94
And but, you know,
we've been all here together.
00:08:35.98\00:08:38.65
So again, we already
know what we don't have.
00:08:38.68\00:08:42.05
But as more people
come on from outside,
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he was very concerned about
making sure that we were safe,
00:08:45.55\00:08:49.36
and that we were comfortable,
00:08:49.39\00:08:50.73
and I was really
grateful for that.
00:08:50.76\00:08:54.40
With the safety protocol
in place and in practice,
00:08:54.43\00:08:57.50
volunteers could
focus on the work.
00:08:57.53\00:08:59.90
It's a work that
Milo is grateful for.
00:08:59.93\00:09:02.94
So the scope of
the projects this year
00:09:02.97\00:09:04.57
is two house remodels,
00:09:04.61\00:09:07.61
our oval that
keeps the students dry
00:09:07.64\00:09:09.44
in the wintertime
00:09:09.48\00:09:10.81
from the wet rains
00:09:10.85\00:09:12.18
is being refaced and re-sited
00:09:12.21\00:09:15.22
so that it doesn't rot
away and fall away on us.
00:09:15.25\00:09:18.19
So that's a big plus.
00:09:18.22\00:09:19.85
And there's a lot
of renovating going on
00:09:19.89\00:09:22.42
in the girls' dorm rooms,
00:09:22.46\00:09:23.79
painting, decorating,
00:09:23.83\00:09:25.16
refinishing cabinets
00:09:25.19\00:09:26.53
that are starting to look rough.
00:09:26.56\00:09:28.36
So we have like
eight major buildings
00:09:28.40\00:09:30.67
on the campus over proper,
00:09:30.70\00:09:32.63
plus 13 acres we mow,
00:09:32.67\00:09:34.34
plus we have a
400 acre property,
00:09:34.37\00:09:36.30
plus a junior camp.
00:09:36.34\00:09:37.67
And we have one
maintenance person
00:09:37.71\00:09:39.07
that takes care of all of that.
00:09:39.11\00:09:40.78
So the idea of the
projects person which is myself
00:09:40.81\00:09:44.21
is to do the projects
00:09:44.25\00:09:45.58
that maintenance
would never ever look at
00:09:45.61\00:09:47.32
because there's
just not enough time
00:09:47.35\00:09:48.78
and hours in a day
00:09:48.82\00:09:50.29
because they're so busy
00:09:50.32\00:09:51.65
taking care of the
rest of the campus.
00:09:51.69\00:09:54.42
I really want to
thank Maranatha for coming
00:09:54.46\00:09:56.26
because without them it
would take us a lot longer
00:09:56.29\00:09:59.29
to improve our campus
00:09:59.33\00:10:01.26
and every year we
can see improvements,
00:10:01.30\00:10:03.93
but it improves much
faster and much better
00:10:03.97\00:10:07.60
with Maranatha's
help for two weeks
00:10:07.64\00:10:09.04
because 50 people in
two weeks can do a lot
00:10:09.07\00:10:12.67
more than one
person can do in 52 weeks.
00:10:12.71\00:10:15.28
Year by year
00:10:15.31\00:10:16.64
the campus is
changing for the better,
00:10:16.68\00:10:18.35
thanks to Maranatha volunteers.
00:10:18.38\00:10:20.52
With every project,
the family of students,
00:10:20.55\00:10:22.78
faculty and
staff get stronger too
00:10:22.82\00:10:25.12
as they have the
privilege of people
00:10:25.15\00:10:26.89
investing in their community.
00:10:26.92\00:10:29.32
But campus renovations
aren't the only things
00:10:29.36\00:10:31.63
happening on these projects.
00:10:31.66\00:10:33.26
With each
Maranatha mission trip,
00:10:33.29\00:10:35.10
another community is
strengthened and built,
00:10:35.13\00:10:37.90
the volunteers.
00:10:37.93\00:10:40.94
I believe that it's important
00:10:40.97\00:10:42.67
to maintain some
semblance of normalcy
00:10:42.70\00:10:45.61
even amid a pandemic.
00:10:45.64\00:10:50.25
We need to...
00:10:50.28\00:10:51.61
Needs don't go away
00:10:51.65\00:10:52.98
just because there's a pandemic,
00:10:53.01\00:10:54.35
and many projects have
already been cancelled.
00:10:54.38\00:10:57.85
So I think it's important
to make a start somewhere
00:10:57.89\00:11:01.89
and get out there and start
maybe stretching God's promises
00:11:01.92\00:11:07.96
and calling on Him to say,
00:11:08.00\00:11:10.87
"Lord, we want to
continue this organization
00:11:10.90\00:11:13.50
and continue our volunteering,
00:11:13.54\00:11:16.04
and go ahead and
step out in faith
00:11:16.07\00:11:18.74
and do the work that
You've called us to do.
00:11:18.77\00:11:23.24
When we come back hear
more about the unique community
00:11:23.28\00:11:26.11
found on North America projects
00:11:26.15\00:11:27.92
and how the experience
is touching people's lives.
00:11:27.95\00:11:30.85
Maranatha's free
quarterly magazine,
00:11:44.40\00:11:46.07
The Volunteer,
00:11:46.10\00:11:47.44
is on its way to mailboxes.
00:11:47.47\00:11:48.84
In this issue
00:11:48.87\00:11:50.21
you'll read how
Maranatha surpassed expectations
00:11:50.24\00:11:52.37
for Kenya in 2020.
00:11:52.41\00:11:54.01
You also see
00:11:54.04\00:11:55.38
how Maranatha's
work in Cote d'Ivoire
00:11:55.41\00:11:57.01
has led to early church growth.
00:11:57.05\00:11:59.91
And you'll meet Randy Purviance,
00:11:59.95\00:12:01.58
a volunteer with PTSD
00:12:01.62\00:12:03.55
whose life was changed
00:12:03.59\00:12:04.92
by serving at our
shed building projects
00:12:04.95\00:12:06.79
in Paradise, California.
00:12:06.82\00:12:10.13
Each issue of The Volunteer
00:12:10.16\00:12:11.53
is full of inspiring
articles on the people,
00:12:11.56\00:12:14.16
places and cultures
00:12:14.20\00:12:15.56
in which Maranatha is working.
00:12:15.60\00:12:18.43
With photos and
profiles on volunteers, donors
00:12:18.47\00:12:21.87
and local church
members around the globe,
00:12:21.90\00:12:23.94
you'll be inspired by
our community of faith.
00:12:23.97\00:12:26.68
If you haven't already,
00:12:26.71\00:12:28.04
be sure to subscribe
to The Volunteer for free
00:12:28.08\00:12:30.55
by sending your
name and mailing address
00:12:30.58\00:12:32.51
to info@maranatha.org.
00:12:32.55\00:12:35.35
Or go to our website
@maranatha.org/magazine,
00:12:35.38\00:12:39.65
where you can also
read each issue digitally.
00:12:39.69\00:12:42.32
Are you wondering
00:12:46.03\00:12:47.36
what is happening in
the world of missions
00:12:47.40\00:12:48.73
during these unique times?
00:12:48.76\00:12:50.10
Watch Mission Maranatha
for a comprehensive look
00:12:50.93\00:12:53.57
at how God has been
00:12:53.60\00:12:54.94
and continues to open doors
00:12:54.97\00:12:56.60
for the mission
of Maranatha in 2020.
00:12:56.64\00:13:00.24
Visit maranatha.org
00:13:00.28\00:13:01.61
to watch the
program in its entirety.
00:13:01.64\00:13:03.31
Or pick an individual segment
00:13:04.98\00:13:06.41
to watch and
share with a friend.
00:13:06.45\00:13:09.35
You can also
watch this mission event
00:13:09.38\00:13:11.05
on Maranatha's YouTube channel
00:13:11.09\00:13:12.62
@youtube.com/missionstories.
00:13:12.65\00:13:14.96
Bring the mission
field to your living room
00:13:17.16\00:13:18.86
by watching Mission Maranatha
00:13:18.89\00:13:20.36
on the Maranatha
channel for Roku,
00:13:20.40\00:13:22.53
Apple TV and Amazon Fire TV.
00:13:22.56\00:13:24.47
Or download the
Maranatha channel
00:13:29.20\00:13:30.87
on your iOS or Android device.
00:13:30.91\00:13:32.74
Stay connected to the mission.
00:13:34.78\00:13:36.38
After a long spring
season of sheltering in place
00:13:47.62\00:13:50.49
due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
00:13:50.53\00:13:52.53
by summer,
Americans were anxious
00:13:52.56\00:13:54.66
to jump back into life.
00:13:54.70\00:13:56.50
While most were
eager for haircuts,
00:13:56.53\00:13:58.43
beaches and restaurants,
00:13:58.47\00:13:59.97
Maranatha
volunteers were eager to serve.
00:14:00.00\00:14:03.07
Given the remaining restrictions
00:14:03.10\00:14:04.54
for international travel,
00:14:04.57\00:14:05.91
the best option
for mission trips
00:14:05.94\00:14:07.58
was more local.
00:14:07.61\00:14:09.14
Each year Maranatha organizes
about 60 projects a year
00:14:09.18\00:14:13.05
mobilizing more than
2,200 volunteers each year
00:14:13.08\00:14:16.52
to countries around the world.
00:14:16.55\00:14:18.19
And almost half
of these projects
00:14:18.22\00:14:19.79
take place in the
United States or Canada,
00:14:19.82\00:14:22.96
called North America Project.
00:14:22.99\00:14:24.86
These mission
trips are different
00:14:24.89\00:14:26.23
from the international ones
00:14:26.26\00:14:27.60
and that they do not
require a participation fee.
00:14:27.63\00:14:30.53
Except for travel,
00:14:30.57\00:14:31.90
food and lodging are covered
00:14:31.93\00:14:33.27
in exchange for the
volunteer's service.
00:14:33.30\00:14:35.20
This arrangement has
made it easier for people,
00:14:35.24\00:14:37.84
especially retired folks,
00:14:37.87\00:14:39.37
to go on
multiple projects a year.
00:14:39.41\00:14:42.08
Susie Fox
00:14:42.11\00:14:43.45
is among these repeat volunteers
00:14:43.48\00:14:44.85
in North America.
00:14:44.88\00:14:46.55
I had retired
early and so I decided
00:14:46.58\00:14:49.85
I needed to do
something to keep busy.
00:14:49.88\00:14:54.96
And I did a few by myself
00:14:54.99\00:14:58.86
and then when
my husband retired,
00:14:58.89\00:15:00.83
he really needed
something to keep himself busy,
00:15:00.86\00:15:03.60
so we got involved
with Maranatha in 2010.
00:15:03.63\00:15:08.20
And we've done anywhere
00:15:08.24\00:15:10.47
from three to six
projects a year since then.
00:15:10.51\00:15:15.24
2020 was no different.
00:15:15.28\00:15:16.81
Susie and her husband Fred
00:15:16.85\00:15:18.18
had planned to serve on a
number of Maranatha projects
00:15:18.21\00:15:20.65
in North
America and one overseas
00:15:20.68\00:15:22.92
until COVID hit.
00:15:22.95\00:15:24.72
We were scheduled,
00:15:24.75\00:15:26.09
we were looking forward
to going back to Paradise
00:15:26.12\00:15:27.86
'cause we had done
that one in the fall.
00:15:27.89\00:15:29.82
And we're very disappointed.
00:15:29.86\00:15:32.79
Maranatha cancelled that
one or basically postponed that.
00:15:32.83\00:15:37.70
And so we were hoping
00:15:37.73\00:15:40.10
they wouldn't
postpone the Milo one.
00:15:40.14\00:15:42.34
Milo is special to
us, both my husband and I,
00:15:42.37\00:15:45.57
because we went to school here
00:15:45.61\00:15:47.08
and we graduated a
long, long time ago.
00:15:47.11\00:15:50.18
And it has been always a special
00:15:50.21\00:15:54.28
soft spot in our heart for Milo,
00:15:57.52\00:16:00.19
and we always try
to come and help them.
00:16:00.22\00:16:03.76
And this year,
00:16:03.79\00:16:05.49
we have about
eight or nine of us
00:16:05.53\00:16:09.16
that are alumni
from our generation
00:16:09.20\00:16:12.20
of attendees here at Milo.
00:16:12.23\00:16:14.97
And we feel like that
had we not come to Milo,
00:16:15.00\00:16:18.54
who knows where
we would be today?
00:16:18.57\00:16:20.31
Whether we'd
still be in the church
00:16:20.34\00:16:22.11
or so we feel like
00:16:22.14\00:16:24.05
Christian
education is important.
00:16:24.08\00:16:27.18
But while this
project is extraordinary
00:16:27.22\00:16:29.25
because of her personal
connection to the place,
00:16:29.28\00:16:31.72
Susie Fox says each
Maranatha project is personal
00:16:31.75\00:16:34.89
in how it creates belonging
and a sense of purpose.
00:16:34.92\00:16:38.49
We do the projects
because as time has gone on,
00:16:38.53\00:16:42.93
we have developed a family,
00:16:42.96\00:16:44.97
a lot of the
same people came on,
00:16:45.00\00:16:48.47
come on the
projects, and we're just...
00:16:48.50\00:16:51.74
It's just our second family.
00:16:51.77\00:16:55.81
It keeps us busy,
00:16:55.84\00:16:57.21
we like doing
things with our hands
00:16:57.25\00:16:59.55
and we feel like that
we're doing something for God
00:16:59.58\00:17:03.32
or for the community.
00:17:03.35\00:17:04.69
And this is one
thing that we could do.
00:17:04.72\00:17:06.05
I'm not an evangelist
00:17:06.09\00:17:07.69
or, you know, giving
Bible studies necessarily,
00:17:07.72\00:17:11.29
but this is something
we really feel like that
00:17:11.33\00:17:14.13
there is a need
and we enjoy doing it.
00:17:14.16\00:17:16.87
As a retired
missionary and contractor,
00:17:16.90\00:17:19.33
these North
American mission trips
00:17:19.37\00:17:20.80
are all in Leroy's wheelhouse,
00:17:20.84\00:17:22.90
and as a fellow doer,
00:17:22.94\00:17:24.27
these projects keep him busy.
00:17:24.31\00:17:26.41
But Leroy says it's about
more than the work and activity,
00:17:26.44\00:17:29.71
it's about the people.
00:17:29.74\00:17:32.08
As I travelled and met
people and talk with people,
00:17:32.11\00:17:37.49
there's a lot of people
00:17:37.52\00:17:38.85
that come to
Maranatha are broken.
00:17:38.89\00:17:42.26
They have broken families,
they have broken relationships,
00:17:42.29\00:17:46.93
and there's just a lot
of stories out there that
00:17:46.96\00:17:52.87
when they come
here, they're accepted.
00:17:52.90\00:17:56.40
Nobody judges them
from what their past was
00:17:56.44\00:17:59.11
or where they've been or
what they've come through.
00:17:59.14\00:18:02.48
They just love them and say,
00:18:02.51\00:18:04.71
"Hey, you're part of
our Maranatha families."
00:18:04.75\00:18:09.08
The COVID
guidelines for this project
00:18:09.12\00:18:10.89
have made it
particularly difficult for Leroy
00:18:10.92\00:18:13.56
as he finds it hard
00:18:13.59\00:18:14.92
to not hug his
old and new friends
00:18:14.96\00:18:17.29
and practice social distancing.
00:18:17.33\00:18:19.06
But even with
these new limitations,
00:18:19.09\00:18:21.13
the community is
still being built.
00:18:21.16\00:18:24.93
Michelle is on her
second Maranatha project
00:18:24.97\00:18:27.07
and her first with her family.
00:18:27.10\00:18:28.87
As a physician,
00:18:28.90\00:18:30.24
she had
reservations about the project
00:18:30.27\00:18:31.91
but felt reassured by
the safety protocol in place
00:18:31.94\00:18:35.01
and the isolation
of Milo's location.
00:18:35.04\00:18:37.71
She also felt the
project would be a good way
00:18:37.75\00:18:40.02
to introduce
her kids to service.
00:18:40.05\00:18:42.68
I have two 12 year olds
and I have a 15 year old
00:18:42.72\00:18:45.79
who are unable to
go to school right now.
00:18:45.82\00:18:51.33
So my 15 year old is a
sophomore in high school
00:18:51.36\00:18:53.50
and he is thrilled.
00:18:53.53\00:18:55.16
He's able to learn from
some of our contractors,
00:18:55.20\00:18:58.17
and retired tradesmen,
00:18:58.20\00:19:01.84
and he's just excited
to be able to be of use.
00:19:01.87\00:19:06.47
And the younger two as
well are excited to be of use.
00:19:06.51\00:19:09.78
They're...
00:19:09.81\00:19:11.15
of course they're
young, and they're energetic,
00:19:11.18\00:19:12.71
and so they always bring
something to the project.
00:19:12.75\00:19:16.08
As a physician,
00:19:16.12\00:19:17.45
Michelle did plenty of research
00:19:17.49\00:19:18.82
before bringing
her family to Oregon.
00:19:18.85\00:19:20.62
Ultimately, her
decision was motivated
00:19:20.66\00:19:22.82
by the importance of community.
00:19:22.86\00:19:27.00
We have this time together
00:19:27.03\00:19:29.16
and time is something
00:19:29.20\00:19:30.53
that is one of our
most precious resources.
00:19:30.57\00:19:34.94
The money doesn't matter,
the job title doesn't matter,
00:19:34.97\00:19:39.01
certain accomplishments that
we work so hard for in a day
00:19:39.04\00:19:41.28
they really don't matter,
00:19:41.31\00:19:43.11
but the time together
00:19:43.14\00:19:44.48
and the time to be
able to be together
00:19:44.51\00:19:46.08
as a family is really precious
00:19:46.11\00:19:48.92
and then to be
able to join together
00:19:48.95\00:19:50.52
with other
members of the community,
00:19:50.55\00:19:51.89
like minded,
keeping our distance,
00:19:51.92\00:19:53.99
being safe,
protecting each other,
00:19:54.02\00:19:56.86
as we work together.
00:19:56.89\00:19:59.09
I read an article that said,
00:19:59.13\00:20:00.46
"We don't social distance,
we physically distance."
00:20:00.50\00:20:03.93
Times are uncertain
and the stakes are high.
00:20:03.97\00:20:07.74
But if you think about it,
00:20:07.77\00:20:09.10
and you go back through history,
00:20:09.14\00:20:10.47
it's not the first time.
00:20:10.51\00:20:12.17
And what we're
building with Maranatha
00:20:12.21\00:20:14.31
will outlast COVID.
00:20:14.34\00:20:15.94
And it will outlast us.
00:20:15.98\00:20:18.68
And so I think
00:20:18.71\00:20:20.05
what we
ultimately decided is that
00:20:20.08\00:20:21.68
the best we can do
00:20:21.72\00:20:23.52
is to listen
conscientiously to our leaders,
00:20:23.55\00:20:27.59
and come together as a community
00:20:27.62\00:20:30.26
and do good works.
00:20:30.29\00:20:32.33
And that's what I
hope my kids take away
00:20:32.36\00:20:34.43
from the trip is that
00:20:34.46\00:20:36.26
we have to come
together as a community,
00:20:36.30\00:20:38.90
and it is upon
us to do good works.
00:20:38.93\00:20:43.37
This community is what has drawn
00:20:43.41\00:20:45.14
the same volunteers on
multiple mission trips.
00:20:45.17\00:20:48.28
When we come back,
00:20:48.31\00:20:49.64
we meet a man
00:20:49.68\00:20:51.01
who has found new community
in service through Maranatha.
00:20:51.05\00:20:53.85
Some companies
spend millions of dollars
00:21:07.30\00:21:09.33
to bring you
these sounds and images.
00:21:09.36\00:21:11.40
These sounds and images
00:21:15.50\00:21:16.84
are created from the
dollars you give to Maranatha.
00:21:16.87\00:21:21.14
Your support of our
well drilling efforts
00:21:21.18\00:21:23.21
is bringing
clean accessible water
00:21:23.24\00:21:25.18
to communities in Africa,
00:21:25.21\00:21:27.02
India and Brazil,
00:21:27.05\00:21:29.15
because while this sell soda,
00:21:29.18\00:21:31.92
this saves lives.
00:21:31.95\00:21:33.82
For more than a decade
00:21:38.79\00:21:40.30
Maranatha mission stories
is taking you around the world,
00:21:40.33\00:21:43.73
showing you the need
00:21:43.77\00:21:45.10
and challenging
you to get involved.
00:21:45.13\00:21:48.67
Now we're introducing new
ways for you to stay informed
00:21:48.70\00:21:51.94
and inspired about the mission.
00:21:51.97\00:21:55.08
Watch your favorite episode
of Maranatha mission stories,
00:21:55.11\00:21:58.05
as well as
other Maranatha videos
00:21:58.08\00:21:59.95
on your Apple TV.
00:21:59.98\00:22:02.78
Visit the App Store,
00:22:02.82\00:22:04.15
search for the Maranatha channel
00:22:04.19\00:22:06.02
and hit install.
00:22:06.05\00:22:09.49
You'll have access
00:22:09.52\00:22:10.86
to all of our
latest video content,
00:22:10.89\00:22:12.79
and you can watch anytime.
00:22:12.83\00:22:14.70
Our videos are available
on demand 24 hours a day.
00:22:14.73\00:22:19.30
Our content can also be viewed
on Roku and Amazon Fire TV.
00:22:19.33\00:22:24.34
The Maranatha channel,
00:22:24.37\00:22:25.87
bringing mission
adventures to your living room.
00:22:25.91\00:22:28.31
Know a kid who
loves mission stories,
00:22:38.59\00:22:41.22
tell them about Maranatha Kids.
00:22:41.26\00:22:43.39
Maranatha Kids is a fun
and easy way for your children
00:22:46.46\00:22:49.96
to explore the mission field
00:22:50.00\00:22:51.67
and learn how even kids
can make a difference for God.
00:22:51.70\00:22:55.47
Each week, we'll email you
00:22:55.50\00:22:56.87
a short video
featuring a person,
00:22:56.91\00:22:59.24
place or facet of
the work Maranatha does
00:22:59.27\00:23:02.04
around the world.
00:23:02.08\00:23:03.91
You'll also
receive a discussion guide
00:23:03.95\00:23:05.98
with additional information,
00:23:06.01\00:23:07.88
questions to consider
00:23:07.92\00:23:09.28
as well as things to pray about.
00:23:09.32\00:23:11.05
You can also join
00:23:13.36\00:23:14.69
the Maranatha
Kids Facebook group
00:23:14.72\00:23:16.52
for additional content
00:23:16.56\00:23:18.06
and to connect with
other mission minded families.
00:23:18.09\00:23:20.70
Visit
maranatha.org/kids to sign up
00:23:23.47\00:23:28.20
and get your
little volunteer started
00:23:28.24\00:23:30.27
on their mission adventure.
00:23:30.31\00:23:31.84
All of Maranatha's mission trips
00:23:37.88\00:23:39.38
focus on building community,
00:23:39.41\00:23:41.28
not just for the
people who are being served,
00:23:41.32\00:23:43.45
but those who are serving.
00:23:43.49\00:23:45.19
Friendships
created on experience
00:23:45.22\00:23:47.22
are what makes
each project so special.
00:23:47.26\00:23:50.03
And while these relationships
00:23:50.06\00:23:51.39
are formed on
international projects,
00:23:51.43\00:23:53.43
the ones formed through
North America mission trips
00:23:53.46\00:23:55.80
are arguably stronger.
00:23:55.83\00:23:57.77
Since these mission
trips are mostly free,
00:23:57.80\00:23:59.73
volunteers can participate
in multiple experiences a year,
00:23:59.77\00:24:03.37
which means
00:24:03.41\00:24:04.74
they see many of the
same faces on the project.
00:24:04.77\00:24:07.58
The familiarity contributes
00:24:07.61\00:24:09.11
to deeper and long
lasting friendships.
00:24:09.14\00:24:11.85
This special community is why
Wesley Wilson loves Maranatha.
00:24:11.88\00:24:16.12
Wes is a
relatively new volunteer,
00:24:16.15\00:24:18.25
but he is discovering
an unexpected dedication
00:24:18.29\00:24:21.02
to this lifestyle.
00:24:21.06\00:24:22.66
Well, I had
heard about Maranatha
00:24:22.69\00:24:24.49
back in probably
the 80s and the 90s.
00:24:24.53\00:24:27.73
And I thought,
00:24:27.76\00:24:29.10
"Oh, I would like to do that."
00:24:29.13\00:24:30.47
But I couldn't
afford it raising a family.
00:24:30.50\00:24:33.34
Fast forward a couple decades
00:24:33.37\00:24:34.80
and Wes was
retired and a widower.
00:24:34.84\00:24:37.91
Well, I always
watched 3ABN quite a bit.
00:24:37.94\00:24:41.41
And what's her name?
00:24:41.44\00:24:44.11
Hilary Macias.
00:24:44.15\00:24:45.91
She was on there and
she would promote Maranatha
00:24:45.95\00:24:49.28
and you need to
come and all that.
00:24:49.32\00:24:51.62
And it's kind of
like the Lord was saying,
00:24:51.65\00:24:53.66
"Yeah, you better go."
00:24:53.69\00:24:55.72
So I put it off
00:24:55.76\00:24:57.73
and I watched another one
and it got more stringent,
00:24:57.76\00:25:00.60
more urgent.
00:25:00.63\00:25:01.96
"Okay, Lord, I'll go."
00:25:02.00\00:25:03.63
And that wound up
being the Vancouver project.
00:25:03.67\00:25:06.27
So I loaded it up
00:25:06.30\00:25:07.64
and I went up to
Vancouver, Washington
00:25:07.67\00:25:11.67
and drove up there and,
00:25:11.71\00:25:13.11
"Oh, wow, oh, boy.
00:25:13.14\00:25:16.11
Really, do I
really want to do this?"
00:25:16.14\00:25:19.15
Wes was nervous
00:25:19.18\00:25:20.52
until a fellow volunteer came up
00:25:20.55\00:25:22.08
and gave him a big
hug to welcome him.
00:25:22.12\00:25:25.12
I like the
fellowship and the friendship.
00:25:25.15\00:25:27.49
And the more that I
worked, the friendlier they got
00:25:27.52\00:25:31.49
and I enjoyed the work.
00:25:31.53\00:25:33.56
The part of feeling
included with people
00:25:33.60\00:25:37.10
is a big part of
the human experience.
00:25:37.13\00:25:40.00
But people who join Maranatha,
00:25:40.04\00:25:44.01
you become part of the group,
00:25:44.04\00:25:47.34
you make friends with them,
they treat you as an equal.
00:25:47.38\00:25:51.21
And they welcome you
at every step of the way.
00:25:51.25\00:25:54.72
This sense of community
00:25:54.75\00:25:56.08
is what draws
thousands of people
00:25:56.12\00:25:57.99
to Maranatha
mission trips every year.
00:25:58.02\00:26:00.86
Some come in
search of adventure,
00:26:00.89\00:26:03.29
others want to stay active,
00:26:03.32\00:26:05.46
all come seeking a
purpose and a way to give back
00:26:05.49\00:26:09.20
even in the midst of a pandemic.
00:26:09.23\00:26:12.70
Well, one of the
things about Maranatha is that
00:26:12.73\00:26:17.07
the people that
are part of Maranatha,
00:26:17.11\00:26:19.64
they want to be a blessing,
00:26:19.67\00:26:21.01
they want to serve.
00:26:21.04\00:26:22.91
And it's just
amazing to be with people
00:26:22.94\00:26:25.18
who love the Lord
00:26:25.21\00:26:27.65
and want to be a
blessing to others.
00:26:27.68\00:26:29.55
It's just invigorating
00:26:29.58\00:26:31.65
to be among a group
of people like that.
00:26:31.69\00:26:36.02
The Coronavirus pandemic
00:26:36.06\00:26:37.53
has certainly upended
00:26:37.56\00:26:38.89
the service aspect of
Maranatha that we all love.
00:26:38.93\00:26:41.86
It's hard to predict
00:26:41.90\00:26:43.23
when Maranatha
volunteer projects
00:26:43.26\00:26:44.83
will return to normal
00:26:44.87\00:26:46.20
with a full schedule of
opportunities for service.
00:26:46.23\00:26:48.84
For now, we're taking
it one project at a time.
00:26:48.87\00:26:53.27
Yet most of Maranatha's
construction projects
00:26:53.31\00:26:55.71
have always been built by
our local in-country crews,
00:26:55.74\00:26:59.11
and now more than ever,
00:26:59.15\00:27:00.48
they are needed
to continue the work.
00:27:00.52\00:27:02.68
Since March, these teams
have been building churches,
00:27:02.72\00:27:05.59
schools and water wells
00:27:05.62\00:27:07.32
in countries like India, Brazil,
00:27:07.36\00:27:10.23
Zambia,
00:27:12.86\00:27:14.20
Kenya
00:27:17.43\00:27:18.77
and Cote d'Ivoire.
00:27:21.44\00:27:22.77
Whether in Milo Oregon,
or Abebroukoi, Cote d'Ivoire,
00:27:24.84\00:27:29.34
the work has never stopped.
00:27:29.38\00:27:31.98
And this mission needs
your continued support.
00:27:32.01\00:27:35.38
Please make a
donation to Maranatha
00:27:35.42\00:27:37.35
as we carry
forward this commission.
00:27:37.39\00:27:40.09
After all,
00:27:40.12\00:27:41.46
we may cherish the joy
that comes with service,
00:27:41.49\00:27:44.13
but the ultimate
goal of Maranatha
00:27:44.16\00:27:46.03
is to build people, communities
00:27:46.06\00:27:48.56
and the gospel
throughout the world.
00:27:48.60\00:27:50.67