“Hey gang – A mission doctor here in Guatemala saw that I had announced the MAP International medicine container was ready for dispersal last week.  He had been asked to come to San Marcos to spend a week helping with outbreaks of pulmonary & other infections – particularly in children due to the rains.  Their finances totaled only $50 – enough for fuel to get there and back – leaving nothing to buy medicines.  He described checking their medicine inventory….. ‘Hold your arms at your side, flex your elbows & hold your hands palms facing each other.  Pretend you are showing off your 14″ brown trout!!!’  That’s what he did standing in the Vine warehouse.  That was all the supplies they had to treat the kids for the next week.  While hectically organizing & packing the car he decided to check his email.  There was our note.  He called with a window of 2 hours in the afternoon – asking if we could meet him in the warehouse.  Of course we did.  We had tears in our eyes, because we know this to be the Providence of our God.  We FILLED his vehicle with antibiotics & cough & cold medicine – leaving just enough room for him & his wife.  God is good.  His Hand is evident every day in our lives here.  And as we speak, they are working with kids & their families with supplies provided by MAP, sent by containers funded by you – who support the Vine International family.  We are grateful beyond words.” 

Thank you Bebo….& Gabe – for your music & words.  Thank you Amy – for your hard work & dedication to put this event together.  Thank you Debbie – for the incredible creative explosion on the brochure design.  And thank you – to all those who support Vine with their donations, gifts, & time.  You make our cups overflow…& we hope your cups overflow as well……

Afterwards, I fly to Greenville, NC – where Dove Award-winner Bebo Norman has graciously agreed to hold a benefit concert for Vine – Friday evening, October 21, at 7pm.  Amy Turnblazer with Vine, & her hubby Jason, are good friends with Bebo – & Greenville is her old stomping grounds.  I realize that’s too long of a trip for most folks from this area – but please pray for a great turnout – as Bebo shares the word about Vine’s work in Guatemala during his concert.  Also, if you want to help with covering the costs of the event – so more of the ticket sales & donations go directly to our efforts – you can donate online – or simply mail your gift.  All the information is on this website.  Muchas gracias mi amigos…..

 Anyway….I’ll be traveling with Amy Turnblazer who is helping Vine with our development work, along with her husband Jason, & her Dad, Sam Johnson.  The point is for them to visit some of the 120 projects & partners around the country – to see, taste, feel, & touch Vine’s work in order to better tell the Pipeline story.  Dennis McCutcheon (Vine’s distribution manager) & good friend Mike Rhea (Rayo de Esperanza kids ranch, Rio Dulce) will be helping me lead the charge.  The road-trip-marathon will surely to be full of great fellowship, laughs, hugs, poignant times, National-Geo-type countryside, interesting food, diesel fumes, crazy drivers…& alas, some sleep deprivation.  Your prayers would mean a lot to all of us.

 It would be really cool for me to gives updates & photos as we go, via this social media thing.  But there are two problems.  One…I know myself too well for getting engrossed in each moment & then the day is gone.  And then…I’m still extremely challenged in this technological-world.  Hummm….maybe I can give Amy & Jason another mission for the trip – a consistent kick in the pants towards that end……

(1) Medical supplies & equipment from our Knoxville facility, including items for projects for other organizations (our Designated Shipping Service).

(6) Wheelchairs & disability items from across the US – including (4) from Joni & Friends from Taft, CA – Xenia, OH – Nashville, TN – & Clifton, TN – (1) from Wheels of Hope (Canton, OH) – (1) from Hope Haven (Lynden, WA).  All but one went to Bethel Ministries in Chimaltenango & for the JAF-Knoxville wheelchair distribution in August.

(3) Medical supplies & equipment from the Boston, MA – & Cleveland, OH areas - plus one from Samaritan’s Purse (Boone, NC).

(1) Worm medicine load from MAP International (originating in Holland).  Yep, we can even handle loads outside the US.

(1) Metal roof trusses from Stark Truss Company (Summerville, SC) for the Hospital Shalom-Petén (their new second-floor project).  That’s still medical….right?  For a hospital….get it?

And then….3 more are scheduled for July – one from our local facility, another from Wheels of Hope, & another load of medicines from MAP International.  More are tentatively planned later in the year.  Our staff – Bruce White (local warehouse) – Dennis & Cindy McCutcheon (Guatemala warehouse) – Amy Turnblazer (development & fundraising) – & myself – continue our work-ethic motto…”under promise & over deliver.” Small, efficient, & productive seems to work well with what God has given to do….& it’s your support – with both aid & funds – that enables Vine to do more than we ever dreamed.  Muchas, muchas gracias….to all of you….

- Woody Woodson