A Time for New Beginnings. Happy New Year!
January 2022
Summer 2021 volunteers were all ages and skill levels.
MATE Housing Ministry
Summer 2022: Volunteers in Action

Volunteers come from all over the Northeastern US to spend a week in Maine doing work that is physically tough and rewarding (and volunteers also say it's fun!). We need you! If you haven't signed up for summer 2022, please consider doing so soon. We already have 11 teams coming and some weeks are full. You can find available dates and an application on the website MATE Housing Ministry Have questions or need to check a date? Email our Operations Manager, Dan Flint, at housing@missionattheeastward.org.

Thoughts from MATE volunteers......

"Think about what happens, or doesn't happen, when we don't get involved."

Karen Taylor, volunteer from Camp Hill Presbyterian Church

"Working in the kitchen with the crew is always such fun. We serve God in different ways, nourishing the work teams and the families that come to the 'Family Dinner' with food that's prepared daily. We all serve different purposes, but are all part of God's work team."

Joy Dyer, volunteer from Kingfield, Maine
McCleary House Update

MATE Housing Ministry home repair work pauses at this time of year, and we usually say goodbye to volunteers until summer. But winter this year has not stopped progress on the renovation work at McCleary House. Even in December we had a few brave volunteers journey NORTH to work on a variety of projects. Completion of the heating system in November allowed interior work to continue.
 
The following renovation work was accomplished in December.

1.    Plumbing supply lines and drain lines were roughed-in.
2.    Blown-in insulation was installed in exterior walls (by contractor).
3.    Spray foam insulation was installed in the kitchen/bathroom crawl space.
4.    Progress was made on construction of accessible bathroom.
5.    Two attic spaces were cleared in preparation for blown-in insulation.
6.    Progress was made on electrical rough-in (by contractor).
 
Many thanks to George, Matt and Dan from Bedford Presbyterian Church, NH. They endured travel through a winter storm, and spent three days accomplishing much of the work noted above (and below). Thanks, also, to Dan Flint, our volunteer Operations Manager, who joined them from Pennsylvania. Contractors were used when a licensed professional was required or when specialized skills or equipment needed.
Work on McCleary continued in November and December
Our Other Volunteers
We talk a lot about volunteers who help with housing ministry projects. But we don't talk enough about our other volunteers who work behind the scenes to keep the organization running year round.

Our Board of Directors is a "hands on" board who all contribute essential skills and knowledge to make MATE work. As we start the new year, we want to give a special SHOUT OUT to each of them. Thanks for your time and talents!

To highlight a few: Rev. Karen Hagy, a retired Presbyterian pastor, brought youth from Bedford Presbyterian Church to work at MATE for years.When she retired, Presbytery of Northern New England appointed her to be the Presbytery liaison to MATE. Her passion and commitment to MATE, and the many, many hours she has worked for the organization, are immeasurable.

Nancy Flint, MATE's treasurer, has also come to MATE as a MHM volunteer for years. Her expertise and dedication to MATE and its financial success is essential to MATE's viability.

All of our Board members came with experience and passion for MATE's work. Emily Chaney has contributed as a volunteer to MATE's youth programs, including CATE. Joy Dyer cooks for a work team and volunteered for CATE for many years. George Reese and Alan Dossett are both long-time MHM volunteers. Rev. Steve Allman serves as pastor locally at Leeds Community Church. Anna Simone brings experience as a Presbyterian Commissioned Lay Pastor at North Turner Union Presbyterian Church and United in Christ Church Starks, as well as experience in program development, domestic violence, and grants.

We have a strong and committed Board of Directors. We are blessed with these volunteers.

As we move into this time of transition, as we search for a new Executive Director, MATE is in experienced and capable hands!

I am privileged to work with such a great team!

Sharon Cowen, Vice-Chair, Board of Directors
A Community Opportunity
You are invited to join in this important training, open to community members and MATE volunteers.
MATE Youth Connection (MYC)
A Little GLOW
Attention All Youth 12 and up!! Check out the New England Glow - Middle and High School Youth Group. This is group committed to providing fun and engaging opportunities for our older youth in New England. They have events for youth all over the region to connect with other teens.

Check out the website http://www.newenglandglow.org/ and the public New England GLOW Facebook page.If you have any questions please contact New England GLOW.

Other news from GLOW:

Winter Camp with Camp Wilmot
New England Glow and Camp Wilmot are hosting the 2022 Middle and High School Winter Weekend on Friday, February 25 at 5 PM – Sunday, February 27 at 9 AM at Camp Wilmot! Guided by the biblical stories of Ruth and Jesus we will reflect on the meaning of “Home”, the different ways we feel at “Home”, and how we can build or find a “Home” in our own lives.” The cost is $100 per youth. If the cost is prohibitive, scholarships are available. Registration forms
coming soon. Contact newenglandglow.rym@gmail.com or campwilmotdirector@gmail.com for more info!
MATE's Giving Partners - 2021
As we begin a new year of service, we note the many gifts from last year. We are blessed! Thank you, All, for your generous gifts of time, talent and money!

Mission Partner Grantors
Anonymous donor through the Maine Community Foundation
United Way of the Tri-Valley Area/Leap Explosion Fund, ME
The Ruth Carnwath Trust
Synod of the Northeast, Presbyterian Church (USA)
Reisert Foundation
PCUSA Presbyterian Women Birthday Offering Grant
The Sandy River Charitable Foundation

Mission Partner Churches
Allentown Presbyterian Church, NJ
Bedford Presbyterian Church, NH
Presbyterian Church Burlington, MA
Camp Hill Presbyterian Church, PA
Church of the Covenant, MA
The Dover Church, UCC, MA
The Fairbanks Church, ME
First Congregational Church of North Anson, ME
First Presbyterian Church of Antrim, NH
First Presbyterian Church of Ramsey, NJ
First Presbyterian Church of Springfield, NJ
Flemington Presbyterian Church, NJ
Grace Community Church, MA
Hartford Community Church, ME
Higganum and Haddam UCC, CT
Leeds Community Church, ME
New Portland Community Church, ME
North Turner Union Presbyterian Church, ME
The First Presbyterian Church of Dutch Neck, NJ
Hildale Park Presbyterian Church, NJ
Marturia Presbyterian Church, NH
Topsham United Presbyterian Church, VT
Presbyterian Church in Sudbury, MA
Silver Spring Presbyterian Church, PA
St. Joseph’s and St. Rose of Lima Parishes, ME
Stratford Street United Church, MA

Mission Partner Community Members
BaileyDonovan Design, NH
BeeLine Cable, ME
Berry Family, ME
Gatch Electrical Contractors, SC
Lend A Hand, PA
Lower Allen Fire Company #1, PA
David Mackey, Sue Pease, Julie Palmason and Susan Reese all from NH
Otis Federal Credit Union, ME
Rotary Club of Farmington, ME
Tucker Library Interiors, NH
Tina Besser Image Control
Lowe's
ReFrame
Colonial Valley Motel, ME
Mount Blue Motel, ME

Memorial and Honoring Gifts
In memory of Les Harton from Fran Harton
In memory of David Jenckes from Maria and Dale Bardo
In honor of Rev. Thea Kornelius from June Lee
In memory of the Rev. Carl Geores - to McCleary House
In memory of Walter Hauck and in honor of the Hauck Family from Chip and Karen Hagy
Many gifts were given by friends, family, & co-workers in honor of Dan Flint’s retirement
An Update on Jikani in South Africa

From MATE's annual report: In 2000, MATE’s programming become international in scope with the creation of the South-African Partnership (SAP) with a relationship established with the Amathole Presbytery in South Africa. The focus of this project morphed into a home gardening ministry in the Tyhume valley. SAP was closed by MATE in 2019 but now exists under the Presbytery of Northern New England (PCUSA).  

From Ed Jesteadt:  
 
Every year I receive a newsletter from a dear friend in East London, South Africa. She and her husband were active in the Tyume Valley during the same time period as our partnership with the Macfarlan Church. After Glen’s untimely death in an airplane accident in August 2008, I added a poem he wrote to the MATE website – if you go to https://missionattheeastward.org/history-of-the-tyume/ you can read his amazing poem of this fabled area. I’ve ‘lightly’ edited her story – the trials and tribulations of modern day travel seem to be worse than what the Magi endured some 2022+ years ago.

Please read on:

Dearest All,
What a year it has been. My main focus has been caring for Mum, 24/7. At nearly 96 she continues to battle with various ailments. She has daily carers; I take over at 6pm, and stay with her till she falls asleep around 8pm. Then the general night staff watch her till her carer comes on at 6am. 

My sister and her husband visited in October to see our Mum and his cancer-stricken brother. They isolated for a week; I then collected them to stay with me. Then came 26th November and the Omicron variant. Britain was the first to shut down travel with SA; the rest of the world quickly followed.

The trip back to Canada - a loooong story - it took a week of standing in queues to book the only airline flying out of SA (Ethiopian Airlines), get a hotel in Addis Ababa for overnight, get a PCR test, and buy a visa to stay the night!
On arrival, yet another PCR test, and isolation again for 2 weeks. They had daily calls and police visits to check they were at home!!!!

PS – there are other twists and turns in this amazing story – Lynne’s son-in-law documented this and related events in exquisite detail – here’s the url link to his blog – “Oh My Cron Strikes”

The Magi had it easy! 

From Lynne and me, best wishes to all for a safe and love-filled 2022.  
Ed Jesteadt

Jikani Contact Information
Main road, Hogsback 5721.
Tel: 045 962 1001.
126-277NPO . PBO No. 930056685
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