How does the Missionary Sew Ministry work? Here is an overview of the journey of a bandage…
- The journey begins with used bed sheets that are torn into strips
- The strips are sewn together into lengths from 3 to 5 yards
- The strips are then rolled into tight rolls, which is done either by hand or with a bandage rolling machine
- The rolls need to be fastened with an elastic, safety pin or selvedge strip
- The finished product is packed into a plastic bag and boxed in readiness for shipping
- Bandages and layettes are sent to New Windsor, Maryland, where they are packed in barrels until there is a full shipment to send off
- The next leg of their journey is aboard an ocean going ship; the barrels are put in containers which are then loaded on the ship
- The ship sails from the U.S. to Douala, CameroonFrom there, the container is loaded onto a truck and driven to Bangui, Central African Republic
- The trip to Bangui is about 500 miles direct, but much longer by road; some of which is paved, and some of which is gravel
- In Bangui, the container will be put onto a ferry to cross to Zongo, Democratic Republic of Congo
- Upon reaching the Congo, customs charges and importing fees are paid because Congo is the final destination and where the bandages will be used
- For its final leg of the journey, the barrels of bandages are put on smaller trucks and driven to Karawa; road conditions are difficult
- The trip to Karawa, a distance of 300 miles, might take 2to 5 days
- Now that the truck shipment has reached its destination, the barrels or boxes are unloaded by hand into a hospital storeroom at Karawa; from there, the bandages are distributed to other Congo Covenant Church hospitals and clinics
- The medical staff and church leaders are extremely thankful for the bandages and layette baby clothes for the medical work in Congo
- For almost 70 years the women of the Covenant have rolled bandages and stitched layettes; these medical supplies provide incredible resources to the hospitals and dispensaries in northwest Congo
- Bandages are used to cover sores or surgical sites, or to protect broken or sprained legs
- The simple act of rolling bandages provides a hands-on opportunity to serve our brothers and sisters in Congo
- Layette baby clothes and baby blankets are given to newborn babies if their mothers have received prenatal care at Congo Covenant hospitals or clinics
- Bandages are used by doctors and nurses in the hospitals every day
- Resources in countries like the Congo are sparse; the medical supplies sent to Congo’s hospitals provide incredible resources to staff as they minister to patients