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Knox Burlington Memorial Mission Project
Posted: Septrember 6, 2011.
About a year before his untimely death on May 28th., 2011, the Rev. Mark Hoogsteen, Minister of Knox Church, Burlington, participated in a Mission Trip to Malawi.
Before Mark went to Malawi he asked the Quilters at Knox if they could make some drawstring bags for him. The bags were to be used to hold needed items to be distributed to school children in Malawi. The Quilters enthusiastically made approximately 125 colourful bags and the photo shows the bags being filled for distribution.
Upon Rev. Mark's return to Knox from Malawi he presented the Quilters with several meters of cotton fabric. One piece was an African panel that the Quilters made into a banner. It now hangs in the Bell Tower Room at Knox and is often displayed in the sanctuary. He also taught the people at Knox the Malawi greeting and response - God is good all of the time; all of the time God is good.
At the beginning of May 2011 the Quilters at Knox made plans to use the remainder of the fabric that Mark had brought home from Malawi. Their decision was to use the material in a fundraising project to support the Community Based Orphan Care Centres in Malawi. Rev. Mark had visited one of these centres in Malawi while he was there and it was obvious to the Quilters that these children had a special place in his heart. Though Mark's unexpected death has been devastating the Quilters were still determined to embark on their plan. The Malawi fabric will soon be turned into a variety of items which will be offered for sale with all proceeds going to the CBOC Centres in Malawi. The Quilters want to extend their thanks to Kathy Hoogsteen and Audrey and Wallace Little for their help and support in this project. One of the trip photos is of the Rev. mark with some of the orphans. As Mark reported on his return from Malawi, the children there were fascinated by the paleness of his skin compared to theirs. See how they are touching hands.
On his return from Malawi Mark also told the people at Knox about the challenging situations faced by the ministers in Malawi. Many serve large congregations and are required to travel great distances. The Quilters have maintained a "Mission Jar" for the last few months. The money collected in the mission jar, plus donations given at various Pot Lunches, has been sufficient to purchase three mountain bikes and three bike repair kits for ministers in Malawi.
All funds being raised by the Quilters will be sent to Presbyterian World Service and Development with specific directions for the disbursement of the funds in memory of the Reverend Mark Hoogsteen.
The Quilters want to thank the whole Knox community for their support in these endeavours.