Shipments 2020
Find out more about MMN's shipments during a global pandemic.
Find out more about MMN's shipments during a global pandemic.
It has been a very busy year with containers leaving the warehouse every couple of months, if not more. This has continued as we transitioned operations from Wickford to Swindon. We have shipped to Angola, Moldova and Zambia to support work across hospitals, clinics, schools and community projects. From medicines and medical equipment for places like Chitokoloki to shipments of clothes to be distributed in Moldova.
During the year we shipped the following containers:
Zambia - 6*
Angola - 3
Moldova - 2
Malawi - 1
*The last 2 containers shipped to Zambia were 40ft ones which would equate to 4 if we had sent them from Wickford.
The number is down on previous years and follows the trend that we have been seeing for a number of years. However, we were expecting the number to be down as the move to Swindon impacted our ability to receive goods and ship them on during the transition.
The move from Wickford to Swindon is the biggest change and this has led to changes in the way we work.
We, along with our partners, are so grateful to each of you who have contributed to this work over the past year. From creating layettes, to donating goods, to contributing to larger items that have been needed, to supporting MMN financially to help with the ever rising cost of sending items overseas.
The graphs below give more details of the type of goods that are shipped split by weight and value. These range from medical supplies to books, to layettes to vehicle spares, and everything in-between that is needed to keep the mission work going.
Medical supplies and books/literature account for 70% of the value of goods shipped.
The medicines go the CMML hospitals and clinics in NW Province of Zambia, such as Chitokoloki, Chavuma, Loloma, Dipalata and Nyangombe with medical supplies also going to Mambilima and Sachibondu.
Most of the books are Bibles and Christian literature to support the ministry in Angola where we work in close partnership with Angolan Literature Fund.
The rest is made up of goods that the mission partners order to keep their ministry functioning with spare parts and supplies.
Medical supplies, primarily to Zambia, account for a quarter of what we ship by weight with the other biggest category being books and literature, which is nearly 30%.
The goods that are donated do not show up when we look at values because they are donated. Looking at the the shipment by weight it becomes more visible as clothing, household goods, layettes, bedding and childrens' item account for a significant proportion.
COVID-19 has affected everyone's line of work, and it of course was going to impact MMN being able to send items overseas. Perhaps one of the biggest challenges has been the impact of everyone needing to work from home, and orders not getting completed as quickly as they would have been previously. We have also moved from loading all of the containers ourselves, to working more closely with our freight agents to load them for us. This has been a big change and we are still working out the best way to make this work effectively, so we would value prayer for this moving forward.
Another challenge has been the impact of Brexit, particularly on medicine supplies. This has gone under the radar a bit alongside the global pandemic, but it has meant longer delivery times for medicines and has meant the containers leaving later than planned.
You will all remember seeing the images of the Ever Given vessel blocking shipping routes through the Suez Canal, and this has had a global impact on shipping. There is now a shortage of containers, which of course has meant that shipping companies have had to increase their prices.
Moving forward, we would value both your prayers and consideration when items are to be sent overseas. Shipping companies give a 7-day minimum turn-around for items to make the journey from Namibia to Musenga, and then back to port. This journey realistically takes 21 days minimum so we will be charged a penalty for each extra day that this journey takes unless God intervenes through our prayers.
If you would like to support this work, or make a small contribution to the cost of transit when donating items, we would be very grateful as we try to consider the best way of moving forward with the ever-growing financial implications of shipping overseas.
None of this work would be possible without both your practical and prayerful support, so thank you for your involvement over the past year in allowing us to meet these needs overseas.
They have made such a big difference to the work of our partners and have been such a blessing to the places they have been sent. It is such a joy to receive images of people receiving literature when unpacking the container at Angola.
This work is such a blessing to so many in need, and God is being glorified by both a practical and spiritual need being met.
