Recognition at last for David for his noble efforts
with Siloam and the Donor Family Network, receiving the MBE on the 9th of
March 2005.
Richard Norton receiving the keys for
the donated van to work in Portugal from the Police in May 2000. |
From
Despair to Recognition
David Nix's association with Siloam
Dear
Friends,
Supplying relief as a vehicle for the gospel of Jesus Christ has been
one of the aims of Siloam since its inception in 1982. David Nix came
on board as a volunteer back in 1990 after Siloam began taking aid into
Romania in its 7 ton truck. David's wife Jane was the one who was moved
initially to help mentally handicapped children who were in the many overcrowded
state run orphanages which relief workers discovered after the Revolution.
David being a policeman, soon motivated many work colleagues to accompany
the Siloam truck and convoys were later organised and cooperation with
other groups established.
As the ministry expanded and more volunteer drivers came to help us, Siloam
purchased more artic trucks and collected vast amounts of aid including
food, toiletries, clothing, toys, hospital equipment and medical supplies.
Then, just as the organisation was getting into top gear, vandals broke
into our charity warehouse in Quinton Birmingham and destroyed thousands
of Pounds worth of equipment destined for aid trips to Eastern Europe.
The Evening Mail visited the scene and were totally horrified to see thousands
of Pounds worth of damage to our aid lorries including a broken windscreen.
Crutches, wheelchairs, clothing and other aid were scattered about the
warehouse.
It was sad that we could not deter the vandals from constantly breaking
into our warehouse which was later sold by the owners and the site now
used as a super store. What disheartened David so much was the vandal's
attitude who had done this vile act because they must have known exactly
what this warehouse was used for and where the aid was going.
Even wheelchairs and artificial limbs were damaged and scattered about
which Siloam moved for the Heather Mills-McCartney charity when it was
working in parts of the former Yugoslavia.
David was disheartened and despair did fill his heart but he continued
with the ministry showing a cheerful face to all those with whom he came
in contact, he just wanted to help others less fortunate!
David Nix worked tirelessly without any financial compensation for his
voluntary work so we are pleased to see that he has finally been recognised
not only for his work in sending aid via Siloam to Eastern Europe but
also for establishing the Donor Family Network. David and Jane are now
regularly seen on special advertisements on TV promoting organ donations.
The motivation for this was the untimely tragic death of their daughter
on the 26th November 1996. Rebecca was killed while working as an au pair
in the USA but because she held a donor organ card at least 70 people
were helped as a result of donations from Rebecca's body to folk all over
the USA. Organs, skin and tissue and bone, have all helped other people
have a higher quality of life. David and Jane's testimony is how to turn
grief and pain into something positive and fulfilling.
Because of David's involvement with Siloam taking aid to Eastern Europe
and for setting up the Donor Family Network, he was awarded the MBE on
the 9th of March. We are pleased that he has been recognised for his services
to humanity and we trust this will motivate others.
Siloam's aid ministry began back in Christmas 1984 when we took our first
vanload of clothing to Portugal to help the refugees from Mozambique and
Angola. Although that ministry continues to a lesser extent, after the
Romanian Revolution in 1989, a whole new world in Eastern Europe opened
up to us to be a channel of blessing to those in need in the former communist
world. The ministry which began in vans gravitated to small trucks and
then to articulated lorries but it is now undertaken in shipping containers.
Although we have sent containers from the UK which we have loaded ourselves,
it has become far more cost effective for us as an organisation to partner
with our colleagues in Canada, Universal Aide Society who can send containers
on behalf of Siloam to many parts of the world. In 2002, we shipped almost
£936,000.00 worth of aid most of which was by container. In 2003, over
£1,312,000.00 was shipped in aid again, most of this through our mission
partners in Canada. Last year £812,000.00 was shipped to the Philippines.
For the Tsunami disaster together with our partners overseas, we have
funded the shipping of 15 containers to India, Indonesia and Sri Lanka.
Shipments of food, medical equipment, seeds, soya products and clothing
are arranged for despatch leaving the responsibility for Siloam and its
partners just to fund the freight charges which are about £2,500.00 per
container.
It makes sense therefore, after the major hike in overseas aid vehicle
insurance costs which have become so prohibitive, together with the increasing
Eastern European bureaucracy which has caused untold delays at borders
for drivers; to use containers as a means of transport.
This policy has therefore been adopted so we are now endeavouring to fund
containers to bring practical material aid to where is most needed. Your
gift may be needed to pay the last contribution for the next container
for the Tsunami victims in Indonesia.
Gifts of £5.00, £10.00 or £50.00 when added together soon add up to the
cost of shipping one aid container. This ministry goes on continually
so we would welcome your support this month to help fund aid containers
to The Two Thirds World. Please send your gift today so that we can order
more shipments from our partners in Canada at Universal Aide Society.
Thank you once again for caring. I do hope I can count on your help again
this month for the next container.
Yours sincerely
Richard Norton
Director-Siloam
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