{"id":32471,"date":"2023-09-30T15:24:45","date_gmt":"2023-09-30T19:24:45","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=32471"},"modified":"2024-04-13T16:01:31","modified_gmt":"2024-04-13T20:01:31","slug":"pumc-to-help-provide-a-ray-of-life-october-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=32471","title":{"rendered":"PUMC to Help Provide a Ray of Life (October 2023)"},"content":{"rendered":"

Several years ago, a freak storm hit our area, knocking out power for most people in Pitman and surrounding communities.\u00a0 Refrigerators stopped running, and food was lost.\u00a0 Sump pumps went quiet and basements flooded.\u00a0 And it was dark.\u00a0 When night came, we had to resort to candles and flashlights.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

The saving grace is that the outage only lasted less than a week.\u00a0 And, it occurred in the Spring when the temperatures were moderate and heating and air conditioning wasn’t needed.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

But imagine a different situation where the power outage lasts for months or years? Imagine living in a war zone?\u00a0 Imagine living in Ukraine?\u00a0<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

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Lights<\/span><\/h3>\n

Without electricity, many things are difficult or impossible, and even life threatening.\u00a0 Perhaps the most frustrating challenge that’s constantly encountered is darkness.\u00a0 Without electricity, you must resort to flashlights and candles.\u00a0 Everywhere you go, you need to carry a flashlight.\u00a0 But what do you do when the flashlight’s batteries die?\u00a0 In our own experience, power outages only last a few hours or a couple of days at worst.\u00a0 Flashlight batteries won’t wear out before the emergency is over.\u00a0 But imagine being in a war zone.\u00a0 Where are you going to buy new batteries when the flashlight goes dark?<\/p>\n

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Making a Ray of Life<\/span><\/h3>\n

Several months ago, Pastor Jim alerted us to an article that appeared on the website for the Minnesota Annual Conference<\/a> <\/span>of the United Methodist Church.\u00a0 It was entitled “Delivering Hope and Light to Ukraine<\/a><\/span>.”\u00a0 \u00a0The article describes the experience of Minnesota resident Dave Nonnemacher who developed a passion for Eastern European people as part of his efforts with an organization called New Horizons Foundation<\/a><\/span>.\u00a0 Guided by a passion for children and motivated by the suffering and devastation of the war, Dave resolved to do something to help.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

Understanding the difficulties resulting from the damaged electrical grid, Dave embraced a ministry of supplying lights to Ukrainians living in the damaged areas.\u00a0 These battery powered lights include a solar panel which can be used to charge the battery during the day so that it will provide light during the night.\u00a0 The units also include a port for charging cell phones.\u00a0 The lights are about the size of a cereal box.\u00a0 Thanks to a recent upgrade in in the design, the battery can now provide over 20 hours of light on a single charge!\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

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The ministry of creating the lights and delivering them to Ukraine, is spearheaded by an organization called New Vision Renewable Energy<\/a><\/span>. They designed the lights have been delivering them in several countries, including Ukraine.\u00a0 So far, they have delivered over 175 Ray of Life Solar lights and 200 water filter units to Ukrainians (Read More<\/a><\/span>).<\/span><\/p>\n

For the story behind these lights, click the below button to view a video that’s on the New Vision Renewable Energy website:<\/span><\/p>\n

New Vision Ray of Life<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Partnering with New Vision Renewable Energy, a set of 10 lights was assembled by Dave and members of his church (United Church of Two Harbors,<\/a><\/span> in Two Harbors Minnesota).\u00a0 This church was formed by the union of a Presbyterian and Methodist Church, and is affiliated with both denominations.\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\t\t