One man from the church had a dream the week before the Container Project was mentioned. It was about diapers and that someone needed some. After the project was introduced, he called Carol and asked if diapers were one of the items on the list. She said they were and he proceeded to donate 3,992 diapers!

Another item on the list was ringer washtubs - a rare commodity in Canada. A lady from the church just happened to have a 1935 vintage set from her mom that she was keeping but didn't really know why. God knew that Africa needed them more than the garbage dump.

In the end, donations were collected from more than six Alliance churches in Alberta including Sherwood Park, Heartland, Grande Prairie, Barrhead, Edson and Fort St. John.

Carol recalls, "People gave from their hearts and it was such an encouragement to see how they wanted to bless our global partner, her colleagues and the women and children of Africa with the items that they brought."

Soon everything was collected and sorted and then delivered to the relief agency's warehouse.

Packing a container is just as important as collecting the items to fill it. Every square inch must be secured so there is no shifting of contents during transport, which would result in damaged items. Any possible space, like drawers and cupboards, must be filled, then wrapped with plastic. All items are put together, like a 3-D puzzle, on square wooden pallets. The pallets are wrapped in plastic and placed in the container by a forklift. Then, every space between the pallets must be filled with smaller items and 'stuffers' - plastic bags filled with clothing, blankets, and towels. Once a container is properly filled - nothing moves!

"There was exhilaration when the seal was put on the container, knowing that everything sent could be used and would be very helpful." Carol remembers.

That is what the relief agency is master of - packing and shipping containers.

The director of the agency and his team made all the transportation arrangements, brought in the container, led our team of volunteers in making the pallets of donated items and packing the container, and then sent it to its destination. They also looked after all the paperwork required to accompany the shipment and the interim financing for the shipping costs. This project would not have been completed without their support.

Shipping costs are one of the most expensive aspects of sending a container. Fortunately, the $8,000 price tag was covered by a generous donation from Alliance Women's Ministries. Carol remembers, "The shipping costs ended up being $1,000 less, so this money also covered the port fees in Africa. This was a huge help!"

On July 8, the container left Sherwood Park along with many prayers for the safe arrival of its contents. It was trucked to Montreal and put on a ship. The container arrived in Africa on September 14.

Thanks soon arrived from Africa.

"Praise the Lord for the arrival of the container. We are feeling really spoiled! It was full of good quality, beautiful things that will be a great help in our efforts to provide for the children and advance God's Kingdom in this place."

And that's what it really was all about. Two women on either side of the world listening to God in order to advance his Kingdom.