This week was a busy and fulfilling one at the warehouse, full of problem-solving, teamwork, and a few unexpected blessings along the way.
I’ve been experimenting with new ways of packing Tena pads for shipment. Often, they arrive in their original boxes, which work quite well, but loose individual packs can be time-consuming to prepare. To speed things up, I picked up some large, heavy-duty plastic bags from Bassetts, our local plumbers’ merchant, and they worked a treat!
I tested a few different methods, cable ties, tape, cardboard inserts, and even double-bagging, to see which would offer the best balance of durability and lightness. Since we’re charged by the kilo, every gram counts. These bags proved both protective and lightweight, and because they’re transparent, they’ll make customs checks and verification at the border much simpler.
After gathering all the pads stored in my garage, I packed them neatly into the new bags, securing them with some cardboard pallet guards I’d picked up for free from B&Q. It felt good to see everything organised and ready for the next shipment.
Tidying the Warehouse
Later in the week, Sam, Ray, and I met at the warehouse to tackle another challenge. Before our last container was loaded, the building was bursting at the seams with all the generous donations of medical equipment and consumables. It had reached the point where it was difficult to access anything at all!
Sam and I decided it was time for a proper tidy-up. We began by stacking zimmer frames onto pallets, repairing any that needed it along the way, and reorganising mobility and living aids to make better use of the space. The difference was remarkable.
By getting the frames stacked space efficiently on pallets, it freed up a surprising amount of warehouse floorspace!
Once that was done, we loaded Sam’s car and my van with Tena pads (including the freshly packed ones from my garage) and several large bags of shoes to take to Ballynahinch Baptist Church, ready for the next courier shipment.
New Workbench and Good Conversations
Earlier in the week, I’d spotted a large, heavy-duty workbench on Facebook Marketplace, the kind of sturdy table every warehouse needs. For just £40, it was too good to pass up. With my Dad’s help, we collected and delivered it to the warehouse, where it will make sorting donated medical consumables much easier.
Once at the warehouse, Sam, Ray, and I lifted it into position before Sam headed off to deliver his load to Ballynahinch. Ray and I then turned our attention to sorting large bags of shoes for the next shipment to Zambia, boxing them up neatly and preparing them for transit.
After Ray and I locked up, I drove my van of Tena pads to Ballynahinch and met up with Sam to transfer them into the container.
An Unexpected Blessing
When the work was finally done, Sam and I learned that a Ukrainian event was taking place at the church that evening, and that dinner was being served! Needless to say, I was straight in there!
We went inside and were warmly welcomed, catching up with Alla and some of the other Ukrainians over a meal. After a long day of lifting, sorting, and organising, it was a wonderful and unexpected gift to sit down together, share food, and enjoy fellowship.
Biblical Reflection
Days like this remind me of Colossians 3:23-24, which says:
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters… It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
So much of this work happens behind the scenes; organising, packing, repairing, labelling, but every small act done faithfully becomes part of something much bigger. God sees and values integrity and diligence, even in the unseen details. Whether it’s a heavy box, a tidy warehouse, or a new method for packing pads, each task is an opportunity to serve Him with a thankful heart.
Links
🔗 Bassetts Plumbing Supplies – https://bassettsonline.com/
Our thanks to Bassetts for supplying the heavy-duty plastic bags that made our new packing method possible.
🔗 Ballynahinch Baptist Church (BBC) – https://www.ballynahinchbaptist.org/
A huge thank-you to our friends at Ballynahinch Baptist for continuing to host aid collections and shipments for Ukraine.