CrossLink International

On August 2, 2011, I became your new Executive Director of CrossLink. It has been an action packed time that I have greatly enjoyed. In my first week, we signed an agreement with the Healey Family Foundation of Lumberton, New Jersey for CrossLink to continuously equip a rebuilt hospital in Sierra Leone. Several days later, we began building a partnership with an expanding free clinic in the Culmore section of Arlington County. With our help and the help of three churches in Northern Virginia, they will open their doors to expanded space on November 19, 2011. Also, we held our first annual prayer breakfast in mid-October with special guest speaker Herman Ruiz-Gaekel. It was wonderful to hear him speak of the help CrossLink provides to the poorest Hondurans.

Each day I marvel at all CrossLink is able to achieve. We are blessed with a great staff, few in number, but through their dedication and love for CrossLink, manage to get the job done in fine form. Our staff members have a great heart for CrossLink's mission -- to serve the world one life at a time with Christ-like love by equipping health care providers with needed resources. Each day I come to work I feel God's presence here, both in the staff and in the small miracles that occur daily. Just when we need hospital beds, a procurement officer from the now closed Walter Reed Army Hospital calls. We receive an unsolicited grant to fund the new Culmore Clinic. A woman from Romania calls in tears to say thank you for the much needed medicines. Volunteers drive for hours to deliver gurneys for Sierra Leone. CrossLink makes a difference in peoples' lives!

And speaking of volunteers, ours are the best! What a joy to see the outpouring of time, talent, and effort given by so many to aid all who benefit from CrossLink's mission. We have volunteer receptionists, secretaries, sorters, cleaners, painters, writers, filers, grant solicitors, fund raisers, packers, medicine and medical supply collectors, tech support....the list could go on and on. So if you are seeking a great place to donate your time and talents, we are ready for you!

If you are looking for a way to "pay it forward" during the Christmas Season, we are launching an over the counter medicine drive for the month of December. Join us as we strive to collect 5,000 bottles of Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Aspirin, Benadryl, Claritin, Antacids, Band-Aids, Gauze, Toothbrushes, Toothpaste, etc.... Perhaps a group of which you are a member will embrace this drive. Medicines we take for granted each day are so needed world- wide.

And lastly, CrossLink has been the recipient of many generous financial gifts since its inception in 1994. We are so grateful to each of you and strive each day to use your gifts to glorify God. As you plan your end of year donations, please don't forget CrossLink!

Faithfully,
Brenda Hawthorne
Executive Director

  CrossLink International
  Main Office   • 427 North Maple Avenue   • Falls Church, VA 22046 • (703) 534-5465
  Memphis Office   • 200 East Parkway North   • Memphis, TN 38112 • (901) 323-8477