30 Churches and Partner Stories Fill SOP Tour of Introductions

Solar Oven Partners (SOP) new director, Marj Evans-de-Carpio, shares highlights from her recent two-week introductory tour of the Dakotas Conference.

From March 17-31 I took a 1,700-mile “Tour of Introductions” throughout the Dakotas Annual Conference, visiting supporters to hear about their experiences with the Dakotas’ mission, Solar Oven Partners, of which I am the new director, as Rick Jost retires. I am grateful to the gracious and generous partners who hosted me at every stop. Here are some of my impressions:

At the workshops I saw why this ministry was born in the Dakotas.  The process for manufacturing the ovens benefits from the particular genius of farmers who have to re-purpose existing tools to solve a problem. In Raymond, SD, I witnessed workshop host Gene Bethke figuring out ways to improve the press he had fashioned to crimp away the sharp edges of the bread pans! Photo: Marj Evans-de-Carpio, new SOP Director.

Every bed I slept in had a beautiful quilt, indicating an abundance of skilled sewers in the Dakotas. I visited many churches with ministries sewing bread pan covers and pot holders that are included with each solar oven distributed.  I brought back a vehicle full of pot holders! Photo: Faulkton UMC group shows some of the special potholders they made for SOP oven recipients.

I heard a story that illustrates the value of our mandatory two-day training to get a solar oven.  A Peace Corps volunteer found a closet stacked with solar ovens. Because of SOP, she knew what they were, and asked why they were not being used.  The reason?  An organization had sent them without explanation, so there they sat for years until a Dakotan chanced upon them!  Our process assures that our ovens not only get into the hands of people who are asking for them, but that recipients get the many benefits the ovens provide.

Another person told me about a woman who approached him with a child on her hip and said, “Thank you! My baby is alive because I use the oven to pasteurize water for him.” I wondered what pre-oven experience may have prompted her to say that. Photo: Marj learns how the solar oven reflector components are punched in Silbernagel's shop.

When I met with Julia Jones, who leads medical missions to the Dominican Republic, we realized that the conditions medical teams treat the most call for specialized diets:  diabetes and hypertension, and SOP teams provide cooking classes. We saw an opportunity!

I learned that some local churches provide campus ministries.  I would love to visit your student group.  A compelling mission experience could determine the trajectory of a young adult’s life—in vocational choices and a decision to commit to discipleship and participation in the church. You may contact me at sopdir@swiftel.net. Photo: Marj with Vermillion UMC supporters.

I am now benefitting from a month-long overlap with retiring director Rick Jost teaching me as much as I can absorb. In July, I will make my first SOP mission trip to the Dominican Republic!  Gloria Borgman and I have space for one or two more volunteers. Please call Gloria at 605-642-5321 as soon as possible for more information.

Watch for more exciting news in Monday@Dakotas, the SOP newsletter and Solar Oven Partners’ Facebook page as we explore new partnership possibilities in Sierra Leone and on a Navajo reservation in Arizona!