There’s Mannequins, mail shots and Malawi, plus marriage in the air! So grab some M & Ms and meander your way through the month’s many momentous moments in this most up to the minute edition of May’s Min y Don Mews.
 

XTPlant, based in nearby Llwyngwril have done a wonderful job of restoring the paths in the woods so that the new climbing & abseiling tower and the new crate climbing area could be officially declared "open". We would like to thank Mei Black and his team, and would most definitely recommend them to anyone thinking of embarking on some landscaping, especially in very inaccessible locations!

Min y Don Open Day

We held the annual Min y Don Open Day and welcomed what we think was a record number of local visitors from the local community. Over 200 people attended and seemed to enjoy a fun-filled day, taking part in lots of activities, eating plenty of cake and consuming large amounts of tea & coffee in the process.

We thoroughly enjoyed seeing so many locals, many of whom were families of the young people who attend the Tywyn and surrounding area youth clubs that we help to run. Not only were the new activity areas a hit, but the great weather added extra fun to the canoeing, archery, orienteering, low ropes, and rock climbing. Thanks to you all for coming and for all your support – here’s to the next Min y Don Open Day.
 

Bookings

It’s been even more of a variety than normal here this month, and as regular readers will know, that’s saying something!
 

We had a great time with our School & College groups who came from as far and wide as Wolverhampton, Dolgellau (not that far away) & Chester. Just before families arrived for a welcome half-term break, we also welcomed in a group from Ruth Lee Ltd who assembled a team of distributors from all over the world of whose job it is to issue mannequins to organisations wanting to simulate rescue scenarios. This group were staying locally and wanted a team-building day where they could see one of their products in action as well as have some shared experiences themselves.

Some thought he was a bit of a dummy, but our resident mannequin seemed to enjoy his stay as well as he went abseiling, canoeing, lay under a car in the carpark, snoozed on a bench in the garden and had a nap in Cabin Eight. He didn’t say much, but we trust he had a memorable time.

The final week of the month saw families come to stay for the half-term break. Many families had visited previously, plus some new folks as well which is a great encouragement to us all here as we love the long tradition we have of providing adventure & excitement and rest and relaxation to the many who enjoy family holidays together here at Min y Don.

GDPR

Just in case you’ve been on another planet recently you’ll be interested (?) to know that May has been the month of GDPR. Organisations that hold and use peoples data have been getting up to speed telling everyone how they intend to use it; giving you the right to say what your preferences are. Min y Don is no different, so thank you to you all who have responded to the recent mass mailing asking you if you’d like us to keep in touch with news of upcoming family holidays. If for any reason you’ve not had your letter, and we can’t think why you wouldn’t have had one, just contact us and we’ll put you back where you belong.
 

We’ve also contacted all our Ambassadors to ask them to re-commit to this valuable work of informing families and friends about what’s going on here at Min y Don. Please let us know if you’d like any further information about this way to support us in the work.

Starfish Malawi

For a little over a year now we’ve been finding out more about this amazing charity that seeks to make a difference in education, vocational training, and health awareness out there in what is one of the World’s poorest countries: Malawi.

Earlier this month Susie & I met with the Head of the Charity and, their Finance & Marketing Director; long-term friend of Min y Don, Peter Bell. We are exploring the options for a link between us and we are excited to see where this will lead as this year unfolds.

The Starfish Malawi website uses a verse from Isaiah 58 as an inspiration for their work. “If you spend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.”

Please pray that God will make clear what the outcome of our discussions will be and that He will provide the resources necessary should we venture out further beyond the immediate area in which we are currently called to work.

And Finally...

At the end of the half-term week we welcome guests for our daughter’s wedding. Amy & Mark get are getting married on June 2^nd at Tywyn Baptist Church with the reception in a Tipi Marquee in nearby Llanegryn. We are excited and delighted that the big day is finally here. It’s all go now as we make the final plans and preparations. Never a dull moment in the life of Min y Don!
 

Thank you again to you all who pray and support us as the months go on.
 

For those who like to have specific prayer points to focus on we would appreciate prayer for: Staffing recruitment, team members who are unwell & away from work, the Starfish Malawi connection, the post-SATS period which is a very intensive (but great fun) time of the year here, our summer Team who are soon to be arriving and, of course, for the wedding of Amy & Mark.