Many people have already met Ross Garden Store’s newest member of staff, Gary Twist. Gary has been in the trade for almost 30 years, having previously worked at Huntley Garden Centre and has been a ‘go to guy’ for advice about the purchase and care of plants.

Since joining the team in Ross, he has settled in and has become a colourful fixture of the garden centre.

Many people do not realise that Gary is about to embark on an exciting adventure. When he isn’t working at Ross Garden Store, he is a member and trustee of the Forest of Dean Community Church in Cinderford.

This October, Gary will be travelling 7,179 miles to the Philippine Island of Mindanao. Along with the Churches Community Pastor, he will be leading a Mission team to the Orchid city of Dipolog.

While there, the team will be spending three weeks working alongside Gary’s brother-in-law Pastor Joshua Simbran. Pastor Joshua heads up the Mindanao Branch of the renowned organisation of International Christian Leadership Connections (ICLC).

ICLC in Mindanao comprises of more than 175 churches, who serve people in the most rural and poorest parts of the Island. As well as overseeing the churches, Pastor Joshua also looks after a bible school to train new Pastors. His wife, Amette runs an Orphanage.

The team going out with Gary consists of, along with the Community Pastor, a nurse, an activities co-ordinator in a care home, and a parcel delivery driver.

The aim of the mission is to support the ongoing work amongst the poor. This will include a medical mission, an eye glasses clinic, feeding stations in rural areas, as well as working with the bible students, orphans and local churches.

The mission’s costs are paid for by the community church, but the team are self funding for their flights as well their accommodation.

The team at Ross Garden Store are really pleased to support Gary’s humanitarian mission.

Ross Garden Store would like to give the wider community the opportunity to help and support this mission too. Whilst they have already shipped a crate full of supplies out to the Philippines, the team still need funds to purchase medical supplies such as antibiotics, paracetamol and ibuprofen, as well as vitamins and assorted dressings.

The team at Ross Garden Store are thrilled to be a partner in this community driven mission. The team will be taking video and photographs and will send regular updates which will be put on the churches website www.fodcc.org.

They are looking forward to hearing from Gary on his return and can’t wait to find out about all the great things the team have done.

You can get involved by contacting Gary via Ross Garden Store on his return at the end of the month. If you would like to make a donation at the till point, this would be much appreciated. If you need any immediate messages passed on to Gary, you can contact Alison Stephenson, by calling 01989 568999.

For more information, please visit the website:?www.rossgardenstore.com or see the Gardeners Club newsletter.