End-of-Year Deals
Recently, a colleague sent out a special letter indicating areas where you may want to help. Here is a portion of that letter.-
Sometimes, as the end of the year approaches, there are
people looking for great tax write-offs! If you are in that category (or
even if you are not!), have I got some deals for you!!! Seriously (as if
that was not serious!), let me give you an idea of some of the great
opportunities that come to mind for the field of Togo. The purpose of
this letter is not to ask for money – but truly to present needs and just see
what God does! That is one of the fun things about being a missionary –
this is not my work, this is God’s, and He provides in a way that only He can!
- Translation of course
materials from English to French for our West Africa Bible College (BATA –
Baptist Academy of Theology in Africa). Cost is approximately $200 per course; ten courses per year will be
offered during the four-year Bible college program. Total needed for
translation of the entire curriculum would be about
$8,000. Translation of these courses needs to begin by spring
of 2011 at the latest.
- Roofing (other than the
current thatch roofs) for two church plants in villages where our Community
Health Evangelism (CHE) teams work. These will cost
approximately $800-$1000 each for the
church plants in the villages of Kaduasso-Kopé and Kantsi-Kopé. That will
include a metal roof for the church as well as sturdy supports for the roof and
enlargement of the current structures (presently one of the churches especially
is overflowing with people every Sunday; the other church is full but not quite
overflowing!).
- French textbooks for the
upcoming nursing program. Approximately $2,500 more is needed for the purchase of
these textbooks. Shipping is a bit more expensive than anticipated and
will probably cost an additional $200 to $300
to send the books from either Quebec or France.
- Repair expenses for our CHE
car. The roads in Togo are beating up the CHE car (and any
other car)!!! Especially since we are off the main road for most of our
visits to villages! There are repairs that are needed.
- Hospital finances. Every
year there are many Togolese who just do not have the resources to pay their
hospital bills! Our hospital treats people even when they are unable to
pay (in opposition to government hospitals which, unless payment is received
ahead of time, leave the person without medical care). We could very much
use between $10,000 and $20,000 (or
more – I actually think I am being very conservative with those numbers)!
- Hospital construction in
Mango (city in the north of Togo). God is providing
miraculously for the construction of a hospital in Mango! But more is
needed for supplies, equipment, and construction costs. Any amount can be
used – from a “mite” to $1,000 to $100,000!!!
- Other ministries: I often talk about the ministries with which I am involved (nursing education, CHE, hospital) – but there are many other ministries in Togo. Such as the literature ministry (printing, purchasing literature that is affordable to Togolese, translation), Christian schools (educating Togolese children), the newly-developing AIDS ministry. If you are interested in any of those ministries and would like more information, I would be delighted to put you in touch with the ABWE missionaries most involved with them. Thank you for bringing these requests before our Father – and for being excited with me about how He will answer!! Serving Him together, Sharon Gifts can be sent to: ABWE, Missionary Finance, P.O. Box 8585, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8585. Designate for the specific project and include the account number below. ABWE Account numbers: Nursing school textbooks (#76355); CHE church roof or CHE vehicle repair (#76352); Hospital finances (#76350); BATA translation (send to personal account, #13787, and indicate for BATA). For the hospital in Mango, designate for “WKMMC in Mango, Togo”.
If any of these spark an interest in you or your church, please contact us and let us know where you may be able to help.
Thank you