Current Appeals
We Are The Missionaries Of Africa
Dear Friends,
“Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is older, he will not stray from it.”
Proverbs 22:6
I remember hearing this proverb years ago and thinking about what it was referring to -- how a child should be taught manners, or perhaps even how children need to be taught about God. But as I read one letter after another from our missionaries working throughout Africa, I have started to realize how basic that instruction from the Book of Proverbs is for all children no matter what their state in life. And for the poorest children in Africa, that message can mean the difference between a life of promise and one of despair.
Recently, I received a letter from Brother Robert Anzeze -- a missionary living in the outskirts of Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya in East Africa. There, he works among homeless, orphaned and other children in Nairobi”s Kibera slums. The Kibera slums are a community of some of the poorest individuals on the face of the earth. More than one million people live there in complete squalor and decay. It is the largest slum in all of Africa and one of the largest slums in the world.
"The living conditions in Kibera are very poor,” Brother Robert writes. “Frequently families as large as seven or ten people live in a single room house. Access to water and sanitation -- such as sewage and latrines -- are very scarce and underdeveloped ... which leads to the spread of contamination and disease.”
"This kind of environment is especially harmful to children,” he continues. “Not only are they more easily affected by disease and contamination -- because of the dense population of Kibera -- their needs go unfulfilled. They lack electricity so they cannot study or get an education as they need. They do not have food enough to ward off malnutrition. And because these boys and girls are often forced to spend so much time living in squalor and even on the streets, they are easily influenced by people who introduce them to drugs.”
"We want to guide these children as they grow and give them the skills they need to
become self-reliant,” Brother Robert continues. “When provided with the right tools and guidance, young people will help themselves out of the cycle of poverty. They will develop positive values and their behavior will change. We are developing a project that will help young people develop skills while -- at the same time -- serving as a means of generating income that will enable children to get the education they need.”
"The project will train young people -- teens as well as young adults -- how to work in the food service industry as well as how to work as cashiers and clerks. The young people will work very part-time jobs on a rotating basis. Then, the income received through this project will then be used to pay the educational fees (tuition, books, uniforms) for them. This program works well in other areas and so we want to implement it here. But in order to move forward, we need help building the facility. Can you help us?”
My friend, right now Brother Robert’s program is in its start-up phase and he already has over 100 boys and girls involved! These young people are so anxious to build better lives for themselves. They are ready, willing and able to do whatever they must do to make their lives better. But they cannot do it alone. As Brother Robert writes, “they have the internal resources and strong will to succeed, but they need an external push!” Is there any way you can help give these children and young adults the help they need?
Along with his letter, Brother Robert include an itemized breakdown providing the cost of all the materials that are needed. There are costs for bricks, mortar, cement, roofing materials, doors, windows and lumber. There will also be expenses electrical wiring as well as the installation of plumbing. The entire amount needed for the project is well over $30,000. I am hopeful that we can help him reach his goal. Please, is there some amount you can send to help provide training and education for some of the poorest children and young adults living on the face of the earth . . . training that could help change their lives forever?
I really do not know how much you can send, but any amount -- large or small -- will undoubtedly make a tremendous difference in the lives of those who are struggling so desperately to survive. Your donation will help them develop skills and get an education that will help them eventually get jobs and support themselves. Your financial gift will help them help themselves -- and that is all they are asking for. God bless you for your kindness!
Your Missionary Friend,
Denis P. Pringle
Director of Development
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