These are 2 week trips: one week is spent on evangelism in the capital city, the other doing construction at the bible school.    Teams go from mid-May through mid-July.  Deadline to register is 12/15/07.  For more info, call us, or check out www.gospelink.org and click on mission trips. 

Hope to have you along! 

PRAISE & PRAYER: 

-God is faithful, supplying what we need, when He says we need it!

-God is hearing your prayers!  There have been so many times when we have felt your prayers.

-We are going to Palmer Lake, CO for three weeks at the end of November for training at Mission Training International. We are looking forward to time away as a family!  Please pray for traveling mercies on our 15 hour drive there and back, pray that we will be encouraged and be an encouragement, pray that we will learn and be able to retain information

-For God to stir the hearts of those He has called to partner with us

-When we get back we will have about three weeks or so to finish going through the house and packing items, purchasing what we need, and sealing up the container to be shipped to the East Coast and on to Zambia

-Approval of Brian’s work permit papers and Gospelink’s tax-exempt status in Zambia

“Just the facts, ma’am, just the facts” 

As you can imagine, we get many questions.  We will try to answer them in each newsletter. This week we will focus on our sea container. 

1) Is there any amount too small (financial support)?
NO! We recognize that any gift you can give to us is a sacrifice of love and obedience and we are appreciative beyond what words can say! 

2) Why so much (money/stuff)? It's Africa after all!
Yes, it is Africa, but things really are not that much cheaper; in fact, some things are more expensive. Shops cater to the 1% who have money and charge new prices on things that are not so new.  

3) Why all the small stuff on your list? Why not buy it there?  Do you really want all this stuff or just some money? 

Again, we can buy items over there, but it will cost the same or more. If someone is willing to donate an item, even with the shipping and taxes, we come out ahead. If we buy something ourselves, and pay taxes and shipping, it may come out to cost a little more, but we would then have a more reliable item.  We also know there are some people who feel they can not commit financial support, but want to partner with us in some way.  To them, going out and buying a set of bath towels is easier than committing financial support.  We felt we wanted to offer a few different ways that people could join with us.  The container is 40’ long, we anticipate having room to bring what we need and more.  Anything that is donated that we don’t need, we will bring with (space permitting) and share with the village school, the bible school, and national pastors to distribute if they know of needs.  And yes, the sea container is the size of a small house! 

4) $30,000 for a container!
That is our estimate, yes, and we are praying it is high! It will be around $2,000 for a container, $13-15,000 for shipping, then there is duty. We are praying the work permits quickly come in so we can get some household things in duty free due to first time residency tax “rebates,”  or that Gospelink will get its tax exempt status in Zambia.  We will be able to use our container for storage, maybe even as a building later. We will not be coming back to the States for 2-3 years, so we are bringing extra clothes/supplies too (that also explains all the different sizes for kids clothes!).  We have decided to go this route thinking ahead to getting off an airplane with 6 kids; we want to make this transition as smooth as possible for them.  Most missionaries in Zambia we have talked with say if you can send a container, do it! 

5) Are used items okay?
Yes, we will happily take used items in good condition.  

6)  Where do I bring my stuff? 

You can bring your items to our house in Kandiyohi.  PLEASE NOTE:  our container needs to leave Minnesota in early January.  So if you have items, please let us know as soon as you can.  We will be leaving for 3 weeks at the end of November, but there will be someone staying at our home and we will be able to check email.  The sooner you are able to leave items the better, so we can have time to pack and inventory them. 

7)  What do you still need?  

You can check out our blog site to see the updated needs, or call or email ! 

Support Update 

First off is a HUGE THANK YOU to those who have partnered with us: we have received items for our container, out-going special gifts, prayer supporters and monthly supporters. 

As of November 17:   

We have 29 committed prayer partners (couples count as 1). 

We have received $10,150 to cover our out-going costs.   

We have established a monthly support goal of $4500, and have $360 committed each month.  

THANK YOU!  

It is very humbling to receive a monthly commitment from someone who you know is struggling financially, who has chosen to sacrifice for God to be able to use you!   God has been so faithful to us-whenever we start to get a little discouraged, a word of encouragement or gift comes in to lift our spirits. 

It is also very encouraging for us when you let us know that you are praying about supporting us.  That is exactly what we ask of you:  please pray and see what God lays on your heart.  We desire your obedience as much as ours; and sometimes God says now isn't the time.  We would ask that you continue to pray about your role in our ministry.  We would gently ask, once you have heard from God, can you “put it in writing for us”?  You do not need to wait until you send your first gift; we just need to know so we can plan accordingly.