How did we get
involved? I, Steve, grew up in Africa and
saw the toll African roads took on vehicles. During college, friends
and I restored two trucks and drove them down to Honduras to deliver
them to a mission group and an orphanage. Afterwards, I heard how
the the trucks were used and problems they had; I wished we could
have been there to help or had trained them in automotive maintenance
basics. Angie, during mission trips beginning in her college years
as well, watched God kindle and unceasingly stoke a fire in her heart
for enjoying working hand in hand with Jesus while doing vocational
missions (Romans 11:29).
What's the practical
need? Missionaries use their vehicles
continually; their vehicles double as moving vans, ambulances, Church
buses, theaters for
showing “The Jesus Film,” mobile health clinics, tow trucks and
links to the modern world. Their extensive, multifaceted use makes
automotive maintenance critical to the sustainability of missions in
remote areas. Often it seems like African roads seek to destroy or
eat
vehicles, dismantling them bit by bit. Most missionaries have less
mechanical knowledge than a generation before, and
vehicles have become more complex.
What's the spiritual
need? An
unexpected group of unreached people live
in Nairobi, Kenya; they're business people & have not been open
to conventional evangelists. This group are Kenyan citizens of South
Asian decent. They run most of the auto parts stores and frequently
do sales transactions at their homes while chatting over a meal.
How do we, with God's
help, hope to meet the needs? Missionaries
need training & help to solve vehicle problems, as well as a way
to source parts. We will be based in Nairobi, buy parts, and advise
missionaries with vehicle repair. During purchasing, we will
interact with this unreached people group; as friendships grow, we
look forward to sharing hope through Jesus Christ. We will also be
able to teach automotive basics to missionaries in Africa and travel
to their ministry locations to repair vehicles in the bush,
in remote African villages.
Problem:
We have to raise the necessary funds to go to Kenya to help meet
these needs. God has raised up generous supporters, bringing in 68%
of our monthly support. The Nairobi team we
will be working with is starting now, presenting the imminent need to
finish fund raising.
Solution:
We need people praying and, if the Lord leads, supporting us to go.
If you would like to join with us through financial support, we
would be grateful for any amount.
There is an African proverb that says, “If you want to remove a
mountain, start with one stone at a time.” We have $1,725 left to
raise. This amount feels like a mountain, but the stones are less
daunting. One example of breaking it down looks like this: 50
people giving $34.50 monthly would put us at 100%. Practically
speaking though, just as stones come in various sizes and shapes, we
can use support of any amount. We know that as people help us move
these “stones,” it will mean that some will want to do less or
more, as God leads. All size stones are equally important to
removing this mountain! To financially support this effort, go here: Harding Support
Thanks so much, Steve and
Angie
