Here's a message from a friend of mine, a Local Real Estate Attorney, who has a 16 year old daughter in need of our assistance. Please take the time to read a letter she wrote about her plans for this summer and see if there is something you can do to contribute to fill in the gap.
"To Whom Much Is Given Much Will Be Required"
From: Henry Repay, Attorney at Law . . . (and a proud dad)
The goal: My 16-year old daughter Kendra is seeking to join a team with Teen Missions International to help build a bridge that will allow AIDS orphans to get to school during the wet season in Zambia, Africa.
It has turned out to be a difficult year in raising financial support. The need per team member: $4690 raised from outside sources. Time left to raise funds: a few weeks. Remaining: Well more than $2000.
The info (Kendra's own letter first, then instructions):
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Zambia Bridge!
Dear Friends and Family,
February 7, 2010
Last summer, I went overseas to Zambia, Africa. Thank you so much to everyone who supported me!
In Zambia, I fell in love with hundreds of kids that I encountered. Jesus says in John 13:14, "Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet." I got the chance to do that last summer, literally. As I washed their battered, torn and eaten up feet, and for some put their first pairs of socks and shoes on them, I felt the overwhelming need to kiss them, to tell them they are loved, to embrace them and throw them in the air. The smiles of these children broke my heart. The joy they have is indescribable. For me, it gives a whole new meaning to happiness.
So, as you may have heard, I have decided to follow God's will in serving him this summer yet again. After a ton of prayer, I feel that God is leading me back to his people in Africa. I'm not sure why I feel so called to his children there, but I know I'm supposed to be there. After seeing the beaten up feet of orphans, the sad eyes longing for love, and the 12-year old prostitutes wandering the streets, I have to go back. I cannot sit here knowing that they are suffering while I am living a selfish life, full of greed, when I can be helping them. I feel that God has a bigger purpose than for me to sit at home this summer. I have recently discovered that the goal of my life is to serve Jesus in this way.
The project for this summer is building a bridge across the river near the AIDS Orphan Rescue Unit of Lushwishi. This project will benefit the orphans because, during the wet season (6 months of the year), the children are not able to get to school because the river is so high. If these children can get a better education, they have endless possibilities. On that note, I am asking anyone and everyone to please support me in any way possible. Five dollars would even help me get there.
I want to be someone who wholeheartedly serves Jesus Christ. Helping his children means the world to me. I want people to know that I am driven by my faith to do whatever God asks of me, no matter what it is.
Please consider the project description and other documents on the Teen Missions website. I'm praying that you would be able to help me out in making this dream come true! I am asking anyone and everyone to please support me in any way possible with prayer and financial care. I ask that you pray over what I have just informed you. I pray that you give whatever is put upon your heart.
Thank you so much for the support and consideration. How can a young man keep his way pure? By living according to your word.
Thank you
-Kendra
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As many of you know, last year my daughter Kendra went to Zambia, Africa, on a team supplying shoes and socks to AIDS orphans. She did not think she would be back at it this year facing the task of raising financial support, but returning to help the orphans has been on her heart.
She has signed up to be on a team that will build a bridge to serve one of the orphan rescue units. Please take a minute to review her letter and the information on the web from Teen Missions International. The letter and information say far more than I can.
Kendra has a commitment to raise almost $5,000.00. The donations cover the mission's designated project expense. This is important work. While many of us cannot commit hands-on to similar projects, we can send others like Kendra. Costs, such as airfare (to and from TMI), equipment, and similar items, will be covered through personal funds (parents).
Despite early efforts, Kendra has run up against the deadline. Please consider sending your tax-deductible gift for this ministry soon.
Many of you will know others who have a heart for the AIDS crisis in Africa. To raise support at this level, we ask that you please share this post, print the information for others or E-mail the request with a quick personal note to your friends, family, colleagues and other contacts. If your company has a matching gift program, please submit your gift to be matched.
A support coupon is available to anyone who asks, but you can also donate online (assuming I correctly shared the link with this post). If you donate online, please make sure to scroll down to designate your donation as Team Member Support for KENDRA REPAY, ID# 43502. The donation site: http://www.teenmissions.org/donate/
If you have trouble with the above or just want to look at information in general, start from the following screen: http://www.teenmissions.org/ .
If you are having any trouble with the forms or links, please send me a message or an E-Mail and we can communicate better that way. I can also E-Mail the brochures and donation coupon.
Please help spread this message personally, through Facebook, by E-mail and through your other social networks.
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