A New Warehouse for Kenya
September 14, 2014
This past week, I got a workout as we shifted our Kenya contributions to our new warehouse in the Turtle Creek area of Pittsburgh. This warehouse is large but in the middle of a half-mile long industrial warehouse that must be 70 or 80 years old. We are in the midst of a lot of old, heavy equipment and the warehouse itself is big and wide enough to bring a train through - as you can see from this panoramic picture and video - and I think at one time that is exactly what took place.
When we packed the truck to move, we filled a ten-foot truck, which means that we already have enough books, shoes and supplies to fill one half of a 20-foot-long shipping container, and of course that is great news. Just yesterday I received three bags of shoes that people collected and brought to the school where I teach. I won't be surprised if people drop off items this week after church.
Some churches and schools have drives to collect shoes (new and used - men's women's and children's), soccer balls, undergarments, books (new and used) and school supplies. If you can sponsor such an event, please consider doing so. If you need any information from me, I will be glad to supply it for you. It it is local, I can speak to your organization to let them know how important their project is to the children and people of Kenya. I have had children sponsor events where they ask their friends to bring a pair of shoes. One school soccer team collected 50 soccer balls to send over. Another church sponsored a shoe drive and a school held a book drive. I even had an elementary school do a penny drive and collected $200!
Of course it takes money to ship all this to Kenya. This past container cost $12,000. Someone asked me if it is worth the expense and also asked if we could just take that money and buy things in Kenya. The answer is yes to the first question and no to the second. There are no books or supplies to be bought there, so it is imperative that we collect them here and ship them there. What's more, I think it is important for our people here to give what they are about to throw away or don't use to the people over there. Thus, we go through the 'trouble' of collecting, sorting, boxing, shipping, paying and distributing - because we as a people need to give more than they need to receive - and they badly need what we are collecting and shipping.
I ask that you give toward our work in Kenya today and give generously. You can contribute through my website or by sending a tax-deductible check to PurposeQuest, PO Box 8882, Pittsburgh, PA 15221-0882. I need money for the next shipment and will need to send money over for the widows and orphans around Christmas time. Your gift no matter how large or small will play a large part in blessing our partners and friends in Kenya. Thank you and please let me know if you can sponsor a drive to help collect resources and funds for the work of the Lord among the Kenyan people.
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