A few days ago we received word that there are several families who are hiding out waiting for us to come and pick up their children. Apparently some people in the village have made the decision that these “mingi” children are no longer allowed to be in the village and either must be killed or taken away. The problem is that we have tried for the past three days to rent a car to go and pick them up but everyone who has a car in town that is able to make the trip is either out of town or has their car rented out already. We are three days late to save these kids and its not looking good. In the past we have been only two days late and have found that the children were already killed.
Please pray that they are somehow still alive and pray that we are able to find someone somewhere who is willing to donate the funds to purchase a car. We have known for the past 6 months that we desperately need a car to use for saving these kids but we keep hitting dead ends with finding donors who are capable of making the purchase.
I am not sure we are going to be able to handle more dead children on our watch, we are still morning the three we lost less than two weeks ago.
Sorry to throw this depressing post out there but this is reality right now and we are praying that we are not to late.
Levi
Jennifer G
February 4th, 2010
Praying for protection and provision.
Anne and Bruce
February 4th, 2010
Praying for all involved….
Lisa Kjeldgaard
February 4th, 2010
Gathering my children so we can pray now!
Erica
February 4th, 2010
We are praying for protection of the children and their families, and provision of a car both today and in the future.
Matt
February 4th, 2010
For the sake of seeking donations, how much do you need to buy a car?
Thanks.
Matt
Jennifer
February 4th, 2010
Praying
Tass & Sheena Souza
February 4th, 2010
How much are you guys needing to buy the car you need?
Gillian
February 4th, 2010
God, please supernaturally protect those children.
what about a chopper?
Mary Beth
February 4th, 2010
I am praying for protection for those precious children. I am praying for you, also, during such an anxious time and as you wait for the Lord’s provision. (How much is needed to purchase a vehicle?)
Dawn Hall
February 4th, 2010
I agree with the above comments. How much for a car? We, as supporters need to make it happen. Can you add an option to the giving page for vehicle donations? I am working to pull some funds together. What would it take?
Michele
February 4th, 2010
There is a way to fund this vehicle with all of the kind support out there. How much funding is needed? Is there a way for us to organize the effort in some way and get the word out further?
Levi Benkert
February 5th, 2010
Thanks for all the questions about a car. Part of the reason we do not have one is because of how expensive they are here. The government charges a 345% tax on car purchases unless you are an NGO in which case you get tax exemption but only on the purchase of a new car. So basically we need to find just under 40,000 to buy a car. If we bought a used one that could handle the trip it would cost more than 60,000 because we would have to pay tax.
We are considering doing a fund raising drive but its hard to take the focus off of the basic monthly expenses when we still do not have those met.
Which is why we have continued to look for major donors who will help with the car purchase and not redirect all the support away from the daily expenses.
Sorry to not be more clear, its something that we have been struggling to find the answer on for a while. We have been sending out proposals and calling everyone we know but as of right now only have a few hundred dollars set aside for the car purchase.
Also, someone mentioned the helicopter. That to has become a sticky issue, the tribes have only seen a real helicopter flying a few times and think that once a child is taken on a flight that they are being stolen away to another country. They do not understand that they children are just going to the orphanage on a short flight. We had to make the call to not use the helicopter when picking up new kids in an effort to maintain good relations with the tribes. Perception management has become a major part of our operation in the past months…
Susan Farrer
February 5th, 2010
Hi Levi
Could you post this on Twitter so that I can forward it. I think we could reach alot of people that are with the means to help that way. Just a thought.
Love & prayers,
Susan