questions about our support letter

We have gotten a few questions about our support letters, so thought i would answer here. Hopefully, if you have more, you will email or post it in the comment section, and we will get to it!

1) Is there any amount too small?
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? It's Africa after all!
Yes, it is Africa, but things really are not that much cheaper; in fact, some things are more expensive. The shops there cater to the 1% of people who have money. They charge new prices on things that are not so new. When Brian was at the mall in Lusaka, he saw washing machines at a shop that weren't even made in this decade-and those were your only options! Mattresses are generally just made from foam there, but you can get ones we have here in America, but they are super expensive for example.

3) Why all the small stuff on your list? Why not buy it there?
Again, we can, 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.

4) $30,000 for a container!
That is our estimate, yes. It will be around $2,000 for a container, $11-13,000 for shipping, then there is duty. So that is why we are REALLY PRAYING for either our permits to be in before we ship, or Gospelink gets 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, those will sit there (that also explains all the different sizes for kids clothes!)

We have also decided to go this route just thinking ahead to getting off a plane with 6 kids, and then having to go around and shop for this stuff. There would be a possibility of going over early to get some of these things (just me and Bri, or just Bri), but we like the container route instead. Just the cost of shipping our books, kids' books, bedding (have to have our air bed!)...the cost adds up that way too. 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.

That's all i can think of right now; if you think of more-PLEASE ASK!