School Supplies, School Supplies, School Supplies...

Just wanted to let you know how incredible the Lord has been in providing school supplies for the students of the Orphanage Vocational Training Center. Here's just a few things the Lord has done...
Pencils: 1646
Pens: 440
Pencil Sharpeners: 81
Scissors: 39
Staplers: 12
Staples: 85,000+
Spiral Notebooks: 256
Notebook Paper: 31
Copy Paper: 10
Dry Erase Markers: 84
Dry Erase Boards: 6
Chalk: 11 boxes
Crayons: 71 boxes
Glue: 70+

Many more things were donated and are on their way to Sierra Leone as I type. The container left a couple of weeks ago and the students will be receiving them by the end of September. The rest will be sent on the next container with the desks. The students were overjoyed when we told them on our visit. God is so good. Thanks so much to all who gave so generously!!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane...

It's time again for another trip back to Sierra Leone. We are so excited to see everyone and continue building the relationships that the Lord has graciously provided. There's a team of 4 of us going, leaving on the 20th. Our main goals this trip are to minister to kids in some of the war wounded/polio camps. 4HIM has several church plants in areas surrounding Freetown. We're hoping to run some simple VBS type things.

We're also hoping to really have a chance to minister and dig in to God's Word with girls at the orphanage. We'll be studying a different woman of the Bible each night. Amanda and I are going to meet with the people running the Orphanage Vocational Training Center to continue moving forward with Bany sales/production. And, we're using it as a scouting trip for the spring in hopes of bringing a larger team to run some more VBS's in the surrounding communities. We will see what God has in store...

Please pray:
-We'll be able to reach the kids and families during the VBS
-Lord's Word would be exciting to the girls, that they will really be able to apply what they are learning to their lives.
-Wisdom and discernment when meeting with the school officials for Bany
-God will use us and that we'll be open to whatever He has for us. Courage to be bold!
-Wisdom in looking ahead for the team in the Spring
-Unity among our team
-Travel mercies

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! We'll update and post pictures as soon as we get home.

Continued Provision...

Wow...the Lord truly continues to provide in so many, unexpected ways! Just this week we have finished our school supply drive with over 1000 pencils, 500 pens, 200 spiral notebooks, loads of paper, crayons, glue, staplers, dry erase markers, etc. We have been blown away by the generosity of those around us.

Another cool provision that the Lord brought out of nowhere is over 100 school desks. Through various people, we were contacted about purchasing these desks that a local school was going to throw away. Originally, the desks were 50 cents each, which dropped to 5 cents, which then someone purchased for us (without us even asking I might add!). We had a small team, 6 trucks, 2 trailors, and were able to move them in just under 3 hours. Not only did the Lord also provide the help to move all these desks, He provided a storage unit free for a month until we can transport them to Oklahoma City. How great is our God!!!

Newsletters

The August/September 2009 Issue of the Bany Trading Company Newsletter is now available via email. If you are not on our mailing list please email info@banytradingcompany.com to stay updated!!

Donation Update!!

We are so excited to report that your efforts have surpassed all of our expectations. The amount of supplies and resources that we have received for the Orphanage Vocational Training Center is AMAZING!! And we are still receiving donations every day!! Your faithfulness to the Lord's people and desire to further His kingdom through this ministry overwhelms both of us!! We cannot thank you enough!!