Fall Fundraiser!

Last year, we did a fundraiser for a 29 seater bus for New Day - many people and churches responded and within 2 months we had $30,000 for a new bus! We ordered the bus from Japan (an old model with low miles) and we are so impressed with it. We had heard from many people that vehicles from Japan are the best way to go when you are living in Africa, and so far that has proven to be true for us! We are gearing up for a Fall fundraiser for another vehicle for New Day. "Didn't you just buy a bus?" you may ask. Let me explain. The bus is a 29 seater that will be used for field trips and transporting our kids for years to come. It is not, however, a vehicle we would take into town for grocery trips. The orphanage currently has two vehicles, both bought used from the Baptist Mission of Zambia. One is a 1999 Toyota Hilux. We bought this in 2009 and it has over 200,000 km on it. It is the truck that hauled sand and basically built the orphanage! We are going to demote this truck to a "work truck" around the orphanage. Besides the fact that it no longer has a rear differential, no air conditioning, and it has to be push started each morning (Darbi is a pro at this!), it is not safe to drive long distances (you summer volunteers can all attest to this!). The orphanage does have a reliable vehicle, a 2000 Ford Everest that seats five people and is currently shared between the Tidwell family, Wilcox family, and 3 American volunteers. We have seen that now is the time for a new vehicle! The truck we are looking at is a newer model, as we want this truck to last for many years. It is a slightly used 2012 from Japan, and it costs $27,000 (+$5000 for customs clearance).

We have quietly begun some fundraising, and we currently have $12,601. Only about $20,000 to go! We are challenging our donors, families, churches, and other supporters to a $1000 challenge. We want to see if we can get 20 groups to raise $1000 for this vehicle. We know that God is a big God and that He will provide using many of you! We also know that times are tough in the USA right now, and many of you may want to give but may be unable to do so! We ask that you pray that God will provide and that the logistics will go smoothly to get the vehicle from Japan to Zambia sometime this Fall! Email me at blutidwell@sbcglobal.net if you want to be one of our 20 groups raising $1000! Thank you for your support of New Day!