Recently I have ended my rotational travel to Chad and no longer have the to opportunity to visit the orphanage in person or spend face time with Kolpele. Kolpele and I are still in regular contact and he has filled me in on some of the recent developments. He continues to receive some financial support each month to progress the projects, and we are working on ways to bring more donated items to him with other employees travelling to the area. Below are some of the main developments from the last 2 months.
The goat farm has been sustaining through the past few months but has had many challenges. Originally Kolpele started with 106 goats, however, due to illness this number has dwindled to only 42. Unfortunately the government of Chad recently passed a law that bans livestock from pasturing within the city limits of N’Djamena – a seemingly crazy law considering many citizens have goats or cows for income or food. This law has required Kolpele’s goats to remain within the goat farm, rather than grazing in fields during the day, and has resulted in less healthy goats than we hoped. It has also boosted the price of feed since everyone must now feed livestock grain exclusively. Still, of the 42 there are several pregnant goats with babies on the way. Orphans are being employed as shepherds to clean pens, feed goats & provide medicine for sicknesses. To add to the livestock, Kolpele has purchased several cows in southern Chad that will hopefully lead to more income.
Five women, several of them widows, have been taking sewing courses at the church/orphanage and are already seeing a benefit. A tailor is employed to teach the women who are now able to pay for the courses out of their earnings. Kolpele hopes to setup a similar seamstress training center in Fianga, one of the southern churches.
There are always more orphans than orphanages in Africa. Children come and go from Kolpele's orphanage with the last count around 14. There is a big need to create a similar orphanage in the south of Chad (in Fianga) to house orphans displaced by recent events – many have been persecuted because they are Christians. Kolpele is also working on expanding the orphanage in N’Djamena. Some important purchases & donations from the last several months include bunk beds, mattresses & blankets for the orphans. Finally some of the children have personal beds to sleep in – previously all orphans slept on the ground. With these beds & the clean water well drilled earlier this year, we all pray for health for the kids.
In Kolpele’s ministry he has organized 3 very successful evangelical campaigns in Southern Chad (Iri, Tikem and Fianga villages). He has also been able to setup 2 new churches in Tikem and Wourlarigo. There have been many miracles including healing of a paralyzed man and several sick people. Many people from nearby villages are coming to hear Kolpele and he is having great success at sharing the gospel. Below is an excerpt Kolpele wrote me about the experience (abridged version):
“It is a great privilege for me to see you after one month of hard tests in the mission fields. The Bible is clear when it says: ‘Those who sow with tears will reap with songs of joy. ‘Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow. will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.’ Psalms 126:5 We knew times of desert because our car got stuck in the mud three times. The first, it took us seven hours of time to come to end. The second time it took one hour, the third time it took two hours. Even our sisters saw themselves plunging in mud to carry us out because they had pity for us. The thing that I can retain is that, more we suffer, the most the harvest is good.”
Please continue to keep Kolpele, his family, the orphans & widows, & his churches in your thoughts & prayers. As always, if you feel led to donate financially, you can use the link to the right, or visit the Peace Gospel International Chad page. I also accept checks for Kolpele on behalf of PGI.
In Kolpele’s ministry he has organized 3 very successful evangelical campaigns in Southern Chad (Iri, Tikem and Fianga villages). He has also been able to setup 2 new churches in Tikem and Wourlarigo. There have been many miracles including healing of a paralyzed man and several sick people. Many people from nearby villages are coming to hear Kolpele and he is having great success at sharing the gospel. Below is an excerpt Kolpele wrote me about the experience (abridged version):
