Contributions
We welcome those who are interested in joining us in the mission field; we also appreciate those interested in helping support us take the Gospel to the mission fields of Southeast Asia and elsewhere. Emmaus Road Ministries is a non-profit charitable organization, and gifts to the ministry are tax-deductible. Your monetary gifts support a variety of activities, including our Myanmar orphanages that minister to over fifty children. Many of these children are sick with diseases such as tuberculosis and require not only food, clothing, and a place to live, but medical care as well. We need funds to purchase additional land and building supplies to house the children; we also need to purchase food and clothing. We have bought a goat to supply the children with milk, and we would appreciate gifts to purchase additional goats and other livestock. We also offer certain items, both jewelry and carved water buffalo horns, which can be purchased in order to support the ministry. the items offer are made by other christians, so we are able to help more people giving them respect by earning a living. To learn more about the history behind these wonderful carved horns, read below.
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Thank You, Jesus! |
Our Gift Items:
In the Beginning When I first visited Laos, now many years ago, I became acquainted with a wonderful Thai woman and her Canadian husband. The two of them owned several businesses in Yentiane, the capital of Laos. They were wonderful Christian folks who helped and cared for many of the poor in that country, providing them with jobs and caring for their families. I was very deeply impressed by both of them and at one point worked with them. They were both always willing to go the extra mile to help others. The husband developed the water buffalo horn carving industry, locating talented craftspeople, helping them to develop their talents and giving them a sense of purpose (as well as allowing them to express their talents). He himself was a very talented artist and was able to offer them guidance. When I had the privilege to visit his factory, I was very impressed by the beautiful objects created there. I saw the whole process watched the horns being polished, shaped and prepared and then I had the privilege to spend time with the carvers, most of whom were women. I saw how painstakingly, carefully, and individually each piece was created, none alike and each with their own uniqueness. I was amazed by the amount of time it took to create even the smallest piece, and how it never had the sense of mass production. Finally, I saw the last part of the process, in which the piece was acid-washed to bring out the different shadings of color of the horn carving which gives each piece its depth and beauty. Amazingly, I learned that both the horns and the wood used to develop these beautiful products is otherwise of little value. The water buffalo horns are bought from slaughterhouses, where they are routinely discarded. The wood for the base is called "monkey wood" and while it has a lovely grain and shading it cannot be used for furniture production because it has a very short fiber. As I watched this process, the idea came to me that I should bring these lovely pieces back to the U.S. in order to share them with others, while simultaneously using them as a way to bless the El Shaddai orphanages in Kale Myo, Myanmar that we started in Jaunuary of 2003 (the orphanages already have 49 children!). The children need to eat, go to school, and have decent medical care and clothing. Each purchase of one of these pieces of art will not only beautify your home or office, it will also help support 49 little children who desperately need your help. That should really make you feel good about your purchase! Obviously, it takes a great amount of financial resources to care for two orphanages, but it is also a wonderful privilege (and an awesome responsibility). We at Emmaus Road Ministries thank you for helping us to improve these lives for the good. Currently, we are raising money for the foundation of the Faith orphanage. They are presently living in a temporary shelter. Forty-three of our 49 children suffer from tuberculosis, and three others suffer from typhoid fever. Many of them also have malaria and their hemoglobin is at dangerous levels. All of this means that we need as much support as we can raise in order to help these children. "Blessed is he who considers the poor; the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble." -- Psalm 41:1 |
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