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December 25, 2011

Aasha Tree 2011 Update

Thanks to all our supporters and especially the Lord, we were able to collect $9,800 of our $10,200 goal for our Aasha Tree Project! This year, the Lord used the prayers of many plus 80 givers to send Christmas funds to 542 people (children, staff, students, ministry leaders, and more), including over 30 ministries. May the Lord bless you for your generosity and your caring for the poor and needy in Nepal and India!

November 16, 2011

Aasha Tree Project 2011 Kick-Off

This is the 9th year that we've been privileged to lead EquipNepal's Aasha Tree Project.

The word "aasha" is Nepali for "hope." Your gifts to Aasha Tree bring hope to all the children and staff whom we work with in Nepal and India, because they show that you are thinking about them at this special time of year when we celebrate God's amazing gift to us in His only Son, Jesus Christ. Last year, we were able to bless 546 people with the funds that were given in a 3-week period ($7,025)!

Christmas has only been a legal holiday in Nepal for about 3 years, if my memory serves me right. By legal, I don't just mean that it is on the calendar and a bank holiday. I actually mean that before this time, Christians had to be extremely careful about how they celebrated Christmas, because they were subjected to a lot of persecution and grief for doing so publically. Since they became a federal republic in December 2007, there is a lot more freedom of religion. And because of this freedom, the Christians have parades and meetings and gatherings that can more openly share the Good News of Jesus Christ! Alleluia!

Aasha Tree Project Details:

The purpose of Aasha Tree Project is to bless the children, staff, and pastors and evangelists we work with in Nepal and India. Each child and elderly gift is $15 (there are over 400 children and elderly). Their gifts will be purchased in Nepal (clothing, art supplies, sweets). Each staff member, pastor, and evangelist gift is $25 (cash for them to spend on whatever they need or want); there are over 150 adults. Some of the ministries have special projects they would like to give to, also. For instance, Blessed Children's Home likes to give blankets to nearby villagers who have none. Indian Rescue Mission would like to give to lepers and ladies on the street. We also annually extend gifts to ministries we don't personally work with as an appreciation of the work they are doing and the need that exists. One such ministry is Peace Loving Homes, which is a part of Prision Fellowship. Peace Loving Homes cares for children of prisoners, which is so greatly needed.

We need about $11,000 to accomplish our goals this year and we need to receive the funds by December 6th so that we can wire them to Nepal by December 9th. Your contribution to Aasha Tree would be so appreciated!

Please send your contributions to EquipNepal, 2632 Ranchette Road, Billings, MT 59105 with a note, "Aasha Tree." You can also donate via PayPal from our web site (we are charged a small fee for this service). 100% of all designated donations go to the designation, and you'll receive a tax receipt in January.

Please e-mail me the amount you're sending so that I can keep a running total of what's coming in. I'll be reporting back to you a couple of times a week until the project is over. As in past years, I will also post some photos and stories of the Christmas celebrations going on in Nepal!

Some Other Ideas of Ways to Help Aasha Tree:

  1. Consider giving a donation in a friend or family member's name! I can send out gift cards before Christmas (let me know the names and addresses).
  2. You can also set up a table-top display at your church, school, or workplace. Just send me an email requesting a kit and I will it out out to you (small printable tree ornaments, sign, and contribution forms).
  3. Post a link to our website's Aasha Tree page on your Facebook page. The site will be updated by the end of the week (Events tab).
  4. Forward this information to your family and friends, with a short sentence about why Aasha Tree is important to you and to our ministry partners.
  5. Pray for Aasha Tree, our partners, and those whose lives they may affect. Your prayers are so important!

Thank you for being James 1:27 people for those who serve the Lord in Nepal! Your support, in prayers and giving, mean so much!


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