News

February 23, 2010

UPCOMING MISSIONS TRIP

Because of my health, we haven't been to Nepal since November 2005. I'm happy to let you know that we're leaving for Nepal very soon (for details, you can write me personally)! We are so excited to see our friends and all the children after so long.

Communication about Our Trip:

There's a couple of ways you can keep up with us on our trip.
1. I've set up a Yahoo! group, so if you'd like to stay in touch, please sign up. It's a moderated, private group so you'll have to go to http://www.groups.yahoo.com/group/equipnepal_missions and ask to be invited OR send an e-mail to request an invitation.
2. I've also set up a blog.
We'll try to post something every few days, as electricity and time allow.

Prayer Requests and Needs for Our Trip:

  • Safety and health (my compromised immune system) and protection from spiritual attacks
  • Smooth connections on our flights
  • Political peace (no strikes, as they mean closed roads, shops, transportation, and schools)
  • Open hearts for what the Lord has for us while we're there
  • $1500 for Jan's airline ticket
  • $700 for BCH's 15th anniversary celebration
  • $750 for activities with the children's homes (ice cream parties or something similar), gifts for staff
  • Coordination of our schedule in Nepal
  • Wisdom and discernment for our meetings and the giving that the Lord intends
  • Rest for Bud, as his job has been very stressful and he needs to rejuvenate
  • Heirloom garden seeds (hybrids don't produce seeds for the next season, but they are still welcome).
  • Contributions of new or used (or $$ to purchase) soccer balls, jump ropes, marbles, card games like Uno or other small games for 4 or more children (including older ones), barrettes and hair ribbons/ties, toothbrushes, toothpaste, large bags of candy, watches (for Class 10 and older students), balloons, stickers, small crayon packs, pencils, erasers, sharpeners, etc.
  • Shorts for boys (good condition, age 4 and above), boys and girls underwear above Toddler sizes

Aasha Tree (Christmas Box) Project Report

Our annual fundraiser, Aasha Tree Project, was completed in mid-December. Thanks to your giving and your prayers, we were able to send over $9600 to Nepal for purchasing Christmas gifts for all the children and staff.

19 days + countless prayers + $9600 + 72 donors = 648 smiles

Aasha Tree provided gifts for:
• 368 children, 189 staff and ministry leaders, and 63 elderly/students/teachers
• Including 10 children's homes, 2 Christian schools, 13 teachers, a Bible school, 19 pastors, many Christian workers and missionaries, a home for the disabled, 13 Nepali seminary families in the Philippines, 2 Campus Crusade for Christ workers and families, 2 homes for children of prisoners, 1 YWAM-KTM family, 1 rescue ministry family in India, and 2 YWAM School of Hindu Studies staff

November 28, 2009

Aasha Tree Project Benefits the Poor and Needy in Nepal and India

By Janis E. Viren, President/Executive Director, EquipNepal
Special to ASSIST News Service
Read this Article »

November 24, 2009

Aasha Tree (Tree of Hope) 2009 Christmas Box Project

Every year for the past 7 years, we have promoted a special Christmas project. In the past, we have made gifts for all the children and sent them via FedEx (free of charge). The past few years, however, we have raised money to send to Nepal, and then the directors of the children's homes and ministries use the funds to purchase Christmas gifts there. The children usually get new clothing and shoes and some treats and art or school supplies, and the adults receive cash to spend on what they need. We wire the funds a couple of weeks before Christmas so that the shopping can be done.

Just as we did last year, we are collecting $15 for each child or elderly gift and $25 for each adult gift (staff member, pastor, and evangelist). Several of the children's homes and evangelists have others they would like to give to (such as a very small children's home or some poor and needy in the community, and we trust that we can collect enough for these projects as well. Last year, we collected over $12,000.00 for this project, and it was such a blessing to disburse the funds. God is good!

In total, we need about $12,000.00 again this year by December 9, 2009. This amount will cover the gifts for over 350 children and over 150 adults. I need to wire the funds on December 11, so please do send your donations as quickly as possible. You can send a check or money order, or you can pay via PayPal from the button below (however, with PayPal, we don't receive the entire donation, as they keep a percentage).

Donations can be sent to EquipNepal (2632 Ranchette Road, Billings, MT 59105) with a note attached ("Aasha Tree"). I will keep you updated as the funds come in. Also, please send me an e-mail, letting me know your pledge so I can keep track of what is coming in. Donations are tax-deductible, according to IRS regulations, and you'll receive a receipt by the end of January. 100% of the funds will go to the project!

If you would like to give a donation to Aasha Tree in the name of a friend or family member, please send me the name(s) and address(es) of the recipients, and I will send out a card to let them know of your gift!

Also, if you would like to collect funds for Aasha Tree at your church, workplace or school, I can quickly send some donation forms and gift cards for you.

In a few days, I'm going to start sending out some photos and stories of how Christmas is celebrated in Nepal, for your enjoyment and blessing. This is only the second year that Christmas has been an official holiday in Nepal, so it's quite exciting! Join our email list to receive updates.

Thank you so much for your support of this project and for your prayers.

If you have any questions, please write or call.

November 25, 2008

Aasha Tree (Tree of Hope) Christmas Box Project – It's TIME!

Every year for the past 6 years, EquipNepal has sponsored a special Christmas project for the children and staff in the children's homes and other organizations we work with in Nepal (six children's homes, an elderly home, and several organizations who work with self-sustaining agricultural and community projects and empowering widowed, abandoned, and rescued women and girls).

In the past, we have made gifts for all the children and sent them (free, thanks to FedEx). As the number of children grew, we switched to raising funds for new clothing and sweets, and wiring the funds to Nepal just before Christmas so that the shopping could be done there.

We are collecting $15 for each child's gift and $25 for each adult's gift (staff members, pastors, and evangelists). Something that blesses me is that several of the children's homes and organizations have others they would like to give to (very small children's homes, poor and needy in the community) and we trust that we can collect enough for these projects as well.

We will need any donations by December 7, providing for over 300 children and about 100 adults. If you would like to donate toward this project, we would appreciate it so much!

Please send all contributions (check or money order) to EquipNepal (2632 Ranchette Road, Billings, MT 59105) with a note ("Aasha Tree"). If you send me an e-mail letting me know of your contribution, I will keep you updated as the funds come in. You can also donate by PayPal, but then we don't receive the entire donation, as PayPal keeps a percentage.

If you would like to give a donation to Aasha Tree in a friend or family member's name, please send me the names and addresses, and I will send out a card to let them know about your gift.

100% of your gift goes to the project. Your gifts are tax-deductible according to IRS regulations. You'll receive a receipt in mid-January.

Thank you for your support.

February 2008

EquipNepal has an office assistant, Rosemary

What a blessing to have Rosemary in the office with me on Mondays for 5 hours! Rosemary is from Zimbabwe, and she is a prayer warrior, has a great sense of humor, and is one of my best friends. I’m so thankful for her help. Since just before the transplant, I have been going the proverbial “two steps forward, one step back.” With Rosemary’s help, we have developed a working philosophy: in Zimbabwean, it is “Zvishomanana” (English for “little by little). And so it goes. About two thirds of her monthly wage has been covered by a donor, and we are praying for the remaining $100, plus an additional day per week, as the Lord allows ($250 more a month).

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