Dear IV Friends,
Have you visited a public library in your neighborhood lately? One way to cut cost for entertainment is to visit your local library. We visit our library to borrow some DVDs, to borrow books or sometimes just to read a magazine. What a convenient and enjoyable way to spend an afternoon. It does not cost you anything (of course our taxes support our libraries).
Looking back, did you ever go to a public library in the Philippines? Were they conveniently located in your area? In your college days, you would have gone to your university or college libraries. In Manila, where Lina lived, she had to walk 5 blocks go to a public library. Those living in the provinces, especially in the rural areas, are not as lucky. Can you imagine a community without a library?
Last December MEANS were making plans on how we can continue Dave Foster’s legacy of ministering to students. Many ideas came along. We wanted a project that will be in line with the MEANS mission to help and work alongside an existing mission organization. In one of the IVCF’s newsletter, Ericson Velardo, IVCF Phil. CEO wrote about their plan to rebuild the IVCF library. We took this opportunity as a go signal from the Lord and wrote Erickson for possible partnership in the project. Both sides got mutually excited. MEANS found the right project to help rebuild the IV Library and to honor the legacy of Dave Foster.
Aldwin Fernandez, IVCF staff and project coordinator wrote, “ We desire that the library will not only be a place “where the books are,” so to speak, but will be considered as primary literary resource center in the spiritual growth of the students, graduates and staff workers.”
IVCF Library
“We pray that the library will be IVCF’s “living room”.
Many of you, our faithful IVCF donors had dug deep into your pockets and had lovingly given to the IVCF ministry. Once again, we ask for your partnership for this worthwhile project to help IVCF Philippines rebuild their library. This will not only serve the IV staff, but also the students and eventually the community. MEANS has donated $1,000 and raised $2,000. We need to raise another $2,000.00 to purchase books and pay for shipments. Our commitment to our donors is to work on this project diligently until we complete the IV Library hopefully by end of June 2009 just in time for the school opening in the Philippines.
Thanks so much for coming alongside with us during these challenging days. We understand that we are living in the midst of economic crisis. We will pool resources big and small to help build the IVCF Library. We believe that the small step that we take will harvest big rewards by God’s grace. We thank you for your help in this endeavor.
Please make your check payable to Balikatan and mail your gift to:
Bethel Skinker – 2545 Kinloch Circle, Lansing, MI 48911.