04/20/2023
Hey Folks,
I am writing to tell you about Africa. I plan to go back in January 2024, Lord willing, and take a team with me. I'm organizing a team that includes a person who worked at the school for the blind and hope to have another person who teaches braille. Matt Lee, Missionary at Psalms 82:3, is leading us on this joint venture . Matt estimates that it will take $3,000 per person to pay for the round trip flight, sleep accommodations, and food. I suspect that he may be a little too optimistic since everything is increasing in price, so I'm going to put the figure at $3,500 per person. Right now, We have 4 people committed to going and 2 that are thinking about it. Anyway, it will be interesting to see how much money we can raise for this. I sure appreciate anything you all could do to help. This is the biggest project that the International Christian Braille Mission has been involved in. The blind people in Liberia need our help and our prayers.
My plans are to:
1- Preach a 2 or 3 day revival at the village of the blind with emphasis that God loves the blind and has not cursed them. The idea of a disabled person being cursed comes from the shamans even though the Christians in Liberia have come to Christ, they still retain these attitudes.
2-I plan to visit the school for the blind which is different from the village of the blind and see if we can get at least one student enrolled. His name is Arthur. There is tension between the tribes and the decedents of the settlers from America, so I don't know if the school doesn't have enough available openings or if they are ignoring the needs of the indiginous tribal people. We are working with the Bosa Tribe.
3- I want to be able to get 1 or 2 younger blind people started on learning braille. I think perhaps we will also be able to include the adults in the blind village, if they are willing. They read and write English, so i can bring an adult braille primer called the McDuffy Reader, whereby one can self teach braille.
4- We already have enough money to purchase canes and cane tips. 2 Churches have already raised the money, and will be sending it shortly. praise the Lord for our faithful people. These canes will either be sent ahead or go with us when we fly over. But we will be distributing them at the blind village.
Thank you for your kind consideration and prayers.
Gifts can be sent to:
ICBM
Po box 520
Grayson, KY 41143
Please mark on the memo line that these fund are specific for the "Africa Mission Project."
In Christ,
Mike Smith, ICBM
Rev. 22:4
