2010 Thanksgiving Offering Newsletter

Building on a Foundation of Love

Dear Coworkers,

Do you remember what happened on December 26, 2004? A magnitude 9.3 earthquake triggered a tsunami that devastated the coastlines of Southeast Asia. More than 200,000 people died—a large number of them in Indonesia. Alliance people responded compassionately by giving in excess of $2 million through CAMA to assist survivors of the disaster. Your generous gifts enabled CAMA and International Ministries to lay a foundation of love by building 194 fishing boats and 88 homes. We also provided more than 80 small business loans and assisted with numerous other projects. Six years later, 90 percent of the aid groups have left. CAMA remains.

One CAMA couple has completed language study and is living in a town that lost 80 percent of its population in the tsunami. The couple has worked with rice farmers to complete an irrigation project, which both enhances crop yield and allows farmers to gain title to land. As they work together, side by side, relational bridges are being built that will bear the weight of truth. Another couple is in language study and will be joining the team soon.

A third CAMA couple in West Papua partners with nationals in an AIDS awareness campaign. They also assist with elementary education, agricultural projects, a handicraft business, Bible translation, and leadership training. It should be clear by now that CAMA does more than just lay loving foundations through relief efforts; our workers are committed to long-term service, which builds communities of faith that positively impact the physical, social, economic, and spiritual needs of hurting people.

The funds given in response to the tsunami are almost gone. This Thanksgiving, we need your help to continue building on the solid foundation that has been laid. During this season, I ask you to join me in expressing gratitude to God for His abundant blessings by sharing His blessings with Indonesians and CAMA staff who serve them. Half of the funds raised will go toward the support of workers and the other half to specific projects they initiate (see examples). Thank you for your generosity.

With gratitude,

Phil Skellie
President, CAMA

Project Giving Ideas

Simpson School Community Development Training Program

• Provide a loan for a student to buy catfish – $3.50 buys 200 fish
• Help build a catfish pond for $55
• Provide a loan to buy a chicken – $7 per chicken
• Help build a chicken coup for $72
• Provide a loan to buy a goat – $78 per goat
• Help build a goat pen for $78

Community Development Gifts

• Children’s reading books – $5 will purchase a book
• Give funds to build a tree house to be used for kids to play in and read their favorite books – $500 provides the materials to build
• Help farmers to build fencing to protect their rice fields from wild boar – $700 per field
• Provide farmers with materials to build permanent irrigation canals for their rice fields – $10 per meter
• Provide for a revolving fund to assist entrepreneurs with loans to help them start or grow their businesses – $100 per loan
• Thank you for remembering the people of Indonesia. It is CAMA’s desire to build on a foundation of love to bring help and hope.