Greetings from Niger,
To God be the glory! Shelby asked Jesus to be her Savior on September the 3rd!
Humidity, dust storms, rain, mud, dirt, the vehicle is never clean, on a good
day you get one thing done, you can not wear white, and once upon a time I
"thought" I new how to drive. Welcome to Niamey!
All kidding aside, I was hotter in Canada last June and the humidity can not
touch Central Florida. Amanda claims she now understands why I drive the way I
do, (she says I fit right in!). I have enjoyed learning my way around town as
well as finding out that each time I take a wrong turn, I learn where something
else can be found. I have also learned that if you follow a shop keeper or
trader into "his" area of the market, you will need a map or a guide to find
your way back to your car. My "sense of direction" often gets me in trouble!!
Driving from one end of town to the other instead of stopping at Home depot has
taken some getting used to, which also means I must plan my trips carefully or I
spend many hours on the road instead of working on the project of the moment.
Our days are busy and start early as Morgan must be at school by 7:30, we start
at the office with group devotions and prayer before beginning our work day. I
have been splitting my time between the office and helping Amanda set up the
house. I spend quite a bit of time running errands and purchasing what we need
in order to set up our home, as well as time at the "shop" trying to build some
of our furniture. It is frustrating at times as many of the tools I would like
to be using have not yet arrived. Please pray that they and the remainder of our
"shipped" tools and household items will arrive in good time.
We have met many of our coworkers and made many new friends as well as renewing
old friends, including some from over 30 years ago. As I learn the many aspects
of the work SIM is involved in I am in awe of the God we serve. He has begun a
great work here in Niger and we are blessed to be a part of that on going task
of helping to plant His church in this country. We thank each of you for your
part in getting us to this point and ask that you continue to pray for us each
day as we learn and work in a country that desperately needs the saving
knowledge of our Lord and Savior.
As many of you know we are looking to purchase a vehicle for our time here in
Niger. I ask that you pray for us as we tackle this task. I also ask that as you
read the remainder of this letter, that you first pray and then send me a
response of how you would like to see us proceed. Several Months ago I sent out
a letter stating our financial needs and God blessed us through your gifts.
Since arriving and looking into the vehicles available for the money God has
provided, I began to struggle with spending this amount of money on this quality
of vehicle. Let me explain: For approximately $22,000 we can buy a 10 to 12 year
old vehicle with 90, 000-150,000 miles, with an unknown history; for $28,000 you
can purchase a 4 to 5 year old model with 50,000 to 100,000 miles and it might
or might not be a good deal: or you can spend $35,000 - $40,000 and get a new
vehicle that has no history. My dilemma is I have never had to spend this kind
of money to buy a very nice used vehicle, let alone a new one. We have been
looking at a Double cab midsize pickup or a SUV. Both are four wheel drive and
have a good ground clearance, are capable of handling the city traffic and poor
roads here in town, but also handle the "bush" areas where we will often be
traveling for our ministry or visiting other ministries as well as friends. If
we were to buy new, we would expect to use this vehicle for the next 12 to 15
years, (this seems to be the norm for our SIM family), with the first 5 years
being relatively maintenance free and worry free. The following years would take
more care and upkeep, but the "history" would be ours and therefore known. The
middle road comes with some unknowns and the benefit of less money. The cheapest
route leaves the most questions, but also leaves us with financial options and
possibly a motor cycle for me, (leaving the truck for Amanda and our out of town
trips). Another major aspect is that we do not currently have the resources to
purchase new, lacking $5,000 to $10,000 in order to make that option happen.
OK here is my problem. What does it mean to be a good steward of the money God
has given you to buy a vehicle? Buy the best you can for the money you have on
hand? Buy a lesser vehicle and buy new, even if it is not the "ideal" vehicle
for your ministry? Ask your supporters to give more? Pray for a "God sent" deal?
Buying new has the obvious advantages, but the price is high, the middle ground
is higher than elsewhere, but could be a great deal, and comes with some
uncertainty, and buying on the low end means driving by faith. Pray and send me
your thoughts.
A big praise item for our field. SIM AIR has purchased an airplane for our "new
diesel aircraft" project. God provided the resources for us to buy a Cessna 182
and to have to upgrades and radios we need for flying in Africa put in. Next we
need the "diesel" engine, which we do not yet have the money for. Please pray
that God will provide the $80,000 to purchase and install the engine before it
can go into service with SIM AIR. For those not up to date as to why we need
this kind of airplane. Gas for our current aircraft costs about $13 a gallon!
The "jet fuel" that this new aircraft uses will only cost about $3 to $4 a
gallon. Due to this drastic difference in cost the savings in fuel alone will
enable us to save $150,000 in the first year of operation. We thank you in
advance for praying for this aircraft, now pray for the engine and its final
delivery for service in Niger.
Lastly we also have a need for additional support. At present we are about $7000
short for this year, (which ends September 30th). The support that comes in each
month gives us an average of $4500 or 89% of our needed $5002. Pray with us as
we trust the Lord to supply this need as well as the need for the aircraft
engine, and guidance in the purchase of a vehicle. We know that God does care
and promises His watch care over us. We desire to serve Him here and to be good
stewards of what He has and will give us.
In Closing we want to say thank you for partnering with us in this ministry that
God has given us. We are blessed each day by Him and by your prayers for us.
Know that your ministry here, thru us, will have great rewards when His harvest
comes. We are all His servants and we pray that we serve Him well, both here in
Niger for us and back home for you. May God continue to bless each one of you
and we love to hear from you.
Remember to send emails to
chad.winsor@sim.org and airmail letters to Chad Winsor, SIM, BP 10065,
Niamey Niger.
On His Team
Chad, Amanda, Morgan, and Shelby