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I am pleased to address the Governor, the Mayor of Moundou, the President of SCPEDT, pastors, church leaders, and other distinguished guests.
We celebrate today the opening of the "Village ALTONODJI" a place of comfort for the orphans, an expression of God's goodness bringing to fulfillment the dream Pastor Bako shared with us eight years ago.
As Psalm 115:1 says: "Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name give glory, for the sake of your steadfast love and your faithfulness!"
I think back of the day John and I met Pastor Bako in Wheaton Illinois. We invited him for dinner in our home. The first thing he told us was his concern for the orphans of Chad. He had twenty eight pictures of orphans with him. His heart cried to God and to us for help.
We started praying about it; our friends Nancie and Steve joined us: sometimes we were discouraged, as we could not see something happening, sometimes we were wondering if anything will come about the dream. But I thank God that He sustained us, He gave us hope, He brought the means to help, He directed us in what to do. It is clear that God laid down the way we should go. God brought in our life Scott and Debara and their desire to do something for our brothers and sisters in Chad. That is how we have today the Mission:Chad organization. We thank God for the opportunity we have to come alongside you, SCPEDT, in building this wonderful place. We thank God for letting us be part of this work.
Then we told our friends, our colleagues and to everyone we met about the beautiful children in Chad that need our help, about wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ who call for help. And you know what? They did come along, and they still do. We thank them that even if they have never been here, or never met you or Pastor Bako, they send money monthly, because they love the Lord and they love you.
We are blessed to come alongside you and what joy to see God doing His work! We thank God for His display of grace, steadfast love and faithfulness in making possible in such short time the building of the "Village ALTONODJI". One year ago there was just a pile of bricks! We are so impressed with your abilities, talents, hard work, of how much you did with so little.
God's promises are forever true: Psalm 27:10 Pastor Bako's favorite says: "For my father and my mother have forsaken me, but the Lord will take me in." We give God all the glory and pray that He will continue His work here in Moundou and Chad. May God bless the orphans, the widows, and all those who will make this place their home. May God bless you, the board of SCPEDT, Pastor Bako, for your example and love of the Lord.
We say a warm welcome to the orphans and widows, to a place of comfort, joy, learning, a place where the love the Lord is displayed to each one.
"Oh give thanks to the Lord, for He is good; for His steadfast love endures forever." Psalm 118:1
My husband and I used to tell our friends in US that we have 40 beautiful children in Chad, now we are going to have 80.
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