May 4, 2005

Shipment Coming to Paraguay !!!

God will make a way where their seems to be no way. In September of 2000 as I was packing to come to Paraguay I was informed of a program that helped ship supplies to third world countries. Since that time, that has been my desire to get needed items shipped to Paraguay but each time the plan has been foiled by red tape, cancellations, and many other problems. Now it looks like the time is here.

Another missionary couple, Ed and Linda Baker, whose ministry is to drill water wells, has received donations to have a shipping container sent by sea to Paraguay. The shipment will take possibly 3 to 4 months as the container will be transferred in Uruguay and then shipped up the Paraguay River to Asuncion. Ed and Linda are offering the extra space in their container to be used for educational or medical needs.

We must active quickly as their well equipment will be ready in a month or so...Thus all our items must be in Houston maybe NO LATER THAN MAY 20th...(see below). This is a "Hurry up and Wait" request. Please begin preparing your donations but do not ship yet. Ed and Linda are asking:

When we get the signal the drill is about ready, we will contact you to ship the items... we will only have about a week's notice but we cannot send the items early, as there is no space for storage.

If several from one church have items, please try to pack the items together to minimize the number of boxes.

Thank you so much for your cooperation and understanding to this problem. For us it is a little difficult trying to coordinate this from this end without a coordinator in Houston.

If you would like to send things to help our ministry in Paraguay, here are the details.

1. We do not have any one in Houston to open the packages and sort through the packages to decide if something is worth shipping so I would please ask...send only what you would consider using in your homes. Often times when items are donated to third world countries, these items are broken, way outdated, torn, or dirty. If you are lead to donate, please give as you would give unto the Lord.... things that are in good to excellent condition. All the items will be distributed free to various schools, churches, our mobile medical clinic, or organizations (like the local fire departments serving the communities.) If you have medical supplies you would like to donate, please let me know ASAP so I can check with the doctor of our Mobile Medical Clinic to see if that is a particular need..
2. Our desire is to be a blessing to our brothers and sisters in Paraguay who have many ministries needs so we are looking for quality not quantity of items.
3. When packing your boxes, please try to wrap everything well as the items will move quite a bit in shipping. What is ideal if every inch of your box could be maximized so rather than using shipping bubbles or Styrofoam, please try to wrap items in clothing, blankets, towels or even fabric that the ladies can later use to make clothing for their families

Ed and Linda are donating the space so we do not have to pay for the shipping but we do have to have built shipping crates to haul the boxes, these are $175 each. We will try to get the items passed through customs as we are eligible for duty free items but we get charged a minimum duty fee especially for computers. For electrical items, we need things that are 220 volt...some items are now marked 110-220 or 240. If it is not 220 volt, would you consider making a $5 to $10 donation with the item so we can convert them here. Your tax-deductible donation can be mailed to my support account at Latin America Mission earmarked on a slip of paper attached to the check:

Latin America Mission
The Paraguayan Outreach/Sue Givens
P.O. Box 52-7900
Miami Florida 33152-7900

Items Needed:

1. Used computers or laptops in good to excellent condition to be distributed for schools, churches, and pastors.
2. Dot matrix printers
3. Recent used telephones (just the simple plug in type) or cell phones (with 220 capacity electrical adapters)
4. Spanish or English/Spanish Only: Children, Youth and Adult books, Computer Software, Bibles, videos, or witnessing tracks and other educational resources.
5. Construction paper and school supplies
6. Firemen's protective gear...coats, boots, helmets, gloves, etc.
7. Blankets, sheets and towels, tennis shoes, sturdy sandals, blue jeans, sweatshirts and jackets
8. Hand tools like hammers, saws, screw drivers, etc.
9. Music equipment such as keyboards, guitars, etc.
10. Over head projectors and/transparencies
11. Basic Sewing machines (in good working order, easy to use, operate, and maintain. Most of these will need to be converted electrically as mentioned above). These will be distributed to schools and churches to maximize their usage.
12. Material for sewing projects...preferably a yard or more. Please no quilt scraps please as the ladies traditionally do not make them here.

Communications are going to be important in this project and a little difficult as I am leaving for the states on the 25th of May and we are targeting the shipment for the 20 of May or later. If you plan to send items, please email me this following information as quickly as possible.

Name of Contact Person:
Email Address:
Organization or Church:
Mailing Address:

Comments or questions:

Thank you so much for your love, prayers, and attention to this special project. May God richly bless you as you reach out to others.

Love in Christ,
Sue Givens
Missionary with Latin American Mission
Director Of New Horizons School (Nuevo Horizonte)
Lambaré, Paraguay