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Children and their parents enjoying delicious food at CNY Banquet in 2011
Help Poor Children to "Taste" the Love of God
Chinese New Year is coming in less than a week, on January 23, 2012. Chinese New Year is the most important of the traditional holidays in China and among oversea Chinese people. Like Christmas in the West, Chinese New Year is a time for family reunions, feasts, exchanges of gifts, and visiting with relatives and friends. The celebration lasts for 15 days. However, the festive atmosphere could hardly cheer up the parents or grandparents of poor students as they struggle to put food on the table or to buy any new winter clothes for their children.
To help these families to celebrate the New Year, Agape Way hosts Chinese New Year banquets for them every year. The students and their families have been waiting for the banquet for the delicious food: pork, chicken, beef, and fish that they rarely see on their dinner tables. Our workers in China have reserved 36 tables at two different townships in Longchang, Sichuan, China on January 16 and 17. Close to 400 people will attend the banquets. Agape Way Board member Mrs. Jane Leonard has traveled from the United States to Longchang to speak at the banquets on behalf of the AW Board of Directors and visit the student families.
After enjoying a delicious meal and fellowship, the students get to take leftovers home as we buy more than enough food. Additionally each student will also receive a small money gift and reimbursements for their bus tickets. Our workers plan to take some poor children shopping for winter clothes and blankets.
Due to price inflation in China, the costs for the banquets and clothing have increased, some by more than 30% comparing to last year. The total cost for the banquets and winter gear is $3900. Thanks to the generous support of brothers and sisters, over $2000 has been raised the Chinese New Year project since December. Additional $1,900 needs to be raised to cover the cost of the meal, bus tickets, New Year gifts and winter clothes for a few students (hopefully 17).
Could you and your family partner with us to help the children to “Taste” and experience the love of God? We need your help and participation in this important ministry to share the love of God in a practical way. With US$30.00, you can sponsor a family of three for the delicious meal and joyful fellowship. Any additional fund raised above the expenses of the project will be kept in the Agape Mercy Fund for the banquets next year or to support poor students with scholarships.
May God bless you and your family!
Wanbing Frank Li, PhD
Agape Way, President & CEO
Children Waiting for Sponsorships
Feng is 8-year old in 1st grade. Abandoned as a baby, she was picked up by the roadside and has been raised by her adoptive father. Her adoptive father was never married. Without training and little eduction, her father could not find a stable job and has gone to find work away from the village leaving his daughter with his brother. Feng's uncle has a wife who is mentally retarded and a 3-year-old daughter who suffers from chronic skin disease. Her uncle could barely take care of his wife and the two children in addition to work on his plot of land.
Feng loves school and is a very good student. She is waiting for a sponsor to help her and her family.
The cost of sponsorship for one middle school student is $30 a month to cover school fees, partial living expenses . It is $30 for an elementary child and $60 for a high school student. If the Lord moves your heart to sponsor one child or contribute to a fund to sponsor a child jointly with others, please contact Agape Way. Currently there are over 20 students who are waiting for new sponsors.