A 4x4 is more than a fashion accessory in Tanzania!

July 18 2007

Today we have officially launched the vehicle fund for James Colton, our missionary in Tanzania. He is based there for the long-term, and as part of the putting down of the roots, is already in the process of building a home. But the real handicap to ministry has been the lack of a suitable vehicle. Whilst a 4x4 may be a fashion accessory here in the UK, in rural East Africa it is a necessity if one's ministry is to be effective. Once you leave the tarmac of the main roads (and even they are very poor by western standards) then you are faced with dirt tracks, and when the rains come they are one big muddy quagmire.

We are aiming to raise a total of £16,000, and due to activity that has already been going on, we launch the fund today with a total of £10,100 on the board. There is a specific page on the web site concerning the vehicle fund, which we will update as support comes in. You can read that by clicking here: SICM - James Colton vehicle fund

The following is an excerpt from an e-mail that we received at base from James concerning the vehicle and the final costings etc: 'As I mentioned, we are looking at Toyota Land Cruisers as there are many places to go for repairs and parts. From our looking around and costing we have found that the vehicles that are not too old and in good condition are between 35million Tanzanian Shillings and 40 million Tanzanian Shillings. (That is £14,000 pounds sterling and £16,000 pounds sterling). So we will be happy to work with whatever you then are able to send us. I tell you it will be of GREAT BENEFIT to have our own vehicle, not only for personal use and ministry, but also being able to take a team on crusades and missions. Some evenings after church there are few buses with many trying to use them, and so we are late getting home, and often we have to incur the extra expense of getting a taxi.'

Spirit led and organisationally driven