Sponsor us!

July 23 2007

Jim and June Brown are about to embark on a sponsored slim to raise funds for James Colton's vehicle fund. You can find out more details by clicking here and also about doing something of a similar nature yourself. Below is June's statement on the slim-in, and if you want to sponsor them contact June direct.

Jim and June Brown – Sponsored Slim in aid of raising funds for James Colton Vehicle.

'We have known for some time that James Colton desperately needed a vehicle to help him with his missionary work in Tanzania, but it was only after being out there in February this year, and his writing in a recent newsletter that we realise just how much his need was. James lives a good way from regular transport links, and has to walk a fair way get to the nearest bus stop. I guess it takes about 30 minutes or so in intense heat or a ride on the back of a bicycle down a very dusty and bumpy road full of huge holes. Or one has to get in the back of a dirty open truck. On arrival at the bus stop, the buses are usually extremely overloaded, (people are like sardines in a can). The next best thing is either a rickety old taxi (often windows won't open or shut) which by African budget is expensive. Imagine all this when you are going off to preach/teach or pastor someone somewhere, all dressed for the occasion.

If it’s a person in dire need then of course all this effort to reach them takes time. It often takes hours to reach a destination and then the same time back. This means James is exhausted on return. If the people are sick, need prayer or whatever, for all concerned the time to reach the people seems endless. We have been to Tanzania on a number of occasions, we have seen first hand and felt the frustrations that James has to take on board. Taxis not turning up or very late, and breaking down is pretty much the norm. People suddenly taken ill or even dying, and the agony James feels at not being able to reach them. Although James takes all this in his stride as a missionary in his beloved Tanzania, having a vehicle would not only help him tremendously but help all peoples concerned. James doesn’t want this for himself but as an aid to serve everyone else more effectively. When you know the man, you know his heart and you know it’s true.

So Jim and I came up with the idea of a ‘Sponsored Slim’. We need to lose the weight and get fit, and we were about to diet anyway. To raise transport funds for James is an honour, because we see our brother working so hard and he has a definite need. It also gives us something to aim for, makes us accountable to each other and in a sense to James himself - and because we are going through SICM, to them and our sponsors too. It is a working partnership with all involved and that’s the way it should be. We need your help and prayers.'

Spirit led and organisationally driven