Neep's In India: March 2008

Monday, March 10, 2008

Out with old & in with the new

Remember that old, beat up, tired-and-looking-to-take-it's-last-breath generator that Khunti SDA School has?? Well, that has now been replaced with the new Kiloskar 63kv generator pictured above!! It was delivered just the other day and it was the best we could afford with our budget, keeping in mind the needs of the school. We now are getting the campus rewired so that everything will now be up to date. Thank you to everyone who prayed, donated and cheered us on all the way!!!

How can I help Khunti School, you ask?

If you feel that God has impressed upon you to make a donation, directions to donate are below. As Tonya and I are firm believers in prayer, we ask that you PRAY for us and the school FIRST. This is what we need the most, so please keep us in your prayers.

Khunti SDA School has about 1,285 students attending the school, of which there are about 800 boarders with about 200 orphans within the boarding population. We are 400 Kms west of Calcutta in the jungle area of Khunti, which is very poor and with high unemployment.

When we first arrived here one year ago, we found that this school had no library, no good water supply and a beaten-up 20Kva generator. So this is what is happening with these projects as we speak:

The new generator and wiring are all installed!! This not only gives us electricity at night, the generator is wired into the three new wells that were drilled. Now the girl's hostel has running water in their bathrooms. Previously, they were getting their water for bathing, clothes washing, etc; at a handpump. A huge thanks goes out to all of donors who made this a reality!!! God is so good!!

Library Project: This is an ongoing fundraising Project. When we arrived at the school in June, 2006, we found that the school had a library building, but not a real library for the students to use. We did two bookdrives in the States and we took those books back to Khunti when we returned in October 2007. We are always in need of funds to purchase books and supplies, some of which are cheaper to get in India than in the States. Total cost: ongoing fund.
Update: As of late July 2008, a book supply company Tonya contacted us sent us to large boxes of books for free!!!!! Of course, this does not mean that the library is "comfortable" financially, so please consider donating to the school library when you think of the needs of the children here.

3. (New update)!!Water Project: There is a serious shortage of clean, reliable water in the Khunti area due to the very deep water table (over 600 feet deep). The school had "water" about 50% of the time and even then, it comes out of the tap looking much clearer. We still boil water to save money. In order to get clean, reliable water for everyone on campus, we have to drill a new 8" bore well, at 600 feet deep. We are seeking to raise the funds to pay for the drilling, a new large overhead water storage tank and the pipes and fittings for the school. Total cost: $32,000 USD. Update: Three new wells were drilled and all of them hit water!!! This was such a surprise as the school has been told many times "there is no water in your area". One of the wells has the capacity to supply water to the local town!!

4. Tractor Project: I decided to embark on this new project as the 35 acre school farm has no tractor. We have two oxen that "plow" at lightning speed :) , so I figured it was time to start on a quest for a tractor. Now, I have an another anonymous donor out there who said he would match donations up to $5,000. Just the other day, a kind couple sent in a check for $2,000, so that means we are now $4,000 closer to purchasing a tractor. We are in the process of pricing them out and I am going to try and get some of the local community leaders to "pitch in" as this school has been a huge part of the Khunti comunity since the 1930's. More info on amount needed to complete project to come..

If you have a desire to further God's work at Khunti School with a donation, here is the way to contribute and get a tax break at the same time:

Send a check to:

General Conference of SDA
c/o Mr. Stanley Ponniah
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
(Place a post-it note on the check stating what the donation is for.) There is no need to write what the donation is for ON the check. This is at the request of the GC.

Example:

Khunti School - Library Fund
Khunti School - Water Project Fund
Khunti School - WSF (or specific child if you know their name) Khunti School - Tractor Fund

In addition, if you would like to ship books or packages (nothing expensive), send them to:

Khunti Seventh-day Adventist Senior Secondary School. P.O. Khunti; Khunti District 835210, Jharkhand; India.
Attn: Principal Kujur

Thank you so much for your interest in our volunteer project at Khunti SDA School!! May God bless you and carry you through your day.. in our ministry as volunteers at Khunti School!! May God Bless you and carry you through your day!!
***I have been getting some interest in sponsoring children at the school. If you wish to do this, please see above as to how to send a check to the General Conference. IF YOU KNOW THE NAME OF THE SPONSORED CHILD, PLACE A POST IT NOTE ON THE CHECK WITH THE CHILD'S NAME AND C/O AL & TONYA NEEP WSF KHUNTI SCHOOL. IF YOU DON'T KNOW THE CHILD'S NAME OR WOULD LIKE US TO FIND A CHILD, PUT A POST IT NOTE ON THE CHECK STATING "C/O AL & TONYA NEEP WSF KHUNTI SCHOOL". DO NOT PLACE THE NAME OF THE CHILD ON THE CHECK ITSELF. THIS IS AT THE REQUEST OF THE GC AND THE SOUTHERN ASIAN DIVISION.

AS ALWAYS, WE CAN BE CONTACTED AT: Neeper2@aol.com if you have any questions.

Yours in Christ,

Al & Tonya Neep

Neep's In India

Monday, March 10, 2008

Out with old & in with the new

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