Opal Trust 

NEWSLETTER-SEPTEM BER 2005

TO ALL OUR FAITHFUL PRAYER PARTNERS

THIS SERVICE THAT YOU PERFORM IS NOT ONLY SUPPLYING THE NEEDS OF GOD’S PEOPLE BUT IS ALSO OVERFLOWING IN MANY EXPRESSIONS OF THANKS TO GOD. 2 COR 9:12

It is high time we brought you up to date with OPAL news, particularly as we have become aware more recently that some of you may have missed out on our last letter at the turn of the year because of the difficulties we were having with our emails. We trust you will be encouraged as you read of the development of the work this year to date and find cause with us to praise the Lord for His unfailing goodness and provision.

STORE

A tale of 2 moves involving 15 plus tonnes of product! Firstly from the former paint shop in Carlisle to the Old Convent (currently up for sale) in Dumfries in February. Then on to more permanent facilities providing 2,000 square feet of storage at Lochmaben, just 3½ miles from our home. These facilities are much more conducive and our landlord, although not a Christian, has been very sympathetic and helpful.   We are grateful to friends who have enabled us to acquire good racking, a transit van and other warehouse equipment.

STOCK

We have been blessed with great opportunities to acquire a variety of books and Bibles at very favourable cost enabling us to supply these at greatly discounted prices including carriage! Also we are grateful to friends and local churches who continue to donate surplus Bibles, books and songbooks which we pass on freely to needy fellow believers overseas. Most are in English but we also need to source literature in French & Spanish to meet demand.

THOSE WE HAVE HELPED

So far this year we have been able to send consignments to 13 different countries, principally in Sub-Saharan Africa, but also China / Hong Kong , India , Cyprus , Jamaica and Ecuador . These have been variously for nationals, missionaries, local churches and Bible schools. The response from recipients has been so encouraging, confirming to us that we are indeed meeting a real need. We have also been able to welcome a number of visiting missionaries to our store enabling them to see at first hand the variety of product which we can carry at any one time. As we write, we have a container en route for Zambia where it will be permanently located at Ian and Marilyn Campbell’s Centre at Chingola. This will be shelved and kept stocked with a variety of OPAL product as well as handling ongoing orders for the southern part of Africa . I plan to visit as soon as the container arrives, to help out with logistics and ensure the smooth operation of this store in the future.

FINANCE

In the goodness of the Lord and through the faithful giving of his people, we have been able to honour all our commitments to date. However current negotiations to purchase 10,000 copies of a budget edition of the NIV look to be successful and this will severely strain our resources. Also we are receiving regular requests for help from those unable even to make a small donation towards unit cost and transport. It is just not possible to assist every situation and we need discerning wisdom.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

• Pray!!!  For needed resources and suitable product. For safe arrival of consignments. For discernment in handling requests for help. That help given will be a blessing to recipients.
• Donate surplus Bibles, song books & suitable literature in good condition for overseas use.
• Help us make the ministry of OPAL more widely known across the developing world.
• As time and diary permits, we are available for deputation opportunities
• Consider sponsoring a gift of Bibles / books or a Leader’s Pack to a deserving situation.

Warmly yours in our Saviour’s precious name

GEOFF RUSTON (Secretary)

New email address:  info@opaltrust.org