Cow Dung Project Brings Hope and the Gospel to Poor Bangladeshi Community

We recently provided some ministry funds to our friends,  Omar and Shana (not their real names), in Bangladesh. Omar notified us that they have a unique project that they plan to 'invest' in. 

Fuel for cooking and heating is in short supply in this teeming country of 165 million. One of the creative resources used in making fuel is cow dung mixed with rice husks. Omar and Shana plan to use the funds we donated to help 15 poor families in their community produce this product. 

There are Muslim, Hindu and Christians in their neighborhood that God has put on their hearts to help. They met with 15 women representing these families to determine their needs. The women requested that Omar and Shana provide funds to help them purchase cow dung, saving them the time of collecting it in the fields. This  they can add to rice husks and form around  sticks (see picture above) to sell for cooking fire fuel. While the women mix the dung with rice husks, wrap it around the sticks and dry it, Shana will work with them and share the love of Jesus that 'fuels' their desire to help them.

With the profits of this product, the selected families plan to send their children to school. They are also requested to share a portion of their profits back to Omar and Shana's church to help keep the project going.  What a creative and self-sustaining way to reach others with the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Please pray with us that this project will communicate God's love for the poor and draw them to the Savior.  

Prayer Requests: 

1. Pray for us as we travel to the Washington DC area this coming weekend. We will bring a ministry update to our supporting church in the area and Alberta will speak at the church's monthly women's gathering. We will also visit other friends in the area.

2. Pray for the final details of our trip to the Philippines in June to come together. Alberta will be co-facilitating more women's seminars and we will do some pastoral counseling training with the pastors of Bethany in Isabela.

Serving Christ with You, Steve and Alberta