A Farmer's Best Friend. No, it's not a pack of dogs . . . it's tools. Planting a garden may not be the first thing on your mind at Christmas—but in India, planting season is vital for a poor, rural family. For $115 you can provide a set of tools for a family to grow their own nutritious crops and maintain their home throughout the year. A tool kit includes an axe, shovel, saw, plow, sickle and crowbar.
Left as outcasts in South Asian society, widows find that tailoring is one of the few jobs they can do to provide for themselves and their families. A sewing machine can be invaluable to a poverty–stricken widow. You can enable widows and other low–caste people to earn a living with this gift. For $120, you will put clothes on the backs of children and food on a family's table.
Quench the Thirst of a Village. Jesus Wells, located near churches or Bible colleges, provide hundreds of opportunities for GFA–supported missionaries to share the love of Jesus with the villagers who come for clean water. For $1,450, you can provide a Jesus Well that will serve an entire community.
Clean Water. Many poor regions of Asia have no source of pure drinking water. Using concrete and sand, these BioSand water filters remove impurities, providing water for drinking and cooking that is 98 percent pure. For $43, help provide pure water in an Asian village—and a chance for people there to hear of the living water Jesus offers.
A Place to Worship. The sound of praise coming from a new church building is a dream for many congregations in Asia—especially those who lost their place of worship in the Orissa attacks last year. Show your love to the persecuted brothers and sisters in a tangible way by providing them with a new church building for as little as $16,000.
Warmth at Night. On those blustery winter nights, who doesn't like to curl up under a warm, soft blanket? But often, only a thin sheet shelters poor families in Asia from the cold. Your gift of $7 for a blanket will provide much–needed comfort and protection against the harsh, winter elements.
Not Your Average Taxi. Rickshaws are like the taxis of Asia. For many low–caste people, being a rickshaw driver is the one opportunity they have to provide for their families. However, many have to rent a rickshaw every morning because they can't afford their own. Up to half their daily income can go toward renting this vital piece of equipment. With their very own rickshaw, these hardworking people can keep all that they earn to help pay for their family's basic necessities.