IMAGINE...

Dear Friends,

Imagine waking in the morning to a new world. A place where lions, giraffe, and other exotic wildlife are common place. A place that promises new sights, culture, and wonders. Sounds exciting so far doesn't it. Now imagine the people that inhabit such a land. You might imagine faces full of smiles, mothers and fathers tending to their daily chores, and children singing and playing.

Now imagine that it is all a dream, because in reality you have awakened to a world that is full of sorrow, a world that has been plagued by the lies of the enemy. Satan has whispered into the hearts of a generation and turned them to a life of sexual immorality. He has not only infected their hearts with sin, but he has also poured out a disease on the people...AIDS. It seems that all is lost for the people of Swaziland. The ‘babyboomer’ generation has all but become extinct. The cries of children are not of joy, but cries of hunger, cries of the homeless and orphaned. A few have been lucky enough to have a grandfather or grandmother to turn to in their pain, but most do not. For some girls, their families are not even safe havens. Witch doctors have polluted the minds of the people. They have turned fathers and grandfathers into child molesters and rapist. They promise that sex with a virgin will cure the disease that hunts them daily, so daughters and granddaughters become victims, leaving the young girls to try to pick up the pieces.

What will become of these children? Many will not live to adulthood because they have been born with HIV or have been infected by circumstances out of their control. So what can be done for these kids? How can we help people in a country that we have likely never even heard of and one so far away? You may be thinking to yourself, “There are thousands of them and only one of me. What can I do that would possible impact their lives?” The answer: Children's Cup.

Children's Cup is an organization founded by missionaries Dave and Jean Ohlerking. Their purpose is to take humanitarian and spiritual aid into the hard places where war, natural disasters and disease epidemics have devastated societies. These children in hard places know horrors our children have never heard of. Food, shelter, medicine and education are not enough to heal their emotions. They need hope. Hope's name is Jesus! Through several care points, Children's Cup has successfully set up a means to minister to the children of Swaziland and the future of their country. By providing physical and spiritual nourishment to these kids, Dave and Jean have brought hope to a new generation.

Recently, Angi and I have felt a calling on our lives to join the Ohlerkings in providing care for these hurting children. As you may know, our own girls are coming to an age where they will soon be setting out to college/career or ministry, so we are looking to God for direction in our future service. We believe that God has called us all to share the Good News of Christ with the people around us, but he also places a desire in some to carry the Gospel to people around the world. While I have felt this desire for several years now, God has recently placed this same burden on Angi's heart as well. With a united heart for sharing God's love with these children, Angi and I have committed to join Children's Cup for a 2-week trip in April of this year. We will be leaving the US on April 5th and returning on the 16th. While in Swaziland, we will be partnering with Children's Cup by helping to serve kids in care points and helping with other projects as needed.

We are writing you in hopes that you will partner with us by providing prayer support leading up to and during our trip. We would also like to invite you to share in our financial needs for this trip. While we intend to save much of the needed funds for the trip, we would greatly appreciate any support that you feel God would have you offer. We are hoping that we might present a gift offering to Children's Cup of any funds raised above the cost of the trip.

We hope that this letter finds you and your family in good health and enjoying the blessings that the Father continually lavishes on his people. Thank you in advance for your prayers.

With love,
Jimmy & Angi Bittle

Please take time to visit www.childrenscup.org to learn more about how you can help kids in Swaziland. You can also contribute to our trip costs by calling Children’s Cup at 225-673-4505 or mailing checks to Children’s Cup, PO Box 400, Prairieville, LA 70769 (Be sure to put our names in the Memo).