November 19, 2007
A 40-foot shipping container filled with donations from LIFE 2007 students arrived in Burkina Faso, West Africa, in October. Computers, medical and school supplies, shoes, clothing, sporting equipment, toiletries, linens, hospital beds, and New Testaments were among the items sent.
When Alliance missionary Pete Brokopp went to customs to have the shipment released, he shared with the agent that it contained an offering from American high school students, which they had given from their hearts. Deeply moved, the man decided not to charge a fee for receiving the container. “Well, I’m not needed here,” he said as he walked away. “This saved us a huge amount of money!” said Brokopp.
“We were so touched by the outpouring of love demonstrated by the container for our people,” Brokopp said. In addition to the materials in the container, $117,280 was collected in a cash offering for Africa. Many of the teens sacrificed their personal belongings—watches, jewelry, iPods, a Nintendo Game Boy, a compact disc player, a camera, and a camcorder—to raise money for the needs in Africa. “Thank you, LIFE’ers!” said Brokopp.