HELP!

Good morning everyone,

While at EGO the first few weeks in June, in my spare time, I worked on both mission vehicles doing mostly service work. While changing oil and greasing the Toyota, I noticed some suspension problems and called them out to Pastor Steve.  I was told of a front end shimmy by everyone who has drove it recently. The suspension needs rebuilding – bottom line. Ten years of bad roads has also taken its toll. We have an estimate of $3100 for parts only for the suspension. I would add another $1500 for 5 new tires; $1500 for a new windshield; and probably figure another $2000 for labor to rebuild the suspension. Adding in the estimate for parts of $3100 and we are at a grand total of $8100 – figure $9000 to be safe. Could we save $ in the DR? Probably, but not that much. I checked over the parts list with my Toyota dealer here in Iowa, and he said the prices were suggested retail, as I would suspect.

The vehicle is worth in today’s market $50 to $60,000. A new one is close to $100K, so to fix it is nothing. But, the money must be raised. And with Pastor Steve in Haiti, I know we will not be taken advantage of, as we would if it were one of the boys from EGO doing the negotiating.

I wanted to get this off before your Sunday meetings, so that you could share this need. It would be nice to get this work done before Don & Doris return, or there is need of both vehicles. The van is running great, so they have transportation, but would not suggest that they continue using it for daily errands. Since the transmission is out of Ken Drowleys truck, there is nothing to use to haul gas, diesel, lumber, steel, etc. All this has been done with the Toyota – recently. If this is started with the new van, it will not stay new. The older brown Ford van has been pushed back behind the chicken house for retirement. It does run, but needs major $ in it to fix it correctly. It is really unsafe to drive and I would advise selling it immediately. Ruben thought he could get $500 American for it and I told Pastor Steve we should consider it. None of the parts will fit the newer van, so to keep it invites rodents to live in it and with all the parts hanging off of it, it is dangerous for the little kids to get around it. And, they will eventually use it as a play item. And, as of this updated post, we actually have an offer of $500 from Jim Smith in Texas, who would bring in mechanics and the parts to fix it. And, he would keep it at the orphanage to be used, if necessary. Praise the Lord for that. Let's hope the EGO board meeting on Saturday, July 16th votes in favor of selling it to Jim!

So, here is the news on the vehicles. Will you consider how you could help us fix the Toyota. There is a lot of good news to report on all the changes and improvements being made at EGO, but that will come from someone else. I am just the mechanic who whines and complains. I don’t really like the position, but if someone doesn’t do it, who will? You all have a great day! Steve