Good News - Christmas 2025

Dear ELI friends. It is with great joy that we share stories highlighting Christmas blessings of 2025. The Basic Need packages were received, "just in time" to bless several families. There was joy and excitement in the villages where pastors and villagers held a brand-new Bible written in their native language, and children were able to put on new clothes and a warm jacket. ELI is especially grateful for your prayers and financial gifts that made this Christmas so very special for our precious friends that are served by our projects in Malawi and Zambia.

Christmas Cabbages - Susu Farm

Mr. Kenneth reported, "All of us were so excited as we harvested the bountiful crop of cabbages; they were taken to the Kabwe market - just in time for shoppers to purchase for Christmas dinners!"

Mr. Jacob's Christmas Report

This report details our recent outreach activities combining biblical literacy with practical support to vulnerable families in our community. As part of our commitment to reach people with books and share the gospel, we recognize that spiritual growth and literacy development go hand in hand, especially among the children in our communities.

During our village outreach visits, the ELI team members encourage children to gather for story time. Large groups of eager listeners listen intently to the Bible stories. Village book monitors also keep several Children's Bibles available to promote independent Bible study.

Grandmother Alefa

ELI is blessed by our partnership with Grandmother Alefa. She loves the children of Dima Village and is making a huge difference in their lives by assuming the role of a caring grandmother, who has time to read to little ones. Her home library includes several Children's Bibles as well as other books and educational resources. The children especially love hearing the Bible stories and seeing the colorful illustrations.

Grandmother Alefa was filled with joy when she received her Christmas present - a brand new local language Bible.

Madalitso is the twelve year-old girl living with her elderly grandparents that we met for the first time last month. We knew that the family struggles to have sufficient food and Madalitso often went to neighboring homes to ask if they had something to share. We knew this small family would need additional help this month, so we returned with a new Basic Needs package that was a huge blessing. The family expressed profound gratitude, recognizing this was God's answer to their prayers.

Items found in our recent Boxes of Blessings shipment allowed us to gift Madalitso with a new Children's Bible, school supplies, new clothes including a warm jacket and a stuffed animal to call her own. Her surprise and joy were overwhelming; a wonderful  illustration of God’s love and care for this little girl.

ELI was able to provide Basic Needs supplies to four other families. The story of Tivena is typical of the broader community needs in this “hungry season”.

Tivena is the widowed mother of six and has been struggling to feed her children after her husband's death. On the day of our visit, she was working in her very small garden, desperately trying to find something for the family to eat that day. The village neighbors and the headman had told us that she was in a very serious situation, as is many others in the village. It was very interesting to see the community identify her as the one to be helped first, the rest next time. On top of her many struggles, a strong windstorm recently destroyed their home, completely removing the roof. The family has been forced to relocate to a hut that was formerly used as a kitchen, but now serves as their entire living space. The family lives day-to-day, with no certainty about their next meal or any other necessity. It was very special to provide food for this family and a new set of clothes for each one.

The tears of joy from a widow, the excitement of Madalitso, the gratitude of Grandma Alefa, and countless others testify to the faithfulness of God working through the generosity of donors like you who make this ministry possible. We praise God for His provision through Elizabeth Library International and for the partners who share our vision of bringing both the Bread of Life and daily bread to those in need.

Blessings,

Jacob

A big thank you to everyone from all of us at ELI. We appreciate all your prayers and gifts so much, and we know you'll enjoy meeting a few of our friends and learning about special ELI events in 2025.

Cypress Community Church VBS

ELI was thrilled to be chosen as the mission focus for the Vacation Bible School at Cypress Church (Salinas CA). Creative volunteers transformed the classroom into an African village typical of those served by ELI. Each day during the week, the children learned about a different aspect of life for the village children. They tried to make a soccer ball from discarded plastic bags stuffed with leaves and vines, ate a small portion of tasteless porridge like the only daily meal the children eat, and even petted a live goat. The hearts of the children were so touched that they donated funds to purchase real soccer balls and brought beautiful children's Bibles to send in the next shipment of Boxes of Blessings.

Chasya P. traveled with the ELI Mission team in 2024, and was a huge hit with the children as she led the activities and shared her African adventures.

Boxes of Blessings Fundraiser

In the front entrance to Star Market (Salinas CA), ELI volunteers displayed donated books and other amazing resources. As shoppers stopped to look, volunteers shared the mission of ELI and why it was so important to send all these items to our projects in Zambia and Malawi.

The shoppers were invited to sponsor a favorite item or two (or three) by contributing $5 per item for shipping. A gift sticker with their name was placed on the item. Everyone enjoyed finding a favorite book, stuffed animal, puzzle or toy and thinking about the children who would enjoy these treasures. 

Living Water Homeschool Co-Op

This very active homeschool group, decided (for their Christmas outreach) to contribute needed books and educational resources to our Boxes of Blessings program. Some ELI Board members joined them for a Thanksgiving lunch, and gave a short presentation. The fun began when everyone worked together to pack four boxes with amazing gifts. We all had such had such a blessed time, children, parents and Board members! The school group is already planning to do this again next Christmas!

Santa Cruz Dress a Girl

This amazing group of very creative seamstresses has contributed more than 300 beautiful dresses for us to include in our Boxes of Blessings. Most of the children attending ELI programs come from very poor homes and having only one set of clothing is the norm. The joy on the face of a little girl receiving a new dress and a grateful thank you from her mother,

blesses all of us.

Introducing Delores

All of us at ELI are delighted when God provides the answer to our prayers, even before we have an opportunity to share this need with you.

As our Directors introduced toys to the children that we serve in our Mobile Library or Early Educational programs, it became very apparent that every child longed for a toy that was their own. Just like all children, little boys wanted cars and trucks and little girls hoped for a stuffed animal or doll to love. We include as many small toys as possible in our Boxes of Blessings, because they are almost nonexistent in rural villages.

Lana, the ELI President (USA) was attending a luncheon, where she was introduced to Delores. Delores had already learned about ELI from another friend and was eager to ask more questions. She said, "I sure wish there was something I could do to help. Do you need dolls? I love to make them."

Delores is knitting as fast as she can, so the next shipment will carry these beautiful dolls made with love and covered with her prayers that a little girl will know she is loved. We serve an amazing God.

Perhaps you have wondered just as Delores pondered, is there something you could do to contribute and bring joy to children far away in need? There is! ELI has many opportunities for giving. The Basic Needs program, Bibles for both children and adults, Boxes of Blessings shipping costs; just to name a few! Perhaps becoming a regular monthly donor, knowing that your gifts and prayers will meet the most urgent needs would work for you. Thank you to all our friends and supporters. You are making a difference!

Happy New Year!

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Thank you for partnering with ELI to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ in word and deed.