George W. Washington
11435 Morang
Detroit, Michigan 48224
(313) 526-8121

August 25, 2009

Hello Brian:

Thank you for introducing our church to the Adopt-A-Village program of COMINAD.

As you know, we have been supporting COMINAD for more than 10 years. In 2000 we made our first visit to Africa. We visited several countries to see how COMINAD works. Benin was one of the countries we spent time with you. There, we met five missionaries who live in Cotonou. They visit several villages daily, where they preach the gospel. Many of the people in these villages have received Christ. One village was Dodji, where I believe the Lord directed me to share with our church to adopt.

The people in Dodji had a hunger to hear about Christ. The people have little to no income. Literacy level was very low. Sickness was high and the water was very bad. The missionaries and their families were in need of financial support.

When I spoke to Metropolitan about Dodji, we decided to adopt this village. For the past 8 years our church and other churches have supported the families of the five missionaries. We have paid the tuition for the children of the missionaries to go to Christian schools.

• We have had a well dug in the village to give them clean water.
• We have supplied shoes for over 100 school children.
• We have help support a teacher in the village to teach a literacy program.
• We supply school supplies for the several school classes.
• I preach in the village and I teach the missionaries.
• I have baptized many new believers
• We have supplied Tee shirt uniforms for the soccer team.
• We purchased a new motorcycle for the missionaries to travel to the villages.

When we first visited the village of Dodji, they worshiped under a leaf covered shelter. They were in need of a building where they are protected form the rain and sun. We are currently helping the village build a building where they can worship comfortably. The people in Dodji and other villages in the area are now drinking clean water which is making the villagers healthier.

Witchcraft and Voodoo were very strong in the village, but Christ is the center of these believer's lives now. One of the leader's of the village was a Voodoo Witchdoctor who would come to the meetings and sit. For weeks he would sit and listen. The people would not move because they feared him. Then one day he got up and accepted Christ and then many came forward and let it be known that they have accepted Christ into their hearts.

There are over 300 people in Dodji and most of the people who live in the village are saved. The missionaries are now sharing the Gospel in over 20 other villages in the area. In each village there are 200 to 500 people. What an opportunity the share Christ.

Brian, you said the best way to witness to the people is to come and see for yourself. Our lives have been changed and the people of Dodji have been changed also. The Adop-A-Village program for our church has been a blessing for our church. The ladies in our church have become close to the women in the village and the wives of the missionaries. We pray for the village and the Lord has blessed us to help the people of Dodji.

Thanks Brian

In Christ,

George W. Washington