Bibles Books and Shovels came into existence after a vacation trip to Nairobi and Mombasa, Kenya in June of 2002.  While in Mombasa, and taking a walk with a guide, a woman with about 35 children was seen under a tree conducting class.  As visitors from the United States, this scene was very unusual and the commitment of the teacher was imbedded in the hearts and minds of the visitors.   No other contact was made with the teacher at that time but the scene was a topic of conversation.

The day before the vacation was to end the vacationers went with the guide for the last walking tour of the beautiful surroundings passing out candy to the village children.  In an opening about 100 yards ahead, a person was crossing the path of the visitors.  At once the guide said, "There goes the teacher."  You must picture this scene.  The walking path from one village to the next would lead through bush growth over 7 feet tall.

The walking tour that day started out in the opposite direction of the class under the tree.  There had been no mention to the tour guide that the visitors wanted to make contact with the teacher.  The visitors had all but given up on the idea of ever contacting her.  At the request of the visitor the guide called to the teacher and she came back to meet him.  After the introductions, the teacher was told how impressed they were with her commitment to teach the children of her village.   The visitors inquired if there was any way that they could help her with her efforts.  She was very grateful for the offer and began relate a list of basic needs for a classroom.  She requested pencils, paper, first grade level reading books, first grade flash cards, any kind of note paper pads, and a very few other items.  As she talked, one of the visitors wrote the items she requested down on a very small piece of paper she had in her purse, along with her name and address.  The visitors promised to do something after they returned home to the USA.   

Upon returning to the United States the visitors started to talk among themselves about how they were going to keep the promise they had made to the teacher.  After several casual conversations, persons began to offer their help.  More that 100 elementary level books were donated, some Girl Scout troops collected school supplies and book bags, and a church agreed to adopt the school as a mission.  Another church also expressed interest in getting involved with this effort.  In a very short period of time there were 18 totes of material that needed to be shipped from Wilmington, Delaware to Mombasa, Kenya. 

.  How would these three visitors make this shipment?  There was no organization, no plans, and most of all no money.  A team of interested people came together and focused on getting the materials to Africa. Inquiries were being made of people who do missionary work overseas.   Many names   of people in the mission business and people who ship material overseas surfaced.  The common thing that the people said was that we should not collect materials but collect money and send it to the teacher and let her buy what she needed, because of the expenses involved.  This was not good news now that there were 18 totes full of school supplies sitting in two different locations waiting to be shipped.  Most said they should have been consulted first and at this point there was not much advice they could give except don't do it this way again. 

During a visit with a pastor in Philadelphia who is very much involved in overseas missionary work he advised the group to incorporate in order to get the money needed to do what God was leading them to do.  After more prayer the group decided to follow the advice of the Pastor and incorporate.  The name Bibles Books and Shovels was chosen as the name, which represents the threefold purpose of the organization.    The word Bibles represents spreading the word of God.  The word Books represents supporting the education process for the people whom they serve.  The word Shovels represents the aim to improve the economic conditions of the people who are served. 

An attorney was contacted to proceed with the incorporation process and charged no fee because of his commitment to community service.  The team grew to five people meeting on a regular basis planning the next moves.  The major issues were shipping the materials to the school, getting the non-profit status approved in order to raise funds, and securing help from other members to complete this project and future projects. 

Still more prayer.

A phone call was received by one of the members informing him of the availability of space in a container being shipped to Kenya...  The caller stated that the container was completely paid for so there would be no cost to our group.  The only possible response that could be made was, "Thank you Jesus."   All of the materials were moved from Wilmington, DE to Philadelphia, PA to the drop site.  All was well and everyone felt good and thanked God for His divine intervention.  There was a big sigh of relief because for all intents and purposes this project was almost over.  After about three more months there had been no word on the status of the material.  The checking started again but nothing could be determined.  After about another month a call was received and there was information that the container had finally been shipped and was heading for Nairobi, Kenya.  More thanks to God went up. 

Another waiting process began.  Another four months had now gone by and no other word had come.  Finally there was word that the container had arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.  The material had been sorted and stored at a location in Nairobi.  More praises and thanks go up to God. 

The next and final move must be started.  The move would be to get the material from Nairobi to Mombasa, about 150 miles across land.  After two of the members made a trip to Washington, DC to talk with another pastor it was decided to contact another pastor who was known to this group and is now living in Nairobi to see if he could assist with this last move.  E-mail was sent to him and his reply was for about $100.00 he would see to it that all of the materials would be hand delivered to the teacher in Mombasa.  More praises go up to the Lord for His part in all of this activity.  This $100.00 would include the shipping and handling of the material, and the cost for the pastor's travel, room, and board.  The money was sent to him by western union and within four days e-mail was received that the materials had been delivered to the teacher and everyone was very happy.  So after 1-1/2   years the promise was fulfilled.  The materials that had been requested by the teacher had arrived. 

All members of Bibles Books and Shovels were so happy that they could not stop thanking God for how He had stayed with them and kept them focused on this project from beginning to end.  The teacher asked for a small amount of material to help her.  The visitors surely had in mind to send that small amount to her, but this entire effort brings to light that scripture in Ephesians 3:20-21:  “Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.”  (NIV)  He did immeasurably more than anyone had thought about.  To God be the glory for all He has done!

There is more to the Bibles Books and Shovels story than this one project.  The other major concern has also been accomplished.  The non-profit status had been granted from the internal revenue service.  The incorporation is now ready to take the necessary steps to generate funds that will be exempt from income tax.  More praises to the Lord.  Bibles Books and Shovels’ members thank the Lord for this status but want to make it very clear that this corporation will depend on the Lord's guiding and the dedicated members He sends to complete the projects assigned by God.  We know that God has everything needed to help dedicated people complete His projects. We are assured of this because with a few dedicated people and no money, two major tasks have been completed and the third started.

The group decided that one goal would be to finance the education of 10 children near Mombasa, Kenya from elementary through high school graduation.   A membership campaign was launched and 50 persons responded with monetary donations and became members. Two members of the Board of Directors took a three-week mission trip to Kenya and were able to enroll 12 children in the Victory Academy because of the generosity of the donors.  We currently have a total of 15 children being supported by Bibles Books and Shovels.