Eric Malave, founder and leader of A Generous Life, inspects an aquaponics system built in Myanmar.  Eric and his team hope to build an aquaponics system at Hope Children's Home near Yangon.

Eric Malave, founder and leader of A Generous Life, inspects an aquaponics system built in Myanmar. Eric and his team hope to build an aquaponics system at Hope Children’s Home near Yangon.

  It is a good idea to return a phone call.

Eric Malave, founder of an Arizona-based non-profit called “A Generous Life” was looking for a project in Southeast Asia.   His criteria was simple – he was looking for a mission organization with a track record of establishing sustainable projects.  After an internet search, Eric had narrowed down his choices to four.

Eric began to make phone calls.  One agency didn’t return his calls.  Another’s director was too busy to meet.  The leader of a third mission group was going on vacation for two weeks and would “probably” return the call when he returned.

But the director of Asian Children’s Mission returned calls.   Eric explained his mission and his goal of coming along side an established ministry in Southeast Asia.  And after many telephone conversations, he agreed to make an exploratory trip to Myanmar.

Eric liked what he saw, especially getting to know the leaders of Asian Children’s Mission two children’s homes – Josiah and Ah Dee Che.  He wrote about his experience in a blog at http://agenerouslife.com/what-we-learned-in-myanmar/

Eric has teamed up with the United Christian Youth Camp in Prescott, AZ (http://www.ucyc.com/) to raise funds for the 92 children in the care of these two homes.  The basic cost of nutrition, housing, clothing and school books is $214 per child per year.  The total they hope to raise is just under $20,000 this summer.  A priority project is funding an aquaponics system at one of the orphanages.  Not only will this system provide a steady supply of fish and vegetables, it is a sustainable learning laboratory for the children.  It will teach record keeping, the scientific method, chemistry and more.  Creativity will be inspired as children consider ways to make smaller scale systems.

Additionally Eric is planning to lead a team to Myanmar this fall to build the system!  Watch for more information about this trip and perhaps plan to go!

For more information about this excellent ministry, visit agenerouslife.com.

Now in our sixth year of ministry in Myanmar, Asian Children’s Mission has always relied on creative partnerships to present the Gospel in both word and deed in Burma.  We are so excited to partner with Eric and A Generous Life, as well as the United Christian Youth Camp.  As always, to God be the glory…great things he has done!