Help? (by Thom)

It's hard to ask for help. Actually, it's hard to ask for certain types of help. I have no trouble asking for prayer support or for someone to pick me up at the airport. However, it's a lot harder to ask for financial help. Even working in Christian radio in the US and going through several fund raising Sharathons I find it very difficult. That said, we do need some help.
Back in June my laptop computer died on me. For a bit I thought it was an issue that would be fixed by the manufacturer but a couple of weeks ago I found out that won't happen. The cost to repair the computer is roughly equal to the cost of a replacement. Since June I've been using my personal laptop to take care of the field's finances but my computer is an older machine and not really up to the task. At this point, I need between $1,000 and $1,200 to get a decent replacement. Typically, we'd seek budget funds with the C&MA for this but giving has been down so much that our budget this year is almost 50% of what it was last year and there just isn't any flexibility in the field funds to meet this need.
Would you please prayerfully consider this need and see if the Lord is moving you to help out in this? My ministry managing the finances for the Mali, Senegal and Congo fields is one that I do almost entirely on the computer. I can't imagine the medical ministries trying to continue without their operating tables or youth sports ministries working without soccer balls. If you would like to help with this need please contact me via email at mcmali @ gmail.com
While you're praying for this need please keep me in your prayers too. The stress of this situation has been affecting my sleep the last few weeks. I know it's in the Lord's hands but my heart-knowledge and head-knowledge don't always mesh real well....