Our charity shop is nearly ready to open. Over the course of this year we have managed to put on the roof, secure doors and windows and plaster the walls. The latest stage is the installation of a suspended ceiling, which looks very good.

There aren’t any lights yet, nor any connected plumbing, but the one thing we really need is a proper floor. Tiling the large floor area would cost at least ₦1,500,000 (about £5,000) for the charity shop and the other unit. Then we could set out the books on the floor, but that’s a start and much better than being piled up in the office or in boxes as at present. We would gradually add plumbing, electrics, fixtures and fittings until we have a shop with shelves, display stands and counters.

So please pray with us for some excellent booksales to finance the completion of the shop. We have been encouraged by sales so far, particularly as we have only sold from the office, drawing people in by advertising. This is in contrast to the first container in 2012 when a lot of time and effort went into taking books to churches or schools. We made an exception for the Theological College of Northern Nigeria (TCNN), where Mark works, and the students rewarded us by buying over £1,000 worth on one day in late October.