Why you should buy a goat for Christmas

Not exactly traditional ...

What if, instead, you could give life or hope? What if you could tell your loved ones that for Christmas, they’ve brought a future to an entire family in Ghana – by sending them a goat? It’s not that outrageous an idea. World Vision this year has an entire catalogue filled with great Christmas presents given to the needy on behalf of your loved ones. So do both Open Doors and the International Rescue Committee. Each will send a beautiful card to your special person – telling them how their gift made a big difference. What a great idea – on Christmas morning to learn that you’ve changed the lives of the Third World’s hungry, homeless and impoverished!

Not exactly traditional ...

Give a goat! Yes, a goat. Goats are incredibly effective at meeting the appetite needs of malnourished children and giving Third World families an income boost. Producing up to 16 cups of milk a day, a healthy goat can nourish a family with milk, cheese, and yogurt. As one woman who during her childhood received a goat from an American donor exclaimed, “My very own goat saved the family from hunger.” Selling extra milk and cheese can also provide families with crucial additional income. Little goats can be sold, providing extra income and spreading the positive effect a goat has to more families. Because goats are so hardy, they are practical in nearly every climate, and their droppings nourish the soil and increase vegetable crops. A gift of a goat to a family in need is a gift that keeps on giving. Your cost? Click here to give a goat through World Vision for $75

Not exactly traditional ...

What about a digital Bible for the illiterate? For $30, you can provide an MP3 Bible to believers who don't know how to read or write. In one community in rural China, illiteracy meant a growing congregation of believers couldn't study God's Word. As a result, they risked being led astray by false teachings. That's why they were so overjoyed when Open Doors delivered 20 MP3 players preloaded with a recording of the Bible in their dialect. As one leader shared, "They will be extremely helpful for the people in my village because many of us cannot read Chinese." Click here to buy a low-income Third World Christian a digital Bible through Open Doors for only $30.

Not exactly traditional ...

Chickens and ducks! Their small size makes these traditional fowl ideal for families with little money, space, or food to spare. Chickens provide a lasting source of protein to families with their production of fresh eggs, and they can thrive without taxing the resources of vulnerable families. Extra eggs and chicks can be sold to pay for basic needs such as medicine, clothes, and school supplies. In this case, it doesn’t matter whether the chicken or the egg came first – both are life-saving for hungry families. Ducks are also inexpensive to care for and prove especially valuable in areas prone to flooding. Ducks not only produce eggs but also can stay afloat in weather that would be fatal to land-dwelling chickens. A hungry family will benefit all year long from the large, protein-rich eggs ducks produce. Ducklings and surplus eggs can boost a family’s income, and down-feathers can also provide extra income and warm clothing and bedding to vulnerable families. Ducks are a particularly good gift in terms of quantity as well – click here and through World Vision 5 ducks can be given to a family in need for $30.

Not exactly traditional ...

Safety! While many Christians in the West are preparing to go to their safe, warm churches to celebrate the birth of Christ and sing Christmas carols, beleaguered Syrian Christian refugees in Lebanon are wondering how they will survive the brutal winter weather. "We came from Homs," said a Syrian believer as he held his baby girl in his arms. "We fled because of daily fighting and shooting. When we left, our house was still intact, now we don’t know if it is still there.” With temperatures falling below freezing, refugees are now living in make-shift tents instead of the homes they once lived in with their families. For only $9, you can supply a refugee with a survival pack packed with food, medicine and other basic necessities – all for just $9 from Open Doors by clicking here.

Not exactly traditional ...

Give a cow! Perhaps the most iconic of farm animals, it’s not hard to see how a dairy cow can save lives of children and families. One cow gives up to 350,000 glasses of milk in its lifetime, providing families with plenty of protein and calcium to keep them well nourished. And if there are any extra gallons of milk among the 5,000 produced in the cow’s lifetime, it can be sold to boost family income. Victoria, a widowed mother and recipient of a cow in 2006 remembers she “nearly collapsed with joy” upon receiving her own dairy cow. Gifting a share of a cow allows multiple families to reap the benefits a single cow can give in terms of nutrition and income. Through World Vision, you can help buy a deserving family their very own cow for only $50

Not exactly traditional ...

Rabbits, sheep, pigs … and an alpaca? As far as multiplying gifts go, the rabbit is a clear winner among farm animals. One pair of rabbits can easily produce 50 rabbits in one year, providing families with income and food possibilities that continue to multiply. The small business prospects of owning a herd of rabbits do just that for families in need, creating a source of income and helping feed, educate, and clothe children. These cuddly animals are a living image of the way small blessings are multiplied. Sheep can make a huge difference in the lives of children and families. One healthy ewe gives children essential protein, vitamins, and minerals with their highly nutritious milk. In fact, their milk is up to twice as nutritious as cow’s milk in terms of the protein, calcium, and B vitamins it contains. A sheep also provides plenty of wool to knit warm sweaters and blankets. Sheep often give birth to twins or triplets, adding to the repertoire of items families can sell at the market. And what about pigs and alpacas?

Not exactly traditional ...

Pork and cashmere! The rapid weight gain pigs can achieve doesn’t leave many of us envious, but this trait is what makes the pig such a valuable asset to poor families. One sow can produce up to 20 piglets a year, and within 6 months these piglets can weigh 200 pounds. Piglets fetch a hefty price at the market for struggling families, and they can also provide a huge source of protein for children in need of nourishment. The extra income and nutrition is irreplaceable for families fighting to provide food, education, and other essentials to their children. And what about an alpaca? Native to the South American highlands, these animals are an investment that Peruvian and Ecuadorian families can benefit from for 25 years or more. One animal produces 12 pounds of strong, warm, lightweight wool every year. The cashmere-like wool can be sold for a good price and help families buy essentials such as food, clothing, and medicine. These essentials bought with the extra income an alpaca garners can be the difference between a struggling child and a thriving child. To provide any one of these animals, click here!

Not exactly traditional ...

Merry Christmas! As a gift in your own home, perhaps a goat or a duck is unconventional, but for needy families, farm animals are life-saving. And to send a lifeline of hope to a destitute believer suffering persecution – what a wondrous blessing! Bibles, training, food and hope can help families go beyond simply surviving and allow them to pursue the possibilities of school, medical care, and small business ideas with the extra income farm animals provide. As the Proverbs 27:26 says, “… the lambs will provide you with clothing, and the goats with the price of a field.” To look at World Vision’s gift catalogue, click here. To peruse gift possibilities with Open Doors, click here!