Child Action Initiative: August 2010

CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER 15 AUGUST 2010

PREFACE: In the previous edition of Child Action Initiative (CAI) Newsletter, we introduced
David (Dave) Heiser an environmental engineer from Raleigh, NC who joined us to support CAI. Dave recently returned from a trip to Lubumbashi/Kasungami, Democratic Republic of the Congo where he worked with (Isaiah) Esaie Njimbu Chot, founder of CAI and his wife Yvette as well as the parishioners of Nazareth United Methodist Church. Following is Dave’s report.

Blessings,

Beverly A.. Wentz, R.N. (Retired ) and Edward L. Wentz, Jr., P.E. (Retired)
U.S. UMVIM Coordinators for Child Action Initiative
Oak Ridge United Methodist Church
Oak Ridge, NC 27310
Greensboro District
Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference

June 2010 Mission Trip to Kasungami, DRC to Support Child Action Initiative

On June 25, 2010 I embarked on an 18-day individual mission trip to the City of Lubumbashi, DRC to support Child Action Initiative (CAI), which is an Advance mission project of the United Methodist (UM) General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM), begun in 2006 to provide education and clothing for the orphaned children in Kasungami – a “village” of 42,000 refugees on the south side of the city. My host was Isaiah Chot, the founder and Executive Director of CAI. The warmth and friendship with which I was received by both individuals and three separate United Methodist Church (UMC) congregations, was truly overwhelming. My trip was a follow up to the first visit to Kasungami two years earlier by Ed and Bev Wentz from the Oak Ridge UMC near Greensboro, NC. However, the population of Kasungami has increased from about 20,000 in 2008 to over 40,000 in mid-2010, which was evidenced by the very large number of children that congregated everywhere Isaiah and I went. A large percentage of these children are orphans and the primary reason for the CAI mission.

I accomplished everything on my agenda and more. One of the primary goals of the trip was to construct two Vented in Place (VIP) latrines near Nazareth United Methodist Church (UMC) and the new Women’s and Children’s Activity Center. These latrines will be used by the UMC congregation during church events, but will also fill the requirement of having sanitary facilities available for use by future United Methodist Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) work teams. After purchasing the materials in town, the residents mixing the “concrete” for the portable slabs, and digging the deep pits by hard labor, the two latrines were mostly completed by the time I left the DRC in mid-July. The next related task for Westerner UNVIM team members will be to learn how to use these “seatless” pit latrines.

Another major accomplishment was the agreement reached with World Vision to obtain two free and three additional drinking water wells at half price installed in Kasungami, to augment the 8 or 9 existing wells (some of which do not produce water during the dry season).

One of the main tasks to be accomplished for the village, which was given the highest priority by several leading ladies of Nazareth UMC, is the implementation of the developmental farms program. The village Chief has graciously provided two large plots of fertile farmland to CAI. However, until the farms are properly developed, the buildings and animal pens are built, agricultural education is provided, and seeds are supplied, the people will not be able to use these farms to sustain their health and provide livelihoods.

While in Kasungami, I purchased eight new 4’ x 6’ windows manufactured locally and installed in the Nazareth UMC, which has had no windows or doors since the wars of the past decade. After several frustrations during manufacturing, the windows were constructed of heavy metal frames, with half of the units having hinged sections for opening, and were installed in the church building. What about glass, you ask? The fabricator replied “Oh, that’s extra”! Several men slept on the church floor for the first two nights, to make sure the windows did not “walk away” during the night while the grout was setting!

On my final day in the DRC, I received my biggest blessing. I was in Lubumbashi during the largest celebration for the local UMC Conference ever, namely the 100 year anniversary of the UMC in the South Congo/Zambia Episcopal Region! Celebrations took place Friday through Sunday, with multiple visitors and dignitaries from foreign countries and Provincial government authorities in attendance, culminating in a joyous ceremony on Sunday at Jerusalem UMC. The service on Sunday, conducted outside the sanctuary due to the 5,000 plus people in attendance, started at 9:30 AM and concluded at 4:15 PM, with scores of groups singing and dancing throughout the ceremony! Congolese people have endured countless years of hardship and wars during the past 100 years, but God was truly present at this celebration, and blessed all who were in attendance – especially this lucky traveler!

Before I left, Isaiah and I compiled a list of 21 needs for CAI and Nazareth UMC. In addition to the water wells, several items on the list include structural and electrical needs for the church, the proposed new parsonage, the Activities Center, and the farms. However, the high priority needs on this list at this time are: the addition of a room to the Activities Center for a kitchen, kitchen appliances, and an interior door to the room in the rear of the building. These items will make it possible for the women of the village to have a safe and clean place to birth their children, and to stay for a short time in case of complications. Thus, electrical power to this building is also a high priority.

It is anticipated that several UMC mission work teams will be needed in the near future to accomplish the goals currently established for the continued support of CAI. These teams can be planned any time of the year, but the most opportune time to send work teams to the South Congo is during the dry season, which runs from April through October. The biggest need at this time is to find the funds for the three new wells to be drilled by World Vision, who has asked for our half of the costs by mid-September 2010.

Blessings,

David M. Heiser, PE, BCEE
U.S.UMVIM Technical Advisor for Child Action Initiative
Fuquay-Varina United Methodist Church
Fuquay-Varina, NC 27526
Raleigh District
North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church

PHOTO GALLERY:

Nazareth United Methodist Church, damaged by civil war, is shown on the left with a new roof and repaired steeple. Dave facilitated the fabrication and installation of side windows. A concrete floor has been added and walls have been plastered. The white building on the right is the Women’s and Children’s Activity Center. Its construction was started in 2009 by Isaiah with funds received from an UMCOR grant. Bricks for the building were fabricated and construction provided by the members of Nazareth UMC. This building is used for meetings, tutoring, counseling, teaching girls and women to sew and crochet. It will also be used as a birthing center.

Carrying handmade bricks for the VIP latrines.

Digging a pit for a VIP latrine.

Dave Heiser testing well water while villagers watched.

Children eligible for education & support by Child Action Initiative.

Windows being installed in Nazareth UMC.

Dave and Isaiah (wearing NC State Wolfpack shirt given by Dave)
distributing soccer balls inside the newly constructed
Women’s and Children’s Activity Center.