In 2012 Masonry program: Established to help boys and young men who
have not been at school to learn how to construct, read and write. The skills
gained can help them to use rocks, sand, cements and bricks to make houses. Parents
and children are happy. A 14 years boy
said, “I started a new life. I will be able to make my way”.
Microcredit program for
women’s empowerment: We
established this program to help women who are doing literacy and sewing
program. Weekly they donate 2000 Congolese Francs (Fc) (U.S. $ 2.2) each. Plus
the donation of 10,000 Fc (U.S. $11) they received last year from CAI Supporter, Technical Adviser David
Heiser, they are making clothes,
buns and small items for business. Sales proceeds from these items will help to
buy other sewing machines or provide credit to any group member who would like
to start her own business or income generating activities. But the credit is to be returned with a small percentage on top for the financial sustainability of the program.
Building team constructs parsonage
for Nazareth UMC: June to July 2012, it was a great blessing to have a group of United
Methodist Volunteers in Mission (Max, Shirley, Bill, Jane and Amy) who came from
the United States to help construct the parsonage for Nazareth United Methodist
Church in Kasungami. They also brought clothing, knitting materials, medicines,
toys, supplies and various gifts including the Nazareth UMC signs which were assembled
and installed at the church and main entrance.
It was so amazing and a blessing to learn how hard the building team worked
to raise funds to enable the work to be accomplished.
At their arrival, the team members decided to stay in Kasungami with the
people of the community. They had a productive time and achieved a lot. They started
early in the day to carry bricks from where they were made, laid the bricks and
made mortar with the local building team. People were astonished because it
never happened in the area. So it challenged even people from other
congregations. “I never dreamed that we
will have a nice parsonage for Nazareth United Methodist church Ministers. We
have been crying for many years, but today I have seen God’s hand’, said Ngonga,
Nazareth UM Church member!”
The team members were so interactive and flexible. They socialized with
the church and community members through cultural exchange and stories. They
tested local dishes such as Bukari staple food made from maize/corn, lenga-lenga
or amaranth/vegetable, sombe-cassava leaves/vegetable, etc. at the center with
the church and family members.
Children were gathered at the activities center during spare time for
games, fun and entertainment. They could make flowers, paint images, share
stories, learn English words and play soccer.etc. It was so exciting.
Ms. Kapembe one of the cooks said, “Isaiah,
do you know that it is my first time to sit side by side with a white man;
share food and shake their hands. We are
thankful for having them sleep in Kasungami, otherwise they would just come and
go to Lubumbashi city center”.
The team left behind a positive impression. When it was time for the team to leave, people
cried and escorted them to the airport with songs of joy. Their presence meant
a lot and contributed to the evangelism of Nazareth UMC in Kasungami.
 |
| The Parsonage |
Sydney’s gifts for Isaiah’s
kids program in 2012: It has been one of my major concerns for so many years to fit our
children with shoes to protect them from disease, parasites and many types of
injuries. These children would still be barefoot without this great help!
Instead of using funds for her birthday party, Sydney decided to buy 100 pairs
of shoes and socks for orphaned children in Kasungami.
This donation touched each one of us and expressed Sydney’s big heart
and love dedicated to making life better for orphans, vulnerable children and
families. Children were so happy to receive again new shoes. So after finding
the perfect fit for each child, one boy said, “I never dreamed I would get a new pair of shoes each year even though
many schools require children to wear shoes, this has never been heard in
Kasungami. I am so grateful.”
 |
| Children receiving sneakers. |
Work started on Fipango Chapel: Max Kern, Oak Ridge UMC, leader of the Nazareth
United Methodist parsonage building team visited Fipango village with me during
his stay in Kasungami DRC. He was touched to see the poor worshiping conditions
of the United Methodist members in this chapel such as lack of adequate
roofing. So it was decided to finance a new roof and work has started.
New bricks were made and burned/fired by the church members for the
construction of a new chapel. The work is now under the way. Iron sheets for
the roof and wood are ready for the work to be started. Cement, sand, paint and
benches will be needed in the near future.
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| Rebuilding Fipango Chapel |
Bishop Katembo Kainda - South
Congo conference Episcopal area: Visited
Nazareth United Methodist Church recently in Kasungami. He was thankful
to learn more about the building team’s work, CAI accomplishments and the parsonage
that will be dedicated in the near future.
Christmas celebration: 23rd December 2012, CAI children celebrated
Christmas. They played various rolls, sang and shared Christ’s birth stories.
As they sang Silent Night each one lighted a candle. They received clothing and
toys. Refreshments were provided.
Plans for 2013 and Beyond:
o
Establish
a clinic and maternity unit to help nine communities in Kasungami.
o
Farming:
drill well at the farm; add animals and laying chickens and structures.
o
Computer
class: second hand computer will be needed for the vocational classes. for ICT
program.
o
Education:
Scholarships for orphans’s college or University studies.
o
Reinforce microcredit program for women’s empowerment.
Submitted by,
Isaiah Njimbu Chot
Isaiah Njimbu Chot
Founder of Child Action Initiative
Kasungami,
DRC
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