CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER        JANUARY 31, 2012

January 2012 marks the third year for the Child Action Initiative Newsletter to inform supporters on progress and accomplishments of this worthy mission founded by Isaiah Njimbu Chot in 2006.

We are grateful for prayers offered during Isaiah’s &Yvette’s young son Eddie’s bout with malaria and typhoid fever before and during the Christmas holiday 2011. Thank you Ms. Paulette West, Executive Director of the United Methodist Volunteer in Mission program, Southeastern Jurisdiction, Decatur, GA and Mr. Tom Corson, Executive Director of Servants in Faith & Technology (SIFAT), Lineville, AL for contacting Mr. Hugh Guffey and his son Dr. Brad Guffey a medical missionary serving in Zambia and friends of Isaiah, for providing guidance during this difficult period. Also, we thank Shannon Trilli, with United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for contacting Siméon Kashala, MD, MPH, Eglise Méthodiste-United, Médecin Directeur Hopital Samuteb/Kapanga,DRC for additional guidance.

Eddie responded well to treatment of antibiotics and intravenous fluids at a clinic in the City of Lubumbashi, DRC. He returned home for Christmas and is doing well.

Milestones reached by Child Action Initiative (CAI) in 2011 under the direction of Isaiah & wife Yvette:

• CAI received a grant from UMCOR for orphan education program. Currently 100 children are enrolled in the primary, high and professional schools. They are provided food, uniforms, supplies and school fees. All performed well and are making significant progress for further studies. This program provides new opportunities and is transforming lives;

• Three wells drilled and pumps installed January 2011 by World Vision in Kasungami, DRC. Wells were dedicated March 22, 2011 during a community wide ceremony. This project was made possible through donations from Hershey, PA Rotary Club and individuals;

• Development & implementation of women’s sewing and micro-business programs to ultimately generate family incomes;

• CAI received donations from Sydney Wentz to purchase 50 pairs of shoes and socks. Isaiah reported the children danced and sang: “we got presents, we got presents.”

• Dispensed over-the-counter medications provided by Dave, Bev & Ed from CAI Pharmacy located in the activities center by Sylvia, a volunteer from City of Lubumbashi;

• Dave Heiser visited in September, 2011 to meet with Isaiah and the congregation of Nazareth UMC to plan the parsonage for the pastor and family and address logistical issues related to the project. Dave also provided donations to purchase glass for the church windows and doors which was installed by Isaiah and church members;

• Representatives of (UMCOR) June Kim and Mozart Adevu and United Methodist General Board of Global Ministries (GBGM) Judith Santiago visited Kasungami October 2011, to meet with Isaiah, Yvette and the residents to begin implementation of UMCOR’s Sustainable Agriculture and Development Program;

• The construction of church latrines started by Dave and Isaiah in 2010 were completed by church members in 2011 under the direction of Isaiah;

• Kasungami orphans celebrated Christmas 2011. A party was organized at the CAI Center including food, songs, dances, competition and games;

• Recruiting continues for Nazareth UMC’s Parsonage Building Team to visit Kasungami, DRC June 15-30, 2012. Cost is $3,000 per participant including airfare, room and board. Application and medical forms available at: www.wnccumc.org/vim/bgt-ScheduleStatus.htm. Application deadline is the Team Orientation Meeting March 11, 2012, at Oak Ridge UMC, Oak Ridge, NC.

• Donations for the $15,000 Nazareth United Methodist Church Parsonage Building Material Fund gratefully accepted. Please send donations to: Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, 2424 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NC 27310 and note: Donation for: Nazareth UMC Parsonage Building Material Fund. (Tax deductible.)

If you wish to make a tax deductible donation to support Child Action Initiative, Advance No.: 3021036, please click on the “DONATE Now to this Advance Project” button on right side of this newsletter. Please complete amount and designate area of interest. 100% of your donation is applied to Child Action Initiative.

(Please see photos below)

Blessings,

Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Founder and Executive Director of Child Action Initiative
The United Methodist Church South Congo & Zambia Episcopal Area
Kasungami/Lubumbashi, DRC

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

David Heiser, P.E., B.C.E.E.
U.S. UMVIM Technical Advisor for Child Action Initiative
Fuquay Varina United Methodist Church, Fuquay Varina, NC
Raleigh District
North Carolina United Methodist Conference









"My guardians couldn't afford to buy me shoes I needed for my education and protection. It was so challenging, what then will become of feet without new shoes and socks? I could succumb to peer pressure and become robber to get them," said Joka Lumeka.

Many children are living with financial difficulties. Some of the children never had their own pair of shoes. These are not for a status symbol, but play important roles of protecting the feet from the hazards of the outside world.

"The provision of shoes can free up family budgets and keep us in school. Thanks to Sydney’s generosity for giving children school shoes. It was so exciting to be getting new shoes," said Joka Lumeka with a smile.

CHILD ACTION INITIATIVE NEWSLETTER           AUGUST 12, 2011

The Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference (WNCUMC) Building Team Committee will send up to three Volunteer in Mission (UMVIM) Building Teams in 2012 to construct a parsonage for Nazareth UMC, Kasungami, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

Nazareth UMC is the church with which Child Action Initiative (CAI) is affiliated to educate AIDS orphans and initiate other programs in the community of over 40,000 people. CAI was founded by Africa University graduate Esaie (Isaiah) Njimbu Chot in 2006 to provide orphan education programs; drill wells; provide medical services; initiate a sustainable agriculture & development program and construct a parsonage for Nazareth UMC.

Max Kern, a member of Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, NC, USA and chairman of the WNCUMC Building Team Committee has agreed to lead the first building team June 15 -30, 2012 to Kasungami. Max, a general contractor by profession, brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to this project: he has served on 22 international building teams, 10 of these as building team leader to Guatemala, Jamaica, Costa Rica, Cuba, Chile, Bolivia, Dominican Republic, Armenia, Israel/Palestine and Haiti. He has also led 12 domestic building teams to North Carolina and Iowa as well as the Gulf coast of the U.S. following hurricane Katrina.

Anyone interested in a life changing experience and joining Max’s Building Team June 15-30, 2012 please register. If you have any questions please contact: Max at (phone: 336-643-7297 or e-mail: hmaxkern@gmail.com) or Ed or Bev Wentz (phone: 336-643-3007; e-mail: ewentz1@triad.rr.com).

In the event the June, 2012 dates do not suit your schedule, additional building teams will visit Kasungami July 13 - 27, 2012 and August 10 - 24, 2012. Please sign up accordingly.

If you are a qualified Team Leader and interested in leading Team 2 (July 13 – 27, 2012) or Team 3 (August 10 - 24, 2012) please contact us at the above telephone numbers or e-mail addresses.

If you are interested in participating on any of the three parsonage building teams please go to: www.wnccumc.org/vim/bgt-ScheduleStatus.htm:

A. Access 2012 WNCC Building Team Essential Information;

B. Access 2012 Projects for all countries. Scroll down to Congo, Democratic Republic of the, for information on the project;

C. Application/Medical Forms.

NOTE: The deadline for Nazareth UMC Parsonage Building Team member applications (WITH PASTOR’S SIGNATURE) to be submitted no later than January 14, 2012.

There will be a Building Team orientation meeting January 14, 2012, at 10 A.M. at Oak Ridge UMC, Oak Ridge, NC

Total cost for the 16 day trip to DRC is $3,300 (based on departure from North Carolina through Dulles International Airport, Virginia). This includes airfare, room and board at Nazareth UMC, Kasungami, DRC and the United Methodist Guest House in Lubumbashi, DRC. Total cost is contingent upon point of departure and air fare.

Team members will also assist raising $5,000 in donations per team to cover cost of construction materials for their phase of the parsonage construction. Donations for building materials for the parsonage may be sent to: Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, 2424 Oak Ridge Rd., Oak Ridge, NC, 27310, USA. Please indicate in Memo: Nazareth UMC Parsonage Building Material Fund.

You are also invited to attend the Volunteers in Mission Rally & Reunion at Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference, Lake Junaluska, North Carolina, Oct. 7 - 9, 2011 to meet building team leaders and prospective team members. Please go to: www.wnccumc.org/vim/bgt-Rally.htm for additional information. Attendance at the rally/reunion is not a requirement to participate on a Building Team. However, attending the rally introduces interested parties to other individuals and team leaders who have the common goal of serving others.

In His Service,

Bev & Ed Wentz

U.S. (UMVIM) Coordinators for Child Action Initiative
Oak Ridge United Methodist Church
Oak Ridge, NC
Greensboro District
Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference

In the previous edition we outlined the events leading up to the completion of the Child Action Initiative (CAI) well drilling project in Kasungami, DRC which spanned a period of 4-1/2 years. See blogspot for archived editions.

The following narrative and photographs by Isaiah Njimbu Chot describes the dedication of the wells on March 22, 2011:


On the morning of Tuesday March 22nd, 2011, Kasungami community was extremely honored with the presence of Lubumbashi Mayor’s representative, World Vision staff, UNICEF delegate, community leaders, various officers including local chiefs, children, women and men who attended the dedication of the community wells,

Until recently, most Kasungami Community had taken for granted the safety of their drinking water. The events alerted all of them, have stimulated and reminded the importance of effective health prevention. Also the event was a best opportunity to inform and sensitize the population through speeches, role playing and songs to protect drinking water to reduce the risk of waterborne illnesses.

The community drank dirty water with parasites and bad sanitation conditions. People attempted to combat waterborne diarrhea and guinea worm disease, but they were unsuccessful. So we recognize that we are fortunate in Kasungami to have these wells. “Thanks to the generosity of donors of The Water Project, the entire community will benefit from safe drinking water”, said the children.

World Vision director: “We would find it extremely difficult to drill wells this year if other people could not do something to help. Because of the generous donations sent to Child Action Initiative for the water project, we were able to continue with this effort to take it beyond that to helping the people with safe water. We appreciate to partner in these collaborative efforts for the first time. The community should then protect and maintain these pumps.”

Representative of the City of Lubumbashi Mayor's Office: “On behalf of the Lubumbashi City, we truly appreciate Child Action Initiative’s work for providing three wells to the community. We recognize, as you do, the valuable role you play in building brighter futures for Congo’s next generation. It is through the positive efforts of people like you that we can “Change a Lifetime” for a child in need. We appeal to your donors to do more wells which will help many families to have access to safe and protected drinking water all through the day. People can survive much longer without food then without water. Thank you for your continuing support.”

Therefore, after experiencing the first event dedicating the three wells, the community pumped with eager anticipation, praising God when water flowed freely. The people were excited to begin using their new source of clean water.

Reported by

Isaiah Njimbu Chot
CAI Founder and Executive Director



On behalf of the residents of Kasungami, we wish to thank everyone for their prayers and financial support of the well drilling project over the past 4-1/2 years. Your support has has been a blessing. Now, we will focus on: a. Implementation of a developmental farming program to enable the residents to raise crops to improve their health, nutrition and become self-sufficient; b. Creation of United Methodist Volunteer in Mission Building Teams to construct a parsonage for Nazareth United Methodist Church, the summer of 2012 and c. Purchase a vehicle for Isaiah's use to enable him to more efficiently serve the people of Kasungami.


Blessings,

Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Dave Heiser, Bev and Ed Wentz

Bev Wentz, R.N. (Retired) ; Ed Wentz, P.E. (Retired)
U.S. UMVIM Coordinators for Child Action Initiative
Oak Ridge United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, NC
Greensboro District, Western North Carolina United Methodist Conference

Dave Heiser, P.E., B.C.E.E.
U.S. UMVIM Technical Advisor for Child Action Initiative
Fuquay Varina United Methodist Church, Fuquay Varina, NC
Raleigh District, North Carolina United Methodist Conference

School Children Dancing at the Well Dedication Ceremony



Children thanking the donors for the wells





World Vision Director’s representative, School's coordinator, Isaiah Njimbu Chot,  Mayor’s representative, Assistant to the Bishop’s representative, UNICEF delegate. Woman sitting with yellow and green, is Nazareth UMC lay leader



Kasungami Chief with drinking glass, plate and bowl for the dedication ceremony



World Vision Director’s representative, Julie, DS’ secretary, Education Coordinator, Nazareth Pastor, Isaiah Njimbu Chot, Mayor’s representative, Assistant to the Bishop’s representative, UNICEF delegate, Deacon Tshilomobo DS’ Secretary, Ms Sylvia, Rev Jacques, Isaiah and Arlette Ngonso