August 2008

*****Apologies - the first version of this was sent out before it was finished, and so was still missing the last section!*****

Greetings!

Many months ago, the Central African Government gave approval to ICDI to receive land in Gamboula, not far from the agricultural project that has been partnering with ICDI to provide nutritious fruit trees to participating African villages. The official transfer of ownership of the land from the government to ICDI's name was slowed due to bureaucratic issues. The largest obstacle was just getting the region's land surveyor to the property to physically verify its boundary markers.

After repeated and HUGE efforts by our African colleagues in Gamboula, Berberati, and Bangui, ICDI is thrilled to report that the land surveyor has now arrived on to the property to complete this important step toward official reception of the land. It is truly a LARGE step forward in the ministry development of ICDI's agricultural program in the CAR. ICDI gives full credit to GOD for His decision to breathe life into our prayers for this part of ministry.

Staff Announcements

Starting on September 1st, ICDI will have a new Chief Development Officer - Ted Rondeau is joining the team, along with his wife Dawn, who will work part-time as an administrative assistant for the Warsaw Indiana office.

Welcome to the team!

We’re also excited that Doug & Marty Murtoff are heading back to Africa to mentor the garage mechanics and to lead them as they prepare the well-drilling vehicles for the new drilling season. Doug is planning to go back to Berberati in October for about six weeks. In July, Doug & Marty returned to the U.S. from a three-month trial period at Berberati. Doug served as a mechanic there and Marty helped with administration and hospitality.

After receiving an email from Bob Belohavlek around three years ago, Hunter Frey was heart broken by a statement regarding only “sponsored” orphans were receiving gifts when visits were made. Hunter decided something needed to be done so that every orphan would receive something and a collection of gently used beanie babies and then hot wheels and smarties candies began. Over the years trunk loads have been sent over and we have received many pictures of the smiling faces from a simple gift that was a basic idea of recycling collectibles that were stored in closets.

At the end of 2007 God started laying out a plan to take the trunks and deliver them personally — how blessed we were to be in the Central African Republic July 17-31 with ICDI. With 16 trunks in tow we set out to make sure every orphan in the eight groups that ICDI ministers to received a gift...

<read the rest of this story on ICDI's web page at www.icdinternational.org/news.asp>

Well Drilling Season Completed - Highest Number of Wells Completed in a Year!

This has been a fantastic season for ICDI's well-drilling team. When the well drilling business was donated to ICDI in February of 2005, 27 wells were drilled during that first year. In 2006, the number grew to 35, then to 37 in 2007, and in 2008 ICDI has completed 65 wells. Actually, 68 wells were drilled, three wells had to be re-drilled on the other side of the village, after the team had drilled down 150 meters (492 ft) without finding water. The well drilling team is dreaming of the future, and hopes to expand to two teams in the upcoming years. They'll need your prayers and support as they find and train qualified new team members, and as the ICDI Administration works on getting new equipment into the country.