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>>> January 6, 2009 Looking back at 2008 we have SO much to be grateful for. Last week, as I spent New Year's Eve in Africa, I took some time to consider all those things, and decided to share them with you, since so much of this what God has accomplished, he has accomplished through your prayers, and your financial gifts. WELL DRILLING & WELL REPAIR The well drilling and well repair operations have really taken off. In 2008 over 100,000 new people were impacted by our water program alone. We now receive almost daily requests for help fixing broken pumps, and requests for help with sanitation issues. The hardest part is deciding who we can help, since we don't have the time or resources to help everyone. It's really tough to have to refuse someone, even when we know they have a real need. Pray for wisdom for us, as we make these tough calls.
Unlike many of you, I get to see with my own eyes the impact all of our work has on actual people. The boy pictured above is not 6 or 7 year old... he's 12. Malnutrition and bad water have sapped the life out of him. The first time I saw him with a team of men from the NC Hope Community Church the boy could not even sit up. Today, thanks to a new well and help from the Hope Community church this boy is alive. Even though you don't get to see it, you have been a part of this boy's story, and thousands of others just like his. SANITATION This year ICDI has started its first training team focused entirely on sanitation. Showing people how to build latrines (ten were built during 2008) and educating people on the health benefits for them and their children is actually quite a fun job! People here are VERY interested in learning, and are constantly asking for more help to learn how to develop and improve the health in their villages. Your prayers and financial gifts are not only helping people to survive serious threats to their health, but are actually changing people's focus from a relief mindset to a development mind set.
RADIO Our radio station has played a key role in educating people on many of these development issues. ICDI continues to receive letter after letter from people thanking ICDI for what they've heard and learned about micro-enterprise, HIV/AIDS, water, sanitation, agricultural work, and Biblical topics as they see those lessons making an impact on their daily lives. In a country where the economy has collapsed and few companies remain in the country (two more lumber mills closed there doors while I was here this time), the simple fact that ICDI is here, and working hard to improve living conditions is an encouragment to Central Africans. THE DEVELOPMENT GAME When I was a young boy growing up in the C.A.R., I remember trying to teach my Central African friends how to play baseball. I soon ran out of patience, and just went back to sports that were familiar to them - soccer and basketball. The many rules and lack of equipment just made it seem too difficult. Yet despite my short attention span, and lack of patience, a few of them picked it up - could crack the ball to the other end of the soccer field every time at bat, and could catch every ball hit to them. And that after only a few weeks. Many of them are amazing athletes. It reminds me of the development "game" we play here. Often frustrating, yet our Central African co-workers are eager to learn, and many of them have talents, abilities, and a determination that amazes me time and time again. Thank you for investing in ICDI, teaching the Central Africans to play the development game. As they learn, their children survive, their education grows, and their country moves forward. We'll be depending on you as we start a new season in 2009! THE BIG BEETLE We've got something else in the works, something not quite ready to announce yet, but I'm sure you'll be interested to find out how we plan on using a giant beetle to provide water for 1,000's of people in Africa. Make sure you read the next update!
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