>>> February 2009

THE BIG BEETLE

So how is it that a Beetle is going to provide clean water for tens of thousands of Central Africans for decades to come? Built by the Gill Rock Drill Co. in Lebanon, PA, the Beetle is a very specialized piece of equipment especially designed to drill water wells in the most rugged of circumstances. Later this month the ICDI staff will be loading our new Beetle, and several thousand dollars of supporting equipment and supplies, onto a cargo ship destined for Africa.

And how did ICDI come into possession of this blessing? Well that's a tremendous story of God's leading and the faithful generosity of John and Chris Repasky. John is the president of Hanover Architectural Products in Hanover, PA. For several months John and his crew at Hanover have been in the process of building a custom-designed well drilling rig for ICDI's work in CAR, originally scheduled for delivery in time for the 2009 well drilling season. Engineering delays have slowed the construction process. John, being unsettled that people were in despaerate need of clean water, decided to do a little Christmas shopping and found a barely used Gill Beetle for sale at the Volvo Construction Equipment Co. in Lewisberry, PA. Several phone calls later John was face-to-face with the sales staff at Volvo sharing about how God was going to use this piece of equipment to save many lifes. Everyone was thrilled and have pitched in to make this a reality. Currently ICDI's Garage Manger, Doug Murtoff is training to operate the Beetle and preparing to head to Africa for six months.

STAFF MEETINGS

Last month the ICDI executive staff meet at the Warsaw, IN home office for a week of strategic planning for 2009. With a decentralized team - staff living and working from locations all over North America and Africa - the opportunity to be together face-to-face is a real treat. This marks the first official meeting of the newly formed Leadership Team after this last summer's realignment around several new staff hires. God has blessed ICDI with gifted men and women in key positions of strategic planning & managment, finance, and development. This newly formed Leadership Team will now share and carry responsibility for many strategic and implementation details under Jim's visionary leadership. Today ICDI is well positioned to make significant strides in advancing community development issues in Central Africa in the coming year.

L-R: Brook Avey, CFO; Bob Belohlavek, COO-Africa, Jim Hocking, Founder & CEO;
Dan Thornton, COO-USA; Ted Rondeau, CDO; Dawn Rondeau, Administrative Assistant

BERBERATI OFFICIAL OPENING

On Tuesday, January 27, 2009, ICDI and VisionTrust International were able to celebrate the opening of a new Orphan Care Center in the city of Berberati, Central African Republic. Although the 104 orphans in the program have been receiving care and meeting together since May, 2008, this was the official opening before government officials and included marching, singing, skits, and Scripture quotations by the orphans. The testimonies of the orphans through skits made it clear that they understand that they have a new opportunity for a future through the help that they are receiving.

The 104 children perfomed songs, skits, and quoted memorized Scripture to celebrate the opening of the new orphan care program in Berberati.

Left: What's a celebration without a feast? The cooks were hard at work, preparing for the meal.
Right: The children enjoyed dressing in uniform for the celebration.

The ones who really make this ministry work, the teachers of the orphan groups and the program leaders, with VisionTrust representative Dan Shepherd.