Africa Planning Committee c/o NEUMC, PO 249, Lawrence, MA 01842-0449

www.neumc.org/africa

AFR IC A P L ANNING COM MIT TE E AND

AFR IC A M IN IS TR I ES O F THE NEW ENGLAND

CO NF ER E NC E OF THE UNIT ED MET HO DIST

CHU RC H

During 2012, the number of persons participating in the APC has grown to include Rosemary Bottum, Patricia & Les Steward, Candy Hallett, Shandi Mawokomatanda, Becky & Shannon Keeney, Lee & Bonnie Adkins, and Don Job, with several others expressing interest as well. We have been excited to hear about the ministries that they are passionate about, and welcome their participation in helping us discern how this committee can help to educate our local churches about the many on–going United Methodist-related ministries that are happening on the continent of Africa, which is the revised APC’s focus since July 1, 2011, and which is still under development. Toward that end, and thanks to the hard work of Alexx Wood, the APC webpage on the NEC website has been updated, and plans are in the work to have links to photos and stories of the many African-based ministries that the persons participating on this committee are involved in, which currently include a wide variety of ministries in the countries of West Angola, Zimbabwe, Malawi, Ghana, Tanzania, Uganda, Kenya, and Mozambique; as well as links to related programs such as “Imagine No Malaria” and the “Global AIDS Fund”. We also are working on pulling together a list of resources; getting a Quarterly e-newsletter going, and having a Face Book page. We hope to have both an informational display and a Learning Center workshop at Annual Conference 2013; and are doing outreach to both Conference and NEJ mission personnel so that we can help provide cross-cultural sensitivity training in

Africa Planning Committee Report - 2012

“

are short on time, so the articles must be well

focused, aiming to make one major point. The

making of this point can be achieved through two

to five (or so) sub-points. These points must have

as their primary aim the benefit of the reader, who

should be able to point out this benefit. It can be

new knowledge or insight, an idea about how to

the hopefully near future. We regretfully say good-bye to Dot

Hollenbeck* as both co-chair and a committee member effective July 1, 2013 – she has been a passionate supporter of the APC and was very involved in the West Angola Covenant program, and she will be greatly missed. We continue to welcome both individuals and local churches that are involved in ministry in Africa to become part of this committee; both to let us know about their work and to help us discern ways to bring the news of African-based ministries to the attention of all the local churches in our conference so that we can all be blessed by the amazing gifts of our sisters and brothers in Africa. In addition to those named above, the committee consists of Jim Blair, Stewart Lanier*, Tsitsi Moyo, and Marion Grant, with Gary Richards and Alexx Wood* as ex officio members.

*UPDATE TO THIS REPORT: We are thrilled that Dot Hollenbeck has

agreed to both remain on the committee and to continue to serve as Co-Chair. We have learned that both Stewart Lanier and Alexx Wood will be stepping down from the committee effective July 1, 2013, and we thank them for their past support and

incredible help during this past year.

June 2013

Volume 1, I ssue 1

By Marion C. Grant, Co-Chair

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Zimbabwe: Africa University’s 21st Anniversary

West Angola: Covenant’s PRODESCO Projects Update

Ntsonso, Ghana: New Covenant UMC, East Hartford, CT’s Ghana

Mission w/Dunwell UMC

Uganda: Bikes Not Bombs and Village Health Worker Association

West Ghana: Friends of Ghana, Inc

Mozambique: Chicuque Hospital and Missionary Jerimas Franca

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Africa Planning Committee and Africa Ministries of NEUMC

Africa University, located in Old Mutare, Zimbabwe, was

established in March 1992, by the United Methodist

Church worldwide and is the only university that serves

the entire African continent.

AU offers degree programs in agriculture; business and

public administration; education; health sciences; the

humanities and social sciences; peace, leadership and

governance; and theology. In August they will add a

Masters in Human Rights. The University’s total full-time

enrolment is around 2,000 students representing 27

African countries. Faculty number 150 and staff 250.

Their 70 member choir includes 32 languages.

In all of its activities, Africa University encourages:

Innovation; Servant leadership; Spiritual maturity and

sound moral values; Ethics and professional integrity;

Knowledge of and appreciation for different cultures and

languages; A sense of shared responsibility for Africa’s

renewal; Volunteerism and community service.

Africa University's strong reputation is based on the

relevance and impact of its efforts. Teaching at Africa

University emphasizes the practical application of

knowledge to alleviate poverty, build peace and stability

and drive development.

Bishop Skeete, our Resident Bishop for 8 years, was

instrumental in the establishment of Africa University.

When he retired in 1996, our conference established two

endowed scholarships (School of Theology and School of

Education) honoring Bishop and Mrs. Skeete. In March, I

visited Africa University for the celebration of their 20th

Anniversary. One of the persons with whom I spoke was

the recipient of one of our scholarships and a member of

the first graduating class. He is now serving as a District

Superintendent in the West Angola Conference.

Africa University’s 21st Anniversary

I believe the establishment of Africa University is one

of United Methodist Church’s greatest successes in the

past 20 years. The moral and ethical values of its

students are very helpful in graduates obtaining jobs.

52% of the students are female which means a

significant change in the African culture where it has

been common for males to receive priority. The

largest mining company in the Democratic Republic of

the Congo employs 20 Africa University graduates in

very responsible positions. Those 20 young men offer

Christian education and prayer groups to help miners

cope with being away from their families as well as

financially support 19 children of the miners. They

also give $500 a year to a current Africa University

student. I had lunch with a first year student who is

being supported at the school by a United Methodist

from PA. When I asked about his family, he told me

that he had been living in an orphanage in the Congo

as his parents had been killed in the war and his only

sibling, a younger sister, remains in the orphanage.

Attending AU is a life changing experience for him.

Africa University continues to be the evidence of faith,

hope and belief in the vision of dreamers. They are

counting on us to continue our 100% apportionment

support for their operational budget. But we can do

more. Encourage your local church to become a

partner with Africa University by supporting one

student at the University for four years. One year

costs $5,400. Local churches may provide full or

partial scholarships. Please contact Dot Hollenbeck

for more information or go to the website: support-

africauniversity.org.

By Dot Hollenbeck

Page 3 Africa Planning Committee and Africa Ministries of NEUMC

Luanda Communications Center, established 2008

West Angola Annual

Conference 2012

PRODESCO Report By Dr. Joao Manuel da Graca, Project Coordinator,

Luanda, February 15, 2013.

The projects established so far are working, rendering services to the community in terms of Medical assistance in Negage (Uige Province) and computer training (Quibaxi and Nambuangongo), in the Bengo Province. PROJECTS UPDATE: Since the last Progressive Report (dated March 15, 2012), the program continued to supervise the existing projects and holding training sessions during the year. NEW PROJECTS: In 2012, one (1) more project was established in the community of Kanjola (Ganda Municipality), South Region District, Benguela Province. This project consisted in the establishment of a community farm, aiming at improving the living conditions of the community and reduction of poverty, as the majority of the population lives only from subsistence agriculture and with less income. The funding supplied to the project was used for the purchase of a motorpipe for irrigation, seeds, fertilizers, vaccination kits and 50 (fifty) goats. Some UMC local congregations approached the PRODESCO, requesting funds for projects during the year 2012. After discussions we came to the

conclusion that these projects can be established. Thus, from March 2013, we are intending to establish five more projects:

Quibaxi ComputerClass

1) One Community Resource Center in

Calulo, Kwanza-Sul Province and District;

2) One in Quibala (Canema Community Mill Project) in the Kwanza-Sul District and Province. This project consists in the restoration of an existing Grinding (Mill) Machine;

3) One in Porto Quipiri (Porto Quipiri Community Mill Project, in the Dande District (Bengo Province), also consisting on the renovation and recuperation of a Mill machine;

4) We are also going to support two Community Projects in Munenga (Kwanza-Sul), related to production of wood and coal, to assist the local congregation at Munenga to pursue financial income. By next month we will forward to you the total figures spend and to be spent in each one of the projects.

Other details concerning expenses during the year 2012 and the costs for each project will be forwarded to you soon.

Truck purchased with TFT Funds

By Author Name

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Africa Planning Committee and Africa Ministries of NEUMC

Covenant United Methodist Preparatory School in Ntsonso. Prior to this, the children had no supplies, and learned through repeating after the teacher.

Dunwell UMC is adding three additional classrooms and a toilet to the school and we are supporting them in this effort. Helping others to help themselves is our slogan, and by starting with the precious children at Dunwell United Methodist and the New Covenant United Methodist Preparatory School, we hope our efforts will result in a new generation that gets a solid educational foundation and that has the opportunity for a successful life – a life that includes God and the ability to help others to achieve success.

“For me the trip was all about the children.” Les Stewart, New Covenant UMC,

East Hartford, CT

New Covenant UMC (CT)

Ghana Mission & Dunwell

UMC, Ntsonso, Ghana Sister

Church Visit By Les Stewart

The NCUMC 2012 Ghana Mission Team trip to Ghana had many objectives small and large that we prayed God would help us accomplish – and God really delivered!! We wanted to meet, learn about/from and worship with the congregation of our sister church in Ntsonso – Dunwell United Methodist. We found these folks to be warm, loving and filled with the spirit! Along with Dunwell Methodist, we were able to sponsor the first medical clinic in Ntsonso in over 2.5 years. It cost less that $2 per person, and over 400 residents were treated. We were able to make a donation of medical supplies to the Methodist Hospital in Ankasse.

We learned a lot about the people and the culture, but for me the trip was all about the children. Through the generosity of members of New Covenant UMC in East Hartford, CT, we were able to provide school supplies for the students attending the New supplies, and learned through repeating after the teacher.

Page 5 Africa Planning Committee and Africa Ministries of NEUMC

The Village Health Worker Association in Amuru is one of many Village Health Workers groups across Uganda, composed of community volunteers that connect people in their rural communities to health centers and health services. After the war and people’s resettlement back into the rural areas, the Village Health Worker Association worked to fill this significant gap in access to health care.

In 2011, Bikes Not Bombs (BNB) shipped our first container of bike parts to supply 325 Village Health Workers with bikes in Amuru. We sent a fieldworker, Omar, and hired a Project Coordinator, Mark, to train the mechanics, set up the workshops, and build the capacity of the VHT Association to lead and manage the project going forward. Now, in 2013, BNB is working with our project partners, the Village Health Worker Association in Amuru and St. Mary’s Hospital Lacor, the institutional sponsor of the project, to explore the potential of scaling-up the project. St. Mary’s Hospital is also supporting two other satellite health centers in Pabbo and Opit, each working with a team of 300-400 Village Health Workers. Already, the project in Amuru has shown its impacts –

BIKES NOT BOMBS – UGANDA By Stewart Lanier

During a series of Mission Trips to the Western Region of Ghana, West Africa, Friends of Ghana, Inc. took numerous folks, from ages 7 to in their 60’s, to the small villages of Azani and Busua. While there, the participants helped to build a chapel, education wing, provided a launching pad for a village palm oil cottage industry, offered medical clinics (including one dental clinic), sponsored students at a local high school, and brought school play equipment to the local elementary school.

A Methodist church started a computer lab, and many pastors obtained transportation with bicycles we shipped over along with computers, clothing and toys.

FRIENDS OF GHANA, Inc. By Candy Hallett

specifically around the increase in Village Health Worker mobility and access to the households for which they are responsible, along with a significant increase in overall Village Health Worker organization, coordination, reporting and health program

In 1993, Bonnie and Lee Adkins of Vermont led two Volunteer in Mission to Africa trips to work in an orphanage and a hospital in Mozambique. The interpreter provided was Jeremias Franca, the Administrator in Training at Chicucque Rural Hospital, a two-hundred bed facility.

During the eight weeks the Adkins were there, a friendship began for them and other team members that continues today. They learned that Jeremias, could not become the hospital administrator due to the fact that he only had a lower high school education. Several months after returning home, a Chicuque resident missionary asked them to sponsor Jeremias for an education in the United States in order that he could become qualified for the position. With the help from several Annual Conferences as well as individuals, the Adkins were able to raise the $260,000 needed to obtain a degree in Hospital Administration at South West Texas University. Jeremias arrived to begin his schooling, accompanied by his wife, Ilda, and four children, one whom was less than a year old. During the next six years, Lee and Bonnie visited with the Franca family in Texas at least once each year; and after graduation, Jeremias and his family returned immediately to Mozambique to take up his new position at the Chicucque Hospital, which had been held for him.

Since that time, the Adkins have been able to be with the Franca family both in Vermont and in Mozambique often. They also were able to attend Jeremias’ commissioning as a General Board missionary in Connecticut; attended the 95th Year Celebration of Chicuque Rural Hospital; and represented the family when one of Jeremias and Ilda’s sons graduated from University in Texas, and will be there when he received his MBA in May 2013.

Motto

During this same time, Ilda Franca,

with the assistance of a scholarship from the Women’s Division, and while raising their four boys and supporting Jeremias in college, also took classes in order to receive her GED and took many college level courses in business and finance. Nine years after returning to Mozambique, she entered Africa University,which was appox. 200 miles aays from her home, and graduated with honors in three years. Now back in Mozambique, she has begun her professional career in counseling- assigned to the maternity and pediatric wards at Chicuque Rural Hospital, and also counsels at the AIDS Center at the Center of Hope, where she sees between 15-20 patients per day. Thanks be to God for Jeremias, Ilda, and their family!

MOZAMBIQUE: 1993 Volunteers in Mission Trip Results

In Long-Term Friendships