Bujumbura

Your Update

Update from Doug Penner on December 28, 2010 at 8:08am

Email from David Pailthorpe regarding project #394....

 

Was Jesus the Light of the world born in a stable with power cuts and no lights?

Burundi CRIB house was plunged into thick darkness the day after Christmas. After all the fun of Christmas Day the fun came to an abrupt halt on Boxing Day evening. The disappointment from the children was clearly evident and could be heard...
that is until I reminded them that we had new batteries and an inverter
(whatever that is). These had all been connected to our solar panels. The new
batteries were replacing our eight year old worn out ones. We had no money to
replace....that is until Impact Nations stepped
in. So.....I flipped the switch and suddenly lights lit up the house like a Christmas
tree!! I ran into the older boy’s room where they had been playing some board
games. “What do you think?” “This is such a blessing for us” replied Moise and
Enoch almost verbalising the same thing.

Bathrooms, bedrooms and sitting rooms all enjoyed a new lease of light. Others of the children shouting “thank you, thank you!” The truth is that we are all so very grateful for providing us with the
means to give the children light in the evenings when it is needed most. In the
last few weeks there has been a lot of rain and this can cause havoc with the
underground cables. Two minutes from our house a substantial bridge collapsed
with the rain. We have become accustomed that frequent power cuts are a way of
life here in Burundi. As I write, the rain is falling hard. As I write this 23
of our younger children are here watching Walt Disney’s Dumbo the Elephant.
Should the power go out, within a moment I can switch to battery power that has
been charged from the Solar panels and continue watching to the delight of
everyone.

Thank you to Steve and Christina Stewart and the team who were able to channel monies to this project. Chrissie Chapman our Director was amazed that all this had been accomplished by Impact Nations
while she was in the UK. “This is amazing! Thank you so much. So many are
affected, the cooks can make the evening tea with light; the Mamas can get the
children ready for bed, making sure everyone has really washed behind their
ears and lastly the security lights remain on throughout the night keeping the
compound safe and secure, thank you so much!”

Well the only problem now is calling “lights out!” What a great problem to have. Chrissie, Sheena and I are touched by your generosity and care that goes beyond just mere words. We also want to thank you
for the Impact Nations team that came to Burundi for the recent Journey of
Compassion. Pastor Edmond, Dr Aline and ourselves felt it was such a privilege
to have these resources come into Burundi. We saw the sick and dying restored
through the medical clinics. Also the greatest gift was when so many people
came to faith in Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Saviour. Sheena and I
recently revisited Gitega and the pastors and churches where the journey had
its focus. The Pastors continue to tell us of the impact that the Journey had
for some of the poorest of people. What can I say... other that you are such a
blessing and if I go on anymore you will think someone is paying me to write
all this?

He who gives a drink to one of these did it unto me..... May each of you be blessed as you enter 2011 and have a Happy and prosperous New Year. Next time you flip
your light switch maybe you will join us and give thanks for the gift of light
and ask the Lord to pour out so much blessing on Impact Nations team and the
work they do.

Happy New Year.

Love David and Sheena

Update from Catherine ("Cat") Harbord on December 6, 2010 at 9:18pm

Thanks Doug, David and Steve for the details:-). I will be launching a campaign through my business, hopefully by the end of next week to generate funds and awareness for the C.R.I.B, commencing with the Chicken Rearing project! I am also planning on joining the next journey to this area so that I can visit the C.R.I.B. in person and be of service in any way possible. Blessings to you all, Cat

Update from Doug Penner on December 6, 2010 at 8:38am

Email from David to pass on to Cat...

Dear Catherine,

Thank you so much for the enquiry as to how you can help with the chicken
project we are doing. You will have noticed that Steve Stewart replied to
you direct on the matter. He knows that our email capability here is poor
and as he saw everything first hand was able to give you all the answers you
needed. Suffice to say it is so very kind of you to be thinking of us and
the kids and this practical way that we can walk to be somewhat self
sustainable. Your love means a lot and maybe one day you would be able to
visit and see firsthand the differences that folks like you are making. We
pray for your business and that everything works well and prospers as you
have vision for it to.

Every Blessing,

David

Update from Doug Penner on November 29, 2010 at 11:24am

Hi Cat - sorry for the delay. Steve just got back from Burundi and emailed me this: "The 2nd chicken shed is built. Now they need the chicks. They cost $10 each. Ultimately, they need 150 of them to fill the new shed, but can buy them in smaller lots. I suggested 50 and they were very happy with that."

Update from Catherine ("Cat") Harbord on November 15, 2010 at 6:50pm

I am interested in taking on the remainder of the Chicken Rearing Project, through my social business, as I believe that I have been called to do so. Would you mind confirming what your needs are in terms of # of chickens and projected date needed and overall costs for the second phase of this project?! Best Regards, Cat

Update from Doug Penner on November 3, 2010 at 8:31am

Update email from David Pailthorpe on the Chicken Rearing Project...

How can we express our gratitude to those of you who given to help us establish a chicken farm. It has been amazing to see the 2 chicken houses go up and then freight containers coming from Belgium with 140 young chicks. They all survived the journey. Our 47 children were asked to try and be as quiet as possible so that the young hens could settle down and get used to their new home. That was back in the summer. Today they have grown and are laying 120 eggs a day! We are selling them through the local mini market who now only buy eggs from us. We can get $2 USD for 10 eggs and each day we make $12 and that is $84 USD a week. Burundians really like eggs so there is a great demand. Much of the finance is used to help feed our children and they are delighted to see how these chickens are helping them. We also buy feed and medication for the hens to keep them in tip top condition. The children also benefit so that once a week they can have eggs for their tea. It is marvellous to witness firsthand how your donations have helped us become more self sufficient and sustain these young lives through these vital years.

Our children at C.R.I.B were rescued during the Genocide war (Children Rescued In Burundi) and they have been given the chance to make a difference to this Burundi Society. The cost of clothing, housing and education as you can imagine is enormous. It was much easier to raise support when they were babies but these days raising sponsors in the Credit Crunch Western World has proved much more difficult. We have had to look at ways to become more self sufficient and your donations are proving we can do it little by little as we look for sustainable investments. So now we are proud to announce that we have our very own micro enterprise.

We have a second hen house to populate and as the first batch of hens begin to reduce the amount of eggs they can produce, we will bring on stream the second house. People in the local area are now knowing CRIB house is not just as an orphanage but as a place providing good quality eggs for sale. Our children are learning some of the husbandry necessary for maintaining a little chicken farm and some in the not too distant future will no doubt take up farming for themselves.

How can we thank you enough for your donations and support. Chrissie Chapman our director particularly wanted to add her thanks to you and other partners for helping us to get this project up and running. It is great when God gives us creative ideas how to sustain such a vital work. Chrissie has been working tirelessly in this great work that spans the last 17years. “For it is He who gives power to get wealth.. Dt 8:18” and we believe this includes creative ideas that will produce revenue. We pray that God will give us more wisdom and that you will be blessed in all you have given as it is more blessed to give than to receive. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you from all the children and team at CRIB house, Bujumbura, Burundi, Central Africa! God Bless you

Every Blessing,

David

Update from Ed Kang on November 2, 2010 at 11:15am

Hi everybody. If you have noticed our Facebook campaign to get this mobile dental clinic funded please do so. Follow this link:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/WOW-Ventures/116270238398342

Then click on the "Like" button at the top. We are using this as a strategy to get corporations to donate their advertising budget to projects instead of traditional methods.

You can read an article about this at: http://www.wowventures.org

Thanks! Let's get this funded.

Ed

Update from Doug Penner on July 19, 2010 at 8:06am

Email from David: Wow, when the kids received the care packages donated by impact nations they
were so happy. When the money came through we went to the market to get the
best prices and like the loaves and fishes, it went further than we
expected. Sheena and I were able to buy some flip flops and some bracelets
keeping within the budget. When we gave them out it was joyful pandemonium.
Thank you so much for bringing such happiness into their lives. Those of you
who will come on the Burundi Journey (7 -19 Nov) will see the results of
where your money went and how grateful we all are. Freddie was particularly
pleased with the flip fops as only a few days earlier had sliced some of his
toe off as he had nothing to wear on his feet around the gardens. Don't
worry we managed to stick the piece back on and stop any infection and now
there are no more tears. Isaiah (in the red shirt) wanted me to say a
special thank you to whoever sent him the gifts and so didn't want to be
left out of the picture with the girls.
See you in Burundi soon!

Update from Ed Kang on May 12, 2010 at 2:16pm

We will be posting information very soon on this project. Just getting details arranged. And guess what? We ALREADY have funds flowing in!

Update from Rose Casey on May 12, 2010 at 2:12pm

Bless their little hearts:)

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