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9/11/11

The following churches were not considered for supplies due to lack of funds:

	CHURCH	FAMILIES	NEEDED
			CORN (Bags)	BEANS (Bags)
1)	BUSERESERE	15	18	2
2)	BUTUNDWE	17	20	2
3)	NG’OMBE	5	6	1
4)	BUZIKU	10	12	2
5)	ISAMBILA	20	23	3
6)	NGARA	20	23	3
7)	MAISOME	21	24	3
8	KANGASHA	35	38	5
9)	KAHAMA	25	28	3

 

A total of expenditure on Lake Victoria Zone was USD 3900

Food Supplies and distribution: USD 3320

Trip Expences: USD 580

 

 

 

 

EXPECTED NEEDS

CORN: 311 BAGS = USD 12,000

BEANS: 41 BAGS = USD 3,600

 

Areas that have been helped:

CHURCH	FAMILIES	INDIVIDUALS	CORN & BEANS SUPPLIED		SHORTAGE
			CORN	BEANS	CORN	BEANS
1) MAGU	6	30	7 bags	143 Kg	<3bags>	-
2) MWANZA, MISUNGWI & BUYOMBE	30	55	12 bags	120Kg	<20bags>	-
3) KISESA	8	73	5Bags	26Kg	<7bags>	-
4) SENGEREMA	7	37	4bags	-	<5 bags>	<1bag>
5) BWANGA	33	218	12 bags	-	<35bags>	<5bags>
6) NYAMTONDO	6	35	6bags	-	<2bags>	<1bag>
7) IKULWA	8	63	5Bags	-	<7bags>	<2bags>
8 SIRARI	2	16	2bags	20Kg	<1bag>	-
9) BITIRIO	21	79	5Bags	-	<20bags>	<4bags>
10) NYABIKONDO	10	48	3Bags	-	<12bags>	<2bags>
11) KIRONGWE	5	23	2Bags	-	<5bags>	<1bag>
12) BUMANGI	5	25	4Bags	-	<2bags>	<1bag>
TOTAL			[69 Bags]	[3Bags]	<119Bags>	<17bags>

 

 

8/20/11

God bless you bro Barry. We thank you so much together with the Bride in USA for your concern over the current hunger situation in our country.

We established a famine relief committee in 8th December 2009 and set up a fund to cater for believers hunger related needs. From that time to date the believers have been collecting money periodically for the same. Since the year 2009 we have been able to manage these needs though barely Erratic weather conditions have undermined any effective predications and thereby disabling any meaningful preparedness for shortages of foods. Poor government policies have worsened the situation.

We have had the worst year in the last 50 years as far as drought is concerned. More than twi thirds of Northenr and Eastern Kenya have experienced a long period of no rains. In fact there have been no rains as expected from March to July in most of this region and we are unlikely to have any till may be December 2011. Some photo clips have been included in this report to show the situation on the ground.

Though the government is trying to move in strongly as of now, the situation is out of hand. In our committee meeting on 11th August 2011, we reviewed the hunger situation and its effects amongst believers. At the moment we have in our account about $3000 and expected to raise another $15,000 by December (if the rains come). We have about 110 churches in the affected areas with a population of about 4500 believers. Based on the current cost of the stable food which is maize and beans we need an estimate total of about $80,000 for the period running to December. We have made a countrywide appeal to the brethren in the churches where there has been some harvests. We trust the respond will be good and that the rains will come.

I wish also on behalf of the committee to thank you so much for co-ordinating the efforts to support us lighten this burden and acknowledge that we have receive $5,000 handed to us by bro Kamwati from you. We normally gather accurate information from the pastors of the affected churches and get the number of families (and members of each family), get also the current prices of maize and beans and compare with neighboring areas before we purchase any. We demand that the pastors account for any money disbursed to them. We also keep the records and give a comprehensive report during the pastors meetings.

Bro. Nelson
8/3/11

God bless you richly in the Lord Jesus Christ. May I respond to the emails of July 29th – 30th. I am of the opinion following your suggestions that you may send to the under-mentioned in piecemeals. To be certain we have set teams to oversee the distribution of supplies and these are:

Lake Victoria Zone

Bro. Exaud Mollel, Bro. Jacob Petro, Bro. J. Mzee, Bro. D. Mzungu, Bro. Luka Kivuyo

Tanga Zone

Bro. Adamu Shekiao, Bro. Christopher, Bro. Isaack (all from Tanga), and Bro. Ezekiel Mallya – from Arusha

Northern Zone

Bro. Zephaniah Peters, Bro. Elias Pallangyo, Bro. Isaac Akyoo, Bro. Thomas Mfangavo – All from Arusha.

All the teams should be sending pictures and serious reports to the effect of no wast of money. I will be writing in due course.

God bless richly. Zephaniah Peters

8/2/11

Information concerning the famine in Eastern Africa,  from Bro. Barry Coffey:

God bless you. The situation is unfolding in Africa and the overview looks like this:

The reality in Somalia, Ethiopia and Kenya is that almost four million people face imminent starvation and 11 million are desperately short of food. The United Nations has a definition of famine, as chilling as it is precise – when acute malnutrition among children under five exceeds 30 per cent and deaths every day from hunger reach two people per 10,000.

UN World Food Program chief Josette Sheeran says the plight of children in Somalia is “the worst I have ever seen”. “What we saw is children who are arriving (at refugee camps) so weak that many of them are in stage-four malnutrition and have little chance – less than 40 per cent – of making it.” UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has said that $US500 million ($453 million) is needed within two months to stop what he describes as the world’s worst famine.

We know we can’t save countries, but if the Believers are in need, we should do all we can to help.

I JOHN 3:16-18
16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. 17 But whoso hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him? 18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.

But I never would agree to this if I didn’t have Zephaniah and Obadiah involved. They have had a very good reputation in getting funds where it has been designated.

So I have proposed two options to them:

First, we are sending small amounts, waiting for the brothers to report back, and send over more as they indicate to us what they are doing with the funds. We will watch and see how far these funds will go, then we can send over more when the need arises. It seems that very quickly, food will become in short supply and increase in cost.

Second, if the Brethren start finding sources of food where the shortage is not so bad now, and even stock pile some, that would be also better than waiting until there is nothing left and trying to buy now expensive supplies. These brothers live in the cities, they may know where they could buy basic staples. If they could buy it and hold it for later distribution, that may require a little more money up front. At this point I don’t know really how much is available in the various areas.  I am trying to work with them each day so we can know what their plans are.

7/29/11

Famine in Eastern Africa

Recently we have had emails from the brethren in Tanzania, Uganda and Kenya concerning the terrible famine that has caused great difficulty across the Horn of Africa. While the UN and other organizations have been involved helping to deal with the exodus of people from drought stricken areas, we understand that there are many Believers in the above countries who are affected by the current conditions. The Pastors in these nations have appealed for help.

There have been some conflicting news reports from online news agencies that have appeared to downgrade the problem, especially in Tanzania. The same news agencies are now acknowledging the seriousness of the problem.

(http://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/4-national-news/13269-allow-cross-border-food-trade-to-ease-famine-eac)

Many times these news agencies have political motives, so our best understanding of the problem has come from the ministers in the region.

So, I have been in touch with Bro. Obadiah and Bro. Zephaniah Peters and they have agreed to act as a channel for funds to the ministers in these affected areas. I have set up a channel for funds moving over to these brothers and have told Bro. Obadiah that we would be immediately adding to the fund they have established for this famine relief. I feel certain that these funds will reach the needy families through this chain of accountability. I asked them to keep me posted and to send along some photos when possible.

If you would be interested in helping, or know someone who would want to help (even corporate supporters), you would be welcome to use our church as a conduit for funds to these brothers. We are trying to avoid duplication of effort, or to prevent all support going to one place. Please feel free to forward this information around.

I have included two letters that came July 29th from Bro. Peters and Bro. Obadiah. Note that these brothers are not asking for food or money for themselves or their own churches, but they are key brothers respected by local ministers and ourselves. We are encouraging them to purchase food far from the famine (hopefully cheaper) and move it over to the affected areas by truck.

Bro. Barry