Last year when the terrible earthquake happened in Haiti, the Christian & Missionary Alliance responded by setting up a fund to which people could donate to assist with relief and development. So what were the results? How well did we respond to this country in great need?

The C&MA raised nearly $1.7 million for Haiti, and the largest donating church was CCC. I don’t share that so we can be proud, yet instead be excited about what God continues to do IN and THROUGH the people at CCC.

I made a personal call to Phil Skellie, who is the Director of CAMA Services, which is the relief and development arm of the C&MA. When I spoke with him, he had actually just recently returned from a trip to Haiti, and his insights were interesting.

• A big problem in Haiti now is too much relief. So many organizations have provided not just basic food and water, but also many other kinds of assistance. This hurts the Haitian businesses who also sell these goods because people will not buy what they can get for free.
• Other organizations are sending teams from America and other countries to assist with rebuilding, but in many cases they are rebuilding without involving the Haitians. Instead, what the Haitians need are jobs.

The C&MA quickly decided to take a different approach, which would be less focused on relief efforts and more focused on future development. The bulk of the $1.7 million will get spent over the next few years to focus on home reconstruction (using methods that will withstand earthquakes), job creation and training, and agricultural projects.

I believe this is a great strategy. It’s much better to help the Haitians help themselves, rather than continue to make them dependent on the generousity of others.

So the C&MA has spent just under $300,000 so far in Haiti, and here is a breakdown of how that was spent, for those of you who are accountant types.

• $141,300 went for food, water, and shelter provided through partner agencies
• $43,715 went for survey trips and direct relief to Haitian churches in the C&MA
• $10,425 went for short-term teams to provide training in post-traumatic stress counseling, construction, and project management
• $89,105 went for construction equipment, food-for-work payments, and travel

Thank you for your caring and generousity to the people of Haiti. It’s great to be part of a church and denomination who continues to show the love of Jesus to people in need.

Here are a few new short-term mission opportunities this winter. Many more will be coming in 2011 but this is a good start.

Nurses need in Mali

From December 3 – 12 CCC will be sending a team to work with CCC missionaries Dusty & Julia Reynolds at their Sababu Manufacturing business.

This team will consist of one (1) Family Practice Physician and three to five (3-5) Nurses. These medical professionals will provide medical services to the employees and their immediate families, estimated at between 100 and 150 people of all ages. Services will include items such as physicals, vaccinations, blood sugar tests, health education, and creating medical records for patients.

At this point we are recruiting Nurses – so if you are interested in learning more, contact Craig Walter at craigw@cccomaha.org / 938-1575.

Children’s Ministry Workers needed in Peru

From January 8 – 15, CCC is sending a team of eight to ten people, led by Pastor Steve Walters, to work at the Peru Field Forum. A Field Forum is a time when all the missionaries come together for a week of worship, refreshment, and learning.

The Peru mission field is led by CCC missionaries Allen & Amy George and they have asked us to lead the Field Forum in 2011. While Steve is preaching to the missionaries a team from CCC will minister in various ways to approximately 24 children and young teens over the course of 5 days.

If you are interested in learning more about this ministry, contact Craig Walter at
craigw@cccomaha.org / 938-1575.

Construction Workers at New Day Orphanage in Zambia

CCC is making individuals aware of an opportunity to travel with a team from the Omaha area to Zambia, Africa from January 15 – 29. This trip will focus on the building of a new orphanage, including the construction of homes for children and missionaries as well as the dining hall.

New Day Orphanage was started in 2009 on land donated by several Zambian villages and construction is well under way. Persons experienced
in any aspect of construction will be welcome.

For information about New Day Orphanage visit www.NewDayOrphanage.org.

If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Craig Walter at craigw@cccomaha.org / 938-1575.