CMF Intl – Mar 15 2016 – holistic development in Turkana, Ecuador, and Brazil

Water in Turkana!

Well and farm projects sustain life in African desert

One hundred Turkana families will receive access to clean water and farm-fresh food in 2016, thanks to the donors who fund the ministry efforts of CMF and its partner, Water for Life and Livelihood (WFLL), a non-profit founded to help provide clean water for drinking and growing food in Turkana. Representatives from the two organizations – including CMF’s Director of Church Catalyst Ministries David Giles, CMF missionary Gene Morden, and Bob Tippet, founder of WFLL — met recently to discuss the successes of 2015 and make ambitious plans for 2016.
 

Looking ahead

“The Turkana church and the farm and water team have identified about 50 well sites and 15 family farm sites that need clean water and irrigation in 2016,” said David Giles. “All the wells are installed by national workers.”

“A team of 30 Turkana men were trained on how to drill wells, install pumps, and use irrigation for farming,” said Gene Morden. “They also teach the truth of God’s Word through Farming God’s Way principles, and disciple their brothers and sisters to live the abundant life available to all who obey and live by the commands of Christ.”

CMF and WFLL will share equal responsibility in raising $300,000 in 2016 to provide the new clean water wells and irrigation systems for family farms. Each farm is designed to provide enough food to sustain the families in the community, plus extra to sell for income.

“We at CMF are so thankful for partners like International Disaster Emergency Service(IDES) and Christian Relief Foundation (CRF) for their generous donations toward the funds that we have committed to raise,” said David Giles. “IDES has donated $28,000 and CRF gave $60,000 toward our goal of $150,000 in 2016. And WFLL already has commitments of $105,000.”

Successes of 2015

The plans of 2016 are built upon the accomplishments of 2015. The Turkana drilling team dug a total of 38 wells in 2015, 34 of which were successful, according to Gene Morden.

“These wells provide clean, sanitary water for up to 34,000 people,” he said. “This team also helped 100 families on 10 farms get their new, irrigated lands cleared of brush, fenced, and planted.”

In addition, the team established a demonstration farm at Kokoi, which is used as a model for training new farm families and testing different crops and fruit trees.

“Everywhere the team goes they meet people who want to have irrigated farms so they can eat every day and have money to buy extras like shoes, shirts, skirts and even books for the kids in school,” said Gene. “They say they want to be ‘like their neighbors who have irrigation.”

“Before we leave a farm, the families always insist on thanking us and ask us to pray for them,” added Gene. “The character of the people, how they love and care for one another, has changed. The support of so many of you has made a real difference in the present and future lives of these families and their communities. You are bringing hope!”
 

Pig project

Microbusinesses will help families in Ecuador

An innovative microbusiness project in Santo Domingo, Ecuador, will give six new entrepreneurs the opportunity to earn money to support their families.

The project – a pig farm – is led by Team Expansion missionaries Mike and Danell Bukta, who have served for many years in urban poor work in Santo Domingo and in Trujillo, Peru. CMF recently began a partnership with the Buktas’ ministry, Project New Hope, to work together toward holistic transformation and the creation of dynamic Christ-centered communities in these cities.

“We learned a lot during this process,” said Danelle Bukta. “All of the individual entrepreneurs are excited to work toward their goals and dreams for their families. Many people donated money to help start these microbusinesses selling pigs. Thanks for your kindness! Lives are being changed because you care.”

Meet the Tandys!

Couple will focus on transformation through CHE and discipleship

Isaac Tandy has felt the call of God to work in Brazil since he was a young child. He served in Brazil with another organization for two short terms, but now he and his wife Sally are preparing to return as CMF missionaries in 2017.

“I met Sally just five weeks before an 18-month stint in Brazil, and we talked about missions there as a long-term dream that God had put in my heart,” said Isaac. “It has since become our family’s call over the last two years.”

Isaac is a licensed social worker and legal advocate for the state of Kentucky’s domestic violence shelter, Greenhouse 17. His current career will be the perfect background for his work in Brazil in the field of domestic violence and human trafficking.

The Tandys’ work will also focus on assisting in the formation of Community Health Evangelism (CHE) communities and facilitating discipleship-making movements.

“We believe that doing these two things well will have a big impact on the problems of violence and trafficking,” said Isaac.

“We hope to serve as catalysts in the spiritual transformation of individuals and communities by creating opportunities for people to delve into the Word of God and experience the life change that occurs when there is obedience to His Word,” added Isaac. “We want to invest in Brazilian leaders who will transform the country by living that obedience.”