Relief Updates
Cambodia and Thailand Update
January 2012: In October 2011 Cambodia and Thailand experienced the worst flooding they have seen in many years. More than 200 people lost their lives in Cambodia and over 500 in Thailand. Rice harvests were significantly impacted. In areas where the needs were greatest, emergency food supplies were distributed by local churches and a Bible college.
CAMA has given funds for emergency relief—food, cooking utensils, and clothing—in the areas most severely affected. In addition, Alliance international workers identified at least 270 families who needed rice seed in order replant their fields. CAMA has provided 100k of rice seed to assist farmers.
Japan Update
(compiled from recent reports from IM international workers)
November 2011: We have found a facility in the Ishinomaki area which we intend to purchase within the next few weeks. Ishinomaki has a population of around 160,000 people with only six very small churches. We intend to use the building as a base for a community center type ministry to do relief and compassion ministries in the stricken areas. At the same time, we desire to initiate a church planting effort using the facility as a base for reaching out into the neighborhood around the facility. The proposed building has good connections for those traveling from the Tokyo area to assist in the ministry here, while at the same time being close enough to get to the stricken area. Praise the Lord that a future home for the New Life Center has been found.
CAMA has released $150,000 more to help establish the New Life Center.
Haiti Update
October 2011: Your donations of approximately $1.7 million for the Haiti earthquake relief have been invested in the following activities:
- Assistance through a “cash for work” program that allowed needy to earn a daily income while cleaning up ruble in their neighborhood.
- Provided food, water, and shelter through partnerships with World Relief (WR), Samaritan’s Purse (SP), and Youth with a Mission (YWAM).
- Two Post Traumatic Stress Disorder training seminars were completed in 2010.
- Three Alliance-related churches have been reconstructed (Christ Roi, Gode, and Jasmin), and property purchases have been made for two other congregations (Bon Berger and Beree).
- A leadership training seminar was held in January and March 2011.
- More than 200 storm shelters (providing shelter for two years) have been set up in partnership with SP.
- Ten of twelve planned, permanent homes have been built in Port-au-Prince in partnership with One Life Mission and the Infinity Church of New York City.
- Funding was provided to World Relief for both a poultry business and agro-forestry project. The poultry business will assist small-scale farmers with egg production, while the agro-forestry project will plant trees, which will reduce soil erosion and provide an income for local farmers.
A key aspect of CAMA’s work in Haiti has been the requirement of 20% local contribution in any project. CAMA has been committed to assisting churches to get the basic structure up, as opposed to fully completing a building. The intention has been to help provide a secure structure where a group can meet sheltered from the sun and rain, but the congregation is responsible to complete the finishing work. CAMA will complete its projects by the year-end which will deplete almost all of the remaining Haiti funds. That reality, combined with the emergence of the ACMH (C&MA of Haiti), means CAMA is on target to phase out, as planned, at the end of 2011.
See a video of what CAMA has been doing in Haiti»
Haiti Sports Kit Project Update
December 2011: Several months after the Haiti earthquake, one CAMA worker observed children playing soccer with taped up newspaper at a school associated with one of the churches we were assisting in reconstruction. Using contributions from VBS programs in Washington State, kits of sports equipment were made and given to four churches. Each kit included a selection of soccer, basketball, and soccer balls, as well as racket sets and pumps.
In 2011 CAMA continued to receive donations for this project from Sunday school classes and VBS programs. During a recent trip to Haiti, CAMA staff used the donations to provide four more kits which went to schools in Lazile, Christ Roi, Gode, and on La Gonave island. In addition, there were enough funds to also purchase one ball for each of the 15 churches that make up the Alliance Chrétienne et Missionnaire d’Haiti (ACMH). This last action came in response to a request by the pastors who expressed that this would allow their churches to hold both youth and young adult outreach events in surrounding neighborhoods.
On behalf of the churches and schools in Haiti, we express thanks to each one who gave to this project. Thank you for partnering with CAMA which allowed us to be your hands in providing sports equipment to the churches and schools in Haiti.
Project Updates
Moringa Update
August 23, 2011: Praise the Lord for the current staff at Moringa For Health (MFH) of four Khmer employees and one expat advisor. MFH desires to focus on people development—both professionally and spiritually. MFH staff continue to grow in their skills of management, accounting, production, product development, and general business all from a Christian and Biblical base. This is “counter-cultural” for doing business in Cambodia. They have devotions every Friday together to talk about life and business issues, study the Bible, and pray. All the staff are being paid 100% from the MFH sales income.
MFH staff are allowed time off for HIV/AIDS Homecare visitation through this church based ministry which CAMA helped develop along with the local church. The HIV/AIDS ministry continues to distribute moringa powder to their patients. MFH staff explain the health benefits of moringa powder and encourage villagers to grow their own trees and make their own powder.
CAMA was able to help MFH buy five hectors of land one year ago. Over this past year, nearly 1000 trees have been planted. These trees are needed for leaves and seeds.
MFH sells moringa leaf powder, moringa leaf powder capsulized, and moringa seed oil. In the past year, the staff has also pilot tested moringa leaf/seed facial soap, moringa/lemon grass tea, and moringa oil lip balm. The sales for moringa leaf powder capsules started quite slowly. But in the past six months demand has increased, mostly in Cambodia. At present all the products are selling well and they actually find it difficult to keep up with the market demand, especially in the capital city, Phnom Penh, where there are more middle and upper class people. When the products are selling well, it also means MFH is able to buy more leaves and seeds from pastors and poor villagers who are growing trees. This provides supplemental income to them.
Thank you for continuing your investment in moringa tree projects and the CAMA Advance Fund which allows CAMA workers to serve overseas in projects such as moringa.
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