Nets, Bikes, and Water

As I mentioned in my previous blog, malaria is a major problem on the African Continent. Every 30 seconds a child in Africa dies of Malaria. Our desire is to meet physical as well as spiritual needs. During our mission trip in December, we will provide mosquito nets (like the one below) to families in western Kenya. Another one of our goals is to help with the economic situation in the villages by purchasing as much as possible in the country. Please contact me if you are interested in contributing to this project. We will be able to purchase treated nets in Kenya for about $10.00 per net.

We also plan to provide bicycles for pastors serving in the western region. Most pastors have to travel long distances by foot. The photograph below is of pastors in the Nairobi area receiveing new bicycles. This project was sponsored by the Ruiru Baptist Church where Samson Kisia is the pastor. We have worked with Samson for about 8 years. Please contact me if you would like more information about providing bicycles for pastors.

I also wanted to give a report on the Kenya water project. The picture below shows the pump house which houses the well and the assembly of a storage tank system. The plan is to also pump water to different areas. God blessed us with the opportunity to provide much needed clean drinking water. The final picture shows how desperately the well was needed.

stay off the paved road...

--craig

Help Fight Malaria

Malaria plagued Europe and North America as recently as 60 years ago. Simple public health measures were crucial to eliminating the disease and helping those regions achieve growth, prosperity and stability.

Today, for the first time in 50 years, the international community is poised to win the fight against malaria worldwide. Effective, low-cost tools exist to prevent and treat the disease and new and improved tools are currently being developed and tested. A consensus global action plan has been put forth to guide a coordinated international effort to control, eliminate and eventually eradicate malaria. A robust Partnership, uniting all key actors and stakeholders in malaria control, is in place to respond to challenges that no organization or government can face alone.

The next two years present a rare window of opportunity to save a million lives by rapidly delivering malaria interventions - protective nets, diagnostic tests, antimalarial drugs and indoors spraying - to all people at risk of the disease and to pave the way towards virtually ending deaths by 2015. (from World Malaria Day Blog)

Each 30 seconds, a child dies from malaria. We would like to provide protective nets when we travel to Africa in December. Please contact me for more information.

stay off the paved road...

--craig

The Love of God

That's My King! Do You Know Him?

Perhaps you have seen a version of this video, but as we draw close to Resurrection Sunday, I thought it would be a great message to share.





stay off the paved road...
--craig

Africa Mission 2009-2010

Since our first mission adventure to Africa in 2001, God has tremendously expanded our outreach. I will continue to communicate the needs so you can pray intelligently, support the projects, or be on mission with us during our December 30, 2009 to January 10, 2010 trip. This is a joint venture between Crossroads Church of Pittsburgh and First Baptist Church Bloomfield, New Mexico.

One of the new areas of ministry this year will be optical and medical ministry. We have been blessed with opportunity as well as the committed individuals to conduct both an eye clinic (with distribution of glasses) and a basic medical clinic (with vaccinations). During these clinics, we will also minister the Gospel as hundreds of men, women, and children gather each day for medical attention.

In addition to the medical clinics, we are planning to engage in church planting, construct a church, conduct a pastor's conference, go hut to hut to share the Gospel, teach teens True Love Waits, (abstinence education) conduct ministry (VBS type) to children both in schools and in the community, prayer walk, and possibly help with another well project. Much of what we are able to do will depend on resources.

As you read this blog, it may confirm that you need to step out and go "on mission." We highly value prayer and would ask that you begin to pray now for every aspect of the trip. If you would like to support projects such as church construction or a water well please contact me at cmontroy@qwestoffice.net.

You can check out a video of previous work in Kenya on YouTube.


stay off the paved road...

--craig