* See bottom of the page for "Who We Are and What We're Doing"
WEEK #1 (Oct. 31 - Nov. 8)
DAY #8 - Wednesday
Erica writes:
Today we visited two of the hand-in-hand schools. A Hand in Hand school is the product of two church's working together ~ an African local church and that church's partner church in North America.
Yembi III - Level #1
It was amazing to see what God has done with our contributions. Our little is so much to these African churches. We had the opportunity to see school in action. They meet in a church building or a small grass covered pavilion. The teachers are amazing. They have the undivided attention of all 50 (or more) of their students.
Ngoumboutou Hand-in-Hand school of little tykes
The youngest class of HnH students was filled with 4 and 5 year olds. They were reciting their ABC's. Wow! What an blessing for those children to receive a free quality education in a society where they would have to pay for a poor education from the government.
Barb (missionary) quizzing students on their vowels
In every aspect of this ministry we can see God at work. Whether at the Orphan Welcome Center or the village churches (Hand in Hand schools), His hand is evident. The lives and ministry of the missionaries and the Project Hope and Charity leaders is such a testimony to the faithfulness of God and the continued prayers of His people. As Keith has reminded us: our God is the "God of the Nations" at work all over the globe!
OTHER STUFF THAT WE DID TODAY
The ladies got some help on painting the swing sets from
an orphan boy named Raoul.
Finished!
Raoul enjoying the swings. Yes,
we gave him a new shirt.
Orphans also helped out with clean up.
Earthmovers -- guys working on basketball court
Looks like they figured out the system.
These two trying to figure each other out.
I'll take this one!
Kathy had a special connection with this orphan gal
from the Hand-in-Hand school at Yembi III.
Fresh donuts being prepared for the children at the
Orphan Welcome Center.
Porridge being served during a break from classes.
Good to the last drop.
Why we need a cafeteria! The Ashland Grace Brethren Church will
finish the kitchen/cafeteria project that this team has started.
It all comes down to this: giving kids a chance to become
all that God created them to be.
DAY #7 - Tuesday
John writes:
Today we played basketball at a local university gym. It was a great experience, even though Keith was the only one us "Boundjous" who looked like he had ever touched a basketball before.
The players were very welcoming as they stopped their game when we arrived and split up teams so that we were divided evenly on 3 teams. Several of the players over here are considerably more athletic than all of us combined; however, we represented America well. We do work a little over here, too.
Today, a few of us had the joy of moving a hill of incredibly hard soil to an area about 20 feet away so that the kids will have a level-"ish" area to play basketball. Hopefully we will be putting the hoop up sometime in the next couple days.
The highlight of my day today was seeing Tim chase one of the kids jokingly and all the other kids laughing hysterically. Their laughter is so contagious.
Another interesting experience today was the giant rain storm that came through Bangui around 11:00am. It was funny because you could actually hear the rain coming as it resounded off all the tin roofs on its way toward us. The rain was a blessing because it cooled the temperature by about 15 degrees........a change that was very welcomed by everyone.
 
One of the projects that experienced a rain delay was the gal's project: painting the swing sets. We hope to finish the first coat tomorrow (Wed.).
Ton writes: (English class)
We participated in the English class for beginners. The class is led by Heidi, GBIM missionary.
There is a great variety of students: some are local people who work on the mission post, others have heard of it and walk in. We had a teacher from a local high school and a administrative person of a Christian high school. The students practiced their English by asking us questions such as, "Where do you live?", "Are you married?", "Do you have kids?"
During the class we also had the possibility to ask questions, but when it was my turn, I spoke to fast and since they had never heard my accent, I had to slow down and speak up! It was a great afternoon, and a good time with the locals.
English class with Heidi (center) and
GBIM intern Laura Engles (left)
Day #5-Sunday
Kathy writes:
This morning the team split up into 2 groups to attend Sunday School at 2 different local churches. Our group walked into the building - a 40 x 60 foot concrete structure- to be welcomed by at least 350 smiling children. We were escorted down the only remaining space to take our honored places. Children were sitting everywhere, on laps, in windows, squeezed onto benches.
Close to 400 children crowded into the
Sunday School classroom
I have never seen children more attentive and responsive to songs, chants and working on memorizing scripture. The faces of these children are unexplainable. The joy and hope that we saw in these eyes caused me to be overwhelmed with God's ability to fill the needs of His most needy. These were the faces of children who understand what it means to totally and completely rely on God. Many have lost both parents and live in homes with many others suffering from the same losses. What they own can be carried in their two hands, but what they have is an eternal hope, knowing their heavenly Father knows, cares and loves them. The experience made impression that I never want to forget.
The Grand Café, a favorite meeting place for Bangui-dwellers.
We sat in two groups. This group sat inside in the air conditioning.
The second group stayed outside in Africa.
After Sunday School, the team met backup at a French Café, run by Syrians, in Africa. What fun, talking about our morning over very strong coffee and French pastries. The walk from the missionary station was filled with a variety of sights and sounds. It was a beautiful morning for a walk on the very holey and bumpy streets of Bangui.
Lunch today was a meal of American style Spaghetti. The time we spend around the table eating always proves to be great fellowship and full of fun.
13 of us boarded two very long dugout canoes
Following lunch we had a true African experience. A ride down the Oubanqui river in dug out canoes. It was absolutely beautiful. We were in 2 canoes - being paddled and pushed - by our trusted African "drivers." I will let Brian finish this story.
Brian writes:
OH - IO
Most of us on this team are die hard Buckeyes fans and we are going through withdraw by missing two weeks of football. With our beloved Bucks on our minds, we figured we needed to show our enthusiasm to the Africans.
COLTS fans get in on the act. Actually, there's only one Colts fans
amongst us, but we were united against the Patriots on this day.
Seriously, this was such an awesome experience to view the countryside and get a taste of how these people get gravel in these dugouts; however, our legs were a little cramped when we got out.
Sunday was our day of rest - it's back to the Orphan Center and work tomorrow!
DAY #3-4: Nov. 2-3, Friday-Saturday (today's photos below)
Keith writes:
What an experience. There has been so much to take in and grow from in these 4 days. Seeing what is going on with Project Hope & Charité is so encouraging. PH&C is showing these children how God is a Father to the Fatherless and a lover of those in need. To see the missionaries and Africans serving our Lord together to reach these precious children and widows is a real joy. God has shaped lives, moved people, provided resources and opened hearts to see the dream of an African woman and an American missionary come to life. It is truly a gift for each of us on the team to experience this ministry, the country, the culture, the people and those who serve here with GBIM.
As you can see from the pictures we are hard at work - laying brick, mixing concrete, putting up swings, organizing, painting, moving dirt, digging holes and so on. Tim and Ginger Hock model what it means to put in a hard day's work and the team has responded by following suit. Everyone is adapting well and serving selflessly. We laugh a lot and really enjoy our meal times. It has been great to hear how God moved in each person to get them on the plane to get to this point. I am so grateful for each person on this team.
It will be so exciting to see how this trip plays out. What work gets done? What inside jokes get created (and there have been several already)? How does God change our hearts and our futures based on this experience? What images will be imprinted in our minds and hearts? How will we continue to see God keep working?
Stay tuned - and keep reading and praying.
Blessings from CAR!
Jerry laying brick on kitchen.
Zach, with Central African helper Patrick, Jerry and Ton; working his side of the soon-to-be kitchen.
Erica displaying the beautiful black painting job they
did on Dr. Dibona's medical office at the PHC
orphan Welcome Center.
Scott on rock pile ministry.
John hauling stones to be used as the foundation for
swing sets.
Brian and John working alongside Jacques to mix cement
for the swing set posts.
Brian and Scott filling post holes.
Pastor Keith mixing cement.
On Saturday the ladies started the mammoth task of sorting
through
three years worth of clothing and educational supplies
PHC has been
collecting in
advance of the opening of the Welcome Center.
Kathy & Maureen working
together
on a trunk.
Maureen doing what we'd all love to spend most of our
time doing: loving on orphan kids.
First day of school for level #3 of PHC school. What a
treat for school to be in our center this year, instead of
in several rented facilities in remote locations around
the city! Thank you Lord, and thanks to all
who gave to make this possible.
One of PHC's teacher's wanted the USA team to know
how grateful they are for the help that has come from their
sister church in North America (including Mexico & most
recently Canada!).
DAYS #1-2: OCT 31-Nov. 1
Barb writes:
We left the States on Tuesday, Oct. 30th. The first leg of our journey landed us in Paris with 12-hours to kill. Pastor Keith had arranged in advance for us to spend the day with a GBIM couple in Paris, and are we glad he did!
Half of our tour guide team. Sorry, Rob!
What a treat it was to get an insiders view of Paris and be taken on a whirlwind tour of three of the hottest tourist points:
The Cathedral of Notre Dame
The Eiffel Tower
The Louvre, where we got to see ...
The Mona Lisa. Okay, technically we weren't supposed
to take
a photo of this picture, but we were so dazzled by all the camera
flashes popping all around us, we kind of, uh, forgot.
And then we saw...
Louis XV crown, and...
The statue of the Lady Without Arms (our name for her).
This statue sparked a fascinating discussion as to how she
may have lost her arms. For the pleasure of our informed readers'
we are considering publishing our Top Ten
Best Guesses as to
what happened to her arms.
Honestly, you can dress 'em up but you can't take em out.
Some of us connoisseurs of a different kind may have
enjoyed
this Louvre feature the most.
So after absorbing the entire Louvre in 90 minutes, and visiting
the Eiffel Tower, we headed back to the Paris Airport
with
time to spare for our flight into Bangui.
After two nights of "sleeping" upright in airplanes, we were very
happy to see one of these at the Bangui Missionary Guest House. Our first
day in Bangui basically consisted of recuperating and planning.
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE'RE DOING:
- Who
- Pickerington GBC in Pickerington, Ohio: Pastor Keith Minier, Brian Minier, Erica Shelton , John Schlitt.
- East Side Grace Brethren Church : Jerry & Kathy Brand, Zach Clary, Scott DeMarco , Maureen Williamson, Ton Badoux.
Team leaders are Pastor Keith Minier, and GBIM missionaries Tim Hock and Barb Wooler.
- What
Our Team's Mission
From Nov. 1 - 15 our team is on the ground in Bangui, Central African Republic with the purpose of starting construction on three construction projects on the Project Hope & Charité orphan Welcome Center
1) Erect playground equipment
2) Build a kitchen and eating area
3) Build a vocational classroom for boys
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