Dear Loved Ones,

Greeting. At our university, we have two kinds of theological programs. One is for students who are regular on the campus. This is mainly for young people freshly out of high school or those who have nothing else beside studies. Another one is for professionals. They are medical doctors, lawyers, school principals, professors, politicians and so on. They come on week ends to study and can take as much time as they need to prepare their theology degrees.

One of the students in the professional program is Giordani Mompremier, a top lawyer in the border city of Ouanaminthe. Many times he and a team of his classmates have helped escort us when we have work teams visiting the border of Haiti and the Dominican Republic.

In my pastoral counseling class I emphasize the importance of helping our people have good latrines, good clean water, and not to exposing food to be sold on the ground. Many times I have been disappointed to notice that in many of our churches there is not good and clean latrines. When I was talking about latrines in my class, Mompremier felt that I was talking to him personally. He did not say anything and was very quiet. When he went back to his church in Ouanaminthe, he could not sleep as my teaching bothered his conscious. He started building modern toilets. When the members of his church saw that the pastor meant business, they joined him and now they all brag about having a clean toilet. As he put it himself, the act of having a clean toilet has rallied people to support me 100 %.

This past week, my team for clean water went to Ouanaminthe to help pastor Mompremier set up two clean water pumps at the church and at the church primary and high schools. This morning Saturday March 9, the pastor could not stop telling me of how his people are glad and thankful to have a clean toilet and clean water.

The pastor and his church are thankful to you who support us with your prayers and with the resources God gives you. Without your support, we don't know how many deaths we would have for not having clean toilet and clean water.

Yours in Haiti,

Nzunga & Kihomi

 

 

Dear Friends,

 

My mother used to say “cleanliness is next to Godliness”.  I don’t know if there is any verse that supports this statement but I know it is important.  If you have ever been to Haiti you know that clean public restrooms are not a priority.  On my last trip to Haiti we were on the way to the border with a group and Nzunga stopped at a church that was pastored by one of his former students to use the restroom.  The Pastor would not let us in as he was embarrassed as how it was.  I remember Nzunga being upset as this was one of his students that he had counseled as to the importance of clean facilities.  It is easy to believe that being a pastor or church leader is all about knowing and preaching the Word and neglecting other needs.  Thank you for your support of Nzunga and Kihomi that understand what (W)holistic ministry is that strives to minister to the whole person, spirit, body and mind. 

 

Yours,

 

Dennis Shewell

Mission Partnership Team Communications Advocate and Convener

Nzunga and Kihomi Ministry

E-mail: deshewell@gmail.com

Phone: 812-569-1352

 

Other team Members:

Les Roberson

Diana Peysha

Shawna Gorman

Terry Bivens-Fry

Charles Newman