2007 Kamanzi Mission Trip Report

The First Baptist Church (FBC) of Syracuse in Jamesville, New York is working together with her sister church, the Iia-Itune African Brotherhood Church (ABC) of Kamanzi, Kenya, to (a) establish and sustain child and youth ministries in Kamanzi village, (b) plan and implement ongoing teacher training for the teachers of Kamanzi Primary School, (c) construct a new building for the Kamanzi Primary School, (d) hold rabies clinics for area dogs, and (e) drill a bore hole to serve the Kamanzi and Iia-Itune communities.  This is a multiple-year project which began in 2002.

Twelve people from FBC traveled to Kenya in August 2007 to work with the people of Kamanzi village, and the people of the Iia-Itune African Brotherhood Church in particular.  The team consisted of: Daniel Afari, Ronald Denby, Dennis Fernando, Chris Halbert, Dottie Kamina, Dave Longeill, Terrika Lopez, Joanna Masingila, Rebekah Masingila, LeRae Nesbitt, Schuyler Nesbitt, and Moses Ochanji.  Seven of the twelve were youth from FBC.  The team members stayed with host families from the Kamanzi community during the seven days of the mission project.  This was a wonderful opportunity to live with and work with members of the Kamanzi community.  We had many opportunities to visit with neighbors and other people from Kamanzi village during the 7 days we were there.

Contributions were made by both partners in this collaborative project.  The Kamanzi community, behind the leadership of the ABC, worked to carry sand and water to the work site, to crush stones for gravel, and to assist in other ways with the building project.  The FBC community raised $11,500 which was used to purchase materials to complete the kitchen, hold youth ministry workshops for over 800 area youth, conduct teacher workshops for 122 area primary teachers, as well as payment for the contractor and many workers.  Members of the team also raised money toward travel to Kenya and in-country food and travel expenses.  A future goal is to level the play and assembly area at Kamanzi Primary School.

The FBC community also received donations of reading books for the area schools, reading glasses (over-the-counter) for individuals needing them, medical supplies and over-the-counter medications for the Kivaani Dispensary, and thousands of pens collected through the Pens for Educating Children in Kenya project at Syracuse University.  These materials were carried by team members in their luggage.  A shipment of more books, pens, twin sheets and blankets for Kivaani Dispensary, and other supplies is planned for 2008.

Rabies vaccination clinics (at two sites) were held again this year where residents of Kamanzi and the two neighboring villages (Matithini and Iie-Itune) brought their dogs to be vaccinated by local veterinarians.  The FBC community raised $400 to purchase the rabies vaccine in Kenya and to pay the veterinarians for their work.  More than 400 dogs were vaccinated for rabies through the two clinic sites.

The members of the FBC mission team worked with leaders from three of the village churches in planning and holding activities with the Kamanzi, Iia-Itune and Matithini primary school children during three days of the mission trip.  These church leaders are continuing to work with the youth of their churches as we plan more activities for 2008.  The youth and leaders were very enthusiastic about the activities.  We hope to take more materials in 2008 to be given to the churches for work with the youth throughout the year.

Some of the members of the FBC team worked with 122 teachers from the 13 primary schools in the Manyatta Educational Zone in professional development in the areas of mathematics, science, literacy, health, and physical education in two days of workshops. We also worked with nursery school teachers from six nursery schools in early childhood education.  The FBC team also took hands-on materials that were used in the workshops and donated to each school for classroom use.  The teachers responded to the workshops with very positive feedback, and have given constructive ideas for future workshops.  A grant from the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) allowed us to include all teachers in the educational zone, and allowed two more days of workshops (conducted by lecturers from Kenyatta University) to be held in December 2007.  Two more days of workshops are planned for April 2008, and August 2008.

The work on the new Kamanzi Primary School has now been completed.  By the end of August 2007, the administrative block—which consists of a head teacher's office, a deputy head teacher's office, a staff room—and the library were painted, and a new kitchen was also constructed and painted.  The Kamanzi and Iia-Itune communities are continuing to work together on a water project.  About half of the money needed for drilling a bore hole has been raised, and FBC will be assisting in raising the rest of the money in 2008.  Money will also be needed for the mechanical means of pumping water out of the well.  The bore hole will be able to supply drinking, bathing and cooking water to the two communities.

This project started with a vision and a call to mission … and became a reality!  Since 2002, 20 classrooms, administrative offices, a staff room, a library and a kitchen have been constructed at Kamanzi Primary School.  About 450 children have participated each year in youth ministry activities, and over 800 participated in 2007.  About 35 teachers have participated each year in professional development activities.  In 2007, over 120 participated.  Approximately 400 dogs have been vaccinated for rabies each of the last three years.  Medical supplies, a microscope, blood pressure cuffs, a stethoscope, an infant weighing scale, and over-the-counter medicines have been donated to the Kivaani Dispensary.  Over 9,000 pounds of books, pencils, pens, paper, reading glasses, Bibles, materials from Judson Press, and other materials have been shipped or carried in luggage in Kamanzi.  Thirty-two different people from FBC have been members of mission teams; eight people have gone to Kamanzi at least twice.

Below is a listing of money that has been raised from January 2002 to July 2007 for the Kamanzi project.

FBC Donations:                    $49,954

From:  donations from Allen funds designated for missions, donations by individuals including a Dream gift, Christmas giving, Coins for Kamanzi, Books to Bookshelves, donations for Well, Donations for youth travel expenses

Through Fundraisers:          $18,320

From:  sale of carvings, luncheons, tag sale, talent show, Walk-a-Thons, dinners, concerts, potholder sale, candle sale, photo sale, Pampered Chef sale, calendar sales, bumper sticker sales, bulb and flower sales, cans and bottle recycling, coffeehouse

Kamanzi Community:          $12,500

From:  individual contributions, contributions from the Kenyan government

FBC Endicott:                       $9,800

NCTM Grant:                       $8,170 

Other:                                     $6,895

From:  Tecumseh Elementary School, interested individuals, FBC Herkimer, Iroquois Association, Heidi Lynn Fuller Fund, River of Joy Baptist Church, Mission Match through empty tomb, inc., Dottie Kamina’s National Honor Society

Mission Team Members:      $4,900

TOTAL:                                 $110,539 

The first six years of this project have been extremely successful, not only for the work that has been completed and is moving forward, but most importantly for the relationships that have been built and the cooperative spirit that has been fostered among all involved to work together to love, please and serve God in all things.  We thank all persons who have contributed through monetary and material donation, especially the Brother’s Brothers Foundation, the River of Joy Baptist Church, empty tomb, inc., the Iroquois Association, and the First Baptist Church of Endicott, New York.  We thank Pastor Scott Kavanagh and Ronald Denby of the First Baptist Church of Syracuse for their leadership, and Eleazar Ziherambere, Mission Partnership Coordinator at American Baptist Churches-USA, for his vision and guidance.  Thanks especially to all the people of the First Baptist Church of Syracuse and the Iia-Itune African Brotherhood Church in Kamanzi for their prayerful support of this project.

Respectfully submitted,
Joanna Masingila
Mission Team Leader