Wow! CHE (Community Health Evangelism) has significantly impacted the communities in the areas we’ve visited and continues to do so. Just four months ago another small church was planted in Tshilundu and back in July 2015 one was planted in Tshikolo. Today 200 attend the Tshikolo church.
the first spring capped through CHE in 1991 continues to serve the community
Over the last 10 days Rev. Elenga, the CEUM CHE facilitator and trainer, and Pete have been visiting the CHE ministries West of Mbuji-Mayi. We visited: Miabi, Boya, Dibungi, Tshilundu, Tshikolo, Malolo, Bakuamba and Bakwa Sumba. We visited many capped springs, community gardens, fish ponds, CHE committees, observed home visits by the CHEs (Community Health Evangelists) and asked continual questions. Here’s a list of impacts of CHE:
- capped springs providing potable water
- people now only drink clean water
- no bathing or washing clothes near these capped springs
- kids attending Bible clubs
- new churches
- fewer problems with water born diseases
- less diarrhea
- fewer cases of malaria as people have learned how to protect themselves and what the signs are when malaria is coming on
- women finding creating sources of income such has harvesting local calcium, processing and selling it
- road repairs
- repairs to steep paths down to water sources
- people taking the initiative to care for their community
- women’s literacy
- more kids in school (the liberalization of the diamond trade in 1980 saw many kids in this area leave school to search for diamonds)
- pregnant women going to pre-natal care
- people leaving their festishes
- introduction of sweet potato production. Now they are everywhere in one village
- women started making soap
- spirit of working together
the CHE (on L) giving the lesson spiritual growth to his neighbor lady
wonderful, clean water
