The IDM and SAIWI 7th Annual African Dinner held 3/19/10 was a great success. IDM is extremely appreciative of all of the support and amazing generosity.

IDM is also excited to be finalizing the 2010 mission schedule. Plans are to have a traveling health team, as well as continued work on the mosquito net distribution project. A group of SAIWI students will be working on developing sustainable water sources. In addition, education, including hygiene/sanitation and food dehydration, will be provided to the community.

The Mua Hills medical clinic continues to function well and serve the local community, and progress is being made on the construction of the learning center.

IDM and SAIWI (Student Association for International Water Issues, associated with the University of Nevada, Reno) will be holding the 7th Annual Ron Petersen Memorial African Dinner on Friday, March 19th, 2010. IDM and SAIWI host this fund raiser annually to raise support for water related projects in developing nations. The event includes delicious African cuisine, trip presentations, live entertainment, and a silent auction.

2008 Update

The Mua Hills Clinic is successfully up and running, and is a important part of the community. It is staffed by a clinic nurse, medical technologist, and nurse assistant. Treatment for many common conditions is provided, including malaria and respiratory infections.

IDM is also working on a mosquito net project, where treated nets will be distributed to those most in need. The grant to allow for the mosquito net project was generously provided by St Patrick's Episcopal Church.

The Learning Center, once built, will be a great asset to the Mua Hills community. Bids are currently out for the building of the structure. Once built, a library with donated books and computers will be available for both children and adults to further their education.

Clinic Opening Article and Rabondo Article

Two articles on IDM activities have recently graced the pages of "The Desert News". Both were written by IDM Secretary Deb Stiver, and include a description of the opening of the Mua Hills Medical Clinic on the front page of the September, 2004 issue, and a review of IDM activities and plans in Rabondo, in the October, 2004 issue.

Links to the articles:

Sep 2004:Mua Hills Medical Clinic - A Dream Fulfilled

Oct 2004:Mua Hills Mission Expands

Clinic Opened

The Mua Hills, Kenya

International Development Missions joined the festivities as the Kenya Ministry of Health and the Kysila congregation of the African Inland Church opened the Mua Hills Medical Clinic, built by funds from IDM contributors.
A large collection of photos of the events, and other associated stories, will be available for viewing soon.

Report from the 2003 Nevada Diocesan Convention

Las Vegas, Nevada

In October 2001, in her opening address to the Nevada Episcopal Diocesan Convention, Bishop Katherine Jefferts Shori stated, "The Diocese of Nevada exists for the purpose of mission. Period. If we're not engaged in mission, we should close up shop and go home." International Development Missions was given their first opportunity to speak publicly on the "idea" of a clinic in Kenya during the 2001 convention.

This year, sharing the podium with Bishop Joseph M. Kanuku of Machakos, Kenya, the Bishop's 2001 statement was reinforced and the full dedication of the Diocese to continuing and strengthening a strong relationship in Africa was visible.

Bishop Shori's opening address to the 2003 Nevada Diocesan Convention included the following: "As I travel around this diocese, I see a growing awareness of our mission in the world beyond our borders. And I don't just find awareness; I find people of faith doing something about it. We can celebrate the increasingly effective ways in which good news is being shared much farther afield. The medical clinic in Mua Hills (in the diocese where Bishop Kanuku serves) needs less than $10,000 to reach completion. We are exploring the possibility of a youth exchange between the young people of this diocese and several places in Kenya. The presence of our visitors here this weekend is an outward and visible sign of the grace-filled ways in which stronger connections are being made between the limbs of the body of Christ."

Support for the Mua Hills Clinic and International Development Missions was displayed in a number of ways.

• Deb Stiver and Melvin Stringer, both Board Members of IDM and representatives to the convention, assisted Ellen Gadegaard and Terri Martin at the booth. Many convention delegates visited the crafts booth, donating more than $2,600 and selecting from the hand-made wooden and soapstone crafts.
• In a formal presentation to the Convention, Terri Martin and Melvin Stringer detailed the progress of clinic construction during the last two years. They also described the sense of community being established between the two countries, the dedication of the people in both countries to provide consistent healthcare in the region, and the construction timetable. The IDM presentation concluded with Mr. Stringer showing a two-minute film of Mua Hills children performing a native song. The convention responded with a standing ovation.
• Following the presentation, a delegate to the convention pledged 10% of the money needed to complete the clinic and offered a challenge to the other delegates to match the donation. The challenge was met when the convention voted to donate one third of the monies collected during the Bishop's Mass to IDM.
  
• Finally, at the Bishop's urging, the convention passed a resolution to dedicate funds for international development programs: "RESOLVED, that the 33rd Annual Convention of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada recognizes the dignity of all human beings, and acknowledges the desperate need of adequate funding for nutritional, educational, health care, and development programs across the globe, reaffirms the 74th General Convention's Resolution D006, challenging all dioceses and congregations to contribute 0.7% of their annual budgets to fund international development programs, and commits itself as a diocese to achieve the 0.7% goal."

For IDM, the Nevada Diocesan Convention was a resounding success and resulted in contributions and commitments that will provide nearly all of the funds necessary to complete the construction of the clinic building. The task remaining ahead for IDM is to secure the funds necessary to furnish, provision, and staff the clinic full-time.

Clinic Dedicated

Machakos, Kenya

To the songs and chants of an entire community, Bishop Joseph Kanuku of the African Inland Church, Bishop Katherine Jefferts Schori of the Episcopal Diocese of Nevada, and Pastor Isaac Katunga of the Kysilla (Kenya) AIC congregation dedicated the completion of the primary structure of the IDM-funded medical clinic building in the Mua Hills near Machakos, Kenya.

More pictures will be available soon!