USF Team Meets with VPI Leaders

Our last newsletter reported that a team of five public health students from the University of South Florida traveled to Papoli, Uganda to assess the public health status and needs of the villagers.

Those students met with VPI leaders in a celebration dinner held at the home of VPI President Dr. Sylvia Campbell. All of the students had a very positive and moving experience in the village as reflected in their presentations to the VPI group.

The students were presented with a commemorative engraved brick in appreciation of their extensive work which represented another building block of the miracles being brought about in the Papoli area. A commemorative brick was also presented to Carolyn Cooley as a token of deep gratitude for the gift that made possible the building of the Robert Cooley Pediatric Clinic.

The USF students then presented VPI with an extensive report of their research and evaluations of the health and welfare of the village and villagers. This information will be vital in determining the overall health needs of the villagers and where emphasis should be placed in promoting better health.

VPI representatives, John DeBevoise and Paul Clark, along with Betty Castor and Sam Bell met with USF leaders at the USF College of Public Health on October 10. The public health students that traveled to Papoli gave a formal presentation of their trip. All present agreed that they want to continue this partnership program in the future.

Going Forward in 2012

Village Partners determined that the projects currently being undertaken should continue into 2012. However, there is one project we feel should receive special emphasis because of the great need for the services this project would provide.

The villagers in and around Papoli Uganda have no reliable or decent health care services that are readily accessible or available to them because of the area where they live and the lack of funds needed for most health care services. So what do they do? They go without and suffer the consequences. We have mentioned this in previous newsletters and on our web page but we still have a long way to go to finance the first phase of an outpatient clinic.

You can be a part of this mission and share the anticipation of reaching our goal and completing the construction. Then experience the joy and excitement when the stories start coming in of the many people who, at last, are receiving the health care they have gone without for so long.

Upon its completion you might even consider making a trip to Papoli Uganda to personally see and experience the village and the clinic in operation. You can find more information on the proposed clinic or make a contribution for its construction by going into our web page www.villagepartnersinternational.org and clicking on current work then on outpatient medical center or you can send a check payable to VPI and send it to 217 S. Mantanzas Ave., Tampa, FL 33609. Note that it is for the outpatient clinic.

Exciting News for the Village of Mombin Crochu, Haiti

As mentioned in our previous newsletter, the village of Mombin Crochu has been without any means of transportation for the villagers for several months. A vehicle was desperately needed to transport food and supplies to the village and serve as an ambulance in times of need. The distance is great and the road unbelievably rough to the nearest city where healthcare and supplies can be obtained. A reliable vehicle for the villagers of Mombin Crochu is a life and death situation. Lives have already been lost because of the lack of transportation.

Thanks to your generosity and a sizeable single give, we now have sufficient funds to purchase a sturdy vehicle that will hold up to the rough terrain in that area of Haiti.

THANK YOU! God’s blessings are great.

The week of January 20-27, a team of volunteers with Village Partners International will return to Mombin Crochu on a mission trip to provide medical, dental, and surgical treatment to help those in great need. At that time, they will introduce a new program to cultivate the Moringa tree, a fast-growing, highly nutritious plant. This will provide a viable solution to help fight hunger and malnutrition for the villagers.

A Mission is Good for your Health and Wellbeing

I have spent most of my life wishing and hoping for something I could get passionate about, a cause or purpose I could get involved with and wrap my life around, something that would give me a deep sense of purpose and satisfaction in life. I am not talking about a passion for money, power or notoriety but one that involves helping others. I am aware of many people that have such a passion. It appears to me that this passion for most people was brought about by a traumatic event or spiritual awakening in their life. Well, I have a strong faith but not because of a sudden spiritual awakening and, thank God, I have not had to experience an unusual traumatic event. My life has been rather run of the mill.

When Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church got involved with the Uganda mission in 2000, I immediately felt a tug at my heart for the People of Papoli. I got involved with the mission in some minor ways but as time went on that tug became stronger and stronger. I began to have a desire to make a trip to Papoli and get better acquainted with those wonderful fellow Christians. I didn’t say anything to my wife, Betsy, for fear she would think it a bit over zealous and expensive. Then one day when driving home from church Betsy turned to me and said. “Dennis, for some time now I have had a strong desire to go to Papoli and personally get involved with the people.” My heart actually jumped and it felt like God had opened a door for both of us. I said “Betsy, I can’t believe this. For a long time now I have wanted to do that too but didn’t bring it up to you for fear you would think it a bit extreme.” Betsy and I strongly believe that God put that spark into our lives. It just took us a while to put it together.

We made our first trip in Jan. 2008 with three other people from PCPC. In addition to the primary mission of the trip, Betsy and I used this time to look into the aspects of returning for an extended stay after our upcoming retirement. When we met the villagers and experienced life in Papoli, we knew without a doubt that our decision to spend more time with these wonderful people was meant to be. We did return and resided in the village for three months in late 2009. The passion I had been seeking for so long was now a reality in my life. What a great feeling it was and still is! An extra bonus is knowing that we were chosen to be a part of God’s plan in that part of the world.

I have read and heard about many unhappy people whose lives were dramatically changed for the better because they were able to take the focus off their own life and direct it to helping others. It is a known fact that helping others can improve a person’s overall wellbeing. Life takes on a new meaning and you become more at peace with yourself.

Getting involved with a common mission is also beneficial in a business environment. Working together on a common mission has a way of promoting a closer relationship among employees thus producing a more rewarding working environment. This, of course, contributes to the overall success of the business.

My recommendation to others about finding a passion in life would be to first pray about it. That is something I probably did not do enough of for most of my life. Then search your soul for those things that strike a chord with your heart. It just might be the Holy Spirit knocking on your door. Look for opportunities to get involved with those things that move you and satisfy your inner desire to help others. It is hard not to get impatient about finding that passion or mission that will put more meaning into your life, but remember that God and the Holy Spirit work on a different time frame than yours. However, when you find the mission that satisfies your inner yearning, the wait will be worth it and your life will take on a new dimension.

By: Dennis Bradt, Administrator – Village Partners International

Do You Want to Become More Involved?

Village Partners International offers opportunities to get personally involved with helping others. We are always looking for people who have ideas on ways we can improve on our current missions, expand our mission base or just want to get involved.

VPI can use volunteers with special skills in such things as grant writing, public relations, fund raising, creating and updating social and business media sites, health aid to or experience in dealing with people in a disadvantaged environment, etc.

If you are interested, send us an email addressed to info@villagepartnersinternational.org.

Looking For The Perfect Gift?

Christmas in Africa supports the mission work of Palma Ceia Presbyterian Church in Papoli, Uganda.

This mission is committed to providing clean drinking water, education opportunities, basic housing, and community and business development to the people of the village.

As Christmas approaches we give thanks to God for our many blessings. In this store, there is a list of items needed in the village of Papoli, Uganda to help people gain greater self-sufficiency.

Honor loved ones by providing gifts in their name for our friends in Africa.

Each giver will be given an attractive announcement card to share with the honoree.

We hope you will consider using this resource as a way to say I love you to your friends and family this Christmas season. Simply go to the VPI webpage at www.villagepartnersinternational.org for more information and to make a gift.