Sunday, January 6, 2008

Mission Statement for Africa 2008

We are, Dr. Danny and Rev. Kathy Dickriede.  We are planning on traveling to Africa for 2008. Danny is an emergency room physician with the Cleveland Clinic and Kathy is an orainded deacon appointed to Mentor UMC.  

We will be leaving on January 7th and returning in mid December.  Kathy and Danny  are traveling on behalf of The United Methodist Church and interfacing with a variety of existing aid working institutions. 

GOAL: Work with and learn from aid workers who are already established with hopes of joining with or establishing our own orphanage and/or healthcare facility in the future. 

OBJECTIVES FOR 2008
To visit several existing health care facilities and orphanages.  
To learn how to establish and implement plans for long term existence.  
To meet with current medical and administrative aid workers to glean from their experience.
To understand the infrastructure behind local and international support. 
To gain confidence and experience in travel and life in Africa. 
To build relationships with people in Africa

POSSIBLE OUTCOMES
Working with one of the health care facilities and orphanages that we visit.
Using this information to start our own project in the future.
Deciding that this is not at all what we are supposed to be doing! 

SPEND 2008 IN COVENANT  WITH US
1.  Following us on our journey getting to know us.
2.  Praying for us and the continent of Africa.
3. Educating yourself on the Millennium Development Goals.  A great resource for that is a book called “What Can One Person Do?” by Sabina Alkire and Edmund NewellDo book studies about Africa, many suggestions can be found in the 3 C’s brochure that the East Ohio Annual Conference office created to educate about the Bishop’s Initiative around clinics in West Africa, churches in Russia, and classrooms in Zimbabwe.
4.  Have discussions on a regular basis about current events in Africa and speak those concerns out loud in worship.

OUR VERY TENTATIVE ITINERARY 
JANUARY     TANZANIA    
FEBRUARY  TANZANIA              
MARCH               UGANDA 
APRIL                  MALAWI                               
MAY                     ZIMBABWE                                                    
JUNE                   MOZAMIBQUE              
JULY                   SOUTH AFRICA 
AUGUST             ANGOLA
SEPTEMBER     CONGO and  COTE D'IVOIRE
OCTOBER         SIERRA LEONE      
NOVEMBER     LIBERIA
DECEMBER       KENYA AND HOMEWARD BOUND

Spend the month with us in the country where we will be traveling.  Look up on the internet news about what is happening, history of the country, what is The United Methodist Church doing in that country, what industry is located there, what are the needs, what resources do they have . . . Come on this adventure with us!

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