Global Handwashing Da--2011

October 15 is Global Hand-Washing Day.  Why have a day dedicated to the prosaic act of washing one's hands? Because hand-washing holds the key to preventing many serious diseases both at home and around the world. Remember when your mom told you to wash your hands before eating? It was good advice.  According to the International Water Institute (Stockholm), evidence shows that diarrheal illnesses may be reduced by 45 per cent by washing hands with soap after using the toilet and before eating. Many other diseases can be passed from one person to another by people who don't wash their hands. Hand-washing is considered to be an important defense against the spread of cholera, typhoid, and even the common flu virus, among other diseases.

 

PASE, the Water Management Project of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of the Central African Republic (CAR), is working to provide clean drinking water to villages in the CAR and also to teach good hygiene practices to villagers, such as the importance of hand-washing. Providing clean water is only one part of preventing water-borne diseases. Hand-washing is a crucial element in the equation.

 

This year PASE will be constructing latrines and hand-washing stations at schools and health centers in CAR in order help the "hand-washing habit" to take root.

 

Photo: Marie Gbayina pours water for Rodrigue Koulagne to wash his hands.

 

Deborah and Joe Troester are ELCA missionaries in Baboua, the Central African Republic. Joe serves as technical advisor for PASE, which provides clean drinking water and promotes good hygiene and sanitation to villagers. Pastor Deborah teaches at the Theological School in Baboua. Their daughter, Christa, attends ninth grade at Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Troester Home Assignment Repor--2011

We have returned to Africa from an enjoyable, but exhausting three month tour of the United States. We were able to visit our friends, relatives, and supporters in Florida, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, North Dakota, Puerto Rico, Texas, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. We had 30 separate engagements, including visiting 18 different congregations plus attending the ELCA Caribbean Synod Assembly in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands and a Leadership Event at the Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod. The response to our presentations was positive and enthusiastic.

 

Now we are back in Africa. Christa has started 9^th grade at Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, Cameroon. Deborah has returned to teaching future Lutheran pastors and their wives at the Baboua School of Theology in the Central African Republic. Joe continues his work with water; however, the organization he works with is now the joint recipient with Mercy Corps of a major grant from the European Union. As always, more money means more paperwork.

 

We want to thank all of the people that helped us with our travels, by providing delicious homemade specialties, giving us a comfortable place to sleep, and patiently listening to our stories and presentations. We made many new friends and renewed many old acquaintances. We look forward to seeing you all again when we next return to the States in 2013. Below is a detailed list of all our engagements.

Presentations in the United States, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands

·         June 23 to 25: We attended the ELCA Caribbean Synod Assembly in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands. Deborah preached and we gave a presentation about our work in the Central African Republic.

·         June 26, Sunday morning: Deborah preached at the Union Church of San Juan, Puerto Rico and we gave a presentation afterwards.

·         June 28, Tuesday morning: Deborah gave a presentation at the Women's Bible Study at the Union Church of San Juan.

·         July 3, Sunday morning: Deborah preached at Grace Lutheran Church in San Juan, Puerto Rico and we gave a presentation afterwards.

·         July 10, Sunday morning: Deborah preached at her home congregation, First Presbyterian Church in Carbondale, Illinois.

·         July 16, Saturday evening: Deborah preached and we gave a presentation at the contemporary service of the Resurrection Lutheran Church in Bloomington, Illinois.

·         July 17, Sunday morning. Deborah preached both services at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Peoria, Illinois. We gave a presentation between the two services.

·         July 20, Wednesday evening: We attended a potluck and gave a presentation at Christ Community Lutheran Church in Columbia, Illinois.

·         July 21, Thursday evening: We attended a dinner and gave a presentation for First Presbyterian Church (Carbondale, Illinois) at Giant City Lodge.

·         July 25 to 29: We attended the ELCA Summer Mission Conference at Carthage College in Kenosha, Wisconsin.

·         July 31, Sunday evening: We attended a potluck and gave a presentation at a Mission Fair hosted by Epiphany Lutheran Church in Carbondale, Illinois. The Fair was held jointly with Calvary Lutheran Church in De Soto, First Lutheran Church in Murphysboro, First Presbyterian Church in Carbondale, and Salem Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jonesboro.

·         August 10, Wednesday evening: I attended a potluck and gave a presentation at Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Venice, Florida.

·         August 11, Thursday afternoon and evening, I gave three presentations at Living Word Lutheran Church in Katy, Texas; the first presentation for the children at the church day camp, the second for the high school students, and the third for the adults.

·         August 12, Friday morning: I attended and gave a presentation for the CAR Committee of the ELCA Texas-Louisiana Gulf Coast Synod

·         August 12, Friday evening: I attended a potluck and gave a presentation at Christ the King Lutheran Church in Houston, Texas.

·         August 13, Saturday: I attended and gave a presentation at the Synod Leadership Summit in Brenham, Texas.

·         August 14, Sunday morning: I gave a presentation at a potluck at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

·         August 17, Wednesday morning: I attended and gave a presentation to the Minneapolis Synod Water Committee. In addition to my work in the CAR, we discussed their work in Nigeria.

·         August 17, Wednesday afternoon: I met with Mark Warpmaeker, Executive Director Lutheran Partners in Global Ministry.

·         August 18, Thursday afternoon: I met with Tim Iverson, Executive Director and Scott Lien of Global Health Ministries.

·         August 21, Sunday morning: I preached three times at the First Lutheran Church in Williston, North Dakota. I gave two presentations: the first was between the second and third services and the second was after the third service.

·         August 22, Monday morning: I attended and gave a presentation at the WNDWELCA board meeting at Bread of Life Church in Minot, North Dakota.

·         August 22, Monday evening: I attended a potluck of tatter-tot hot dishes and gave a presentation at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Rolla, North Dakota.

·         August 23, Tuesday evening: I gave a presentation at the Park River Bible Camp for United Lutheran Church in Cavalier, Zion Lutheran in Hoople, United Lutheran in Langdon, and Our Savior's Lutheran in Park River

·         August 24, Wednesday afternoon: I attended the Global Mission committee meeting of the Eastern North Dakota Synod at Peace Lutheran Church in Fargo, North Dakota.

·         August 24, Wednesday evening: I attended a potluck and gave a presentation at Peace Lutheran Church in Fargo.

·         August 25, Thursday afternoon: I gave a presentation at a nursing home in Hillsboro, North Dakota.

·         August 25, Thursday evening: I gave a presentation at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hillsboro, North Dakota.

·         August 27, Saturday evening: I gave a presentation at First Lutheran Church in Litchville. North Dakota. This was a joint presentation for First Lutheran Church in Litchville, Marion Lutheran Church in Marion, Spring Creek Lutheran Church in Hastings, and Trinity Lutheran Church in Litchville.

·         August 28, Sunday morning: I gave a presentation for Mission Sunday at Milnor Lutheran Church in Milnor, North Dakota.

 

Deborah and Joe Troester are ELCA missionaries in Baboua, the Central African Republic. Pastor Deborah teaches at the Theological School in Baboua. Joe serves as technical advisor for PASE, which provides clean drinking water and promotes good hygiene and sanitation to villagers. Their daughter, Christa, attends ninth grade at Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

 

School Set to Start in Central African Republic

This week signals the beginning of the 2011-2012 school year in the Central African Republic.  The Village School program of the Evangelical Lutheran Church is gearing up to serve over 4,000 students in 20 schools, nearly all of them in villages where students have no other educational opportunities.  Both Muslim and Christian students attend these schools, which are vital to educational development in this country where barely half of the population is literate. Girls in particular often do not attend school because parents do not want to send their daughters to distant schools. Having a school right in their village encourages parents to send their daughters to school, as well as their sons.

 

The project is largely funded through gifts from congregations and individuals in the United States. Parents contribute, but with a median family income of barely $2.00 a day, these monetary contributions are rather modest.  Parents construct the school and a simple home for the teacher, usually out of sun-dried mud bricks and grass for a thatch roof. Then Village Schools sends a trained teacher (or teachers), along with educational materials to hold classes.  If the parents are willing to help, Village Schools will construct a permanent building, using cement and fired clay bricks.  At least one remote village has collected all the materials necessary for construction of a permanent school and is waiting for funds to commence building. Another permanent school building is already nearing completion in the town of Baboua.  If you wish to help, contact Rev. Twila Schock, Director for Global Mission Support and Global Gifts, 8765 West Higgins Road, Chicago, IL 60631, Telephone: 773.380.2641, FAX: 773.380.2410, Twila.Schock@elca.org, www.elca.org.

 

Photo: Village School Director Etienne Yaïman hands out new books and notebooks to students at the Village School office in Baboua, Central African Republic.

 

Deborah and Joe Troester are ELCA missionaries in Baboua, the Central African Republic. Pastor Deborah teaches at the Theological School in Baboua. Joe serves as technical advisor for PASE, which provides clean drinking water and promotes good hygiene and sanitation to villagers. Their daughter, Christa, attends ninth grade at Rain Forest International School in Yaoundé, Cameroon.