Sunday, January 10, 2016

An Abbreviated Timeline of Mission, Partnership, and Accomplishments: CCUMC, YCVM/KCVS

~2003 Aeri meets Silver Omakenyi, an exceptional musician and a passionate disciple, while teaching at the Reformed Theological College in Kampala, Uganda. Aeri visits Ngora, Silver’s home village, and discovers his care for orphaned children and hears his vision for a school for the most vulnerable.

2006 Aeri and Ben dedicate their wedding gifts towards Youth & Child Visionary Ministries (YCVM), the organization birthed to carry forth Silver’s vision, providing seed money to buy land for the future school. Others follow suit in the next few years: Dustin & Valene (wedding), Popo Margaret (birthdays), Leo & Helena (Popo May’s funeral).

2008 CCUMC as a body formally declares a mission partnership with YCVM. Foundation is laid for the future school.

2009 CCUMC sends 8 people on a Volunteers in Mission (VIM) trip to Kumi, Uganda where they meet the members of YCVM, hear for themselves about this vision for a school, and pitch in with bricks, mortar, and steel as the school building begins to take shape. The trip invigorates CCUMC’s involvement.

2010 CCUMC holds its first “Kumi Benefit Dinner” raising money to continue construction. The benefit dinner becomes an annual happening.

2012 Doors, ceilings, windows, and walls are added to the school building.

2013 Kitchen and 2 latrine buildings are built. CCUMC hosts its first ever “Mission Exchange,” bringing Rev. Martin Odi, longtime chair of YCVM’s Board, to the Bay Area.

2014 Kumi Christian Visionary School (KCVS) opens its doors in February with 1 student! CCUMC sends its 2nd VIM team, including members of Chinese Com-munity Church (CCC) in San Diego.

Today KCVS has over 200 students, 12 teachers/staff, and 3 nursery and 7 primary grade levels in operation. Praise God!

The Future Following God’s lead, we anticipate more wonderful things to happen!

Our mission partnership with YCVM/KCVS is an ongoing one. Through it, we seek to walk faithfully with God’s beloved in another part of the world, deepening our understanding and practice of what it means to love and serve the world God loves. It has not been without challenges: working with, communicating with, trusting others who are radically different than ourselves in a completely new cultural context is not easy. We are learning together! You are invited to participate in today’s lunchtime Mission Partnership Report Back where all questions are welcomed as we discern God’s guidance and movement together.