October 24, 2011
Excitement had been building for weeks and months at the Chinese Community United Methodist Church [CCUMC] in Oakland before it finally burst forth Friday night, October 7, 2011. Hosting the 2nd Annual Kumi School Benefit Dinner at the Legendary Palace Restaurant in Oakland, friends and family members of the church welcomed over... 200 guests for an evening of songs and stories which told of the amazing transformation of barren ground into a seven room school building, while enjoying a tantalizing nine-course Chinese banquet dinner.
Construction of the soon-to-be boarding school started in the summer of 2009 with the laying of the foundation brick by brick and eventually the completion of its walls and roof. The next building phase, which includes doors and windows and flooring along with electrical fixtures, furniture and cabinets, is estimated to cost approximately $40,000 USD. Our goal for the Benefit Dinner was to raise $25,000 towards this end.
The evening began with a joyful celebration of songs sung in English, Zulu and Swahili. Donna Chan Chu, who portrayed Re-Bar last year, emceed the evening as Mortar along with her co-emcees Bricks and Steel. Together they told of the need for a solid educational foundation for children in Kumi, and invited the guests to participate in a Silent Auction and shop in a Village Market. The silent auction intrigued guests with items such as Country Club Golf, Baby Diaper Sushi, and Skiing at Sugar Bowl. The Village Market offered unique beaded jewelry crafted by the women of Kumi and featured original calligraphy by our very own artist Lu Wu-Chiu, a church member.
After more singing and a seven item quiz game, (do you remember what “posho” is?) a video was shown featuring greetings and expressions of gratitude from YCVM leaders and sponsored orphan children. As the highlight of the evening, Aeri Lee shared her recent summer, 2011 mission trip to Reformed Theological College, in Kampala, Uganda, where she has been a music educator for the past 14 years as a volunteer. It was through her association with a former RTC student in 2003 that she made a deeper connection which blossomed into the formation of the Youth and Child Visionary Ministries [YCVM]. In 2009, CCUMC sent a mission team of eight to Kumi, Uganda for two weeks to help with the raising of the brick walls of the 7+ classroom building.
At this time, the school stands at ‘carcass level’ awaiting doors and windows and flooring along with electrical fixtures, furniture and cabinets. Truly, the almost completed school building on what was once a barren 10 acres of land, stands today as a testimony to the dreams and dedication of a strongly committed group of individuals focused on a school where children rise above their most challenging circumstances and become productive community members.
We thank you for your commitment and support for the Kumi Christian Visionary School building project. As this letter goes to print, the amount raised by the benefit dinner thus far is $18,000.00. We praise God for the generosity shown through all of you.
The Mission Team is eager to share their story with other community or faith organizations. If you would like to invite them to come to your group, please connect with CCUMC (510) 452-1020 or email: ycvminfo@gmail.com
For more information, please visit www.ycvm.org
Thank you for Touching the Heavens, and Changing the Earth!
Excitement had been building for weeks and months at the Chinese Community United Methodist Church [CCUMC] in Oakland before it finally burst forth Friday night, October 7, 2011. Hosting the 2nd Annual Kumi School Benefit Dinner at the Legendary Palace Restaurant in Oakland, friends and family members of the church welcomed over... 200 guests for an evening of songs and stories which told of the amazing transformation of barren ground into a seven room school building, while enjoying a tantalizing nine-course Chinese banquet dinner.
Construction of the soon-to-be boarding school started in the summer of 2009 with the laying of the foundation brick by brick and eventually the completion of its walls and roof. The next building phase, which includes doors and windows and flooring along with electrical fixtures, furniture and cabinets, is estimated to cost approximately $40,000 USD. Our goal for the Benefit Dinner was to raise $25,000 towards this end.
The evening began with a joyful celebration of songs sung in English, Zulu and Swahili. Donna Chan Chu, who portrayed Re-Bar last year, emceed the evening as Mortar along with her co-emcees Bricks and Steel. Together they told of the need for a solid educational foundation for children in Kumi, and invited the guests to participate in a Silent Auction and shop in a Village Market. The silent auction intrigued guests with items such as Country Club Golf, Baby Diaper Sushi, and Skiing at Sugar Bowl. The Village Market offered unique beaded jewelry crafted by the women of Kumi and featured original calligraphy by our very own artist Lu Wu-Chiu, a church member.
After more singing and a seven item quiz game, (do you remember what “posho” is?) a video was shown featuring greetings and expressions of gratitude from YCVM leaders and sponsored orphan children. As the highlight of the evening, Aeri Lee shared her recent summer, 2011 mission trip to Reformed Theological College, in Kampala, Uganda, where she has been a music educator for the past 14 years as a volunteer. It was through her association with a former RTC student in 2003 that she made a deeper connection which blossomed into the formation of the Youth and Child Visionary Ministries [YCVM]. In 2009, CCUMC sent a mission team of eight to Kumi, Uganda for two weeks to help with the raising of the brick walls of the 7+ classroom building.
At this time, the school stands at ‘carcass level’ awaiting doors and windows and flooring along with electrical fixtures, furniture and cabinets. Truly, the almost completed school building on what was once a barren 10 acres of land, stands today as a testimony to the dreams and dedication of a strongly committed group of individuals focused on a school where children rise above their most challenging circumstances and become productive community members.
We thank you for your commitment and support for the Kumi Christian Visionary School building project. As this letter goes to print, the amount raised by the benefit dinner thus far is $18,000.00. We praise God for the generosity shown through all of you.
The Mission Team is eager to share their story with other community or faith organizations. If you would like to invite them to come to your group, please connect with CCUMC (510) 452-1020 or email: ycvminfo@gmail.com
For more information, please visit www.ycvm.org
Thank you for Touching the Heavens, and Changing the Earth!