In April 2009 CCI completed the building project of St. Judas Thaddeus Church
in the village of Ilboru in Arusha, Tanzania.
How
we began...
In April 2007, Chris
spent time living with a Masai family at the foot of Mt. Meru, volunteering her time, treasure and talent. On Easter Sunday
she attended mass in a old school room. She was moved by these people, their joy, their love and their
faith. After Mass Fr. Honoratus took her to their land and said "This is where our church will
be one day" Without hesitation...she replied "I will help build this church"!
She arrived back in the United States
3 weeks later and scratched her head..."hmmm, how am I going to do this? " She started small asking everyone she
knew for a "A buck a brick". The response was incredible! She kept at it and along the way
she met some incredible people, whom she can honestly say she couldn't have done this without. These
people are now vital members of this organization.
In 2008 we incorporated and became a 501(c)3 organization.
Two years later on Easter Sunday, April 12, 2009 St.
Judas Thaddeus celebrated its opening mass! What a wonderful event it was. The people of Ilbrou now have a beautiful
building unlike any in all of Africa.
What's next?
CCI spent time visiting schools in the Arusha area of Tanzania. The public education is
not adequate for the number of students enrolled. The classrooms are overcrowded with over 100 students; there are no
books, no pencils and often times no teacher. We have decided to build The School of St. Nicholas. Plans are underway,
we recently purchased two acres of land in the village of Olosiva and we look forward to breaking ground in the Spring
2011! It is very exciting. Our co-ordinates in Tanzania are as excited as we are!
In December 2009 we registered our NGO in Tanzania and we are now an International organization.
We are busy researching grants and sending applications.
May God sustain us in our endeavors.
