This is a story about a building fund. People everywhere wish to help other people. Sometimes, buildings need to be fixed to make caring for people possible.

The Chipembi Mission Station in Zambia is operated by the United Church of Zambia. It has schools, an agricultural college, and a clinic, the only one in the community. The clinic has 30 beds and 2,000 out­patients, including over 800 people receiving antiretrovirals for HIV/AIDS. All this with a staff of six.

There is little money for clinics in Zambia beyond the staff salaries and basic equipment. Three years ago, the clinic’s sewage system collapsed, so the staff and patients have to use toilets that really don’t function well. And the ancient water tank, which supplies the clinic with water pumped from a borehole, leaks regularly.

But things are starting to change. The United Church of Zambia had asked The United Church of Canada for some funds for the clinic, so when we received a bequest specifically for health care in Africa, the money could be sent immediately. The United Church of Zambia sent it to Chipembi clinic to repair the sewage system, build new toilets and showers for staff and patients, and buy a new water tank and new soft  blankets for all the patients’ beds.

The Chipembi Mission Station is another example of how the partnerships sustained by the Mission and Service Fund mean that bequests and other donations can be targeted to the right place at the right time.

Every gift to the church’s mission and service is used wisely and helps transform lives. Please continue to give generously - visit the Mission and Service donation page.