Project Connect

The idea to start this organization was a result of the friendship developed between Janet and Glen Harris of Battle Creek, MI while Janet was living in Zimba, Zambia. 

Janet was commissioned to Zambia through her church after they had experienced 5 years of serving the Zambian people long distance.  Multiple projects were funded and started but few realized completion. Janet's main responsibility when she arrived in Zambia was to determine why so many projects were incomplete.

Glen had visited Zambia before Janet's arrival in 2007 to discover how his church could be of assistance to the Zambian people.  His church like Janet's found that the end result was not always what they expected.

We have a tendency to assume the worst in such situations.  We automatically think that the money was used inappropriately.  This is not always the case. When you do work in a developing country there are many factors that affect projects.  Foreign exchange rates, inflation and time are just a few of the factors.  In addition, the knowledge or lack of knowledge of the local people to forecast the budget of a project may enter into the equation also.

Janet's biggest accomplishment while she lived in Zambia was the completion of two housing blocks that provided homes for hospital staff. She was able to oversee the planning, purchasing, hiring, construction and finishing of the project using the local people in the community. Projects weren't incomplete because the nationals couldn't do the work, they just need help with the fiscal accountability and decision making.

Glen played a similar role in the projects funded by his church. He was able to assist in updating the water and sanitation system at the hospital in Zimba while living in the USA.  This was accomplished by email and short trips every few months.  In doing so, he also assisted the nationals in fiscal responsibility and decision making.

Both experienced the rewarding experience of working with nationals to accomplish projects that benefited the poor, the sick, the orphans and the aged.

There are many projects throughout the world that need to be planned, budgeted, funded and completed.  There is not always someone available locally to make sure this happens.  PROJECT CONNECT is being organized to address this problem. PROJECT CONNECT will solicit funding for projects both in the planning stages and those that have been started and abandoned.  PROJECT CONNECT will work with the local people to assist and teach them to be better stewards of the funding they receive from donors. PROJECT CONNECT will report back to donors the good news that their generosity accomplished much for the needy throughout the world.

Please join us in prayer as we proceed with the required documents for recognition by the United States Federal government as a 501(c)3 organization. This recognition will allow us to receive tax deductible donations. Pray that the funding needed for administration and managing of this organization will be made available. Pray for wisdom and discernment as the board develops policies and procedures for assisting the beneficiaries.

For more information about Project Connect Inc. please contact us at ProjectConnectInc@gmail.com or follow the blog at www.ProjectConnectInc.blogspot.com

It Is Not Good To Be Alone

The LORD God said, "It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him."
Genesis 2:18

Well, Jim and I have been married two months now and what a whirlwind it has been! Two nights at a luxury resort on the Zambezi for a honeymoon, two weeks in South Africa photographing the 2010 World Cup (13 games in 14 days) and six weeks of 3 short term mission teams from the USA in Zambia. What a way to start a marriage!

The day before we were to be married we experienced typical African bureaucracy. To be legally married in Zambia you must post the names of the couple in a public forum three weeks before the wedding. This is done so that if anyone wishes to contest the union they have adequate notice and can do so. No one contested... but... when we went to pick up the license we were told that Rev. Dr. Kalembo could not perform the wedding because he was not "gazetted" in the Livingstone. According to Rev. Dr. Kalembo he was gazetted in the country of Zambia and was not limited to any specific area. Four visits to the council office and 15 minutes before their offices closed they determined that Rev. Dr. Kalembo could perform the ceremony. They had to get a ruling from another office because they had two conflicting documents... one stated a pastor had to be gazetted by province and the other stated it was inclusive of the country. The latter document was from 1973...???

Our wedding was the most beautiful wedding I have ever attended... no bias here. It was set on the banks of the Zambezi River just 20km from Livingstone. It was small in attendance (by design) and we were blessed that Jim's brother's family from Knoxville could attend. An intimate group of "girlfriends" were also present as well as the two pastors who officiated the ceremony, Rev. Mike Helvie and Rev. Dr. Alfred Kalembo. Cindy Helvie blessed the occasion with a solo. We even had marimba players during the brunch that followed the ceremony.

Rev. Mike Helvie and Rev. Dr. Alfred Kalembo

Ben, Leonard, Karen and Nathaniel Brown

Jim and I had discussed an even smaller affair but my Zambian girlfriends would not hear of it! Thanks Karien, Joan, Cindy, Marcia, Margriet and Jody for making this a special occasion. It would not have been as beautiful without you.

Margriet Kern, Jody Hayton, Marcia Craig,
Cindy Helvie and Dr. Joan Jones

The celebration did not end there though, after a quick two day honeymoon, we headed to Zimba where my "hometown" did me well. The community joined together to prepare a traditional Tonga wedding reception. There was singing, dancing, eating and lots of laughter. Jim showed off his dancing skills (he dances like a white man) , paid the libola (bride price) of 5 (plastic) cows, sang a song to me and kissed me at an inappropriate time (the guests loved it)!

The Tonga Wedding Party

Dancing like a "Mazungu" (White Man)

Dancing with the women of Zimba

I wish each of you could have been a part of the celebration. It was truly God ordained and we are waiting in anticipation for what HE has in store for us.

_____________________________

So, you may be asking yourself just what is next.... we are asking the same question.

On August 5, 2010 Jim returned to Nashville, TN where he is a teacher with Metro Nashville Public Schools at Hillsboro High School. Janet will follow him to the states on August 14th. We will take the next few months discerning where God would have us settle. Although we do not feel that our time in Zambia is complete I understand that my place is with my husband until we can determine how we are to work together in ministry as a team.

We thank you in advance for your support and encouragement through prayer.