Christian East African & Equatorial Development Trust (CEED):
“We assist East Africans in developing healthy and self-sustaining communities who honor Christ in three essential areas: Physical Health, Economic Health, Spiritual Health.”
Uganda Reimposes Lockdown and Citizens Suffer Because of Severe Covid Uganda’s President Yoweri Museveni on Sunday, June 6, re-imposed a strict lockdown throughout Uganda that included the closure of schools and the suspension of inter-district travel to help beat back a harsh surge in COVID-19 cases in the East African country. The new measures include the closure of all educational institutions, the shutdown of weekly open markets, and the suspension of church services. Because of severity of the outbreak, CEED cannot drill or repair water wells.
Infections and deaths from Covid have spiked and new cases, particularly among younger people, have surged, fueling fears that the country could slip into an out-of-control second wave. “In this wave the intensity of severe and critically ill COVID-19 patients and death is higher than what we experienced in the first wave of the pandemic,” Museveni said recently to international media. Deaths have ravaged the remote villages that are served by CEED. In the earlier lockdown, most remote villages felt little impact from the virus, but the situation now is a crisis.
How would God have us respond?
1. With prayer: We ask you to pray for our staff and volunteers in Uganda. Remember Herbert Asiimwe, CPA, Executive Director of CEED LTD, Uganda, and his team on-site in Uganda. Pray for their health, strength, leadership and wisdom as they work closely with their neighbors to comfort them and to help them cope with this horrible surge of sickness and death. Pray that they will have Emergency Resources to support their neighbors.
2. With renewed commitment to drilling for life-saving water: Many men, women and children in remote villages are better able to survive the Covid crisis because they have clean water! We praise God for each of those wells! Citizens can follow safe protocols that require clean water for their continued good health. We know that God has called us to provide water solutions for our Ugandan neighbors. We praise Him for the life-saving work that He has already done in Uganda through the 480+ water projects that are complete. We trust that we can quickly return to our water priorities when this lockdown ends.
3. With establishment of an Emergency Fund: We ask you, our donors and friends, to quickly contribute gifts to an Emergency Fund that can be sent to Herbert Asiimwe in Uganda for use in comforting and helping our neighbors through these crises. He may use the Fund for oxygen supplies and medicine, health care, food, transportation, and funerals or whatever critical needs he deems are appropriate. We have already sent $8,000. We are asking for an additional $25,000 for the Emergency Fund. These gifts are requested “over and above” what you and your loved ones have already decided to give to CEED for life-saving water solutions. Because of this crisis, we ask that you pray about this request and then send your gifts to CEED soon. Only God knows how many people we may save and comfort as we share these Emergency gifts. We thank the Giver of all gifts as you make decisions about this critical situation.
For more information on this Emergency Fund, please write to our President, Graham Hodgetts, at grahamhodgetts1940@gmail.com.
785 million people, or 10% of all people, in the world desperately need access to clean water, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Life giving water would transform their lives from “sick and struggling” to “healthy and productive.”
We Are Grateful for Your Generosity!
Over 700,000 Men, Women and Children have Benefitted from Your Support!
Thank you for the many ways in which you invest in CEED and the water solutions that we provide in East Africa! Your gifts are life-giving and life-saving!
CEED provides many opportunities for donors to make cash and stock gifts now. These allow for honoring or remembering your loved ones or special occasions in your life.
If you are considering a Planned Gift, please consult your tax advisor.
Here’s a reminder: Annual withdrawals from traditional retirement accounts are required after age 70 ½. However, you can avoid income tax on your required withdrawal if you choose to have your money sent directly from the IRA to a qualifying charity (such as CEED). This Qualified Charitable Distribution must be paid directly from your IRA to the charity and must be paid by December 31 each year in order to exclude that amount from taxable income.
As you consider how God has blessed you, please consider making a life-saving gift to CEED that is right for you and your loved ones. For more information about the financial needs of CEED and the investment opportunities, please contact Nancy Lee Cochran, Development Coordinator, at nlcochran@aol.com or 412-889-8721.
Rejoice as we reflect on our work: CEED has completed 480+ water projects serving more than 700,000 men, women and children since 2000.
