November has indeed been a challenging and defining month for us at RNM. We are back from Africa after completing our Mission 2005 planned activities there.

What We've done in Nigeria & Ghana

As we look back the entire year, we see we've exceeded our projected targets for 2005. We planned to drill 6 water wells, but we've just completed 8 successful wells. We planned 1 medical outreach with a water sanitation and hygiene training for the nationals, but we've done two medical outreaches through our national partnerships and distributed medicines valued at over $500,000 in several countries. Our V-TEN program in Ghana was very successful focusing on bridging the digital divide by bringing computer literacy around the Internet & e-Commerce. By virtue of his position as the Radio Preacher of choice in Takarodi, our partner in Ghana, Pastor Albert W. Yeboah was able to give it a free wide publicity on their FM Radio. About 25 people, including some of the more than 75 registered participants committed their lives to Christ during our V-TEN program in Ghana in which we stressed the importance of integrity & trust for any business to be viable (Online or Offline).

In Nigeria where we drilled & completed 4 successful water wells in the following villages:

• Umuokereke Akpa Village - in Osisioma Ngwa LGA Community
• Okpokoro Ala - Umuode Community also in Abia State
• A Church community at Asa Nnetu - all near Aba;
• At Oyigbo (Obigho) in River State at the new site of a Missionary Hospital in Rivers State, Divine Grace Missionary Hospital.

The well detailed report may be found on the Water Well page link here.

We had all sorts of challenges & logistic headaches during the past 2 weeks. Nigeria has it's peculiar problems, some cultural, some ethical, some political & due to poor infrastructures. As if these are not enough, you'd have to contend with grueling traffic jams in cities, pot-holes, "rusts & gold" mixed with rubbish & stench on many of the streets, disregard for public property, for value of time on the part of many in business & in the government circles, and the toll of general depression and poverty on people. In the midst of these settings, people must be motivated or induced in one way or the other to carry on with the task at hand. We prayed, we labored, and stepped up to these challenges to achieve and exceed many of our targets. We were however unable to use our portable rig because some of the parts did not arrive in time for our missionaries to work with it and train some of the ready nationals. Nevertheless, 4 of the trainees got some general training around mud rotary drilling kindly provided by brother Al Frohner (a Certified Living Water Drill Trainer / Instructor) who travelled with us to Nigeria. Al's wife Sharron (who was unable to join us) provide nearly 100 of the 200 tooth pastes shared in rural outreach during our Sanitation & Hygiene training.

Follow-up Visites & Life Changing Results

We visited several of our previous project sites, ministered to beneficiaries, and in several churches and villages. At AGM Church Community in Obehie, we met several women and children after school fetching water at their new well completed in July-August 2005. (See photo above - right)

At the Mbgoko Junior Seminary, we had opportunity to address the students & staff while checking out how well their new water bore hole operates. About 25 students made decisions for Christ. Similarly, during the water sanitation & hygiene training in Ogberuru - Orlu, about 35 adults & children gave their lives to Christ as we shared the importance of peace with God through Jesus the Living Water. It was exciting to see what the Lord has done despite these odds that continue to look insurmountable. The demand for more water wells in very difficult areas that needs air drilling with a big truck mounted rig continue to grow. We promised people in faith to return to those parts of Nigeria by May - better equipped to deal with those challenges as we continue to get your support. We do indeed thank God for His mercies, protection from dangers, and provisions despite being stretched so thin in austere places like Africa. As we encouraged believers in Africa from Psalm 1, we encourage you also today that - "Blessed is the man (woman)... that meditates on his words day and night... and whatever s/he does prospers."

Appreciation & Call not to relent in giving

Many thanks to all our friends and partners who have made this trip possible through your financial gifts and prayers. We look forward to your end-of-year financial support as we wrap up plans to move in a bigger rig to Nigeria early in 2006. When we came home, our children showed us a stack of mails waiting for us - many were "junk" mails - catalogues of more things to buy... perhaps for someone here already overloaded with stuff. As you reflect on your Christmas giving and 2 Corinthians 8:1-9, consider giving to more lasting life changing projects & sustainable programs such as our water well rig and medical relief efforts. A smaller catalogue of gift ideas include - $500 for a deep well pump; $3000 for a well (dedicated to your family name if you wish); $800 for box of medicines to treat 100 people with common tropical diseases like malaria & typhoid fever; $200 to start a petit-trading business for 4 rural women or for 2 young school leavers to learn a skill / trade, $50 for a seat / desk for 3 kids in school so they can learn; $ANY amount towards the rig and crew truck, etc. These are typical treasures stored in heaven above where neither moth or rust can corrupts.

We have attached two photos here - one with Oge and I at the rocky beaches in Takoradi / Sekondi, Ghana, and some children fetching and drinking water after school in one of our new water well projects commissioned at Obehe AGM. Enjoy!  For more photo news, please visit our website News & Events page shortly.

Blessings to you, and many thanks for praying for us and your continued support.

Dr. A. Sunny & Ogechi Flo Ochi-Okorie
(President, & Director of Publicity, RNM, Inc.)
Email: aso@relief-networks.org; or sokorie@houston.rr.com
Web: www.relief-networks.org / www.reliefntwk.net
Phone: 281-337-0067