Each year MACA’s leadership meets to learn from the coordinators in the field. Through discussions, matching resources with expectations, the Board of Directors approves programmes and projects brought forward for funding. The coordinators are closely in touch with each group of trainers in each country they work in, they are the backbone of MACA’s information and delivery system. For this reason, each area MACA works in has different goals:

South Asia

The goal for 2011 is to ‘soldier on’. So many organizations and communities have asked for CHE training. District Coordinator, Gord, travels twice a year to South Asia to meet with leaders from different missions and churches interested in CHE. Early in 2011 he will train several trainers who will then go out and train 700 other trainers who will train people ‘on the ground’. Gord will continue on to encourage other groups and community Health programmes that use CHE to enter into the communities to teach preventative health measures. He desires to use his time wisely, to encourage those who are engaged in Health promotion and to establish vital links with other communities using CHE. Each CHE community has it’s own challenges, Gord asks for wisdom in helping these communities to handle their concerns with God’s help.

Caribbean

Haiti - The CHE communities in Haiti have been challenged over and over again. The earthquake of 2010, followed by the Cholera outbreak in several parts of the country has stretched the fibers of the CHE communities. Because CHE communities have a structure of helping one another, they were able to respond to the challenges by helping support medical clinics; distributing much needed equipment, donated supplies and providing labor for repairs and reconstruction. CHE trainers learned and were able to train leaders in how to counsel others; there are many cases of post-traumatic stress disorders that need to be addressed. CHE communities have become responsible for providing housing for healthcare workers and for maintaining clean environments for food preparation. They have stepped forward to clean wells – so water supplies are safe. They have taken an active role in learning how to ensure clean drinking water is available in areas where water security is a problem. The goal for 2011 is to continue in the roles they have found necessary to support the relief and rebuilding of their communities.

Dominican Republic - The CHE communities in DR have responded to the concerns of their neighbours in Haiti. They have helped transport supplies, food and water to communities in need. There are several CHE communities that continue to grow – they are using the CHE programme to establish a new mindset in the communities, a mindset that dignifies the poor to help them realize their full potential, using it to accomplish God's purpose for them. The area coordinator hopes to see five new CHE communities in 2011.

South America

Regional Coordinator, Bibiana MacLeod, has moved to Argentina to be close to her field work. Bibiana is concentrating on establishing CHE training in Argentina, Bolivia and Peru. Busy Christian leaders are trying to understand their role as CHE trainers. They are constantly asking and wanting to learn more. It is so encouraging to see so many young people eager to mobilize their churches to do cross cultural missions or go when they are ready! The goals for 2011 will be to continue to challenge these young leaders and to harness their energy and help them prepare to be strong CHE trainers.

Bibiana has also targeted reaching out to remote areas of Argentina. A recent trip to the northeast part of Argentina has proved how valuable the training session on world view is in this context. What is Development and Wholistic Health are the two subjects they are mostly impressed with. We pray to be able to lead them in different ways of passing these concepts on as CHE is introduced as a set of tools after the big concepts are sinking in.

South East Asia

Many countries in South East Asia do not welcome Christian teaching. The challenges of developing CHE programs in this context adds extra ‘diligence’ to MACA’s regional coordinators, Bill and Sharon Bieber. They have developed Moral Value lessons that are taught to large not for profit organizations and training institutions. Their goal is to have these institutions dig deeper into the meanings behind the stories that teach kindness, patience, honesty, faithfulness and obedience.

Developing networks among Cambodian doctors through presentations at professional conferences has also been a challenge. The Biebers have been asked to present at continuing medical education meetings for the next two years. These sessions may qualify for educational credits to the participating physicians.

In 2009 a CHE project began in Indonesia. This fledgling community has been buffeted by storms – literally – a strong hurricane caused considerable damage to the community. Time and funds need to be used to re-establish what has been damaged. The project co-ordinator there is challenged with using scarce resources to train devastated farmers in the production of different agricultural crops to increase their market return. The goal for 2011 is to increase the funding to this small project, the core value of multiplication is at work in this area – if one village sees progress – the next village wishes to develop in the same way.

Papua New Guinea

EDEN – Effective Development for Empowering the Nation. This project has been funded through MACA and Samaritan’s Purse Aus. for two years. Their goal is to build an infrastructure for CHE trainers throughout the entire country. Health promotions is a function of the PNG Health Department. The actual delivery of health promotions becomes the responsibility of the provincial health departments and the church run health clinics in each province. EDEN has brought together health promotion experts from around the country, they wish to standardize training material and act as a resource for any province that requires assistance. MACA staff acts as advisors and trainers for EDEN. They have developed a teaching strategy for delivery of CHE training and are now working on monitoring and evaluation criteria for the country. CHE training was introduced to PNG by Bill and Sharon Beiber several years ago, their challenges have increased as they see CHE training and the development of healthy communities progress around the country.

ICD-EHP – Integrated Community Development – Eastern Highlands Province. In 2009, the government of EHP chose the Dunatina Valley for rapid economic development. To assist government plans, MACA was chosen to act as community development coordinators in this area. The challenges are enormous. Zach and Tera Jones work alongside local leaders to help them understand the changes that will come to their villages. Villagers are empowered to work with the government and identify their own goals for their land, for their children and for their communities. The process is slow – but needed for effective outcomes. Residents are trained to evaluate their situation and to act in a Godly fashion to the challenges they face. Zach and Tera work with the trainers from EDEN and other CHE trainers to bring information and support to the people of the Dunatina Valley.

PNG Islands – For several years, John and Jan Taylor have travelled through several of the PNG island provinces. They have developed relationships with government leaders, church leaders, educational leaders, industry leaders and health departments. Their role is to train trainers and to help them establish CHE programmes. Progress, although slow, has shown results in both Manus and New Ireland Province with an interest in West New Britain. The goal for 2011 is to encourage the ‘new beginnings’ of the CHE communities and to continue promoting CHE as the method best suited to bring a comprehensive health strategy to other villages. Working together with the trainers from EDEN, it is possible to bring a consistent source of health education to areas looking for a wholistic response to their needs. PNG is an open country, they recognize Jesus as their Lord - but need tools to put their beliefs into action to improve their communities. CHE offers them the opportunity to become the people God wants them to be.