2024

Remember that the gift of Christ, Immanuel, is our greatest treasure, not just at Christmas, but for the whole year through.

We need His presence with us every single day.

We need His wisdom, strength and power to be present in us to make us strong and courageous for the road ahead.

God has promised that He will never leave us, that He will be our Refuge and our Strength, and an ever-present Help in trouble.

Our world desperately needs peace and hope. It can only be found in the Prince of Peace. I pray that God will help us to be generous and kind, and look to the needs of others this year.

Let us pray together that God will strengthen His servants, scattered around the world, to be the hands and feet of Jesus--especially in places where war, violence, famine, and sickness are devastating families and communities.

"all human helpers are channels, but God is the inexhaustible Source." Dr. Chidi Okoroafor

May we make a difference in this world. May we see His goodness this year.

Let's enter 2024 ready to live the life He wants for us!

Happy New Year everyone!

Merry Christmas

 When Jesus was born, the night sky exploded with light as the angels appeared and sang to the shepherds.

33 years later, when He died, the daylight became dark for 3 hours.

“There has just been discovered, a short statement, in the Chinese historical record, that has shocked some people.

It was an eclipse in China on the same day that Jesus was crucified, but was found to be unexpected, and prolonged, and somehow reversed. A usual eclipse is a few minutes long, but this one was for 3 hours, as recorded in the Gospels, and the darkness was extreme.”

Jesus is the LIGHT of the world.

May He shine in your hearts and homes this season!

 Support was just sent this week to the D.R.Congo!

The orphans, who are suffering near the war zone, will be fed….

The vulnerable senior women will also eat and have a special gift….

The Church rent is sent to help them have a community gathering place…

Much suffering will be eased by the love expressed from the global family of God!

Together Building Africa thanks you from the bottom of our hearts!

That you for caring.

 newsletter updates for TBA were sent. If you did not receive one but you would like to, I will need your email.

UZIMA! (LIFE!)

 TBA's goal through UZIMA! is to reach needy young adults, vulnerable students, mostly girls, single mamas, those who are survivors, sexual abused and youth with disabilities, empowering them through sustainable trade training.

This report presents the successful work of TBA in Bukavu, South Kivu region, DRC;

the new class of 2023, with 9 students, began February 6, 2023 and will end October 30, 2023. The class will be offered 2 months of professional apprenticeship before graduation.

This program brings so much joy and confidence in anticipation of life transformation and success in our students' futures.

The teachers report that they feel so encouraged when they look in the faces of these vulnerable young students, and see how happy they are to be taking this tailoring course.

All of them are eagerly looking forward to graduation day in December, when they will exit the program and step our into a new trade career and make an impact on their lives, breaking the chains of poverty. They can't wait to start their own tailoring boutiques!

miracles...

 We have been asked “what is your strategy for risk mitigation?”

We can say:  PRAYER!

This summer, TBA was at the point of losing everything.....sewing machines, office equipment, furniture and the buildings themselves!!

the fire started at 3:30pm Bukavu's local time, while two church choirs were having rehersal in the church building. After a few hours of worship practice, they noticed billowing smoke. People from outside the church compound wer screaming because they knew a fire was. threat to the whole neighbourhood!

African solidarity works to mitigate the risks! Neighbours rushed in to assist the church!

Our youth came out from the church and jumped in as well, becoming firefighters, defending Wezesha's office, the church building, and TBA facilities for UZIMA and Tupende Wazee, all of whom were rescued from the fire!

The progression of the fire was stopped by young people using buckets despite having no running water or modern fire truck....amazing!!!

We testify: PRAYER WORKS! Our God hears us!

 Thank you so much for your patience! Our medical journey has still not completed, but God is at work and we are seeing His support!

Prayer Please

We pause in our reporting temporarily......  

Our daughter is surviving some severe health incidents.

We put our trust in our great Father. He is guiding us and carrying us through this difficult time.

Thank you for your patience and your prayers!

in Him,

Doreen 

the journey continues....

It has been a privilege to be welcomed to various churches, to raise awareness of the needs of Congo! 

After B.C. we returned to Manitoba to visit our dear friends in Boissevain. Their support, prayers and encouragement has blessed us more than we can say....thank you Pastor Bob & Susan and all who came.

the next weekend, we made some new friends in Selkirk. They were so good to us. We were blessed. Thank you for being such a warm and welcoming group!

While the whole team is in Canada, we are using our time effectively to benefit D.R. Congo. Please pray with us the God will lead and guide us, and strengthen His ministry in our beloved country overseas.

British Columbia

and then God granted to privilege to attend the Four Square Church convention....

We met some wonderful Servants of God. Some interested in coming to Congo. Made new contacts. We were inspired by great worship and heart-filled messages, and challenged to just keep serving God!

A Great week, thank you Four Square Churches, and Pastor John and his wife Carol, for making it happen!

May God use our time there for His glory and to further build His Kingdom!

New Life Church Edmonton

 Thank you so much for your warm welcome and your love for us and for Together Building Africa! We loved our time sharing with you. You have been such faithful supporters!

Oak Lake

 Thank you Oak Lake! We enjoyed our time with you sharing what Together Building Africa has been doing.

It was great to connect with new friends and old! We were blessed by you!

UZIMA (LIFE) PROJECT

 Today we were able to watch online as the first sewing class graduated! What a wonderful moment!

They studied their craft for 9 months, took 2 months apprenticeship, and are ready to start out on their own. They have been divided into groups of three, given a sewing machine, and provided with a small corner to begin their own business.

The program accepts orphans who have aged out of child support programs,  high-risk women and girls, equipping them, through vocational training, to earn basic amenities. They are able to stand with dignity in the community.

All of you who have helped support this project should feel deeply satisfied! Thank you for making this possible! I wish they were able to thank you in person. Then you could see the impact first hand. You are doing missions!

a re-post....

I know I have shared this before, but to me it is a motivational declaration. I hope you find it so as well...

The Amsterdam Declaration 2005;

"We pledge ourselves to work so that all persons on earth may have the opportunity to hear the Gospel in the language they understand, near where they live.

We further pledge to establish healthy, reproducing, indigenous churches among every people, in every place, that will seek to bring to spiritual maturity those who respond to the Gospel Message."

BRILLIANT!

a good reminder.....

 How to make a ministry grow....the issue is always, only, fully, clearly, uncompromisingly, and exclusively JESUS! If Jesus is lifted up, then a crowd will gather, that crowd will be converted, those converts will become passionate, that passion will result in creativity, and that creativity will result in a movement of God, because the Holy Spirit delights to work through His people to the glory of Jesus!

(May His name be greatly glorified through Together Building Africa!)

we have been connecting with supporters of Together Building Africa. Bringing a report of what their support has been doing in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

This has have had a wonderful time fellowshipping with the believers in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia! Their love, support and WARM welcome has been a great encouragement to us!

I wish there were stronger words to say THANK YOU BRIDGWATER! 

the shoreline of the Atlantic Ocean

 

urgent....

please pray for all our dear seniors, orphans, & family who are presently suffering severely with the current unrest..

These dear people are so vulnerable and in need of protection that only God can provide! They are probably experiencing a lot of fear and anxiety!

Also, the global situation has made food almost unattainable due to rising costs.

I suspect we can't even imagine their stress level. To some of these ladies that can be life-threatening.

 Perhaps some of you don't believe in prayer, but GOD DOES! So I ask you pray, please!

update UZIMA PROJECT;

UZIMA CENTRE exists to support destitute orphans, abused girls and women, and handicapped individuals to gain skills that will provide them with basic amenities, and pull them out of poverty.

Tailoring is a good career in Congo. There are virtually no factories to produce ready-made clothing. A person who is trained to sew garments, and owns a treadle sewing machine, can earn a respectable living.

Our first sewing class has received training in sewing and in running a small business. They now begin a two-month apprenticeship. 

Upon completion, there will be a graduation, and they will be divided into groups of three to open a sustainable business that will provide basic amenities. 

Until this program, they had no means of future survival. This offers them support WITH dignity!  

TBA is praying to provide them with 2 sewing machines for each group, a place to begin working, and the supplies required to start working.

Please pray with us that God will use these skills to provide for their needs. Also pray for the new selection process, as they prepare a new intake group. Pray that He will lead us to those who need and can truly benefit from this help. 

May God use us to bring relief and hope to those in need!

missions.....

Give me ears to hear Your Spirit

Give me feet to follow through

Give me hands to touch the hurting
And the faith to follow You
Give me grace to be a servant
Give me mercy for the lost
Give me passion for Your glory
Give me passion for the cross

(Steve Green)

Tupende Wazee (Love our Seniors) is a 70+ group, who have been abandoned by their family members. Civil unrest has caused them to leave their ecosystems and lifestyles in the villages, leading to instability. There is no system in place to offer support. 

This program has been running since 2019, offering psychological support, therapy, and Agape meals. 

The Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in culture. We also connect them with the orphans supported by the church. Orphaned children can become disconnected from some wonderful traditions. We bring the two groups together and the children hear the stories from the 'grandmothers'. The children discover grandmas who pray for them and care about them as only a grandma can!

Through these activities we have seen lives transformed, health restored, and great joy as they flourish in a supportive community!

 

 We have been out visiting many churches. Please let us know if you would like to be on that list?

I think you can add your comment in the comment field offered below each post?

Thank you for being such supportive friends!

There has been considerable progress since my last post. The first group in UZIMA is about to graduate! They have learned valuable sewing skills and are preparing to use their new abilities to support themselves. Can you imagine what that will mean to them?

Tupende Wazee, our seniors' support has seen an upgrade. The women were challenged to navigate the steps up into the meeting room.

a few of them could not make it at all. They remained downstairs trying to listen from there. 

We were able to add support rails for the steps;

a few months later, we were able to rent the ground floor room so all can gather in one space. Here is the latest report received;

- we have seen lives changed dramatically through this program.

- we have seen seniors that now know how to live in society

- we have seen reconciliation with their family members 

- we are seeing a renewal of strength and hope in the group

- they are saying they are now living a full life

We thank God for the privilege of coming alongside these courageous seniors to address some of their ongoing issues and restore HOPE in their lives! ( why is hope such a powerful word? Hope has moved people out of untenable situations into better lives, and has helped humans stay alive)

All of YOU have made this possible! Thank you for caring. I hope you recognize the great effect you are having on the lives of these forgotten members of society.

May the God of hope and faith be with you in 2023! He is before us, behind us, and beside us. May He move us toward that which will bring us closer to Him.