Thank you to all who bought our Congo Coffee, we were able to purchase $1000 worth of Swahili Bibles!!

Should we continue selling this great coffee? Let us 

know what you think?

favourite things....

We hold RURAL pastor conferences, reminding them they are not random, forgotten or overlooked. Heaven knows their names!

Even though we felt under-prayed for this great event, God still over-delivered.

So thankful!

Between 150-200 attended.

 We extend our sincere thank you for supporting TBA. We were able to meet the urgent needs of 54 orphaned children with food and non-food items. Supplies included bread, sugar, powdered milk, oatmeal, soap, lotion for girls, and other basic hygiene products.

We also received support for our Elderly (Tupende Wazee)

Food assistance was also extended to vulnerable elderly people under the Tupende Wazee (love our seniors) program, ensuring that they, too, received care and encouragement in this challenging season.

My mission report testifies that the church of Christ and TBA ministry remain both a refuge and a beacon of hope in the DRC, meeting spiritual needs through the gospel and addressing physical needs through acts of compassion.

We praise God that He made a way for Together Building Africa to get food and supplies to the vulnerable seniors that we support!

They each received a large bag of food to sustain them until the streets are less frightening.

The long blue item they are holding is an excellent laundry soap made in Congo (your whites will never be whiter!) The other item is an oil that protects their skin from the harsh climate.

Please note the lady in the front, with the black and white scarf over her shoulder. She does not seem to  be celebrating ...... she is overcome with tears

URGENT...

 PLEASE 

PRAY 

FOR CONGO!!!

good counsel

"In order to reach this generation with the Gospel of Jesus,

we can't think small. We must take bold steps, abandon the reasonable,

embrace the ridiculous, and watch God move!"

I have posted this before, but it is always a great reminder...

To love the Lord our God Is the heartbeat of our mission

The spring from which our service overflows

Across the street Or around the world

The mission's still the same Proclaim and live the Truth

In Jesus' name

(The Mission - Steve Green)

Good News!

 An update on what TBA has been doing…. 

We were supporting a church plant in a new area.

It has been growing and doing very well.

Last year, the owner of the land the church is built on, decided to sell the property. That would have meant the loss of the church structure and left no place for the congregation to meet.

But God had a plan. 

A Canadian pastor’s heart was moved by the threat of losing this place of worship. He shared it with the church and they decided to prepay the monthly rent for 28 months in advance to secure the property. 

Bethsiada Church in DRC, chose to use that donation to negotiate the purchase of the land!! Praise God. We and they are so thankful.

However, God’s plans were not yet fulfilled…..another church in this small town turned up at my door with funds to rent the land behind our church…..

Bethsaida Church had already paid a portion of the sale price. The new rent money was enough to secure the property.

God willing, the land will be used to open an ORPHANAGE!!!

There are 4.2 million orphans in D.R. Congo! The UN reports that DRC has the largest number of child soldiers in the world! Imagine! 

We ask God to do what only He can accomplish. We pray that He will enable us to provide basic amenities for widows and orphans.

Please PRAY that He will complete His plans for this great vision! 

All glory to Him who alone is God, our Saviour through Jesus Christ our Lord. All GLORY, MAJESTY, POWER, and AUTHORITY are HIS before all time, and in the present, and beyond all time! AMEN.

Jude 1:25

May God's grace be with you all!

Together Building Africa is still at work and going forward as God leads.

Our Tupende Wazee (love our seniors) group are still being fed and celebrating being together, benefitting from encouragement, companionship, and teaching. There is no system in place to support these people, many of whom have experienced great losses. We have seen lives changing dramatically through this program, as they develop a renewal of strength and hope!

UZIMA the sewing project is forging ahead with 9 students. We anticipate their graduation at the end of the year. They are being trained to become tailors. The east Congo has no garment factories, so this provides a marketable skill. UZIMA targets those living in abject poverty.

In addition, we are seeking an effective answer for a few of the 4 million orphans in the country. Pray for us as we seek God's guidance and wisdom.

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, when people are suffering and in need, they turn to the churches. Therefore, working through the church promotes trust and protects the culture.

Thank you to all of have remained faithful! We feel blessed by your presence!

Oh Happy Day!

 

 

new report

is Church planting effective in communities?

A man gave his testimony last Sunday in Congo. He said that in the past, he was trapped by  drinking a lot. He was living with a woman and they had some children. 

One day he  saw there was a new church in his community. One that he could get to. It was called AMSAR Church. He was warmly welcomed by the people. As he listened to the teachings, he realized that Jesus was the answer to his needs. He rushed forward to the altar to give his life to this Saviour that he had heard about. 

Fast forward to last Sunday....he testifies that he is free from alcohol, he married his partner, and he now teaches Bible Studies!!

When Jesus burst burst out of that tomb, your destiny and mine were4 forever changed. Our chains fell off! Death no longer gets the final word. His resurrection guarantees yours. "Because I live," Jesus promised, "you will live also" (John14:19)

                        Live as if Heaven Matters by David Shibley

I am eternally grateful 💗

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.