November 2, 2021

Dear Friends in the D.R. Congo.......we will see you again in

WEEKS!!

2 Timothy 1:4 WE LONG TO SEE YOU AGAIN.....WE WILL BE FILLED WITH JOY WHEN WE ARE TOGETHER AGAIN ♥️

 

Tupene Wazee (Love our Seniors) Project

In Bukavu, the seniors have become a largely neglected population. 

This has caused a rise in diabetes, high blood pressure, lung infections, pneumonia, increased stress….

Economically they are unable to support themselves or care for their failing health.

Neglect and abandonment have caused serious loneliness.

The Objectives of Tupene Wazee

To encourage a social and cultural integration to fight against social isolation

To see their dignity restored through programs that will restore their productivity (musical therapy, garden therapy, art therapy)

Provide a healthy meal to share together twice a week

Encourage exercise, physical activities, tips on diet and healthy self-care. 

To stimulate their abilities and increase their connectivity within the community by encouraging multi-generational activities such as storytelling for children. They carry the history of Congo.

Vision

We have purchased some sewing machines and plan to have sewing activities that will help sustain the program.

Impact

We have received many reports of increased strength and health, as well as the great joy that comes from having social interaction with others!

This has become a safe place where they gather to receive care and understanding.

All of this has become possible thanks to the support received.

With a heart of gratitude, we thank our sponsors for their support and their compassionate hearts!

Because of you, these courageous widows receive a meal rich in nutrition every time they meet. 

Thank you and beyond thank you! 

 I was just reading this report from the U.N. today. It reveals the horrifying situation of Congo. My heart aches that "the world is tuning out"!

However, it also fills my heart with amazement that YOU, our TBA supporters have stepped forward! You have responded, prayed, encouraged, and let us know that you have not tuned out! We feel humbled and blessed by your willingness to stay involved, doing what you can.

Only God can reward you sufficiently. I pray He will do so! Thank you, faithful friends!

“A UN report released earlier this year described some of the violence as potential crimes against humanity. The international community has promised itself to never turn a blind eye to violence and suffering of such scale. And yet when it comes to the DRC, the world is increasingly tuning out. This needs to change. 

The DRC is the biggest humanitarian crisis in Africa and is home to the largest number of internally displaced people on the continent…..(and yet) Donors are pulling back.

Some 15.6 million people need humanitarian assistance, while 5 million people total are displaced within the country’s borders. The DRC’s crises are overlapping and exacerbating one another. Food insecurity and a lack of development contribute to violence, which makes it more difficult for aid and development actors to operate in areas where people are in desperate need.

While humanitarian and peacekeeping operations have failed in the past, tuning out now is not the answer. 

We cannot turn our backs on the enormity of this suffering. Disengagement risks an even further downward spiral.

as we prepare to return;

From a book by David Shibley.....'A Force in the Earth'.......

A century ago a battered battalion of weary soldiers was being pushed back toward imminent defeat. With men falling on every side, the general ordered the bugler to sound the retreat. But there was no bugler; he had just been killed. Anxiously the general inquired if anyone could blow the bugle. One young recruit responded yes. 

"Well sound the retreat," the general ordered.

"Sir," the new bugler responded, "I don't know how to blow the retreat. I only know how to blow the charge."

"Then blow the charge!"

And with the blowing of the charge, the troops were energized, the tide was turned, and victory rose out of sure defeat.

The Holy Spirit is enlivening the church to produce a force in the earth that does not know how to blow the retreat. While some may think circumstances call for retreat, we only know how to blow the charge. The battle is hot. The global situation is less than favourable. But the Spirit of God is commanding us to advance. Victory is inevitable. 

"For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea" Isaiah 11:9

Here am I Lord, send me! 

A survivor story from Goma's Nyiragongo volcano, as recorded by Pator Raha;

Catherine Nabintu was 35 years old, recovering at home from a C-section 3 days earlier when the unthinkable happened! The volcano suddenly exploded.

She sat weak and terrified, holding her wee infant as ir was announced that people must evacuate the city immediately. They heard that the lava was rapidly consuming people and homes. It was the beginning of a frantic evacuation.

She says  “there was nowhere to run to, nobody to turn to for help except God alone”.

She had been keeping her children in the house so they would not get lost in the massive crowd as they were trying to escape the terror. Everyone was running and no one knew where to go. She testifies “It was a chaos, everyone ran to save his own life”

When the lava began to flow behind her house, she seized her 3 children and left her house empty-handed with no money, no food, and no time to plan.

“Could you imagine with me that situation so critical? In my eyes, it was the end of the world! Total chaos! I had no idea if I left my house open or not? Did it matter? I didn’t know what would happen next. Everybody was traumatized, behaving in a deranged fashion! It was the end of the world to my own eyes!”

They walked for the next 6 hours with no destination. They became overwhelmed, exhausted, and so so tired, making it impossible to think.

They eventually arrived in Bukavu, 181km from Goma. She had no relatives there and knew no one. Here is her story, “Miracles still happen, even today!

I was not there long before I met with Wezesha’s team (Pastor Raha and our team) doing identification of volcano’s victims. I registered for food aid distribution. 

We had prayed to God for His miracle to get food. It is very hard to describe the hardship we endured…. for one week we had no food, just boiling water, and surviving on anything I could get from good people.

I received food aid with great joy and satisfaction, flour, rice, oil, sugar, salt, and bread!

Thank you very much, Canadian people!”

Because of all of you, our faithful supporters!

TOGETHER Building Africa

 

Church Plant update

 this is the church today....

they are prepared to begin serving the community.....

                                                    ...... just needing benches and latrines

Please pray for this new work.

In other news, Eric & I have secured tickets to return at the end of November!! Thank You Lord!

Excited to see our precious family again!

Church Plant

 Pastor Raha, the one on the left, is standing in front of the newest Church Plant in the eastern region of the D.R. Congo.

The people of the region have had no church in their area for 7 years! 

They are so welcoming for this New Life church coming close enough to reach their children and community!

The Amsterdam Declaration:

"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."