the time has come.....

 After careful seat selection......

on arrival, my next reality .........

I will be in touch. The usual internet interruptions will probably continue to be a factor. I will be on the ground in Kinshasa Thursday afternoon their time.

Please stay tuned my friends.......

school water tank

This is the latest picture of the water tank at Les Prophets School in Bukavu. (top view) It is the first water available in the community, and the reports say that it is providing well for the children and the community.

It is a reality in the lives of many children in Bukavu, to rise as early as 3:00 a.m. each morning, in the dry season, to search for water. These children are then unable to attend school until the rains come.

I hope you feel some sense of satisfaction, when you see the evidence of your contributions and understand how great the outcome!

Again, I am left with only the words 'thank you' to express for your support.....
I wish 'thank you' could bring even one of these children to your door to smile their appreciation;
or one mother to tell you what a wonderful change this has made;
or let you see all the children sitting in classrooms because they don't have to search for water today!

But, I leave you with 'thank you'!

Good Morning!

The countdown indicates only 10 days until our daughter's wedding, 13 days until we assist our granddaughter into University, and 28 days before leaving for Congo!

I was just pondering things this morning when a dear friend posted an interesting article. I will share some of it with you.....

Missionaries ask because......

• this job we’ve chosen is way bigger than us. So we ask you to join us. Join us in prayer, in dreaming, in completing the mission.
• working overseas strips us of the usual framework that allows us to be independent. So we ask you to support us.
• we commit to a mission without available resources to complete it. So we ask you to contribute.

Today I’m feeling grateful to all the people who said yes!!

Thank you again and again!

latest news from Bukavu......

A 5.6 magnitude earthquake has hit eastern Democratic Republic of Congo, killing two children, Information Minister Lambert Mende has said.

The epicentre of the quake was near Lake Tanganyika and Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu province in DR Congo, the Associated Press news agency reports.

The two children died after the house they live in collapsed in Katana, near the airport in Bukavu. Other buildings in the area were also slightly affected.

Eastern DR Congo has been mired in violence since the aftermath of the 1994 genocide in neighbouring Rwanda.

.......BBC News

The count down is ON!!

5 weeks until our daughter's wedding.....
7 weeks until I leave for Kinshasa!

The reading glasses have arrived once more. Thanks to the Lion's Club for their fast, efficient service!

I am so pleased to announce that another couple from Manitoba are joining us in Kinshasa for the month of October......to assist us with the church plant. Their faith and support has been a very great encouragement to us!

Thank you to the many churches who have invited me to share this vision with you! You have been a beautiful blessing! Without you......we could do nothing!

That is why we are called TOGETHER Building Africa, right?

I will keep you posted as things progress.

reading glasses

I love this part.......just ordered 300 pairs of reading glasses! One village I visited said they only had 3 pair of glasses in the entire community! When someone was attending a meeting of any kind, they had to phone around and locate a pair to borrow.......enter 300 pairs of reading glasses........such a celebration!

These glasses are ordered every year from the LION'S CLUB. The people are friendly, easy to deal with, and offer quick delivery.  The glasses have been cleaned, repaired, and packaged in small plastic bags. They even go one step further and put the strength on a paper in each bag. That is very helpful when you are trying to find the correct strength for each person.

If you have never donated your old glasses, you might want to consider it. Your glasses may provide the gift of sight to someone!

moving day

In the city of Kinshasa, we saw many small businessmen working hard to provide for their families. This man was weaving in and out among the cars and busses, with his heavy load, in temperatures exceeding 30 C. 

I was told that their busses are purchased from European countries who have written off the vehicle. Often, the brakes don't work along with other mechanical problems.....it becomes quite risky for the foot traffic troops.

However, there are options available........you might choose a taxi......a minivan.........usually seating 18 people! The close quarters serves as a great opportunity to get acquainted! If you have a purchase to take home, they be more than happy to oblige you.....

Please join with us as we pray for a used 4x4 for this fall. One that will transport us safely around the city and out to the surrounding areas as well.