Lord Your name....

is higher than the Heavens
Your Name is higher than all created things
Higher than hope
Higher than dreams
the Name of the Lord

this is a time of many broken dreams and unmet hopes My time here has not been what I had hoped for or dreamed of. Perhaps you can relate to that today?

but....the NAME OF OUR LORD
- must be higher
- should be what we seek
- is always faithful
- never changes
- knows our needs, our wants, and HE CARES!

He sees us. As we put our trust in Him, He will lead us through these dark days.

So I pray to You
God of my salvation
Lifter of my head
Teach me how to live oh Lord
in Your righteousness

I pray that each one of you will find refuge in the Name that is above all Names! JESUS!

lots of love from the Congo,
Doreen

(lyrics from Hilsong 'One Thing')

As human beings, we should always be learning.

I would like to share with you my lesson today. 

Perhaps it will help somebody else?

It is difficult to fully explain those times when God speaks to you, but I will try.…

Yesterday, as we drove back home, we passed a young boy on the side of the street. He was dragging himself through the dust with one leg trailing behind him…..

I was the passenger in an air-conditioned vehicle! My eyes remained fixed on his progress as we passed by. The contrast wreaks havoc in my heart and leaves my mind with such images. I think you can imagine how disturbing that can be. 

One refuge is that through TBA and supporters like you, we have been able to respond to many, many of those who are suffering.

Of course, we are unable to reach everyone, and it is heartbreaking!

Today, I was sharing this with Pastor Raha. He responded by telling me that we must allow ourselves to have joy! Such wisdom!

Gal 5:22 says: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, JOY, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness…”

Joy isn’t something that is just nice to have. Joy is a necessity. 

But, this joy is not a response to circumstances. This is a joy greater than what is going on around us.

Without joy, circumstances can crush our spirits.

Nehemiah 8:10 “……the joy of the Lord is your strength”

I need strength! So I need joy also!

Could you use a little more of this joy in your life? Have you been relying on your circumstances to keep you feeling good?

Don’t let circumstances steal your joy.

Give yourself permission to have joy!

=========

Please do not think that means turning away from the poor. NO! The opposite is true, it gives strength with which to respond.

In John 12:8, Jesus said, “You will always have the poor among you, but you will not always have me.” 

He was revealing the fact that the very next day, He would be crucified. 

He was certainly NOT, NO HOW, NO WAY giving a life sentence of poverty to the poor.

He was quoting Deuteronomy 15:11

The disciples would have been very familiar with the Scripture, and therefore would have known the REST of the verse....

“There will always be poor people in the land. Therefore I command you to be openhanded toward your fellow Israelites who are poor and needy in your land.”

The biblical response to poverty is openhandedness. 

The persistence of poverty is not a reason to ignore the plight of the poor but to draw near to them with generosity.

You are successfully reaching the needy through TBA! 

Thank you so much!

Be blessed!

reports from home groups;

- "home group training was like manna from Heaven"
- "for sure this was God's leading"
- all groups have multiplied, one group rapidly became a gathering of 30
- "we are so thankful for this teaching"
- one family who had abandoned the church have been restored to fellowship
- there are people coming to faith
- at least 20 requesting baptism
- "for sure we have seen the hand of God and He has been with us"


I hope you are seeing the results of your prayers on our behalf!

Glory to God!

a poster here in Bukavu.....

if you look carefully, there we are.....in the bottom right!!

Still no more cases of the virus here in Bukavu. However, we are using masks, and staying distant from one another.

The borders of D.R. Congo and Rwanda remain closed. The Kigali airport is closed (my exit route), and of course there are no flights.

While waiting for things to change, I am so well provided for. Everyone from my homes on both sides, advised that this is the safest place to be for the time being….just be patient.

God’s got a plan! I don’t need to know what it is, I just need to trust Him!

I just wish patience was FASTER to learn! LOL

Tomorrow we meet with 5 of the home group leaders, to see how things are progressing, and address any problems.

This is my first venture out of the house and into the church. It will be so good to hear reports and updates from home groups.

Today, we had an amusing incident. We were trying to purchase popping corn. (I am an avid fan) We stopped at many shops… to no avail. Not only did they not stock it, they did not know who does.

We ended up at a small shop where the staff were sitting outside enjoying the air. Raha went to ask them if they sell popping corn. They made sounds of great sympathy accompanied by the words “Oh no, oh no, poor mazungu (white person) she must be missing home! She needs something from home!”

(not spoken in sarcasm, but in genuine sorrow for the plight of the ‘poor’ mazungu!)

So kind, and yet so funny! We did eventually find a market selling it and bought a large bag. Only to return home and find that the tiny store across from our house carries it!!

Thank you for all your prayers, and standing with us in this moment of history.

Love,

The ‘poor’ muzungu