the farm....

Last fall, the farm we support suffered a devastating blow when all the chickens in that area caught a killer disease!

In the interim between then and now, they have been disinfecting and preparing to start again. Hilary is the visionary for this project and has written an update I thought I would share with you.

Here is a picture from before the blight. Things were going very well....

This photo is current....

Here is a word from Hilary;

"At this time our community needs, more than ever, projects and initiatives that will stand in the gap and train young people on values that would change lives and tell a different story to a generation.

During this period of COVID-19, the community has suffered a huge impact, with no schools opened and activities paralyzed. This has caused an increase in the level of poverty. We have invited school children, grades 6 and above, who have been staying at home, to come and learn about poultry farming and farming at large.

Knowledge is power! We believe that this generation will change the story of DRC.

Through HILTOP Farm Group you can bless a life......join us and let's change a generation!"

TBA is a supporter of this great vision.

Tupende Wazee (Love our Seniors)

This has been an extremely trying time for these widows. They were poverty-stricken before Corona further devastated the economy!
TBA gathered them to extend survival items to send home.

Here is their greeting to you....

Packages of food were given....

they brought empty bottles they had saved or found in the garbage to hold some precious cooking oil.....

Again, I ask you to realize that this is your support reaching the destitute and giving life! I always receive their appreciation to pass on to you. 

And so I do.....

THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

You have reached across many many miles and touched these lives!

some of the ladies from our Wezesha post....

We had a chance to go to Mudaka and visit a few of the ladies supported through our micro-finance post - Wezesha.

This group of ladies shared testimonies of rising above the severe poverty of the area!

They and their children now have food to eat and the children attend school. 

This great achievement is an outcome of their commitment to the program, and their hard work.

These are women of courage and dignity and it is a great blessing to see their progress and their joy!

There are 60 women in the group.

"It is possible to have the kind of faith in Christ that even when life doesn’t make sense, and even when I don’t understand things in the Bible, and even when I can’t explain everything about the way faith works, I am not believing in something, I am trusting in Someone…….. I know whom I have believed in

Missionaries are all normal people. They simply serve an extraordinary God."

Such true words! Sorry, I can't remember where I copied this from.

it has been a long time.....

DRC is facing an escalation of the virus now, and we have been trying to address some of the needs as they arise.
The first issue is starvation. Bethsaida, through the cell groups, has identified those in greatest need in each area, and sent supply. Many, many people are suffering greatly. They face conditions we can not imagine!

TBA was blessed to be able to offer some assistance and equally saddened that we could not do more.
The care provided by Pastor Raha & Mapendo kept me safe, loved, and provided for while in isolation! May God bless them for their generous spirits!

Seven days ago, I was in Bukavu carrying on as usual. On Monday, we heard of a  charter flight taking ex-pats from Goma to Ethiopia on Thursday. Poor Pastor Raha ran and ran to get the documents needed for permission to leave, and permission from the governor to enter North Kivu etc. It was a daunting task! I had only packing etc to do, and could not manage the stress! Moment by moment, we thought...we can make it.....no, we haven't enough time, it may not work.....we can....we can't......as I said, stressful!

God granted all the documents and Wednesday we drove to Goma. It took many hours. Thursday found us at the airport waiting for our flight. I was given this;

So I learned it was an evacuation flight. There are so many stories involved in this 'evacuation'. I will spare you the details. But here are some photos;

On the way to Goma;

Arrival in Ethiopia (this is where they took us);

When we entered the international airport (almost empty);

I was facing a 16-hour flight, but God took care of me. This was my seat. I put the armrests up and had a bed of sorts (plus 3 blankets, and 3 pillows);  

I think I survived better than my luggage! What do you think?

I requested a "fragile" sticker to apply to my forehead, but in hindsight, I am thankful they refused!!

(although I do feel a bit the way my suitcase looks)

As we landed in Ethiopia, there was a huge fleet of jumbo jets lined up, just parked! It was quite a sight! There are fewer and fewer flights. Before we received news of this flight, it was looking like September before there would be any option available!

God is not restricted by anything! He made a way for me. I thank Him!

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!