Goma

 Apparently, the lava is still on the move. The situation is getting worse daily. There is an evacuation notice in effect. The streets are tightly crowded with those evacuating as quickly as possible. The city is home to nearly 1.5 million people.

More than 200 small and medium earthquakes have since caused cracks in buildings and streets in Goma. 

Together Building Africa has been able to get support to the orphanage we assist. We pray that it will get them through this time!

We have never used this blog to ask for support, but today, we MUST ask.....would you help us help them?

PLEASE pray....God believes in prayer even when we don't! He is faithful!!  🙏

small update;

 Pastor Raha is contacting people on the ground in Goma and we are considering our best response for the orphans at this time. 

Please continue to pray for guidance and wisdom!

Today's Update;

 Here is the latest update from the orphanage;

"the volcanic eruption was 4 km from the orphanage, we took the children and workers leaving all in the orphanage and in the rain, unfortunately the bandits entered the orphanage and stole 7 mattresses, 4 beds, solar panel and television from the children and take rice, corn flour, beans and others, this time the volcano situation has returned in half calm as for the damage of the volcano more than 1000 households are in streets without man, food, clothes so it is a natural disaster. Thank God in CM everyone is healthy

we have made 40km there and back with our workers and children, for the moment the earthquake is disturbing the city, the government has just requires ecveryone to sleep outside their house, Pray for us"

(I can't imagine 40km in the rain with 100 children! I passed on the information that we are praying and YOU are also praying for them. This brings great comfort!)

Thank you!!!!

URGENT: PLEASE PRAY FOR GOMA….

 Goma is 180km north of Bukavu. TBA has helped to support a group of orphans and vulnerable widows in that city.

Mount Nyiragongo in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, one of the world's most active volcanoes, has erupted sending panicked residents of the nearby city of Gomafleeing,, although they believe the city may not be in danger.

Power was cut in the city and some residents began leaving their homes, heading towards the nearby border with Rwanda on Saturday.

Nyiragongo last erupted in 2002, killing 250 people and making 120,000 people homeless after the lava flowed into Goma.

Here is the message I reived today from the pastor caring for those orphans and widows;

Even the air is toxic. Such a simple request and so filled with suffering and fear. 

They need our prayers!

This is a story that God tells us through His creation. Meet the Leafcutter ants. 

These tiny industrious creatures can strip all the leaves from a lemon tree overnight!

As tiny as they are, they do not shrink back from a project that would overwhelm just one of them. 

They work together, each one carrying a small piece of a leaf until the task is completed.

This could be a great practice for us. 

If we would minimize the issue in our thinking and focus on standing together…..could we strip ‘trees’ of starvation?….homelessness?….oppression?….human trafficking?

Like the example of the leafcutter ant, it would require hard work and a singularity of focus.

But if each one of us would pick up a tiny piece….

 

Daily life in Congo is labour intensive and evolves slowly. Some of their constraints are unimaginable to people in the West. But through their tireless work, they seek to rebuild their society.

Money is hard to come by and the main priority is making $1. so their family can have an evening meal. Tomorrow is another day and few people think about the future.

Matthew 6:34 ...."tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."

Can you see how this church shines? Here are the diligent workers who make that happen;

Covid has intensified this issue. The situation is getting worse in the Democratic Republic of Congo

The most recent UN report states "Levels of hunger in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) are at a “staggering” record high. DRC is home to the highest number of people in the world, who are in urgent need of food security assistance. 27.3 million people face “acute” food insecurity ”

Another report states "When it comes to the DRC, the world is increasingly tuning out. Donors are pulling back."

TBA is not "tuning out" and our donors are not "pulling back"!!

We praise God for those of you who stand with us enabling us to respond!

Our expressions of thanks are too small to reflect the degree of our gratitude!

Here is evidence of Together Building Africa's response, because of you. This is Tupende Wazee, our seniors group meeting last week;

We play only a tiny role in the overall problem, but it IS a role! No one can do everything, but perhaps we could all do something?

Tupende Wazee

 These dear ladies come weekly to the support group, where they are fed, encouraged, and connected with others who share the same struggles. 

The value of these things has increased their health, happiness and quality of life!

There is no running water, so they are taking around a basin and some clean water for each one to wash their hands.