Author: SuZan Klassen

April 1, 2020

School Project

Prior to the coronavirus (COVID-19) quarantine and related restrictions, we were able to accomplish some work on the school building project.

Building materials were shipped and received. Thank goodness we avoided the price increases currently experienced in the country.

It began with the arrival of bricks.

 

 

 

 

With a little help, the building began to take shape.

 

 

 

 

 

The roof framework is up.

 

 

 

 

The roof is almost done. More work to do.

However . . .


All our Hope4Congo projects are currently on hold.

Current Stats on Coronavirus

As of this day’s blogpost (April 1, 2020), Democratic Republic of the Congo reported 109 confirmed cases and 9 deaths. To check updates for yourself through the World Health Organization’s website, go to this link and click on the country/area of the world to see their latest statistics:
https://experience.arcgis.com/experience/685d0ace521648f8a5beeeee1b9125cd


Website Change

On a far less crucial topic, we plan to update our website. We hope to make it easier to navigate. Hopefully you’ll see positive changes in the next few weeks.


Prayer

• Praise that shipping materials arrived for the school building prior to the quarantine.
• Praise also that the drilling equipment (LINK) arrived safely at Ndjoko Punda.
• Please continue to pray for the people of Congo.
• Thank you for your prayers for us as we seek to update our website.

© 2020 Hope4Congo







March 29, 2020

Some of God’s Beloved People

Hope4Congo continues to forward reports to our readers. Today’s post includes two different perspectives.

Pastor Quarantined in Kinshasa

A Congolese pastor among the quarantined in Kinshasa sent an update via email on March 27. The following are translated excerpts from his update.

“I do not know how the States with their leaders at all levels guide you, but I would like to share with you our painful news in the DRC.

“(Authorities) have made the decision to confine the capital city of Kinshasa for 4 weeks. Let’s say near the end of April 2020. Kinshasa is in a state of emergency . . . isolated from other provinces . . . no flights of aircraft . . . no vehicles, no exits, no entrances . . . to save the 22 provinces not reached (by the coronavirus).

“Thus Kinshasa and its 12 million inhabitants are under quarantine. The big problem . . . the economic crisis which involves the non-payment of wages . . . People live day by day . . . rising food prices . ..

“The brothers and sisters in Kikwit, Mukedi, Kandale, Kamayala, Tshikapa, Kalonda, Nyanga, Mutena, Banga, Ndjoko-Punda, Kananga, Mbuji-Mayi are not affected.

“However, we are mourning 2 Mennonite brothers and 1 sister who died of a long and painful illness:
Rev. Pasteur Ndala of the CEFMC, Former Enos Kangu Swalala, and widow Maman Francoise Kanzenze (aunt sr Colette Ramm).”

MPH Guesthouse

On March 25, the Dunns updated their FB page. The following are excerpts from their message:

Things in DRC change daily and even hourly due to the pandemic. The government announced all domestic travel by plane, road and river will be stopped. Only cargo will be moving.

Because of travel restrictions three guests are stranded at MPH:
A German missionary (Fr Friedhelm, from the Vanga mission hospital, Bandundu) is in mandatory 14 day quarantine since he came back from Germany March 13th. Paul and Marty Law are on a voluntary 14 day quarantine since they arrived from the U.S. They can’t get to Lodja.

The Dunns have kept their distance from their quarantined guests by putting food on disposable plates outside their doors. Once the quarantine is over, the Dunns will ask these guests to help share the chores.

The U.S. Embassy arranged the last evacuation flight for Americans on Thursday night, March 26.

The guesthouse is adequately supplied with food stuff. But there are other challenges. Because the government has limited the number of people in taxis and busses, transport is hard to get and drivers have jacked up prices. The Dunns had to increase what they pay their sentries to reflect the increase in transport.

If the Dunns or their guests catch the virus, there is NO MEDICAL CARE for any of them. They will have to isolate themselves from one another and self-medicate the best they can.

The Dunns testify: “We know that God is Sovereign and nothing surprises him. We use the wisdom he has given us and the faith we have in HIM, to pull us through.”

Encouragement

The pastor quarantined in Kinshasa sent a scripture passage to edify all confined to their homes:
If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land. ~II Chronicles 7:14

Prayer

Praise God for his faithful servants of all nations who continue to work for the kingdom of God.
Prayer requests for all those in Congo.
• Pray that this pandemic passes quickly.
• Pray about MPH finances. The costs are hitting MPH hard.
• Pray about how you might be able to help.
• Pray for those 12 million quarantined inhabitants in Kinshasa.
• Pray that God would grant wisdom to the Congolese authorities and they would implement it.

The Dunns offer prayers for their family and friends around the globe who are affected by this virus.

The quarantined pastor also sent this prayer: “May our God also keep you, all of you, our brothers and sisters in Christ, scattered throughout the world.”

Amen!

© 2020 Hope4Congo.com


March 25, 2020

Corona Virus in the DRC

Like the rest of the world, Congo is taking measures to mitigate the spread of the corona virus.
• International flights are shut down.
• Stores, churches and schools are closed.
• Food sources open, but supplies are limited.
• Prices are doubling and tripling.
• Drivers have jacked up prices for transport.
• Lack of transportation restricts access to food supplies.
• Changes occur daily and sometimes hourly.
• Cases of corona virus: As of Monday (3/23/20) 36 confirmed cases, including two deaths.
• As with other news in the DRC, the challenge is to determine the accuracy.
• Monetary assistance from WHO (World Health Org.) is tied to properly documented reports.

Another difficulty is that some people do not believe there is a new disease.

Drill Arrived

Praise the Lord! Our drilling equipment arrived safely at Ndjoko Punda. This is a big deal. We are one step closer to offering the people safe drinking water.

It traveled from L.A. to Matadi via ocean freight, but was lost for a time in Matadi. After searching 4-6 weeks, it was found in a warehouse, then transported by truck to Kinshasa and from there by river transport to Ndjoko Punda.

Such is the common story in the DRC. It’s a far cry from what we expect (or demand) here in the U.S. We can track our shipments and see where they are—sometimes on a daily or hourly basis. Not so in Congo.

Prayer Items

Praise and thank the Lord with us today for:
Keeping the drilling equipment safe and delivering it to Ndjoko Punda.

Pray for the people of Congo.
May they be alert to health safety. May they find adequate food. May they remain calm.
May the Christians be a witness. In their speech and behavior may they exhibit Christlikeness.

© 2020 Hope4Congo.com

Village Drill Update

80% of diseases in the developing world are caused by contaminated water. We’ve been working on a project to address this situation for over a year.

The Village Drill arrived in Congo November 2019. It has been transported from the port of Matadi to Kinshasa where it will be put on a boat headed for Ndjoko Punda, location for the first well.

The next step will be to send a team of four Congolese to Mbandaka for training by the “Go Conscious Earth” organization.

Once the training is complete, a date will be set to drill our first well. Materials will be purchased and shipped by boat to Ndjoko Punda.

Please pray that safe drinking water will be a reality at Ndjoko Punda this year–2020.

Additional money is needed for this project. Please consider a donation.

Mail your U.S. Dollar Donations to:
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM)
P.O. Box 744
Goshen, IN 46527-0744

Mail your Canadian Dollar Donations to:
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission (AIMM)
440 Main Street
Steinbach, MB R5G 1Z5

© 2020 Hope4Congo

Torrential Rain Devastation

Thursday night, November 21, 2019, a torrential rain storm devastated the community of Ndjoko Punda on both sides of the Kasai River.

The Storm Destroyed…
• 1700 Homes
• 50 Churches
• 14 Health Centers
Including the Hospital

Approximately 7,000 people were directly affected by the storm.

Hope4Congo Plans
• Short Term Plans
Focus on how to meet temporary shelter needs
• Long Term Plans
Focus on how to rebuild the hospital

How You Can Help
• Pray for Wisdom for Us
• Pray for the Funds to Address the Challenges
• Donate to Help Meet the Needs

© 2020 Hope4Congo.com

Elda Hiebert

Elda Hiebert, a retired missionary midwife, went home to Jesus on December 13th. As a child in rural Goessel she attended the Tabor Church. Frank Manning, a missionary with a big booming voice, told exciting stories that influenced her decision to be a missionary.

After her training and education, Elda began her service in 1964. Her first term was a troubling time for missionaries. What courage it must have taken for a single woman to be on the field during that time of revolt.

Carolyn Graber (sister to Brad and Stan) recalled meeting Elda for the first time. “I was in eighth grade. Following Christmas break, my siblings and I had traveled to Mukedi to board a Missionary Aviation plane for the return trip to boarding school. The evening before we were to leave, the missionaries gathered to share a meal and discuss the looming dangers. I was introduced to Elda, my new missionary aunt.

“I was so scared about leaving my parents and worried about what might happen at the mission station. Yet here was this new missionary Aunt Elda, a single lady who had come to Mukedi to serve as a nurse. She was a kind and attractive young woman whose bravery I admired.”

During that time of uncertainty Elda later told family members that rebels burned villages, killed their own people, and government officials.

She described house arrest, slipping past soldiers and rebels as well as viewing the destruction as she escaped. Elda said, “I thought of the prayer group with Mother and Helen Janzen praying for missionaries and I knew their prayers were being answered that day.”

Among her duties as a missionary midwife, Elda not only delivered many hundreds of Congolese babies, she also taught a six-month midwifery course to the African women. She and others taught child and maternal health, medicine use, and how to assist in the birth of a baby. She proudly stated, “We also had a Bible Class taught by our hospital chaplain.”

During her last term, Elda helped to start a four-year nursing school. She acquired letters from a local doctor, her church leadership, and permission from government offices to go to diamond buyers in Tshikapa to solicit funding.

Word must have spread among the populace. One day Elda encountered six to eight young men. She was aware they’d been watching her. One tried to intimidate her by tripping her. However, Elda looked at him and greeted him. He backed off.

“In the end I got 1,000,025 Ziares (local currency). God was with us in many times and ways, and many circumstances. He is faithful.”

That nursing school opened in 1989. God was indeed faithful to her and through her service.

For Elda Hiebert’s complete obituary and service details please visit Petersen’s Funeral Home website: http://petersenfamilyfuneralhome.com/obituaries/elda-ruth-hiebert/
If this link fails for any reason, please copy and paste it into your browser.

Memorial Service: 11:00 a.m. Friday, December 20, Zion Mennonite Church, Elbing, KS

© 2019 Hope4Congo