Author: Bradley Graber

Water-Key Facts

1.8 million children die every year as a result of diseases caused by unclean water and poor sanitation.   This amounts to around 5,000 deaths a day.  (UNDP)

At any one time, half the population of the developing world is suffering from one or more of the main diseases associated with inadequate  provision of water and sanitation.  (UNDP)

While the average North American uses 400 liters a day of water, the average person in the developing world uses 10 liters of water every day.  (WSSCC)

Households in rural Africa spend an average of 26% of their time fetching water, and it is generally women and children who are burdened with the task. (DFID)

Safe Arrival

Received a short text from Stan today.  Hope for Congo team were successful in getting their supplies flown in to Ndjoko Punda.  Today was spent at church and in planning for the work that will begin on Monday.

Life at Ndjoko Punda is 7 hours ahead of central standard time here in the United States.

Stan Graber will be going with two friends, Fred Suter and Les Schlagal, who have also worked and served in the Congo, to Ndjoko Punda DRC leaving Tuesday March 5th.

Stan says, “The main reason for this trip is to install a hydraulic ram pump at a spring near the village of Ndjoko Punda where I grew up. This project includes laying 1500 feet of pipe and installing a storage tank at the mission hospital where there is currently no running water. This project has been in the works for three + years. Because we could not get quality material there we had to ship the pump, pipe, and parts from here even though it was very expensive. We will also be checking on the generator there which some of you helped pay for. It is unclear at this time how it is working. Keep in mind communication and logistics is a huge problem and a matter of concern for anyone praying about these projects.”

Watch for additional post over the next two weeks. 

Plans are under way to finish up the water project at Ndjoko Punda.  We have been delayed by lack of quality supplies available in Congo for this project.  The decision has been made to purchase necessary waterline piping supplies and a ram pump here in the states.

Supplies will be sent DHL to Kinshasa within the next week.  From there we will fly the supplies into Ndjoko Punda via MAF.

Stan Graber, Fred Suter and Les Schlegel will be leaving March 4, 2013 for the DRC.  We have been encouraged by the contacts and networking that has materialized while we have waited for the details to come together.  We make our plans, God directs our steps.

Pray that God will grant Stan, Fred and Les safety and success in completing this long awaited effort.

Pics to follow.

Congolese celebrate century of God’s faithfulness

By Lynda Hollinger-Janzen Mennonite Mission Network

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TSHIKAPA, Congo — About 50 young musicians walked nearly 100 miles carrying their drums, luggage and a few babies to attend the centennial celebration of Communauté Mennonite au Congo (CMCO, Mennonite Community in Congo) July 16-22.

<img alt="The Mille Voix (thousand voices) choir directed by Mobutu Bongela sings outside the Welcome Center in Tshikapa. ” height=”357″ src=”http://media.mennoweekly.org/media/uploads/images/2012/08/10/congo-centennial2.jpg&#8221; width=”540″>

The Mille Voix (thousand voices) choir directed by Mobutu Bongela sings outside the Welcome Center in Tshikapa. — Photo by James Krabill/MMN

For a week, the choir members from Ndjoko Punda, one of the first Mennonite mission stations in this central African country, traveled along rugged paths through forests and savannas, crossing rivers on makeshift bridges and spending nights in schoolrooms.
Chorale Grand Tam-Tam (Big Drum Chorale) arrived in Tshi­kapa, the headquarters of this Mennonite denomination, to lead Mennonites from three continents in praise for “100 years of evangelization and cultural encounters,” the CMCO tagline for the occasion.
In his historical overview of Mennonite history in Congo, the CMCO president, Adolphe Komuesa Kalunga, named weaknesses and failures in the missionary approach of those who came to Congo through Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission and its predecessor agencies: paternalism, a heavy focus on the spiritual with less concern for conditions that oppressed the Congolese people and a reluctance to trust the Congolese church with financial management.
However, Komuesa also acknowledged with gratitude these same missionaries, hundreds of them, who were faithful to God’s call to share the good news of Jesus — braving sickness, a harsh climate, difficult living conditions and political instability.
Some died of illness while serving. Komuesa asked the gathered assembly to stand for a moment of silence to remember all the Mennonites who sacrificed their lives in obedience to Christ’s call.
“I salute those missionaries who gave of their youth and their lives for our country,” Komuesa said in his concluding address. “I also render homage to their descendants who are still laboring for the welfare of our church. Let all of them know how grateful we are.”
Missionary accomplishments were only possible because Congolese people worked hand-in-hand with their brothers and sisters from North America, Komuesa said.
Today, CMCO is a member of AIMM, which brings together eight partner agencies.
About 400 participants gathered for the final worship service July 22. Many held candles in celebration of CMCO’s birthday.