Category: Uncategorized

Rest in the Shadow of the Almighty

Brad shared the following message:

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest
in the shadow of the Almighty.
~Psalm 91:1


The world is experiencing a particularly difficult situation with a deadly pandemic. This is a time of testing for our faith.

These trials will show that your faith is genuine (I Peter 1:7).

Is our faith a statement or an action? Faith acts upon the basis of our faith. God is the basis for our faith. When our faith remains strong it brings much praise and glory and honor to God.

The first responders that the world should be seeing at this time are the Church. Believers are in the best position to be first responders. We are the ones with protection. We are the ones with a message of comfort and hope.

Death does not take God by surprise. He is not caught off guard when someone dies “unexpectedly.” God will call us home when our journey is over, when we have accomplished all that He has intended for us to do (Ephesians 2:10). In the meantime we move about under the shadow of the Almighty.

I am encouraged when I hear from my brothers and sisters who are a part of the suffering church in the third world. That is truly where the rubber meets the road. My hope is renewed when they share their perspective with me.

Ancient people put their trust in horses and chariots rather than God to deliver them (Psalm 20:7).

We in America have so much we can fall back on. We, too, are tempted to misplace our trust just like those ancient people.

As believers, we must be in tune to this challenge. Where do we put our trust?

May God help us all  . . .

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present (our) requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard (our) hearts and (our) minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).
__________________________________________________________________________________________

Thank you, Brad. We will continue to share more from our brothers and sisters in the DRC over future blog posts. In the meantime, please continue to pray for them.

© 2020 Hope4Congo

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 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

True Treasures

The prisoner is set free.
Moses (an alias) will finally go home. A prisoner for over nine years, he was recently released in Kinshasa, a thousand miles from his home in Ituri.

Ituri is a mineral rich province with chronic violence and a raging Ebola epidemic. It has hills and plains and deep forests.

I met Moses through a friend who knew I could help him find competent medical care now that he is free. He has suffered from years of untreated diabetes and hypertension.

Moses’ Story
Nearly a decade ago, Moses and a group of friends were arrested, snatched from their entrepreneurial farming lives in their war-torn homeland of Ituri. Never tried nor charged; they were branded enemies of the state.

“We just wanted to make a living and keep our children from joining militia armies,” Moses said.
The men were transferred from one prison to another and time passed. Moses lost everything–children, spouse, land, and his productive years. He grew accustomed to isolation, hunger, abuse, disease, and neglect.

Moses described one point where he “went crazy”–headaches, dizziness, anxiety, tremors, and lapses of consciousness. Now, aware he has diabetes and high blood pressure, he recognizes those feelings as symptoms of uncontrolled disease.

“God was with us in prison.”
He told me emphatically.
“I survived.” Inmates became “brothers.”

Moses found purpose in helping others and doing cleanup jobs. Sometimes guards gave him money or allowed him to make a phone call “home.”

Our mutual friend visited Kinshasa prisons and gave Moses a Bible. Through the Word, God reached into the prisoners’ lives with solace and courage.

Moses’ release was as unexpected as was his imprisonment. A Christian family, also from Ituri, welcomed him to share a corner of their crowded Kinshasa home.

I helped him find medical care in the maze of Kinshasa. Coping with chronic disease is daunting for anyone, but especially for a broke, newly-freed prisoner whose knowledge of Kinshasa was through crumbling prison walls.

The Journey to Physical and Spiritual Health
Anchored by prayer, Moses is making steady progress on the long journey to health, strength, and hope. Each time Moses stops by for a blood pressure check, or money to buy medicine, he admonishes me, “Never forget prayer.”

He won’t leave without a prayer . . . “God and prayer are all I have. I will get home because of what Jesus has done for me.”

This week I gave Moses a suitcase for his flight home. All he had was a small sack from prison containing the few things he owned.

Our mutual friend provided a ticket and ‘settling in’ funds. It will be a few more days to confirm that medications control his blood pressure, and he should be on his way back home to Ituri.

He is so thankful.

How can someone subjected to so much injustice express such joyful faith?

I am grateful Moses came into my life to remind me to be thankful for the abundance of blessings in my life, and that God and prayer are treasures.

###

We are grateful to Katherine Niles for sharing Moses’ story with us. She is a physician’s assistant working in Kinshasa. She and her husband, Wayne are American Baptist missionaries.

Remember to pray for the peace of every corner of the DRC. And to pray for all of the missionaries working within the country.

Moses lost everything, including his health. So, how can someone subjected to so much injustice express such joyful faith? God and prayer are everything—the true treasures.

© 2019 Hope4Congo