Tag: Joseph

April 8, 2020

It does not sound like the COVID-19 virus has impacted the rural interior parts of Congo. At least not in areas where our efforts are concentrated.

However, a few of our Ndjoko Punda people are among those quarantined in Kinshasa. Kinshasa is on lock down for 30 days. Some reports suggest it may be lifted earlier, but that remains to be seen.

• Joseph Mbuyi leads our farm to market program. He also was overseeing the construction of the school. (You may recall that Joseph and Daniel returned to Ndjoko Punda after their training in December 2018. https://hope4congo.com/2018/03/09/daniel-and-joseph-return-home/)
• André Kalenga recently graduated from the Protestant University in Kinshasa from their school of theology. (This is the same university Daniel graduated from.)
• André’s wife, Mbombo, trained as a seamstress and is certified to teach. The planned sewing classes will utilize the 10 machines we sent in 2019.

Prior to the pandemic, Joseph traveled to Kinshasa for some medical needs and then helped André purchase supplies for the construction project.

André and his family lived in Kinshasa while we supported him through school. He was making arrangements to move his family (the couple have 6 children) back to Ndjoko Punda when the quarantine was announced. So all of them are held up in Kinshasa.

Once the quarantine is lifted, everyone looks forward to their safe return to Ndjoko Punda where they will all work as a team along with Daniel.


We are so thrilled to see our investments in people

and projects begin to bear healthy fruit.

We look forward to beginning the same efforts at Mukedi with the leadership of Leonard Kiswangi who lives in that area.

Praise and thank the Lord with us. Pray this will be healthy fruit that will remain. And please continue to pray for the people of the DRC.

© 2020 Hope4Congo

Daniel and Joseph Return Home

by Brad Graber

Joseph (L), Daniel (R) crossing the Kasai by canoe.

After spending the last six years in Kinshasa, Daniel and Joseph returned home to Ndjoko Punda as “rebuilders.” While away from home, all their time was spent in preparation for their return. They furthered their education, faced many challenges, participated in a local church in Kinshasa, and waited patiently for God’s timing.

Today in Ndjoko Punda they quickly engaged with the people to help rebuild and restore the larger community. They assisted the church and community with ongoing projects and began additional projects.

Both young men are serving God with spiritual passion through their specific talents. Daniel has been trained in theology. He is gifted in areas of teaching and evangelism. Joseph has great technical skills and can fix about anything.

Sewing Class, 2 machines/40 women

At the present time, Daniel has focused on the establishment of a sewing school for the women of the community. The local hospital provided classroom space for the school.

Forty women from several area churches signed up. Some come as far as twenty kilometers away to attend the school. The wife of Ndjoko Punda’s medical doctor has the training and the skill to teach these sewing classes.

Hope for Congo purchased two sewing machines for the school. However, due to the response there is an immediate need for another eight machines.

Garden Beds Prepared

Joseph’s first job was to repair the hospital generator. Since he made it operational again it has provided electricity for the hospital. He helped to provide electricity to other community buildings, too.

Joseph also began an agronomy and animal husbandry program utilizing interested people. The photo on the left shows them preparing garden beds for planting. Seeds have been purchased, too. Goats and poultry have been obtained to begin the breeding program.

Daniel and Joseph are involved in the local church through music, teaching, and evangelism. Because these two young men represent the next generation of leadership they give the people hope for the future.

Guesthouse on the left. Entry road to the mission ends at the church. This road and several others are being repaired.

The children in the featured photo (at the top of this article) are carrying bricks to repair the guesthouse. A major storm damaged the outside walls. This guest house (formerly known as Dr. John Zook’s house) is being renovated to include a sewing classroom. Hope4Congo has contributed money towards the installation of windows and doors.

Hope4Congo will continue to provide periodic reports and updates on the progress being made at Ndjoko Punda. Your prayer and financial support have made this happen, and we encourage you to continue to support these two young men as well as Hope4Congo as we look to expand our efforts.

© 2018 Hope4Congo

Making an Impact

Making an Impact
God’s ways are above our ways and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts. We make our plans but God directs our steps. Below is a partial list of how God has expanded the efforts of Hope for Congo over the last eight years.

Hope for Congo is . . .

Invested in Projects
• Bible Distribution (10,000 Bibles to date)
• Safe Drinking Water (Ram pump supplies water to Ndjoko Punda and the hospital)
• Hand Drilling Equipment
• Training for Well Drilling
• 20 Hospital Beds
• Medical Equipment
• Tools for 4 Technical Trade Schools

Joseph

Invested in People
• Academic Assistance for 8 People in Post-secondary Education
• 2 Young Men Completed Education & Ready to Serve God
1. Joseph trained in areas of mechanical and electrical technologies,
He also studied agriculture and animal husbandry
2. Daniel received a degree in Theology from the Protestant University
He has the gift of evangelism
Both young men have said yes to God
They return soon to invest their time, energy, and skills back into the community
They will represent and assist Hope for Congo directly with projects in Ndjoko Punda

Invested in Healthy Partnerships
We have been blessed through collaboration with these groups:
• AIMM
• Church in Congo
• Congo Collaboration Group
Our goal is to continue these relationships and to expand our collaboration to include other faith-based organizations. Together we can create an even greater impact over a larger geographical area and population.

You Can Partner with Hope for Congo . . .

Our Congolese brothers and sisters our able to work for themselves. What they need are tools and resources to help their community move forward in areas of agriculture, community health, education and jobs that will enable them to break the cycle of poverty.
You can help the Congolese move forward and bring hope to the next generation.
Over the coming weeks we will expand on the details of this initial outline. In the meantime please consider how you may support the people of Congo through your donations and especially through your prayers. We are asking for your help.

Prayer Requests:

Daniel

  • Ndjoko Punda – May Christ intervene in this horrific situation.
    Reports indicate battles rage between the military and the militia. People are in hiding.
  • Pray for peace.
  • Pray for an end to the evil that is causing the violence and greed.
  • Daniel and Joseph planned to return to Ndjoko Punda.(Photo above is from their commitment ceremony at the Kinshasa church, their church family throughout their education and training while in Kinshasa) Hope4Congo was able to return them safely to Kinshasa. Praise the Lord. Pray for their safety in Kinshasa where they will remain for the near term. Pray for the safety of their Kinshasa church family as well.
  • Pray for wisdom and safety of all Christians working in Congo to Change this Powder-Keg Atmosphere

© 2017 Hope4Congo