Democratic Republic of the Congo Partnership Update
---From the Congo Partnership Team of Mission Presbytery
Recently two of us were speaking at the LaGrange Church on our Congo partnership with Luebo. Afterwards, one of the ladies suggested that it would be very helpful if we could send out an update periodically on what we are doing and what is happening in Congo in order to keep folks informed and challenged.
Speaking engagements. We have spoken in Westminster Church, Austin for a Family Night Supper, to a Men’s Breakfast in San Marcos and in LaGrange Church for a Family Night Supper. Still to come: Grace Church, Victoria, May 3, for a Family Night Supper. We are available to speak whenever we are invited. One good idea might be to group churches that are in close proximity to each other so as to get around to more churches. Actually, meeting with Mission Committees would be great as well. We have a Power Point presentation of excellent slides well organized by a technician with topics and mission areas such as hospital, education, women’s development, orphans, First church repairs and others.
Funds recently sent. We have sent $1000 to Luebo for two programs – half of the amount towards women’s self-development projects –the other half for the orphans.
One great need. The fact that infant mortality is so high in the Congo, 1 out of every 5 babies is one figure given, and the fact that malaria is still the number one killer, we have been asked to provide funds for mosquito nets for pregnant moms and immunization shots for babies – about $5.50 per mom/child.
Women’s projects. We met with women leaders, so dynamic, enthusiastic and committed to life in Christ and the church. Their biggest concern is feeding their children. They often have small “businesses” as roadside and market stands with food items, candles, matches, clothing, etc. But they also would like to organize a pig “farm” or a clothing project for the women’s association. For the individual women, the idea is to give a woman $50 with which to start her business, and then when she is able, she can give that $50 to another woman to start her business. For larger projects, more funds will be required. Chicken hatcheries are also a possibility – as well as fish ponds.
Orphans. All over parts of Congo and Africa there are orphans, whose parents have died of AIDS. We found about 30 of these in Luebo, a large-town, semi-rural community of perhaps 20,000 – 30,000. We donated tuition for them while we were there ($50 per child). One congregation houses them and provides a housemother for them in a mud-and-stick thatched roof house. Food is donated by church members from nearby congregations.
Prosthetic arm for Bilonda. We met with the students and professors at the Shepherd and Lapsley Presbyterian University of the Kasai in Kananga, the provincial capital. We met a lovely young student, who had lost her arm in a severe accident. Yet she had continued her studies and was now in the Theological Seminary preparing to become a pastor. We are now trying to find out how to get her to South Africa in order to be fitted for prosthesis.
First Church, Luebo. This awesome church structure with a “Big Bend’ clock in its tower was built around 1900, only 9 years after the first missionaries landed by river boat in Luebo. It has always been symbolic of the great Presbyterian mission work of the PC(USA) in the Kasai Province of the Congo as well as the symbol of the historic achievements of this Congo Presbyterian Church which has close to 2,500,000 members. First Church, Luebo, during the 1940s was the largest Presbyterian congregation in the world. Now the building is in great need of repairs, especially in the rear foundations, where running water has eroded much of its base. University Church, Austin, now holding a Renovation Campaign is targeting a tithe of the amount to be raised, $25,000, towards those repairs as a matching fund, hoping that other congregations in Mission Presbytery will also donate funds towards those repairs as well.
Communication Project. One of the greatest needs the Congo has is for Internet and email connections within the church as well as with the outside world. Students in the university and other schools need access to the Internet. A proposal has been prepared which would provide a satellite system for the Church headquarters and the printing press, both in downtown Kananga and for the University some 5 miles outside of town. We are looking for $50,000 for the entire project, which would serve many purposes, including an Internet café within the printing press with its computer classes where the general public can come and send and receive emails and use the Internet. This is a project for “techies” who would like to help a 3rd world country come into the 21st century.
Donations. All donations can be made to one of two locations: 1) Mission Presbytery, clearly marked Congo Partnership Project and preferably with accompanying letter to tell of the funds’ intended destination, or 2) University Presbyterian Church, Austin, with the same designation. Shirley Enos, one of our Congo team, is our treasurer and is also a member of University Church.
Recent news. With the elections in place, efforts are now being made to stabilize the northeast with a viable national army. Development efforts are being promoted with plans for mining and industrial corporations beyond what is already existing. The United Nations has been seeking to establish order but the presence of its 17,500 troops remains in doubt.
That’s all for now. We do hope to hear from you either to speak in your church, to receive donations or for other purposes. Please remember Luebo and the Congo in your prayers.
Congo Partnership Team
For questions, contact Don Bob at donaldbobb7@earthlin.net
or Craig Deats at cdeats@ddolloaw.com
The date given above is an artifice; please disregard.