1 Construction d’une école secondaire à Kikimi En réponse à vos prières, la Fondation Rawji a accepté de financer la construction de 2 salles de classe, et tous les matériaux ont finalement été livrés à Kikimi pour la construction de … Lire la suite →
1 Un mois de miracles Même si 2016 est une année bissextile, février demeure un mois court ; ce qui ne l’a pas empêché de nous mijoter une petite série de miracles des plus inattendus, sans aucun doute en réponse à … Lire la suite →
A couple days before Christmas, we made our way to Kikimi and spent two days and two nights there, camping out in the library. The condition of the road was such that even a 4×4 could not make it all the way, so we had to walk the last 10 km. We carried a minimum with us (air mattress and mosquito net) and were thankful that the weather was not too hot.
On the way to Kikimi
We couldn’t help but muse about Joseph and Mary who walked over 100 km from Nazareth to Bethlehem, and the true story about an African disciple who had brought as a present to the missionary a beautiful seashell which could only be found hundreds of miles away and said, “Long walk, part of gift”. Well, we didn’t have to walk that far, but still considered it part of our gift to Jesus this year for Christmas.
Spending a few days there gave us the opportunity to get a better feel of how things are running, appreciate Theo and Florence’s dedication, and interact more with the kids, teachers, patients and helpers.
On the first day, which marked the last day of school before the Christmas holidays, a soccer game between the boys and the girls was organized in the afternoon to inaugurate the newly built soccer goal posts, and the brand-new ball we had brought from France. It was loads of fun (we played the part of the cheerleaders).
The girls’ team
The boys’ team
The game
Doing activities with the orphaned kids on Christmas Eve was also great fun, using the freshly translated STEPS Program (PAS à PAS in French). They really liked the Christmas crossword puzzle that even taught them some new words. We watched the Christmas Joy Kiddie Viddie and gave each one the matching coloring book and a box of crayons, coached them into performing the nativity skit for everyone, and served them a nice meal prepared by some of the thankful mommies who had delivered their babies a few months ago at our maternity and often come back to volunteer their help to show their gratitude.
Crossword puzzle from the STEPS Program
Christmas video
Coloring activity with the orphaned children
Fatu coloring
Coloring activity
Rehearsing Christmas play
The wise men
Little shepherd praying of his own initiative when coming to see baby Jesus
Thankful mommies help to prepare the food for the orphans.
Floorence making sure the kids wash their hands before they eat.
Clotilde and Florence serve out the food
Bon appetit!
All the villagers got invited to watch the Jesus movie on Christmas Eve. We ended up having to do two showings in a row, as people kept coming throughout the first showing and didn’t want to miss anything! (We are so thankful for the solar panels!)
Showing Jesus movie to the villagers on Christmas Eve.
Devotional booklets to our Bible students
Patrick preparing to take booklets to Bas Congo
Theo getting his stock for Kikimi
The Scripture Union (who is helping us to receive and store our Bibles and Activated magazines) has added the Activated mags to the thousands of mailings they send to all the provinces of the DRCongo, as well as Centre Afrique. It’s wonderful to keep spreading the Word far and wide, in places we cannot reach ourselves!
On the Sunday between Christmas and New Year, we held an inspiring Candlelight (combined with Christmas celebration) with as many of our Bible students who could make it. About 50 of them came. Cedric chose a beautiful article on Christmas which he read to everyone. Gerse’s team from Massina had formed a little choir and led the singing. It was really moving to hear each one’s praise and prayer request for the New Year, we were impressed by their sincerity and love for Jesus, their desire to grow in faith and their commitment to keep witnessing. We also found it interesting that many of the verses claimed were from Psalm 119.
Candlelight Service
Cedric reading Christmas article
Massina Bible students formed a little choir
Praise and worship
Olivier and daughter Marie
Anna, Theo and Florence’s daughter
The girls helped prepare a snack for everyone
Olivier with some of his Bible students from the university of Kinshasa.
We are so thankful for the Lord’s supply to keep things running. Each step of progress has been such a miracle and we are so grateful to you as well for your encouragement, support and prayers.
Besides the normal running of things for 2016, we would like to ask for prayer for a number of unexpected pressing needs which are going to require much greater faith from our part.
–Building of a Middle School.
–Building of a second storey to the Medical Center.
–Supply of a proper 4×4 ambulance (Toyota Land Cruiser).
–Upgrading of our own jeep.
–Finalization of the French version of the STEPS Program.
“The New Year is set before us like an unwritten volume, all of its pages blank. Let us write upon each day’s page things that at the end of the year we will look upon with rejoicing rather than regret.” — Mottos for Success
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En cette fin d’année, nos cœurs débordent de gratitude pour tout ce que le Seigneur a accompli, grâce à votre générosité et à vos prières. Résultats : nombre de vies ont été améliorées, voire sauvées. Education :–Aménagement et inauguration d’une … Lire la suite →
1 Maternité et santé Notre petite maternité récemment aménagée semble attirer presque toutes les mamans de la région, car le nombre d’accouchements ne fait qu’augmenter à Kikimi. Notre installation toute simple et basique est considérée comme pratiquement luxueuse dans ce … Lire la suite →
1 Rentrée des classes 225 élèves ont fait leur rentrée début septembre, y compris un nombre croissant de filles, ce dont nous nous réjouissons, car l’éducation des filles continue d’être un défi en RDCongo. Les orphelins reçurent de nouveaux uniformes, … Lire la suite →
Le mois dernier, nous avons organisé une cérémonie de remise des certificats (« collation » comme on dit au Congo) pour les étudiants de notre cours biblique « les 12 Pierres de fondation ». Cette cérémonie (la 4ème depuis notre arrivée au Congo en … Lire la suite →
1 Distribution des prix a Kikimi C’est toujours la fête à Kikimi le jour de la distribution des prix, quand les résultats aux examens de fin d’année sont proclamés. D’ailleurs, au Congo, ce jour s’appelle la “Proclamation”. Tout le village … Lire la suite →
1 Examens de fin d’année scolaire Nos élèves de 6ème ont dû se déplacer assez loin pour passer leurs examens de fin d’études primaires. On a loué un autocar pour le transport et ils ont passé deux nuits chez un … Lire la suite →
1 Projet educatif à Kikimi En juin, nos élèves de CM2 passeront leur examen d’Etat en vue d’obtenir leur certificat d’études primaires. Cette année, l’examen se déroulera sur 2 jours, et comprendra un oral pour tester leur maîtrise de la … Lire la suite →
