Big drama stories have never been our forte, so we opted for discretion, until a friend suggested we testify of the big miracle the Lord had done for us this month.

People here often joke how the Congolese must be made of sugar, as they’re afraid of going out in the rain. The truth is way more sobering. People actually risk electrocution every time they step out the door, because of bare cables covering the streets. Just as dangerous is the lack of proper maintenance of street lights, even in nice neighborhoods such as ours.

Bare wires down the street from where we live

A few months ago, when we felt light current sensations while opening our landlady’s metal gate, an electrician came to supposedly fix the problem. But the other day, just as it started to rain while he opened the gate with both hands, Gino was electrocuted, unable to detach himself or even call for help. It took him a while to realize what was happening, and in desperation, when at the point of passing out, the Lord put the idea in his head to kick the gate away from him with his foot (thankfully he was wearing rubber soled shoes). That did the trick and jerked him to the ground, breaking the current. By a miracle of God, he was alive, and only his arms seemed to have been affected. For a few days he lost all strength in his arms. It’s been a few weeks now, and he has almost fully recovered, which is another miracle. The electrical company came, the next day, to finally fix the real problem, which was caused by a defective wire of the street light. The light fixture was welded to the metal reinforcement bars in the concrete column of the wall which in turn were also welded to the gate.  So a defective wire caused the gate to become alive.

Our gate that got electrified by a faulty wire in the street light on top of the wall on the right.

We are so thankful for the Lord’s miraculous protection from what could have been a fatal accident.

The dry season is about to start, which should re-open the road to Kikimi which has been closed off all month because of the heavy rains. Some trucks had gotten stuck in the mud and blocked the passage. It took several weeks before anyone cleared them out of the way. As soon as the coast is clear, we will bring the materials needed to build a second story to the medical center, which we were not yet able to do this month.

High School nearing completion

In the meantime, the high school is nearing completion and bricks are being made for the medical center. We purchased a multi-purpose machine to cut tiles, cement, wood and iron as well as an electric planer. These machines will come in handy during the next building project, including the manufacturing of the school benches that will be needed for the high school. Because of the difficulties we face with transport, we have decided to have those made right there in Kikimi.

Bricks are being made for the second story of the medical center.

Multipurpose machine

Electric planer

More babies were born this month in our maternity, and more patients’ lives were saved from malaria and other life-threatening diseases.

Newborn baby this month in Kikimi

Happy mommy, thankful to have delivered her baby in such good conditions

Thankful mommies for the baby clothes they receive at our maternity

Florence tending to sick patients in our medical center

John Kalala started teaching the 12 Foundation Stones to a group of young people in his neighborhood. They meet almost daily for prayer and reading of the Word and he asked us to come and teach the class on Love. “Love is the most important message this country needs” he told us. “I need you to teach us about it.” So we did, and were very impressed by this very potential group of young people, their love for Jesus and their eagerness to study His Word and to learn to live it. They like to pray for the sick in their neighborhood and expect miracles. 

Gino and Clotilde teaching about Love.

Olga lost her father when she was still a young girl. Last year, she graduated from tailoring school but has been unable to find work. Recently, her mother lost her job and was kicked out of her house, unable to pay the rent. Thanks to an FCF grant, we were able this month to set her up with a sewing machine and other needed equipment to start her own tailoring business. For Olga and her mother, this is the beginning of a new life, a light at the end of the tunnel. She just called the other day to announce that she already has several customers and that her business is rolling. She is a very creative girl, we pray the Lord really blesses her.

Olga, so thankful for this sewing maching which will help her start her own business.

“God has nothing worth having that is easy. There are no cheap goods in the heavenly market. Our redemption cost all that God had to give, and everything worth having is expensive. Hard places are the very school of faith and character, and if we are to rise above mere human strength and prove the power of life divine in these mortal bodies, it must be through a process of conflict that may well be called the birth travail of a new life. ” 

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