This month, we would like to take off our hats to the dear friends we have in Kinshasa who continue to faithfully donate food items every single month, year after year, rain or shine. Some also donate clothes and toys from time to time. These donations have been even more appreciated that the recent civil unrest has made it even more difficult for the poor families to make ends meet, with people losing their jobs and finding it even harder to feed their children. We thank you Mr and Mrs Rathi Mukund, Pain Victoire, SOKIN, Mafricom, SAPCO, Marsavco. You are wonderful and have become an integral part of our work. May God richly bless you!

Food, clothing and toys donated by Mr and Mrs Rathi Mukunk

Milk donated by Mafricom

Thanks to the sponsorship of Ali, Sameera, and the Rawji Foundation, our middle school was completed on time and opened its doors to 39 students in 7^th grade and 19 in 8^th grade this September. The carpenters did a beautiful job on the school desks and benches and it is heart-warming for us to see some of the kids we met 8 years ago who could not even read now attend middle school. We are confident these children will become fine young men and woman and useful members of society one day as we continue to help them fulfill their dreams. Most of them love Jesus and put their trust in Him. They are our hope of the future.

All the desks ready on time for the beginning of the school year.

Our 7th grade students now have their very own secondary school.

8th grade classroom

If you remember, last year, the tailoring training was forced to share its classroom with the high school students. This year, the vocational students are finally able to have it all to themselves in a well-set up environment with sewing machines, cupboards and a large fabric cutting table. Classes started at the beginning of October. Besides tailoring, the girls also learn French, book-keeping and domestic science. In the afternoons, those who have graduated will be able to use the room as a workshop to earn a living.

A well set-up classroom for the tailoring training, with sewing machines, cupboards and a large fabric cutting table.

For these girls, learning a trade is their key to freedom and to breaking the poverty cycle. They are so thankful!

The second floor is almost completed. Meanwhile, Florence and her assistant have been busy caring for many malaria patients this month and a few expecting mommies.

Medical Center, nearly completed.

Florence comforts and cheers up the kids hospitalized for malaria.

Claudine, our assistant nurse and midwife, checks on pregnant mommy.

There will still be experiences that won’t make sense until we get to heaven, no doubt about it. And let me be as explicit as possible: there is nothing good about the bad things people do. Let’s call sin, sin. Evil is evil. If you’ve been the victim of injustice or betrayal or abuse, this doesn’t negate that. It does, however, promise to recycle it, redeem it, and use it for your good and God’s glory.

Bad things happen to good people, but the fight is fixed. In the end, we win. So let’s stop playing to lose. Don’t let your mistakes, or someone else’s, put you on the defensive. Play offense with your life. It’s okay to mourn the bad things that have happened, but don’t throw a pity party. No matter what you’ve experienced, you are not a victim. You are more than a conqueror.—Mark Batterson

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