Espoir Congo

Youth Ministry: We spent the month preparing for the three day retreat/seminar which will start in a few days, so will keep this post sweet and short, and tell you all about it next month.

Some fun news: 1) Bonhey (one of our long time friends and Bible Course graduate) just got married. Marriage is a big deal here in Congo, and young men must work very hard for years to be able to pay the dowry and all the surrounding expenses. He and his wife Deborah have been coming over for marriage prep classes.

Newly weds Bonhey and Deborah

2) Joseph (another long time friend and Bible Course graduate), just got nominated to be the governor’s first counselor from Bas Congo. Joseph has a natural talent for politics, and is full of good ideas on how to improve the living conditions of his country. Here he is, next to his body guard, with stacks of Christian magazines which he’s taking back with him to Bas Congo to distribute to his assistants among others.

Joseph and his bodyguard bringing Activated magazines to Bas Congo.

Back to school in Kikimi: Dear Theo had to bury his father in another province just a week before school started, but made it back on time to welcome all the students, new and old. The first couple days of school were pure fun, as the kids watched Bible cartoons, and received donated sweets, cookies and notebooks, including beautiful new uniforms. (We are the only school in the area with a projector and generator).

Newly made uniforms (Thank you, Patricia!)

First day of school with new uniforms

First day of school with new uniforms

First day of school with new uniforms

Watching Bible cartoons on first day of school

First day of school

Donated sweets

Donated food items and notebooks

Improvements: We were hoping to have the library set up on time for the new school year, and the Lord even provided a top company to donate the labor to build shelves, but we ran into an unexpected delay: no wood available! (if you want to know why, read the article “Congo challenges” by clicking on it). So we’ll have to be patient and would appreciate your prayers that we can find good quality wood within the next month. Thank you!

Nevertheless, progress happened on other fronts: the maternity is getting painted, and a special roughcast was applied on the outside walls of the medical center to help prevent mold to form during the rainy season.

Painting of maternity

Roughcast of medical center

And last but not least, we purchased a water filter for the maternity, and a triple filter for the school which we are in the process of installing, which will supply drinking water to all the kids, mommies and teachers.

Water filter for maternity

Life becomes harder for us when we live for others, but it also becomes richer and happier.—Albert Schweitzer

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