The last few months have seen significant unrest and instability, even violence, which have slowed down the economy and the general running of things with what the Congolese have called “dead days” when shops and schools close and everyone stays home to avoid becoming a target for violence. This has affected the completion of some of our projects in Kikimi, so this month, before embarking on the new projects planned for 2018, we decided to first finalize those that are still in the works, such as installing the sinks and tiling the terrace of the secondary school sanitary block and finishing the doors. We also need to install mosquito screens and glass on the windows of the medical center.

 

More babies were born this month. A six-month old baby had to be taken in emergency to the capital for a blood transfusion. Thanks to the ambulance, his life was saved. We had to face a couple of other emergency cases this month, a difficult delivery and a newborn in distress, but thankfully both were saved at our center.

 

 

3       Maintenance

 

Maintenance of the sewing machines

A few months ago, to help Fabricius cover the cost of his university studies in agronomy, we helped him with needed tools and seeds to develop his agricultural project. He’s worked very hard at it to produce and sell vegetables, until the recent floods washed away the soil. In face of this major loss, he’s planted bamboo to better control future floods, consolidated the edges and created a pond to start fish breeding. God bless Fabricius for his perseverance in the face of loss and disappointment. Please pray for his little project to succeed.

 

Here is beautiful Ana, a medical student, whose university studies are sponsored by a good-hearted lady. Espoir Congo recently sponsored the purchase of a laptop for her, to help her in her university studies and research.

Our Bible teachers continue to meet monthly to organize the fellowships for the young people, which are a special time for them to get together for praise, scripture study and testimonies. These meetings have been vital to strengthen their spirits and keep the vision of reaching others under very difficult conditions.

We will be returning to Kinshasa in April. You may have heard from various alarming reports on the news about recent bouts of violence due to protests and political instability in Kinshasa. While it is true that things have been very difficult for our Congolese partners there with increased unemployment, sky-rocketing inflation, violent street gangs and a general oppressive atmosphere that generates fear and despair, the Lord has shown us we needed to go back to strengthen and encourage the brethren, renew our missionary visas, and do what we can to help. At the moment, the situation in Kinshasa is different than that of some of the other regions which suffer from armed militias and ethnic violence, like in Kasai or in the East in Bunia or North and South Kivus, where it is not safe to go. We’d appreciate your prayers for this trip, and for supply of the needed funds to get the well project done, for which we are still short. 

  

 

For every hill I’ve had to climb,

For every stone that bruised my feet,

For all the blood and sweat and grime,

For blinding storms and burning heat,

My heart sings but a grateful song –

These are the things that made me strong.

 

For all the heartaches and the tears,

For all the anguish and the pain,

For gloomy days and fruitless years,

And for the hopes that lived in vain,

I do give thanks, for now I know

These were the things that helped me grow!

 

 

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