1       A very special excursion for our Kikimi children

A special treat at “La Pergola” with Marion

As mentioned last month, an excursion had been planned for 30 of our students to a brand-new restaurant in the center of Kinshasa which a friend, Marion, recently opened “La Pergola”. The venue also has a play area for children with slides and other equipment, which was great fun for the kids who had never seen the like. Our friends had to actually show the kids how to use the play equipment. They also served them a hot meal of “croques-monsieur”, French fries and a “crepe Chantilly” for dessert. What a treat! They also got to enjoy watching the few pets that were there (guinea pigs, cockatoos and turtles). They even took some time to share and talk with the kids, ask them questions about their lives, etc… The kids were well-behaved, despite their excitement, and our friend was so pleased with the outcome that she promised to repeat it every year. What a wonderful way for the children to end the year! The best Christmas gift ever!

A yummy meal

Crepe Chantilly for dessert

The kids had to be shown how to use the play equipment

So much fun!

 

Enjoying watching the pets

Getting to know each other

 

By Olivier: Our Christmas and Candlelight celebration this year has been so heartwarming and filled with new surprises. Jacques helped with inspiration and MCing and Patrick opened up with prayer. Then we showed a clip from the movie Jesus about His birth. Even if we know that Jesus was not born on that specific day, once a year we stop and we celebrate His coming.

Jacques MCing

Some Christians in our society do not celebrate Christmas because they say that the origin of this feast is traced back to pagan rituals; many people think that Christmas is Santa Claus day; others just say that it is nothing more than a day dedicated to children.

So, in order to express the true meaning of Christmas and correct this way of thinking that is so widespread in our society, Cedric chose to talk about the history of Christmas and where different traditions come from, by reading “He came to us”. To help us remember the wonderful gift Jesus gave us by coming to live among us and dying for us. It is an important day for all Christians, because it reminds us that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, so that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Together we sang songs of praise and adoration to Jesus our Savior and our King. My daughter Olivia surprised us by singing a couple of songs. 

Olivia singing “There is born a child”

Thierry on the keyboard

Patrick

Olivier

Singing together

Cedric reading “He came to us”

The candlelight ceremony is one of the most important parts of this celebration because it is a time for us to pray, to express our gratitude to Jesus and to think back on all the blessings we have received throughout the past year.

It is also a time to make new resolutions, new commitments, to evaluate our relationship with Jesus and to petition for his help for the new year by claiming one of the promises from His Word.

Lily sharing her praise and prayer for the new year

Our Lord and King

In the end, Thierry said a closing prayer. Huguette was very moved to present to us all her new baby. She then helped serve refreshments with Jolie and Samuella, which we all shared in the love and joy of Christmas. 

Huguette and her first born baby “Esby”

From Dr. Patrick: Things are getting increasingly difficult in our country, but we believe that Christ in us is the hope of glory. We also know that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to come (Ro. 5:2, Col. 1:27 and Ro.8:18). After the blood shed on December 31^st, floods have now taken the lives of at least 45 people. As if that wasn’t enough, this has opened the door to disease such as a cholera epidemy. Despite all these difficulties, we never tire to bring the Gospel wherever and whenever we can.

Opening of a Bible Class with Aristote:  Aristote graduated from the 12 FS last year, taught by Gerse in Massina. He wanted us to help him start teaching the Foundation Stones in his local church. Our intervention and our presence filled with joy the members of this church who received us with open arms. Patrick, Thierry, Gerse and Jimmy were the teachers.

Bible classes in Aristote’s church

Personal Witnessing Classes in my local church: In my church, I have been serving as a chaplain. I noticed that several brothers and sisters had difficulty to tell others about Jesus, so the Lord laid it on my heart to teach them some of the Foundation Stones classes, such as: The Golden Rule, The Greatest Love, Heaven, Witnessing and Steps to Victory, to help them better understand God’s love for humankind, the love we need to have for our fellowman, how to overcome obstacles and how to witness. Everyone just loved these classes.

Gratitude towards those who support us financially, spiritually and morally: Some of our brethren who also face difficulties in their lives have sacrificed even of their necessities to  share with us. I can’t find the words to express my gratitude towards them. 

Medical equipment purchased with donations received

Massina Bible Class: With Gerse first moving to another part of town and then being called to Bas-Congo for 2 months to serve as a doctor, his 12 FS students from Massina contacted me to organize a meeting to re-envision everyone. I was able to challenge each one about their personal commitment, the importance and the meaning of fellowship, and I committed myself to come personally to assist one of the younger shepherds in teaching, besides teaching the 12 FS on the week-end at my local church.

Meeting with our Masina Bible students

In conclusion, even as the conditions in my country seem to be worsening, I belong to those who must give hope for a better future, and the assurance of happiness with Jesus Christ our Lord.

Good news! After much research and thanks to a young company dedicated to bringing clean water to Africa (Optimum Loop), we have been able to cut the cost of one well practically in half. 
After counseling with the village chief and our project manager, we have decided to make one well only on our project site, with a water tower holding 10m³ and 2 fountains, one for the medical center and another one for the village where people will be able to come and fetch clean water. This means that as soon as we get funding for this well, everyone in Kikimi will have access to clean water, instead of having to wait for more funding to come. We hope to have collected sufficient funding by April or May to start the work during the next dry season. Please share this appeal around you with as many as you can. Your contribution will make a difference and together we can change this part of the world by bringing clean water to the village of Kikimi: https://www.generosity.com/community-fundraising/clean-water-for-kikimi-village-dr-congo. Access to clean water will result in a healthier population: kids will study better, parents will work more effectively, mortality will decrease and the standard of life will increase.

“Walk with the dreamers, the believers, the courageous, the cheerful, the planners, the doers, the successful people with their heads in the clouds and their feet on the ground. Let their spirit ignite a fire within you to leave this world better than when you found it…” ― Wilferd Peterson

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