Our Kikimi school on the map: As we already mentioned last month, all the kids from the 6^th grade succeeded on their final exam, three of them being the orphans we have cared for since they were little. Here are their pictures, along with a picture of the laureate.

Makala Mwengi and Muntuzambi Gloire

Matatunu Mbuyi and Oleka Onokoko

It turns out that Oleka is the one who put our school on the map, as she was the laureate for this final examination of all the schools in the N’Sele Disctrict. Below is a pic of all the kids from the whole district who took the exam. Congratulations, Oleka, great job!

Students from NSele District at examination center

Laureate Oleka Onokoko just before taking the exam.

Holiday Retreat: Florence organized a little retreat for about 20 kids in Kikimi during the holidays, including Bible stories and cartoons, scripture memorization, games, and yummy meals. She didn’t miss a chance to teach them good hygiene as well, using the newly purchased hand-washing module, and had the older orphaned girls help with meal prep and serving the kids.

Kids attending holiday retreat

Florence using the Start Early kit during kids retreat

Older orphaned girl helping to serve meal during kids retreat

Hand washing before meals

Improvements: Some dividers were built for the medical center, the maternity room is getting set up with the equipment we purchased recently and an outdoor kitchen got built. There’s still a lot to do, but little by little progress is made. Although very basic, this kitchen will facilitate preparing meals for the kids and the convalescing mommies.

Outdoor kitchen

Dividers for medical center

Set up of maternity

Youth Ministry: Olivier organized a showing of the documentary on Matthew 24, entitled “Count Down to Armaggedon”, to a group of young Christians, which left a big impact. He’s also been witnessing at his work place, giving Activated magazines and getting inspiring responses. As a result, two of his co-workers, Beatrice and Isabelle, have started the 12 Foundation Stones Bible Course with him.

Showing documentary to young people

Christelle

Béatrice

Cedric has recently felt a burden from the Lord to reach out to the prisoners at the Central Prison—a very needy ministry. The majority of the young people incarcerated –nicknamed “Shegues”(street kids) or “Kuluna” (gangs)– are illiterate. They turned to gangs and crime as their only hope of survival. Cedric goes there once a week to pray with the inmates, encourage them that Jesus loves them, and bring needed assistance towards their rehabilitation. Here he is restocking on Activated magazines which he uses in his ministry to motivate them to start a new life.

Cedric

Thierry often travels to Matadi in Bas Congo for his work as a lawyer. As he was witnessing there recently, he got some people interested in taking our Bible course, and has now started teaching a whole new group of people in that new city, twice a month! God bless him!

Thierry with new group of Bible students in Matadi

Upcoming Retreat: We had a fruitful meeting with Olivier, Thierry and Huguette to plan a retreat for the newly graduated Bible students, and also for the old timers. We’re now working on translations and hopefully subtitles for the videos we are planning to use.

Planning meeting for upcoming retreat

Think about Good Things

Author Unknown

Think of the things that make you happy,

Not the things that make you sad;
Think of the fine and true in mankind,
Not its sordid side and bad;

Think of the blessings that surround you,
Not the ones that are denied;
Think of the virtues of your friendships,
Not the weak and faulty side.

Think of the gains you’ve made in business,
Not the losses you’ve incurred;
Think of the good of you that’s spoken,
Not some cruel, hostile word;

Think of the days of health and pleasure,
Not the days of woe and pain;
Think of the days alive with sunshine,
Not the dismal days of rain.

Think of the hopes that lie before you,
Not the waste that lies behind;
Think of the treasures you have gathered,
Not the ones you’ve failed to find;

Think of the service you may render,
Not of serving self alone;
Think of the happiness of others,
And in this you’ll find your own!