|
|
|
| Congo-Kasai Chapter of ROW |
News/Updates: |
|||
To see current Congo-Kasai Newsletter, click here About
Congo-Kasai: ROW Congo-Kasai is a new chapter of ROW,
started in 2006 by Jimmy Shafe (Jimmy@row.org).
Thus far, here are some of the efforts… Sewing Machines: So far we have
placed some 40 sewing machines in 13 villages, including Lubondai,
Mutoto, Bulape, Ndesha, Bilomba City, Tshimbulu City, Ndemba City, and
Tshikaji. A new treadle-style sewing machine can be purchased in Kananga,
along with fabric, thread, needles, patterns, and other supplies, and
then taken by the Congo Presbyterian Church (CPC) vehicle to a village
– all for $250. In each case, we work through the Pastor and Elders to
make sure the project is viewed by the people as associated with the
church and by the grace of the Lord. In each location, the norm is for
two or more individuals to share efforts using the sewing machine.
Whether it is uniforms for school children, scrubs for doctors and
nurses, or sewing work taken in from people in the village this effort
enables individuals to stand a little more on their own and to have a
means of earning a living. In addition, we are trying to establish a
business model so that wages earned can help the local community through
efforts such as buying seeds for community gardens, repairs to the
hospitals and church buildings, etc. There is much excitement being
generated through these “micro-business” start-ups. Our prayer is
for sustainment and that these will serve as seed businesses to create
additional ideas and pursuits by Congolese people. Deep Wells & Water Pumps: On
our visit in June 2006, a deep well had been dug at Lubondai village
hospital (80 m) and another at Good Shepherd Hospital at Tshikaji (60m).
These wells were dug but had no pumping system, so they were capped and
waiting with their life-saving water far beneath the surface. Funds were
not in place to complete the project and actually pump water to a tower
or tank and provide safe drinking water for the hospitals, staff, or
surrounding communities. While visiting at Tshikaji I got an intestinal
parasite, probably from bad drinking water. The day I was diagnosed, I
was on a hospital tour and saw the capped well. “OK, Lord. I heard
You!” Before leaving I told them I would find a way to finish their
well project. ROW Congo-Kasai has now helped with the funding and
negotiations to ensure both hospital well projects are completed. Both
wells are now in the final stages of completion. How encouraging is this
to them? In a word: very. Lives will be saved due to safe drinking
water. School Tuition Provided: $300
paid tuition for 20 children for 1 year. 50%+ of Congolese children do
not attend school. Their families can’t afford $15 a year for supplies
and teacher pay. School Materials Provided: $500
for classroom materials such as chalk, note paper, pencils, etc. for a
Primary School in Lusambo for one year. These items are available in
Kananga but the schools need money. Tshiluba Bibles Provided: A dozen
Bibles were provided for the Pastors studying at the Mutoto Pastors
school. This enables each pastor in training to have his or her own
Bible. Pig Farm: Dr. Jean Paul Beya, a
veterinarian, has established a pig farm. The farm can handle up to 48
pigs and had 33 in February 2008. A church in Chester, VA, that is also
a ROW supporter sent two people out during the summer of 2007, and they
worked to install a suitable water pump. The meat provides nutrition for
the village, as well as a marketable commodity. The whole operation was
launched by Presbyterian laymen and is a non-profit for the good of the
community. Tshiluba Bibles Provided: More
than 150 Children’s Bibles - distributed by Dr. Kazadi. Adult and
children’s Bibles, as well as Tshiluba Hymnals are printed at IMPROKA.
$10 provides a Bible and one Hymnal. $3 provides a Children’s Tshiluba
Bible. Educational Scholarships: One
full scholarship in honor of Rev Chug & Sara Shafe was endowed at
the new medical school at Université
Protestante au Congo (UPC) in Kinshasa. This is designated for a
Kasai Presbyterian who will sign a contract to serve at least two years
in a Kasai rural hospital once he or she becomes a doctor. When the
individual graduates, the scholarship will be immediately available to
another student meeting the same criteria. Three scholarships for tuition for
2007-08 were granted to worthy students at Université Presbytérienne au Congo (UPRECO) in Ndesha. Generator: Dr. Ntambue Kazadi is
the Director of Christian Education for the Congo Presbyterian Church,
as well as a Professor in the Université Presbytérienne au Congo near
Kananga. As Dr. Kazadi makes his way from village to village supporting
the Pastor, he has had no way to show films. When he returned to Congo
in November 2006, we equipped him with a current model Laptop computer
and a small LCD projector. With these, he could show the Jesus Film and
other Christian films. Problem – only where there was a generator.
Since hardly any villages have a source for electricity, in July 2007,
we furnished him the funds to purchase a small portable gasoline powered
generator. This will bring the Gospel story to many who might never have
come to church but who will line up for hours to see a movie. Portable
DVD Player in a Case! In February 2008, Dr. Kazadi was quipped with
a ROW donated DVD Player in a Case (don’t know what else to call it!).
The Pelican case opens to reveal a portable DVD player (battery powered
and rechargeable) and a 15 inch screen with built-in speakers. For a
group of up to about 12 people, this is an ideal way to spread the
Gospel through movies like the Jesus Film. School
for Single Mothers - Tshikaji
They
were raped or sold as prostitutes by family. No man will have them as a
wife. They are bright. Their eyes dance with hope. They laugh. They
smile. They learn with children climbing on their laps or sleeping on a
grass mat on the dirt floor next to them.
We
walked in the door and the women began to clap rhythmically followed by
a big grin and exhaling loudly… picture a vaudeville ending! They’re
proud of themselves, proud of their school, proud to know we have
helped, but not too proud to show it. Three
of the four ladies who are directors and teachers were there to greet us
along with 19 of 20 students PLUS at least 15 infants and small
children! This school, launched in December 2007, is the brainchild of
four Congolese women who approached Presbyterian Missionary Nancy
Haninger with the idea in October 2007. The Lord allowed things to move
quickly! Nikki,
a friend at Redeemer Presbyterian in Snellville, GA had a dream 2 nights
before our trip… 10 women with babies everywhere, struggling to make
ends meet. She knew one was pregnant. She handed me a large
envelope containing 10 smaller envelopes – each contained $20 and a
Scripture verse. She said, “To
these women, $20 can make a huge impact on their lives.” My
instructions were simple, “Find
them.” It turned out to be 20 women with 34 kids. Even though it
isn’t culturally the norm, one admitted she was pregnant. The
budget for one year of operation is only $10,255. The
curriculum?
The
plan is to hope to open a boutique in Kananga to sell the items sewn by
the ladies. In addition, ladies tote bags and men’s shirts will be
brought back for sale on the website or at conferences. Each
group of four graduates will receive a grant of a sewing machine so they
can launch a business co-op. So, we need 5 machines by NOV for the
“graduation” grants. Exciting?
Their clapping and “Aaahhh!” said it all!
Bekki
shows off new sign.
Students
pay close attention. Orphanage
– Kinshasa… “Thank
you ROW!”
“Until
ROW helped us, the children were sleeping on the floor. Now, they have a
nice dormitory and good beds. Thank you ROW!”
The roof had been
ripped away in a storm. 32 boys and girls are now protected from the
weather. Last May, Ben Mathes
met Abbey Martin, who works through UPC on a variety of Kinshasa
projects. The
needs were urgent! Appeals went out and ROW came through with some
$15,000 in repairs and furnishings. We
rounded the corner on foot to the joyous sounds of all the school
children, the orphans and the others, lined up and singing to us.
Next step? ROW Congo
Kasai has committed to installing a deep well so the kids will have
potable drinking water.
Carrying raunchy water
on your head? Let’s get them a well!
Dreams for the future: ·
Help upgrade guest houses on mission stations to help
attract more short term teams ·
Install water systems and solar panel systems at these
guest houses ·
Repair outlying hospitals ·
Repair churches ·
Create an endowment to subsidize the salaries of any
doctors willing to serve in rural hospitals ·
Equip the labs for the medical school at Université
Protestante au Congo ·
Endow 10 medical school full scholarships ·
Endow 10 scholarships at Université Presbytérienne au
Congo ·
Endow 10 scholarships at Université Protestante au Congo ·
Install satellite dishes and solar power at mission
station hospitals to enable Internet link for hospital to hospital
communication ·
Well for Kinshasa Orphanage
|
|
|
Rivers of the World is a
non-profit, tax exempt 501(c)3 organization. ROW.org is maintained by Tarver
Program Consultants, Inc. (c) 2005, Rivers of the World
|
.
