This video shows the arrival of UN commanders and/or FARDC (Congolese Army) officials in Gemena. The MONUC (UN Mission in Congo) headquarters in Gemena, which is right next to our church, is shown. There is also a rather interesting reception for the officers at the airport, full of pomp and parade.
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
DRCongo troops take back town from tribal forces
Democratic Republic of Congo soldiers have retaken control of Dongo in the country's north-west, where recent tribal clashes have forced thousands to flee, the government said.
Read more
Monday, December 14, 2009
Good News (and keep praying)!
There has been some good news coming out of the Ubangi region in the past couple days. The violence near Tandala seems to be diminishing and with it, the threat to Gemena. The prayer focused on the area has negated the influence of the witchdoctor(s) and the insurrection has found virtually no support from the locals. The last word that we have received has been that the antagonists are retreating from the area. It seems they never had a clear plan of action and that after a skirmish with government troops they are withdrawing.
Praise God and continue to keep the region in prayer. Remember the 115,000 + that were displaced. Pray that the violence continues to subside and that the people are able to return to their homes and be reunited with family members. Pray that until then, those that are yet refugees have their needs met and that peace would return.
We thank you for your prayers on behalf of the Congo. It is encouraging to know that though we are thousands of miles away we can always do something. We can intercede for our brothers and sisters, we can lift them up, we can go to our mighty God on their behalf. When we pray "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Mt 6:10) we pray that it is done here in the US, in our homes and streets and backyards, and in the Congo and everywhere. We are grateful for your prayers and we look forward to the good that God will do from the evil that has been done.
Praise God and continue to keep the region in prayer. Remember the 115,000 + that were displaced. Pray that the violence continues to subside and that the people are able to return to their homes and be reunited with family members. Pray that until then, those that are yet refugees have their needs met and that peace would return.
We thank you for your prayers on behalf of the Congo. It is encouraging to know that though we are thousands of miles away we can always do something. We can intercede for our brothers and sisters, we can lift them up, we can go to our mighty God on their behalf. When we pray "your will be done on earth as it is in heaven" (Mt 6:10) we pray that it is done here in the US, in our homes and streets and backyards, and in the Congo and everywhere. We are grateful for your prayers and we look forward to the good that God will do from the evil that has been done.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Fighting Update and Prayer Requests
The situation in the Ubangi Region of the Congo seems to be deteriorating. Fighting has been reported 50 miles from the Elikya Center in Tandala, where the hospital is. The towns where the fighting began are virtually empty. Another update from Dr. Tom on the situation in Congo:
What started supposedly as a few villages fighting over fishing ponds in a very remote corner of the Ubangi has escalated to overt serious fighting which has moved to larger population centers.
Gemena: The women and children of CECU leadership have largely evacuated to places some distance from the city. The men remain near the offices of the CECU and hope to protect them from pillaging and theft. The police have set up barriers on every road out of Gemena, hoping to encourage people to stay in the city and not flee. They also hope to prevent the advance of the insurgents. Monday and Tuesday there had been numbers of people fleeing. Some markets are open but most schools are closed. So far there has not been one shot fired in the city.
Government action: Alan Doss is the Special Representative for the UN Secretary General to Congo. He oversees all the UN work in Congo. He reported today that the UN is concerned because the rebels seem to have obtained heavy war weapons and seem to have some people who know how to use them, inflicting serious damage. As he said: “These are not just coupe-coupes (machetes used to cut grass.)” He stated that the UN and the government must be prepared for every possible eventuality.
Refugee situation: There are now at least 115,000 reported refugees from the Dongo and Imese areas, many of whom are in Congo Brazzaville. However, that number is likely much too low if we count all those who have fled or are fleeing their homes to go live in their remote gardens in the forests as the fighting advances. Many NGO agencies are working with the refugees in Congo Brazzaville, but little has been done yet in our Congo due to the active state of the war.
General observations:
· At this point virtually everyone is in a self-preservation mode. As the fighting advances people flee wherever they can to get away. This is usually to remote gardens or villages where the soldiers or rebels are unlikely to follow.
· There is increasing concern that this is more than just a few tribes fighting over fishing rights. The exact motive remains unclear, even to the government.
Please continue to pray...
· For a quick end to the fighting
· For the government leaders and the UN that they will make wise decisions to help bring peace
· For President Bosokpale and the CECU leaders as they assess how to react to each new situation that arises
· For wisdom to know how we can help from afar
· For safety for the various church leaders and people in the churches as well as their families
· For the many who are injured, violated and harmed in this war as they try to recover
· For the pastors and leaders as they try to help their people deal with the trauma of what they have gone through
· For the doctors at Tandala trying to deal with the huge influx of injured and refugees needing help
Pray also that the Lord would protect those that are helpless and who have no one to look after them. Pray for the orphans in the Global Fingerprints program. Pray that He would guard their lives and keep them from harm.
What started supposedly as a few villages fighting over fishing ponds in a very remote corner of the Ubangi has escalated to overt serious fighting which has moved to larger population centers.
Gemena: The women and children of CECU leadership have largely evacuated to places some distance from the city. The men remain near the offices of the CECU and hope to protect them from pillaging and theft. The police have set up barriers on every road out of Gemena, hoping to encourage people to stay in the city and not flee. They also hope to prevent the advance of the insurgents. Monday and Tuesday there had been numbers of people fleeing. Some markets are open but most schools are closed. So far there has not been one shot fired in the city.
Government action: Alan Doss is the Special Representative for the UN Secretary General to Congo. He oversees all the UN work in Congo. He reported today that the UN is concerned because the rebels seem to have obtained heavy war weapons and seem to have some people who know how to use them, inflicting serious damage. As he said: “These are not just coupe-coupes (machetes used to cut grass.)” He stated that the UN and the government must be prepared for every possible eventuality.
Refugee situation: There are now at least 115,000 reported refugees from the Dongo and Imese areas, many of whom are in Congo Brazzaville. However, that number is likely much too low if we count all those who have fled or are fleeing their homes to go live in their remote gardens in the forests as the fighting advances. Many NGO agencies are working with the refugees in Congo Brazzaville, but little has been done yet in our Congo due to the active state of the war.
General observations:
· At this point virtually everyone is in a self-preservation mode. As the fighting advances people flee wherever they can to get away. This is usually to remote gardens or villages where the soldiers or rebels are unlikely to follow.
· There is increasing concern that this is more than just a few tribes fighting over fishing rights. The exact motive remains unclear, even to the government.
Please continue to pray...
· For a quick end to the fighting
· For the government leaders and the UN that they will make wise decisions to help bring peace
· For President Bosokpale and the CECU leaders as they assess how to react to each new situation that arises
· For wisdom to know how we can help from afar
· For safety for the various church leaders and people in the churches as well as their families
· For the many who are injured, violated and harmed in this war as they try to recover
· For the pastors and leaders as they try to help their people deal with the trauma of what they have gone through
· For the doctors at Tandala trying to deal with the huge influx of injured and refugees needing help
Pray also that the Lord would protect those that are helpless and who have no one to look after them. Pray for the orphans in the Global Fingerprints program. Pray that He would guard their lives and keep them from harm.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Pray for Peace
See Congo update and prayer requests by Dr. Tom Cairns below.
*Note: CECU is the Evangelical Free Church in the DRCongo. President Bosokpale is the current leader of that denomination.
Urgent Prayer Requests about Fighting in the Ubangi 12-7-09
Brief Summary: The fighting which began with some local tribes fighting over fishing rights in the southern reaches of the Ubangi has escalated significantly. At least 90,000 people have fled their homes, many to Congo Brazzaville across the river. Others are living in the forests. President Kabila flew to Gemena last week and promised immediate action to end the uprising. He has sent into Gemena several thousand soldiers with weapons who have gone on down to that area to resolve the situation. Some are being brought back wounded and getting care at the hospitals. The problem is that the presence of soldiers instills fear and reminds people of the violence of the previous war. As a result people at Tandala have all fled into the forests except for the doctors. People in Gemena are making plans to flee. Some have fled and are being encouraged to return to their homes. The church leaders are figuring out ways to hide valuable equipment and records.
Background: In mid-October fighting broke out among several tribes in the far southwest corner of what we know as the Ubangi. These were among some groups we would call water people as they live in the swamps and on the streams, though they are quite a bit west of the area that we have usually referred to as the “water people” within the CECU*. This area has festered in the past but never to this level of violence. A chief had been deposed by the regional government and was angry. Together with a local witch doctor they began stirring up their people. The fighting spread north to the town of Dongo on the Ubangi River (the western border of Congo and of the CECU*), and then down-river to Imese and beyond. Immediately people began fleeing to get away from the tribal clashes, some into the forests or other inland towns within the Kungu territory, most crossing the Ubangi River to the Republic of Congo.
The insurgents were working under the banner of “The Resistant Patriots of Dongo” but have now changed to the “Independent Allied Movement of Liberation.”
The national police were trying to quell the rebellion with their capabilities. The UN and various NGO began trying to provide help for refugees, but most of their assistance has been on the Congo Brazzaville side. On Nov. 25th, a UN helicopter landed at Dongo to allow UN staff to evaluate the situation there. At the time of taking off they got into the cross-fire of the police and the rebels who were skirmishing. Five people on the helicopter were injured during take-off but the chopper did succeed in departing and got across the river to safety. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the attack and implored the Congo government to act, promising UN help.
*Note: CECU is the Evangelical Free Church in the DRCongo. President Bosokpale is the current leader of that denomination.
The town of Dongo is about 90 miles west of Gemena
Urgent Prayer Requests about Fighting in the Ubangi 12-7-09
Brief Summary: The fighting which began with some local tribes fighting over fishing rights in the southern reaches of the Ubangi has escalated significantly. At least 90,000 people have fled their homes, many to Congo Brazzaville across the river. Others are living in the forests. President Kabila flew to Gemena last week and promised immediate action to end the uprising. He has sent into Gemena several thousand soldiers with weapons who have gone on down to that area to resolve the situation. Some are being brought back wounded and getting care at the hospitals. The problem is that the presence of soldiers instills fear and reminds people of the violence of the previous war. As a result people at Tandala have all fled into the forests except for the doctors. People in Gemena are making plans to flee. Some have fled and are being encouraged to return to their homes. The church leaders are figuring out ways to hide valuable equipment and records.
Background: In mid-October fighting broke out among several tribes in the far southwest corner of what we know as the Ubangi. These were among some groups we would call water people as they live in the swamps and on the streams, though they are quite a bit west of the area that we have usually referred to as the “water people” within the CECU*. This area has festered in the past but never to this level of violence. A chief had been deposed by the regional government and was angry. Together with a local witch doctor they began stirring up their people. The fighting spread north to the town of Dongo on the Ubangi River (the western border of Congo and of the CECU*), and then down-river to Imese and beyond. Immediately people began fleeing to get away from the tribal clashes, some into the forests or other inland towns within the Kungu territory, most crossing the Ubangi River to the Republic of Congo.
The insurgents were working under the banner of “The Resistant Patriots of Dongo” but have now changed to the “Independent Allied Movement of Liberation.”
The national police were trying to quell the rebellion with their capabilities. The UN and various NGO began trying to provide help for refugees, but most of their assistance has been on the Congo Brazzaville side. On Nov. 25th, a UN helicopter landed at Dongo to allow UN staff to evaluate the situation there. At the time of taking off they got into the cross-fire of the police and the rebels who were skirmishing. Five people on the helicopter were injured during take-off but the chopper did succeed in departing and got across the river to safety. The UN Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, condemned the attack and implored the Congo government to act, promising UN help.
On Monday Nov. 29, President Kabila, the national leader, flew to Gemena and met with the governor, regional leaders, military leaders and the police and planned how they could quell the rebellion. He promised action within 24 hours. Indeed, almost immediately plane-loads of soldiers began arriving in Gemena and have continued to arrive throughout this week. They are heading down to the area of conflict, which means driving right past Tandala, on through Bozene, Kungu and to Dongo and beyond.
Already there are reports of numerous soldiers being brought back for care with machete wounds from the fighting.
All of which is to say that there is great need for prayer for the CECU*:
- For the leadership
- For peace in the Ubangi
- For great wisdom for all leaders in how to act
- For the government that they will make the right decisions, not out of spite or retribution.
- That the CECU* will be a real light in the midst of this darkness.
President Bosokpale* specifically asks for your prayers:
- Pray for people’s hearts to turn to the Author of Peace, and to realize that God alone is the solution to their needs.
- Ask God to give wisdom to leadership and the course that is set by the church to assist those in need during this difficult time.
- Pray that the church would respond with peace and hope to those in need around them. Many thousands of people are now displaced, having fled the epicenter of the conflict.
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Elikya Video
To get a better idea of what the Elikya Center does, check out this short video. What better way to learn than from the Director, Mowa, and from the testimonies of a widow and an orphan who are going through the training program?
Sam and Sarah and Michelle and I will be helping Elikya add to it's current training opportunities. In short, we will be facilitating short-term teams from the US that will be teaching English, keyboarding and basic computer skills. We will also be training several Congolese who will make up a "hospitality team" to host future teams after we're gone. These aspects of our ministry are not presented in the video.
Props to Andrew Rothacker for his help with the video. Thanks, man.
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