Getting closer...

Well, it is now almost mid-February, a month after our original estimated departure date. The fighting in the Congo made our return in January impossible. Aside from that, however, we would have remained stateside since we have yet to reach 100% of our required support level. But God has been good and is providing for this ministry. We are now at 81% of our required ammount in monthly support commitments. This means that we have only to raise an additional $715/month and we are there! That is good news, especially since when we returned from the Congo we were at approximately 25%! So we have much to be thankful for. Thank you so much to all of you who have contributed from your own resources to enable this vital work in the Congo!

We are hoping to return to the Elikya Center by April. We are awaiting the "all clear" from the church leadership in the Congo and are continuing to raise support in the meantime. If you would like to donate to our ministry, the easiest way to make a one-time donation or to set up a monthly contribution via credit card is to follow this link (Click here). Otherwise, see additional giving options on the sidebar. Thank you so much for your amazing support of us and our future ministry!

Zaire is for Kids

This is an old slideshow my Dad put together during our years in the former Zaire in the 1990s. He also made some other slideshows but this one seemed to be the most popular. It is a brief, educational and fun look at our family's time on the mission field...and very professionally narrated if I do say so myself.

An End in Sight

The latest from Dr. Tom Cairns on the conflict in northwestern Congo:

Last week on Dec 31 and January 1, the rebels from Inyele had been driven back to their own village. They were surrounded by the Congo Army troops and given an ultimatum to lay down arms. Instead they tried a counterattack at two places against the army, so the army attacked and by the end of the fighting 157 rebels were killed as well as one soldier. Some soldiers were evacuated with non-life-threatening wounds to the hospital at Gemena by helicopter. Supposedly there were only a few escapees from Inyele.

The military is continuing mopping-up operations but there is real hope that this will bring an end to the fighting. The next thing is for the army to begin to withdraw, giving confidence to the villagers in all the villages up and down the roads there that they can come back to their homes and begin to rebuild their lives.

We are very thankful that something over $30,000 has come in from our churches and donors in the EFCA and in the Consortium. The church has developed a plan to help people with their return, including providing food staples, tarps for shelter, and other necessities to get started again.

Please be in prayer that this will really be the end and that people will quickly return to their villages. Pray that the church will be used mightily as a witness to show God’s care and compassion for them. Pray too that more funds will come in to help meet the massive needs. While there are other NGO agencies working to help, none of them are doing it from God’s heart of compassion as the CECU can do.

January 2010 Newsletter is hot off the presses! Click to view. 2009 newsletters and donation cards are also available to view or download on the sidebar.

D.R. Congo Military Arrives in Dongo (MONUC)

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.

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.

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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.