Not much has changed since our last blog post. There is still some intense fighting happening in Dongo where the fighting originated. One of the biggest issues right now besides the fighting, is that many people are still displaced at this point. A few people have returned to Gemena that we know of, but most remain in the jungle with little to no food, shelter or medication. The local church is doing what they can to aid those who are displaced. Sam was able to speak briefly with Mowa, the director of the Elikya Center, last week. At that time Mowa was trying to coordinate purchasing tarps to get to people who are staying in the jungle. There are still soldiers in Gemena and people remain fearful of their presence. It was reported a couple weeks ago that one of the soldiers began firing a gun randomly and people were hiding in their homes. It is likely that the soldier was just drunk and shooting for no particular reason and no one was injured that we are aware of.
If you are interested in giving money to aid those who are displaced in the Congo, Congo Emergency Fund has been established, and we are accepting donations to respond to this urgent need.
Please donate online or send checks to:
Congo Emergency Fund 2021709-39051
EFCA
901 E 78th Street
Minneapolis MN 55420
Please continue to pray for our friends in the Congo. We are so grateful for the responses we have received from so many of you. We hope your Christmas was great and that you enjoy celebrating the new year!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Monday, December 14, 2009
Some better news
This post brings a little bit of good news about the situation in the Congo. Sam and I received an E-mail on Saturday informing us that the rebel group of men has retreated. The government soldiers were able to gain back control of the cities where there had been fighting. Praise God! This group was defeated near Tandala (city where the large Free Church hospital is located). Dr. Narcisse, one of the doctors from the Tandala hospital, sent out a long E-mail to ReachGlobal staff describing the events of the past few days. All the doctors remained at the hospital despite the fighting and they treated many wounded people, both Congo soldiers and men from the rebel gang. God protected the hospital and the immediate area from harm and the doctors stood firm in not only administering medical treatment but ministering Truth in the situation.
It has been discovered that this group of dangerous men were being led by a witch doctor who had stirred up the initial fishing pond dispute on Dongo. Dr. Narcisse encountered this man and asked him what his plan was. Dr. Narcisse reported that the witch doctor was trusting in his idols to protect and lead the group as they were marching and fighting. When the witch doctor realized they were being forced to retreat, he appeared disillusioned at the fact they were not being protected by the idols they were carrying with them and the group of rebels quickly left the hospital. The rebel group retreated before heading to Gemena. The situation has settled down a bit right now, but time will tell if the fighting has come to a complete end. In the mean time, there are still many wounded, missing and displaced people in the Congo.
We recognize that this is a very real, spiritual battle. God is using prayer to apprehend the enemy in a very real way in the Congo. Please continue to pray for the same things we previously posted. Pray for deep healing as people have experienced an extremely traumatic event. Only God can heal their hearts, bodies and memories.
Also, if you have any interest in donating toward the aid of those in the Congo please E-mail us. We can direct you to the right place. Thank you again for praying and for sending us encouraging E-mails.
-Sarah and Sam-
Friday, December 11, 2009
Congo Fighting Update
Thank you for your prayers up to this point for the Congo. The prayers are needed! We believe our God is more than able to save, protect and heal! We are holding tight to the truth in 1 Corinthians 14:33, “For God is not a God of confusion, but a God of peace…”. We have a brief update on the situation in the Congo:
Please pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. What started as a dispute between fisherman in an area West of Gemena (the city where the Elikya Center is located and where we plan on working) has become a mass of men traveling through the Ubangi region of the country, terrorizing and killing people. The government is unsure of who these people are. This group of men is heading down the road toward Gemena and most women and children have fled to either the forest, remote villages or Congo Brazaville (country across the river). The men in leadership with the local church have stayed behind with the intention of protecting the church offices from being pillaged. In Tandala, a city about 50 miles West of Gemena, all people have evacuated except for the four doctors who work in the large hospital supported by the local church. Many wounded people have been brought to the hospital and the doctors are working hard to care for them, but are also in an unsafe area because of the fighting. 26 children in the orphan sponsorship program (Global Fingerprints) are unaccounted for at this time and it was reported that 3 of the orphan girls were raped and one was killed after being raped. As of yesterday, no violence had occurred in Gemena and people were fleeing as a precaution.
Our hearts are heavy at this time. These are friends of ours and the neighborhood we lived in for 7 weeks. We ask you to pray for the following things:
1. Peace in the Congo and end to the fighting
2. Wisdom and direction for local church leaders
3. Global Fingerprints orphans and leaders
4. Protection over those who have fled and the properties they left behind
5. Strength and protection for the 4 doctors remaining in Tandala
6. Wisdom and direction for ReachGlobal leadership in the States as well as
direction for us and our plans for ministering at the Elikya Center
For those of you who may have concerns, ReachGlobal will not send us into an unsafe area. So we are waiting for God’s direction in this. We do know at this point that we will not be going to the Congo in January. But that is all we know at this time. So much is unknown about the entire situation in Congo and so we also have no answers about our plans with Elikya Center in light of this. We are beyond grateful for your prayers. We are resting in the Lord.
Please pray for peace in the Democratic Republic of Congo. What started as a dispute between fisherman in an area West of Gemena (the city where the Elikya Center is located and where we plan on working) has become a mass of men traveling through the Ubangi region of the country, terrorizing and killing people. The government is unsure of who these people are. This group of men is heading down the road toward Gemena and most women and children have fled to either the forest, remote villages or Congo Brazaville (country across the river). The men in leadership with the local church have stayed behind with the intention of protecting the church offices from being pillaged. In Tandala, a city about 50 miles West of Gemena, all people have evacuated except for the four doctors who work in the large hospital supported by the local church. Many wounded people have been brought to the hospital and the doctors are working hard to care for them, but are also in an unsafe area because of the fighting. 26 children in the orphan sponsorship program (Global Fingerprints) are unaccounted for at this time and it was reported that 3 of the orphan girls were raped and one was killed after being raped. As of yesterday, no violence had occurred in Gemena and people were fleeing as a precaution.
Our hearts are heavy at this time. These are friends of ours and the neighborhood we lived in for 7 weeks. We ask you to pray for the following things:
1. Peace in the Congo and end to the fighting
2. Wisdom and direction for local church leaders
3. Global Fingerprints orphans and leaders
4. Protection over those who have fled and the properties they left behind
5. Strength and protection for the 4 doctors remaining in Tandala
6. Wisdom and direction for ReachGlobal leadership in the States as well as
direction for us and our plans for ministering at the Elikya Center
For those of you who may have concerns, ReachGlobal will not send us into an unsafe area. So we are waiting for God’s direction in this. We do know at this point that we will not be going to the Congo in January. But that is all we know at this time. So much is unknown about the entire situation in Congo and so we also have no answers about our plans with Elikya Center in light of this. We are beyond grateful for your prayers. We are resting in the Lord.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
Pray for the Congo
We are asking you to pray for the Congo. Starting in mid-October some fighting began about 50 miles West of Gemena (the city where the Elikya Center is located) among fisherman. Here is an excerpt from an E-mail we received today from Dr.Tom Cairns from Reachglobal:
"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, including President Bosokpale’s [president of the local Free Church] wife, Jeannette. The church leaders are figuring out ways to hide valuable equipment and records. President Bosokpale has been in Kinshasa for church meetings. He hopes to return Wednesday"
Gemena is currently a secure area, however most people are responding in fear and fleeing to the forests. These are people that we know and love. Our hearts are heavy over this and we ask you to join us in prayer for peace throughout all of the Congo. We don't want to overwhelm you with details, but to ask you to pray and we will update you as soon as we know more information.
"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, including President Bosokpale’s [president of the local Free Church] wife, Jeannette. The church leaders are figuring out ways to hide valuable equipment and records. President Bosokpale has been in Kinshasa for church meetings. He hopes to return Wednesday"
Gemena is currently a secure area, however most people are responding in fear and fleeing to the forests. These are people that we know and love. Our hearts are heavy over this and we ask you to join us in prayer for peace throughout all of the Congo. We don't want to overwhelm you with details, but to ask you to pray and we will update you as soon as we know more information.
Sunday, December 6, 2009
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