We wish you all a very happy and blessed Christmas. In the midst of tropical storms and heat if is difficult to visualize the European Festival. Another difference is while you celebrate with presents and plenty, we are thinking of ways to try and alleviate the extreme poverty of many of our Christian brothers and sisters. The last few months have been quite productive. St. Pauls Centre is being used more and more and we have increased our teaching and outreach activities. Besides Sunday services in French and English, and an advanced English course, we now have a weekly Mothers’ Group, a Young People’s club and an English-language choir. The literacy project has not yet started but we live in hope! We have had conferences and seminars, including a residential one that was quite a challenge. We are presently planning a Christmas Seminar for the 23/24 December. The awful events surrounding the massacre of street children have faded from most people’s memories. Perhaps some organizations are talking more about the problems. “Save the Children” organized a group of children and young people in a “theatre production” of the problem and solution. Unfortunately some NGOs have very high expenses, e.g. 50 dollars a night for hotel accommodation when a local worker earns half that a month, if he/she is fortunate to be paid. Quite recently we have been dismayed to hear that UNICEF and OXFAM have had large sums of money stolen, usually involving police guards and insiders. | "We need much wisdom and discernment to use the money wisely. Compassion is not enough." | |
With an extra gift we have been promised, we have been able to help a local orphanage. The Manager, Jean Paul, seeks to receive, train and return children to their families from which they have been separated through war and poverty. We have also decided to give a Christmas present of 10 dollars to each of the teachers in the Anglican Church Schools in and around Mbuji Mayi. Many of them have had no salary for months, because many parents are unable to pay school fees. Our garden was flourishing but the severe weather has taken its toll and we wonder if the effort was worth the result. We have been able to finance a few mini-projects, in an effort to help people who have small incomes. We need much wisdom and discernment to use the money wisely. Compassion is not enough. We are thankful that corruption that has been so rife is at last being tackled. Six government ministers and other heads of departments have been suspended pending enquiries about finances. A lot of foreign money is pouring into the Congo in order to pay for elections next year, but apart from a lot of hot air, not much seems to be happening. We wonder how the majority of under-nourished unemployed Congolese will have the money to pay for photographs and documents necessary to register as voters. PRAYER MATTERS: Thanks for St. Paul’s Centre, for electricity and water. Thanks for prayer partners and financial support. PLEASE PRAY FOR: The Archbishop, diocesan bishops and pastors that they may be faithful shepherds of God’s people. For the election of the 1st bishop for Kasai Province and the person of God’s choice. For the continuing evangelism and outreach from St. Paul’s Centre. For discernment, compassion and understanding in all our dealings. “Thanks be to God for his indescribable Gift” (2 Cor. 9.15) Yours sincerely, in Him, Stuart & Kathryn
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