CONGO MISSION An Initiative of the Peninsula-Delaware Conference United Methodist Church (Bishop Peter D. Weaver Mission Project)   Photos of the Mission More photos

An established partnership with the Central Congo Conference of the Methodist Church, speaking to the needs of children and orphans suffering as a result of the humanitarian tragedy occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Karen and Wembo villagers (upon arriving at Wembo Nyama):  for the VIM Team, gifts of chickens from the village of Tunda, and a goat from the village of Minga.

Other photos from the Congo

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRIP INTO THE INTERIOR RAIN FOREST:

5,000 FEET BELOW US, THE RAIN FOREST SEEMED TO CREEP SLOWLY BY BENEATH THE G.B.G.M.- PILOTED SIX-SEATER. JACQUES AND DJAMBA, OUR MOST CAPABLE AND CARING PILOTS, ASSURED US "WE WOULD NOT WANT TO HAVE TO LAND DOWN THERE". THE FOREST LOOKED LIKE A NEVER-ENDING FIELD OF BROCCALI CROWNS, AS FAR AS THE EYE COULD SEE IN EVERY DIRECTION. OCCASIONALLY, THERE WERE BREAKS IN THE CANOPY, AND WE COULD SEE TINY HUTS CLUSTERED TOGETHER, FORMING SMALL VILLAGES. WISPS OF SMOKE RISING FROM THE EARTH BENEATH THE CANOPY, AND CROOKED FOOT PATHS RUNNING ASKEW WHERE THE GROUND COULD BE SEEN, HINTED AT HUMAN LIFE BELOW US.
BUT, WHY WERE WE HEADED INTO THE RAIN FOREST WHEN SO MUCH HAD TO BE DONE IN KINSHASA, WHERE OUR PARTNERSHIP PROJECTS ARE LOCATED?

AS WE VISITED THE VILLAGES OF WEMBO NYAMA, MINGA, AND TUNDA, OUR EYES WERE OPENED TO THE ENORMITY AND EXPANSIVENESS OF THE PROBLEM OF DISPLACED PEOPLE IN THE CONGO. FOR IT IS HERE, IN THE VILLAGES OF THE RAIN FOREST, WHERE THE WAR HAS RAVAGED THE PEOPLE - DRIVEN THEM FROM THEIR HOMES AND FAMILIES, TO SEEK THE RELATIVE SAFETY OF THE CAPITAL CITY, KINSHASA. - SO MANY IN THAT CITY NOW, WITH SO LITTLE.

OUR POINTS OF REFERENCE TELL US "SO LITTLE". BUT INDEED, THE PEOPLE OF THE CONGO, IN SPITE OF THE DEVASTATION, HAVE SO MUCH DETERMINATION AND FAITH AND HOPE AND FORTITUDE, IT SEEMS IT IS WE WHO HAVE SO LITTLE.

THEIR HOPE IS MAGNIFIED IMMEASURABLY BY THE PRESENCE OF THE PEOPLE OF THE PENINSULA-DELAWARE CONFERENCE - PEOPLE WHO HAVE COME "OUT OF NOWHERE", WITH HEARTS TO HELP AND LEARN, REGARDLESS OF THE STRIFE THE COUNTRY FACES - PEOPLE WHO REPRESENT THOUSANDS WHO SUPPORT AND PRAY FOR THE CONGOLESE.

A CONGOLESE INTERPRETER SAID: "WE KNOW THAT GOD IS WITH US BECAUSE WE SEE GOD IN YOUR LOVE AND CARE FOR US - YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW US AND OUR COUNTRY, BUT YOU STILL CARE"

A CONGOLESE CHILD SAID: "YOU MAKE US HAPPY WHEN WE SEE YOU. AND YOU HELP US TO HAVE SOME FOOD. YOU ARE LIKE MOTHER AND FATHER TO US"

DR. YOHADI, AT THE MPASA NUTRITION CENTER, SAID: "BEFORE YOU CAME TO HELP, I WAS LIKE A SOLDIER BEING SENT INTO BATTLE WITHOUT ANY WEAPONS. NOW, WITH MEDICINE, I CAN FIGHT"

THE CONGOLESE HAVE GIVEN ME SO MUCH: A HUMBLE SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT IS TO LOVE ONE ANOTHER, AND HOW TRULY EASY IT IS WHEN OUR HEARTS AND MINDS ARE FOCUSED ON OTHERS; THE GIFT OF SOUL-SHAKING PEACE; THE GIFT OF LOVE AND ASSURANCE OF THE ALMIGHTY SO DEEP WITHIN IT MOVES ONE TO TEARS; AND THE CLARITY OF THE SPIRITUAL CONNECTEDNESS WE ALL SHARE.

• WE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF THE CONGOLESE:
• THERE IS MEDICINE WHERE ONCE THERE WAS NONE
• CHILDREN HAVE A HOME WHERE ONCE THEY WERE ORPHANED
• PEOPLE LEARN TRADES WHERE ONCE THEY COULD NOT
• PEOPLE HAVE FOOD WHO ONCE DID NOT
• FOR MANY, HOPE REPLACES DESPERATION
• AND THE CONGOLESE HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN US.

For more detailed information, contact the Peninsula-Delaware Conference office, Dover DE.

page two - photos from the Congo
page three - more photos

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