tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38531913638931154152024-03-05T05:19:08.687-08:00for such a time as thischristine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-35530931072486854512013-06-11T05:20:00.000-07:002013-06-11T05:20:09.974-07:00Gemena Moments<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-VuNyFIaupOXtcgI7VSMqoFvkd3EfHnw04yQ97TYuufl4PUu8SlOapLz27UKJbhUf5jfNDHMLRTU_EO0rwhcU8Ba6RKQRmufVdEdbl_vAP5Pkd12GMieekklXGf31Zc5wfqAZ5qCu_Y/s1600/IMG_0017_4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio-VuNyFIaupOXtcgI7VSMqoFvkd3EfHnw04yQ97TYuufl4PUu8SlOapLz27UKJbhUf5jfNDHMLRTU_EO0rwhcU8Ba6RKQRmufVdEdbl_vAP5Pkd12GMieekklXGf31Zc5wfqAZ5qCu_Y/s320/IMG_0017_4.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Christine and friends in Gemena</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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Sometimes it’s difficult to decide what to share about my
life here. Everything is different, but
I forget what might be interesting or surprising to people at home. Some fun stories from the past week:<o:p></o:p></div>
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I have been driving a 4-wheeler to the World Vision office
for a little over a month now. I am one
of two young white women who live in this town, and there are only two
4-wheelers in the town too, so if people didn’t notice me before, now I REALLY
stand out. To make things more
interesting Debbie Williams lent me her motorcycle helmet that she rarely uses
because she isn’t about to ride motorcycles on these challenging roads. So, now I am the only person in town wearing
a big green helmet, on top of being white and having a unique vehicle, and sometimes
the children screaming and running after me gets almost out of hand. My daily commute.<o:p></o:p></div>
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We had a team from Covenant Churches in the US visit last
week, and one morning I went with Diann from Naperville Covenant Church to
visit her World Vision sponsored kids.
It was a great experience, and as we were walking through one village we
saw a group of women pounding fuku flour (corn and cassava flour mixed) and the
women encouraged us to try pounding the flour with them. Diann and I quickly realized the hard labor
that preparing a simple meal entails, and the women laughed and laughed at our
efforts. As we worked, a young man rode
up on his bicycle and asked the women if I had a <i>mobali</i>, or husband. My Lingala is good enough now that I can
understand when people are talking about me, but they might not know that I
understand. He asked again and the women
said “No, she is not married, she is free, so take her!” I have been proposed to before in Congo, but
that was the first time I had an arranged proposal approved by a group of women
I had never met before. Welcome to my
life.<o:p></o:p></div>
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This past Sunday I went to a church in a neighborhood called
Salongo II, and in Lingala <i>salongo</i> means “community work”, or “work
together”. Often Saturday mornings are a
time of <i>salongo</i> where everyone will come out and clean up their neighborhood
together. So, I went with one of our Saving for Change
trainers, Mama Bibi, so we could share our program with women of the Salongo church
after the Sunday morning service. In
these small village churches there might be 60 people under a grass roof with
mud walls and dirt floors. I actually
prefer this kind of church because from my foreign Western perspective, it
seems more intimate and real. They bring
out the drums made of wood and taught goat skin and we celebrate our faith with
singing and dancing to rhythms of Congo.
That is by far my favorite part of church. After the 3 hour service (not too long by
Gemena standards) Mama Bibi gathered about 40 women to talk to them about
saving and loaning to improve their businesses and household income. The women listened at first, asking questions
where they didn’t understand, but the women community leaders were the ones
that really grasped the idea and convinced the other women that they could do
this. It was awesome to see – there was
doubt and negativity at the beginning, but it slowly turned to acceptance and
even excitement. We offered to let the
women think about the idea for a week before we come back to form the groups,
but the women said “No! Let’s make the groups now, we want to start saving as
soon as possible!” So cool. The women split themselves into two groups, we led them through fair
elections for a president, secretary, treasurer, cashier and key holder and
they chose saving amounts and names for their groups, <i>Bolingo</i> and <i>Esengo</i>, or Love and Joy. When Mama Bibi comes again next week, they
will have their first official savings meeting, and they will be able to take loans
from their group within the next 4 weeks.
On our walk home Mama Bibi commented on what hard work we accomplished,
and I agreed how great it was that within 3 hours we got 40 women on board with
our program to be empowered and change their own lives, without receiving a
penny from an international organization.
In this town, changing people’s minds and behaviors is by far the
biggest challenge, but we are seeing change and acceptance of our idea. It
really is miraculous. So far 14 savings
groups have been formed in Gemena and we look forward to seeing how God works
through these groups to bring empowerment and relieve some of the struggle from living in poverty for these women and their families.
<o:p></o:p></div>
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All in all, another eventful week in Gemena, DRC. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-10750495929171598362013-05-30T05:49:00.000-07:002013-05-30T05:49:02.377-07:00Hope Continues to Grow<br />
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Hope Continues to Grow</h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/hope-continues-to-grow/#comments" style="background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on Hope Continues to Grow">1 Comment »</a></span>Written on May 22nd, 2013 <br />Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in the DR Congo</em></div>
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<img alt="Existing water source which will be fixed up, so it is clean and can serve more people." class="size-medium wp-image-2212" height="225" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2013/05/IMG_0001_4-300x225.jpg" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 17px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Existing water source which will be fixed up, so it is clean and can serve more people.</div>
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Mbote mingi from Gemena! There is lot happening these days, so I will give you a few highlights:</div>
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Our big focus is water. World Vision has hired two new folks from Kinshasa and Zambia to implement the WASH program, which will provide clean water and hygiene/sanitation education for the entire city of Gemena. This will include repairing and restoring existing capped springs, digging wells with solar powered pumps, and installing hand pumps for easier access, just to name a few. Wallace and Sandy, our WASH team, are working almost around the clock to get these projects started. Providing water to 300,000+ people is no small task! But with your generous donations, we will see clean water more readily available in Gemena, and we will then testify to the miraculous power of partnership of God’s people.</div>
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A very practical way that people are seeing the benefit of our work is the nutrition program that has been launched. Gemenites learn how they can do simple things, like add ground peanuts into their manioc flour, to provide more protein for their children’s diets without paying more! These simple recipe ideas could be revolutionary in improving the overall health of our kids in Gemena.<span id="more-2188" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<img alt="Christine, right, with co-leader Mambo and his family who have helped start savings groups trainings for the women of Gemena." class="size-medium wp-image-2209" height="225" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2013/05/IMG_0644-300x225.jpg" style="border: 0px none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="300" /><div class="wp-caption-text" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; line-height: 17px; padding: 0px 4px 5px; vertical-align: baseline;">
Christine, right, with co-leader Mambo and his family who have helped start savings groups training for the women of Gemena.</div>
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Another exciting program involves the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) partnering with World Vision to promote savings group training for the women of our region. Savings groups organize women to save their money in groups of 15- 25 women in order that they can take loans from the group, and pay back with interest to see the common pot grow. Only one month into the training, there is a lot of buzz about this program and people are already starting to form groups, even though they haven’t yet finished the training! These groups will also serve as a platform to teach women ways to improve their business, their health, and their communities. This is an important first step before introducing micro-finance programs in the years to come.</div>
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So, we are breaking ground and planting seeds. The World Vision office is a constant stream of activity and there is a feeling of energy and excitement about the coming year. This is our year of implementation thanks to the generous support of so many in the United States and Canada who have said “Yes, we hope with the people of Congo.” This would not be possible without your support, and I just wish you could be here to see the joy and clarity in people’s eyes when we teach a new concept. I am finding that people are hungry to learn more about the world they live in, and World Vision in partnership with the Covenant and other local churches are sharing information and knowledge everyday, meeting the deep desires of the people to be educated in all areas. Good education is highly valued, but is only available to few. We seek to change that, for both adults and children, to create a more informed and empowered community, driven to change their own lives.</div>
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As I reflect on the past year I am overwhelmed because I had struggled to find signs of hope here. Yet I find it growing in me the longer I stay. People want to see a brighter future, and they are taking steps towards that light everyday. Thank you, faithful churches and individuals at home, for saying “Yes.”</div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-27174165075910327122013-05-30T05:44:00.002-07:002013-05-30T05:44:38.013-07:00Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week Six<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 9pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 37pt; letter-spacing: -2pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stories of Hope &
Resurrection: Week Six<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-size: 37pt; letter-spacing: -2pt;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-six/#respond"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Post a Comment »</span></a></span><span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Written on May 6th, 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ground Update</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/hope-resurrection/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hope & Resurrection</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Missionary Update</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">News & Updates</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Below are stories from Congo on hope and resurrection
written by Christine Buettgen, a short-term missionary in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC). If your church is interested in receiving these
materials weekly via email, please email us at covenantkidscongo@covchurch.org
and request them today.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: black; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nyenemo Sanguma, second from right
in back row, with the Congolese Community Development team.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;">Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders.
Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God
opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore,
under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you,
casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded;
be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion,
seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the
same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood
throughout the world.</span></i><span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; text-align: right;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Peter 5:5-9<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For the past few weeks, I have been charged with
communicating stories to you that will help paint a picture of “hope and
resurrection” for Gemena and the entire region of Equateur, DRC. For this last
installment, I want to emphasize this: It is clear to me that hope lies most
obviously, in the youth of this city. They are intelligent, hardworking,
and understand the world in a way their previous generation doesn’t always. It
is for this reason I believe in World Vision’s focus on supporting children and
youth. World Vision desires to partner with emerging young Congolese leaders
that are already serving as agents of change – one of them is Nyenemo Sanguma.
Born and raised in Gemena, he continued his education in the US, including an
undergraduate degree from North Park University and a Masters in International
Development from DePaul University, and is now using his educational opportunities
to make a difference in his home country.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nyenemo founded the non-profit, Congolese Community
Development (CCD) in order to support farmers to increase their production and
connect them with markets in Kinshasa where they receive a higher return on
their agricultural products. The organization just celebrated it’s one year
anniversary, and in this pilot project year, they have taught farming skills,
loan management, and significantly improved the incomes of over 200 farmers.
And they plan to keep adding to their numbers.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a program that works, because it is conceived
and managed by a young Congolese leader who understands the cultural context
and language, and is fiercely commited to the betterment of his people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt;">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">World Vision works with partner organizations like CCD
and leaders like Nyenemo in order to strengthen existing programs and build
sustainability into every aspect of their work.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; font-size: 14pt;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With faith, we must trust and empower local young
leaders with the future of their nation – and it is only in this way that we
allow hope to take root, grow, and flower. One empowered leader, one project,
and one community at a time.</span></span><b style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<!--EndFragment--></h1>
christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-40485861435168731422013-05-30T05:38:00.002-07:002013-05-30T05:38:31.371-07:00Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week Five
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 37pt; letter-spacing: -2pt;">Stories of Hope &
Resurrection: Week Five<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 37pt; letter-spacing: -2pt;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-five/#respond"><span style="color: black; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Post a Comment »</span></a></span><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 11pt;">Written on April 29th, 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 11pt;">Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ground Update</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/hope-resurrection/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hope & Resurrection</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Missionary Update</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/"><span style="color: black; mso-themecolor: text1; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">News & Updates</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">Below are stories from Congo on hope and resurrection
written by Christine Buettgen, a short-term missionary in the Democratic
Republic of Congo (DRC). If your church is interested in receiving these
materials weekly via email, please email us at covenantkidscongo@covchurch.org
and request them today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 11pt;">Family on a dirt road in DR Congo.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">“Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”for the first
heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any
sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from
God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard
a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now
among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God
himself will be with them and be their God. ‘He will wipe every tear from
their eyes. There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain,
for the old order of things has passed away.” He who was seated on the throne
said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for
these words are trustworthy and true.” He said to me: “It is done. I am
the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give
water without cost from the spring of the water of life.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">Revelation 21:1-6</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">“It is a matter of glimpsing that in God’s new creation,
of which Jesus’s resurrection is the start, all that was good in the
original creation is reaffirmed. All that has corrupted and defaced it –
including many things which are woven so tightly in to the fabric of the
world as we know it that we can’t imagine being without them – will be done
away. Learning to live as a Christian is learning to live as a renewed
human being, anticipating the eventual new creation in and with a world
which is still longing and groaning for that final redemption.”</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 14pt;">―</span></i><i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;"> N.T. Wright, Simply Christian: Why
Christianity Makes Sense</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">These are powerful words for all of us. Especially in
Gemena, despite the current challenges we face, like lack of electricity
or sufficient access to clean water, we are called to be renewed human beings,
anticipating and hoping for that day where we can access the outside world
through power and improved health through clean water for our children and
our communities. That day, where Congolese mothers see God answer prayers of
provision for their children.</span></i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">N.T. Wright in this passage reminds us that hope is
active, not passive. While we anticipate the change to come, we know that
without our own contribution toward a different future we will not fully
participate in the blessing of calling the Kingdom of God to this earth
through liberation of all marginalized people – in this case, our
Congolese friends.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">The WASH program currently being implemented is
revealing the many resources that already exist in Gemena to bring clean
water to the town’s population of 300,000 people. Water is abundant, but clean
water is scarce. It will take digging wells, capping natural water
sources, and maintaining functioning sources in order to provide protected
water that will improve the health of this whole town. It will take reaffirming
the gift of the original God-given creation to see resurrection, from
sickness to health and from death to life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">Of equal importance, the WASH program will address
education on sanitation and protecting water sources so they remain clean.
If the community is not on board, clean water access will be temporary instead
of long-term. God will provide, we have faith in that. But we know God
loves to use us, His created, to reaffirm His own creation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue'; font-size: 14pt;">We remember our work is always in the hands of our
Creator who makes all things new.</span></i><b><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-32613611944409674612013-05-30T05:35:00.002-07:002013-05-30T05:35:41.882-07:00Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week Four
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<b><span style="color: #1e2734; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 37.0pt; letter-spacing: -2.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Stories of Hope
& Resurrection: Week Four<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #1e2734; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 37.0pt; letter-spacing: -2.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-four/#comments"><span style="color: #809f3b; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">1 Comment »</span></a></span></b><b><span style="color: #809f3b; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Written on April 22nd, 2013
<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ground Update</span></a>,
<a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/hope-resurrection/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hope &
Resurrection</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Missionary
Update</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">News &
Updates</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Below are stories from Congo on hope and
resurrection written by Christine Buettgen, a short-term missionary in the
Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). If your church is interested in receiving
these materials weekly via email, please email us at
covenantkidscongo@covchurch.org and request them today.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“Is there any encouragement from belonging
to Christ? Any comfort from his love? Any fellowship together in
the Spirit? Are your hearts tender and compassionate? Then make me truly
happy by agreeing wholeheartedly with each other, loving one another, and
working together with one mind and purpose. Don’t be selfish; don’t try to
impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves.
Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in
others, too.”</span></i></b><b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Phillippians 2:1-4<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Ariel selling her goods.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Every morning, I walk down the “mbala
mbala”, the big dirt road that takes me into town, where I find my
motorcycle taxis. Every morning, I pass the same vendors of peanuts,
sugar, salt, tea, and coffee, all wrapped in little plastic bags costing
no more than about 5 cents. These vendors don’t often sell in quantites larger
than this because most can’t afford more than 5 cents worth of sugar at a
time.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Through these trips, I have come to know
Ariel, who will be having a baby any day now, because I often buy peanuts
from her. Three of her children are registered for sponsorship through World
Vision although none of have found sponsors yet. When the World Vision
International Leadership team came about a month ago, we asked if Ariel
would open her home to one of the US executives named David for one night.
World Vision believes in the importance of even the top leadership fully
comprehending the day to day challenges that Gemena community members
face. The local office in DR Congo wanted the US office to “live it”.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">When I asked Ariel how it went, she
laughed as she told us how David pounded “mpondu” (cassava leaves)
with her and her neighbors. Usually this work is left only for the women,
so to see a big white American man accomplishing this task was a memory
she won’t soon forget. David also carried water on his head from the river to
the house, and he slept on a bed made of bamboo. I asked if he was afraid
during the night and she answered with a resounding, “Yes! He thought that
lions would come attack him!” We both roared at that, knowing there are
a grand total of zero lions in this entire region.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Ariel was honored to host a visitor from
the US in her home. But more importantly, she was able to build
a connection with World Vision to not only learn about their programs, but
get to know the kind of people that want to help her community. It is not
often in Gemena that executives of large international
non-governmental organizations humble themselves enough to sleep on dirt
floors and sit on low wooden stools to labor alongside the women.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">But this is the example World Vision is
setting, and this is the beginning of a deep and committed relationship
to these people.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Hope can be found in the smallest of
things, even in a sleepover in a mud home under African stars.</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-6923609613916864652013-05-30T05:30:00.002-07:002013-05-30T05:32:00.068-07:00Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week Two<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
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<span style="color: #1e2734; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 37.0pt; letter-spacing: -2.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week Two<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="color: #1e2734; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 37.0pt; letter-spacing: -2.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #1e2734; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 37.0pt; letter-spacing: -2.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-two/#respond"><span style="color: #809f3b; font-size: 11.0pt; letter-spacing: 0pt; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Post a Comment »</span></a></span><span style="color: #809f3b; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Written
on April 8th, 2013 <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #757575; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Filed
under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Ground Update</span></a>,
<a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/hope-resurrection/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Hope &
Resurrection</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Missionary
Update</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">News &
Updates</span></a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/resources/"><span style="color: #809f3b; text-decoration: none; text-underline: none;">Resources</span></a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Below
are stories from Congo on hope and resurrection written by Christine Buettgen,
a short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). If your
church is interested in receiving these materials weekly via email, please
email us at covenantkidscongo@covchurch.org and request them today.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">“On
the evening of that first day of the week, when the disciples were together,
with the doors locked for fear of the Jewish leaders, Jesus came and stood
among them and said, “Peace be with you!” After he said this, he showed them
his hands and side. The disciples were overjoyed when they saw the Lord. Again
Jesus said, “Peace be with you! As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.”
And with that he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you
forgive anyone’s sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them,
they are not forgiven.”</span></i><span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">John 20:19-23<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Easter
celebrations in Congo look a little bit different from ours in the United
States. While some people come to church with new brightly colored bold print
African dresses, most will come on Easter morning in the same clothes they have
worn everyday for the past few years. Chocolate doesn’t exist in Gemena, not to
mention peeps and jellybeans.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">Easter
is a very important holiday for the church here to be reminded of why they have
chosen a life of faith and following the example of Jesus. Many people will go
to church on Good Friday where they will pray and fast for two days, staying
overnight in the church until Easter morning. On that morning, there is a great
celebration in the church (usually including a five hour long service), and
that evening there will be a great gathering and showing of the “Jesus Film”.
In years past, hundreds of people have accepted Christ as they understand the
story for the first time through film.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">My
favorite part of the Easter celebration in Gemena is that after all the
singing, dancing, and worship at church, people go home. There are no Easter
egg hunts for kids in the forest, no restaurants to have an Easter brunch, and
most people can’t afford to host a large meal in their homes. But everyone is
encouraged to invite to their homes anyone with whom they have had an
unresolved conflict in the past year. It is a time to celebrate
the resurrection through reconciliation. I can’t think of a more powerful
way to honor the life and death of Jesus which gave hope to a broken humanity
and a broken world. Renewed friendship born of the death of hardheartedness
through the miraculous power of reconciliation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #625f52; font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Helvetica Neue"; mso-font-kerning: .5pt;">He
is Risen Indeed.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-84731933124220768532013-05-06T03:29:00.003-07:002013-05-06T03:33:15.524-07:00saving for change<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It has
been a while since I updated on me personally! It has been a joy following and
participating in the work of World Vision and reporting to all of you back in
the States what is going down here in Gemena.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">But
there have been some exciting developments in my work, and I see God opening
doors left and right. Three weeks ago,
my colleague and friend, Timothy Mambo and I started a training in partnership
with World Vision, the Congolese Covenant Church (CEUM) and the Congolese Free
Church (CECU) and the Catholic Church to form savings groups that teach women
how to save, loan, and payback loans with interest in order to improve the
lives and household economies. It is a 6
week training, and only half way though women are eager to start savings groups,
even before we finish the formation! This is really cool to see, because it
shows me that we are teaching something that people are eager to learn and put
into practice. And this means when I
leave after a year, these groups are likely to continue working and growing and
helping women lift themselves out of extreme poverty. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1yQcTRcEQAfM1_T7LR3vVuA8Tup7iU4iailtgb5Ib7YA0Ht5hJSKomG0FYzcPPDRfzsBuoIhPD7IkpI3c9wIpluzMhfO9sP8VDENGAqQ0XhD513h014xF4Sg_NRzWcIW0zAaj6W86oM/s1600/IMG_0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim1yQcTRcEQAfM1_T7LR3vVuA8Tup7iU4iailtgb5Ib7YA0Ht5hJSKomG0FYzcPPDRfzsBuoIhPD7IkpI3c9wIpluzMhfO9sP8VDENGAqQ0XhD513h014xF4Sg_NRzWcIW0zAaj6W86oM/s320/IMG_0012.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">"Saving for Change" Training session. Look at those ladies write! </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">For
those of you interested, here is the run down of what a “Savings Group”
is: 15 – 25 women decide to meet weekly
and start saving money that they will use to grow their small businesses. They elect a President, Treasurer, etc., they
decide how much they want to save, interest they will pay on loans taken out,
and amounts to pay for fines when people are late or miss meetings. They will decide together how long their loan
periods will be and to whom they will offer a loan. Additionally, these groups will serve as a
platform to teach women about health, money management and growing their
businesses. Groups will also commit to
social goals in order to improve their communities (ex. commit to use of
mosquito nets in their homes, improve water purifying practices, planting
moringa trees for improved health, etc.) After a year of saving, all the money
is distributed evenly to each member and they start the cycle again.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">We chose
this program because people don’t have banks yet in Gemena, and teaching women
the basic principles of savings and money management before microfinance
institutions come to this area is a perfect way to get people ready to handle
larger loan amounts if they choose.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">Savings
groups are planting the seed to an improved future for Gemena, and I am
thrilled to be part of a program that has seen so much success in other rural
isolated communities across Africa.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #54520f; font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia; mso-bidi-font-style: italic;">So pray
for Mambo and I as we train 12 women to start these groups in neighborhoods
across Gemena. And pray for these 12
brave, strong, intelligent and driven women who will be the agents of economic
change for so many women this year and in the years to come.</span><span style="color: #131313; font-family: Georgia; font-size: 14.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: Georgia;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-70595451571962359582013-05-02T02:03:00.003-07:002013-05-02T02:03:07.772-07:00Stories of Hope and Resurrection: Week One<br />
<h1 style="background-color: white; border: none; color: #253345; font-family: 'Myriad Pro', 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, Geneva, sans-serif; font-size: 2.75em; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: -2px; line-height: 1; margin: 0px 0px 0.25em; padding: 0px; text-shadow: none; vertical-align: baseline;">
Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week One</h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-one/#respond" style="background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on Stories of Hope & Resurrection: Week One">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on April 2nd, 2013 <br />Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/hope-resurrection/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Hope & Resurrection">Hope & Resurrection</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/resources/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Resources">Resources</a></div>
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Below are stories from Congo on hope and resurrection written by Christine Buettgen, a short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). If your church is interested in receiving these materials weekly via email, please email us at covenantkidscongo@covchurch.org and request them today.</div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Never again will there be in it an infant who lives but a few days, or an old man who does not live out his years;</em> <em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">the one who dies at a hundred will be thought a mere child; the one who fails to reach a hundred will be considered</em> <em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">accursed. They will build houses and dwell in them; they will plant vineyards and eat their fruit. No longer will they</em> <em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">build houses and others live in them, or plant and others eat. For as the days of a tree, so will be the days of my</em> <em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">people; my chosen ones will long enjoy the work of their hands. They will not labor in vain, nor will they bear children</em> <em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">doomed to misfortune; for they will be a people blessed by the Lord, they and their descendants with them.”</em></div>
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Isaiah 65:20-23</div>
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Mervielle (left) and Mama Goma in their garden picking cassava.</div>
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Mama Goma gave birth to baby Mervielle, French for “Marvel, or Wonder”, in 1999. At that time, the second civil war was just beginning to reach the Equateur region. A stormy evening that August, Mama Goma had been in labor for more than seven hours at home, because it was far too dangerous to venture out to the clinic amidst the fighting. After this long labor with no anesthesia, Mama Goma and her husband decided they had to call a nurse to come to help them in their home. They weren’t sure if Mama Goma or the baby were going to make it. The phone network was down, yet they called and called again to get through to the nurse. They finally reached him, Praise God! After explaining the emergency situation, the nurse gave all the advice he could over the phone before he broke the news – “I cannot come to your home, it is too dangerous for me to leave. God be with you.” This was their last hope. Mama Goma was sure that this would be the end of her, her baby, or them both. She prayed that God would spare their lives, and help them find a way out of this terrible mess.<span id="more-1953" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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By the grace of God and a sliver of hope, Mama Goma gave birth to a healthy baby girl that night, and her own life was spared. The answer to one prayer led to requests for many others. Fighting in their neighborhood increased and their family was forced to flee to the jungle, where they lived for six months without decent shelter, eating fruit and bugs to survive, and all the while caring for a newborn.</div>
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Fast forward 14 years later, Mervielle is one of the brightest kids in her neighborhood with potential of being a transformational leader in her community. She has been raised to value herself as a girl, and she knows that she is just as capable as the boys in her class. Her dream is to help orphaned children go to school and receive the education they deserve. Her community is peaceful now, and she has no memories of the time of war her family lived through.</div>
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Mervielle with her cousin Nelly behind their home in Gemena.</div>
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Hope was that August night. Hope is Mama Goma not giving up or abandoning her newborn child to save the rest of her children as they fled to the jungle. Hope is that ray of light that was barely visible in those months, where every mother in Gemena wondered if there could be any future for their children. And now after many years of peace, and life starting to come back to the area, hope continues to grow. Maybe, just maybe people in this community can see their children continue on to University. And hope beyond all hope, they might one day find a job and have financial security for themselves and their own families.</div>
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Let hope grow.</div>
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check this out on the CKC website too!: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-one/#more-1953">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/stories-of-hope-week-one/#more-1953</a></div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-41223026473272808522013-04-29T00:36:00.003-07:002013-04-29T00:36:13.622-07:00WASH Update<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Check this out on the CKC website too: <span style="background-color: transparent;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/an-update-on-wash/#more-1962">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/an-update-on-wash/#more-1962</a></span></span></h1>
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WASH Update</h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/an-update-on-wash/#respond" style="background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on WASH Update">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on April 1st, 2013 <br />Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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The World Vision WASH team at a capped water source in the Bokonzo neighborhood.</div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo</em></div>
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WASH is a World Vision program that works to provide communities with clean water, sanitation, and hygiene education. This is a priority for World Vision in Gemena because clean water and sanitation are the two biggest factors contributing to child mortality rates and the stunting of community development.</div>
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This week, we welcomed two World Vision visitors to Gemena: Emmanuel Opong, regional WASH director for Southern Africa Region, and Sandy Ngilambi, WASH manager DRC. They assessed our current water sources and assisted in the design of a WASH project plan to bring water to the 380,000 residents of Gemena.</div>
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I asked them a few questions at the end of two long days of water source site visits and project design.</div>
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<strong style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What new insights do you have after this WASH site visit?</strong></div>
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Our visit has given us a view of existing strengths and viability of pursuing other technologies in order to provide water to all. Our recommendations are now formed by facts on the ground. This is a bigger system than most other WASH programs. Our goal is to access enough clean water to serve 380,000 people in this peri-urban area.<span id="more-1962" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<strong style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">In what ways will World Vision address the issue of community ownership in relation to the work to improve water sources?</strong></div>
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Our community partners form foundational structures which we work within to map different types of water systems. Our goal is to leverage existing institutions instead of creating new structures.</div>
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<strong style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What will be unique features of the WASH program in Gemena?</strong></div>
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We will be utilizing multiple delivery systems and multiple technologies to respond to the needs of the community. Where geology allows us to dig a deep well, we will use that in order to provide 25 liters per person per day. We will also be utilizing springs and hand drilled wells at schools and health clinics. We will employ appropriate low-cost technology, always with the goal of supplementing and complimenting existing water structures.</div>
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Of course the sanitation/hygiene promotion component of this program is critical to bring change. If we can successfully co-create as we design water systems for Gemena, we will start to get people to think differently about water. Paying for water will be a new concept, but something that can be adopted as a cultural norm with sensitization and time. We will be using the church partners to educate about the importance of valuing clean water and using Biblical examples of communities valuing water.</div>
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<strong style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">What is most exciting to you about this particular program in Gemena?</strong></div>
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This is a big project with many opportunities.</div>
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Great work has already been done by the community partners. These are groups of people with talent and knowledge that we can already tap into, so we aren’t starting from scratch. Moving forward from the work that was done 30 years ago, we are responding to the emerging changes that are occurring. We need to make sure people are not held back by old ideas, but spring forward, considering present conditions and future needs of the community. We are now asking new questions, expecting new and creative responses. Some might believe it is impossible to bring water to 380,000 people where the infrastructure poses so many challenges, but World Vision has succeeded in this before, and they will succeed again here in Gemena.</div>
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The Northwest Region World Vision Office is determined, with the support of its partners to bring potable water to Gemena. Bringing water will bring new life, and this is exactly what we are bound and determined to see.</div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-90457252677177066062013-03-27T03:02:00.000-07:002013-03-27T03:02:26.710-07:00Expecting Change<br />
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Expecting Change</h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/expecting-change/#respond" style="background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on Expecting Change">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on March 6th, 2013 <br />Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poisonwood-Bible-Novel-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0060786507" style="border: none; color: #458fbc; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" class="alignleft wp-image-1710" height="315" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2013/03/imgthe-poisonwood-bible-a-novel3.jpg" style="border: none; display: inline; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px 7px 2px 0px; padding: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="209" /></a><em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo</em></div>
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I am reading “<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Poisonwood-Bible-Novel-Barbara-Kingsolver/dp/0060786507" style="border: none; color: #458fbc; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The Poisonwood Bible</a>” by Barbara Kingsolver again, now that I am living and experiencing the country she based her novel on. There are many aspects of the Congolese culture that her characters experience which I relate to. The following excerpt is from a fifteen year old American missionary kid reflecting on her relationship with a young Congolese boy:</div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“It struck me what a wide world of difference there was between our sort of games – “Mother May I?”, “Hide and Seek”, – and his: “Find Food”, “Recognize Poisonwood”, “Build a House.” And here was a boy no older than eight or nine. He had a younger sister who carried the family’s baby everywhere she went and hacked weeds with her mother in the manioc field. I could see the whole idea and business of Childhood was nothing guaranteed. It seemed to me, in fact, like something more or less invented by white people and stuck onto the front end of grown-up life like a frill on a dress.”</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em>- The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver</div>
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Childhood in the Congo has a different meaning, a different length, a different purpose. World Vision has the following “vision” for its work as an organization:</div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Our vision for every child, life in all its fullness; Our prayer for every heart, the will to make it so. <span id="more-1708" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em>What does a “life, or ‘childhood’ in all its fullness” entail? In Congo, it would be basic needs met, love and care at home, life with joy and not fear, and an opportunity for an education and brighter future. What is our own definition of a full childhood for our own children here in the United States? What is it that we provide for them that makes their lives full?</div>
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The main reasons most of us engage with Congolese children through sponsorship are probably because most of us see an injustice and want to help. But how do we expect our lives to be changed through this relationship? We should expect to be changed. Knowing the stories of Congolese children will impact how we interact with our own children. And it will make us question our priorities and remind of what is truly important, making us better parents and better human beings.</div>
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In my opinion, that’s the point.</div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-65403843107212923892013-03-21T04:23:00.001-07:002013-03-21T04:23:31.618-07:00A Visit from our Partners<br />
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<span class="post-comments" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/a-visit-from-our-partners/#respond" style="background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on A Visit from Our Partners">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on March 1st, 2013 <br />Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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Welcoming party for the World Vision staff.</div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo</em></div>
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This morning, eight visitors from World Vision US and World Vision International hopped on a MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) plane and said goodbye to Gemena after a packed three day visit. Among these visitors were the vice-president and senior vice-president of World Vision US as well as the directors of DR Congo and Southern Africa, and the director of Operations for International Programs to name a few. The buck stops with these folks at World Vision. They wanted to come to Gemena to see what everyone has been talking about.</div>
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The Evangelical Covenant Church and World Vision are breaking all previous molds by entering into this unprecedented partnership. All chips are in on this one.</div>
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Many of the visitors spent a night with registered families in mud homes, with no electricity, running water, beds, or even doors. They wanted to be able to report back to donors the reality on the ground, but we are well aware that we are not experiencing these families reality. We can go have a nice hot shower the next day, and fly home to our refrigerators and microwave ovens.<span id="more-1588" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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World Vision staffers meet with local leaders.</div>
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Before their send-off supper last night, the leadership shared these reflections from their visit:</div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are happy to see unity among the three church partners. What God has brought together no person can divide.”</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are amazed by the number of Christians here! There are communities where World Vision works where there is not a single church in existence. It is clear that God is already at work here in Gemena.”</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“God has called us to do something different here.”</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We must learn to listen to each other well. And we must think how we can make best use of this partnership.”</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“We are well aware that partnership is not always the easiest way. May God help us all to be faithful stewards of this process.”</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">“Instead of praying ‘God bless our work’, we should pray ‘God, show us your work so we can meet you there.”</em></div>
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The local staff was encouraged and strengthened by the visit, and reminded of the great responsibility that rests on their shoulders. The evening ended with a prayer that reminded us all that this is about making a future of hope for God’s precious children, whom He will not abandon to hunger, disease, and illiteracy.</div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-88540560662264551232013-03-11T02:07:00.003-07:002013-03-11T02:07:45.958-07:00A Cohesive Vision for the Future<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;">Check out these other posts on the CKC blog: </span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: small;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo</a></span></span></h1>
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A Cohesive Vision for the Future</h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/a-cohesive-vision-for-the-future/#respond" style="background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border: none; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 4px 0px 4px 18px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on A Cohesive Vision for the Future">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on February 20th, 2013 <br />Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo</em></div>
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<em style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></em>Every morning at the World Vision (WV) office we start our day with singing, devotionals, and a time to share prayer requests and check in on work that concerns the office as a whole. Often reports include updates on registered children who are sick or have had accidents and are in the hospital.</div>
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Last week, the news was particularly somber. In a neighborhood outside the city, it was reported that one of World Vision’s registered children, an 8 year old girl had been sexually abused by a man in the community.</div>
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All of us at the office were horrified at the news and immediate action was taken to follow up and support the victim and her family in this time of crisis. WV made certain the police had been contacted, lawyers called, and justice served in order to protect this child and the rest of the youth in the neighborhood.</div>
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As I processed this information along with the rest of the staff, this question was posed: What is World Vision’s role addressing these crises? For many on staff, they view the registered children as their own, and feel that it is the organization’s responsibility to look after these children like they would any person in their family. If the child is sick, make sure they get to the hospital. If the child is malnourished, encourage parents to vary their diet. If the child isn’t going to school, make sure fees are paid and uniforms are purchased to get that child back in class. If a child is abused, keep them away and safe from their abuser and provide necessary after-care.<span id="more-1549" style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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The ideal and reality are at times disparate. World Vision Gemena has over 12,000 children registered, and over 3,000 have thus far been sponsored. There are already hundreds of pressing needs reported, and it simply is not feasible to think that the World Vision staff of 25 people can meet these demands on their own.</div>
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Mother with children.</div>
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This past month, the leadership at the Gemena office have been discussing how World Vision can support the needs of these children in a way that is sustainable; not setting up community expectations that cannot be followed through for the long term. The World Vision volunteers have been named the first point of contact with communities and individual families. If the volunteers cannot provide the support needed, they report to the churches, one of the three partner organizations who will advocate for the children. World Vision can’t provide support on its own, nor should it. Including all stakeholders and partners as a part of addressing children’s needs is essential to moving towards a cohesive vision for the future well-being of Gemena and its youth.</div>
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The sponsored child’s perpetrator was caught and imprisoned and is now awaiting trial. Please pray for this 8 year old girl, and pray for the countless other non-registered children who suffer similar abuse, but their stories are never heard.</div>
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<small style="border: none; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 20th, 2013 and is filed under <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/ground-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Ground Update">Ground Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border: none; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a>.</small></div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-74735979093873173602013-02-18T01:51:00.007-08:002013-02-18T01:51:55.953-08:00Challenges of Transport<br />
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I found this transport map on BBC.com when I was doing some research on our country. We live in the Northwest Region in the major commercial center of Gemena. Astounding.</div>
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Inside DR Congo</div>
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<li id="state1" style="background-image: none; background-position: -1200px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="seventy" id="anchor-state1" style="background-color: #404040; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; float: left; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 70px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20586792#over1" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">SIZE</a></span></li>
<li id="state6" style="background-image: none; background-position: -1200px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="seventy" id="anchor-state6" style="background-color: #404040; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; float: left; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 70px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20586792#over6" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">REBELS</a></span></li>
<li id="state2" style="background-image: none; background-position: -1200px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="long" id="anchor-state2" style="background-color: #404040; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; float: left; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 138px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20586792#over2" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">MINERAL WEALTH</a></span></li>
<li id="state3" style="background-image: none; background-position: -1200px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="hundredthirty selected" id="anchor-state3" style="background-color: #d1700e; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; float: left; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 130px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20586792#over3" style="color: white; font-weight: bold; text-decoration: none;">TRANSPORT</a></span></li>
<li id="state4" style="background-image: none; background-position: -1200px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="hundredthirty" id="anchor-state4" style="background-color: #404040; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; float: left; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 130px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20586792#over4" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">POPULATION</a></span></li>
<li id="state5" style="background-image: none; background-position: -1200px 5px; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; cursor: pointer; float: left; font-size: 0.95em; line-height: 18px; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; text-rendering: auto;"><span class="seventy" id="anchor-state5" style="background-color: #404040; border-bottom-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-bottom-style: solid; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-style: solid; border-right-width: 1px; color: white; display: block; float: left; line-height: 16px; padding-bottom: 5px; padding-top: 3px; text-align: center; width: 70px;"><a href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-20586792#over5" style="color: white; text-decoration: none;">DATA</a></span></li>
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<img alt="transport map" height="582" src="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/special/world/africa/11/dr_congo/map/img/drcon_transport_624.gif" style="-webkit-user-select: none; border: 0px; font-style: italic; letter-spacing: 0px;" width="624" /><div style="background-color: #e7e7e7; font-family: Arial; font-size: 1em; line-height: 1em; padding: 10px 5px;">
Despite the country's size, transport infrastructure is very poor. Of 153,497km of roads, only 2,794km are paved. There are around 4,000 km of railways but much is narrow-gauge track and in poor condition. Waterways are vital to transport goods but journeys can take months to complete. Overcrowded boats frequently capsize, while DR Congo has more plane crashes than any other country.</div>
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-11156912917487559372013-02-14T06:27:00.002-08:002013-02-14T06:36:40.509-08:00Reclaiming "Ubuntu" in GemenaMy latest post on the Covenant Kids Congo blog: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/</a><br />
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<br />
A strange experience – when I left on the plane from Gemena to Kinshasa for my vacation in December I felt like a physical weight was lifted from me. When I returned to Gemena one week ago, it was very tangible, the weight I felt I was carrying again. This is the best way for me to describe life here – not that it is awful or hopeless, but simply heavy.<br />
<br />
<br />
People laugh and have a good time, they celebrate in church and at night outside their homes around the fire. There is reason to celebrate because they have the blessing of one another, a beautiful country, and of daily provision. Yet at the center of everyone’s thoughts, deeper than thoughts about daily life, people are thinking about their survival, and what the next day will bring. This way of thinking stems from the years of civil war that people in this region have lived through. This region has been politically and economically unstable since the civil war. This mentality influences everything – the way people relate to one another, the way they think about their future, and the way they take initiative for their own lives and work. Surviving is a heavy business. Your first thought is for yourself and your family. You will do anything to improve your situation, so your friends are people that could benefit you in some way. You shop at certain vegetable stands because you want to build relationships with the people who work there – one day you might be hungry and they will help you out if you have given them business in the past. You marry because it is a wise economic decision, not for love. Everyday decisions are different because you are in constant self-preservation mode.<br />
<br />
Because people make decisions with a survival mentality they cannot always be concerned about betterment of their community at large. Africa is globally known for its value of “Ubuntu” or, “I am because We are.” This sense of community may be at the heart of many African cultures, but in Gemena the instinct to survive is too strong. One can look out for their neighbor, but only up to a point.<br />
<br />
This survival mentality correlates directly with the poverty that people experience. To reclaim “Ubuntu” would be to move on from this state of survival to renew the heart of Congolese culture – it’s deeply rooted sense of community.<br />
<br />
World Vision is an international organization, but it is represented by a majority Congolese staff here in Gemena. The staff understand the survival mentality that exists here, and has helped WV to develop programs that address this issue first and foremost, recognizing that without liberation from this way of thinking, people will not take responsibility for their own and their communities sustainable development.<br />
<br />
We all have our work cut out for us. We will not see change overnight. Nor should we. The kind of value change that is necessary will take building of relationships, building of capacity, and a new generation of leaders to recognize the importance of an alternative way to respect and love themselves and their community.<br />
<br />
We move forward, one day at a time, trusting in God’s provision and grace for us and for the Congolese people that He loves so much.christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-72509502988690108572013-02-04T03:59:00.003-08:002013-02-04T03:59:44.989-08:00Collaboration: A Three Month Evaluation<h1>
<span style="font-size: small;">Check out my latest post on the Covenant Kids Congo Blog, also found at: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/collaboration-a-three-month-evaluation/#more-1495">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/collaboration-a-three-month-evaluation/#more-1495</a></span></h1>
<h1>
Collaboration: A Three Month Evaluation</h1>
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<span class="post-comments">
<a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/collaboration-a-three-month-evaluation/#respond" title="Comment on Collaboration: A Three Month Evaluation">Post a Comment »</a> </span>
Written on February 4th, 2013 <br />
Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a><br />
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<img alt="" class=" wp-image-1503" height="249" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2013/02/IMG_2032-1024x768.png" width="331" />
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Volunteers present their reports.</div>
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<em>Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo</em><br />
<br />
We arrived in a large white land cruiser with the orange and black
mark of World Vision on each side announcing our arrival. We took our
seats in plastic chairs near the back of the palm front covered meeting
area. Everyone else attending the meetings trickled in on foot, wiping
the day’s humidity from their brow with cloth designated for just that
purpose, greeting each other with “mbote’s” or “hello’s” smiles and
laughter. Those gathering for the meeting were the teams of volunteers
from the three churches that work in partnership with World Vision in
Gemena, Congo. The Evangelical Covenant Church, the Evangelical Free
Church, and the Catholic Church of Congo have formed teams of volunteers
responsible for the registration of over 10,000 children who will be
sponsored by donors across the US and Canada. These young people are
driven, capable, and the future leaders of their community.<br />
<br />
<br />
<span id="more-1495"></span><br />
Today, they gathered for a three month evaluation of their work so
far. They shared statistics they had gathered on numbers of registered
children in each neighborhood, how many children had already found
sponsors, and the challenges they faced in their work.<br />
Stanley, one of the program managers, asked what some of the lessons
learned had been in the past three months. One of my favorite responses
was from a Catholic Church volunteer: “We are learning the way of
collaboration. Among our team there is no king, but everyone has an
equal voice”. Collaboration is not always modus operandi in this
region. Collaboration could be revolutionary.<br />
<div class="wp-caption alignright" id="attachment_1498" style="width: 354px;">
<img alt="" class="wp-image-1498 " height="212" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2013/02/IMG_2045bw-1024x632.png" width="344" />
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Volunteers listening intently at the evaluation meeting<span style="font-size: x-small;"> "Among our team there is no king, everyone has</span> <span style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;">an equal voice.” Collaboration is not always modus operandi in this region. Collaboration could be revolutionary.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 19px;">When the group from the Covenant
Church of Congo (locally known as “CEUM”) came up front to report, their
group spokesperson started by sharing this:</span><em> Most of the CEUM
volunteers work in a neighborhood called Bokonzo. The spokesperson
shared with us that the meaning of the word “Bokonzo” is actually
“Capital”. The capital is where the people are organized to assist the
population in every sector. So the CEUM volunteers of Bokonzo view their
neighborhood as a “site d’assitance”. They are proud to be the leaders
of the community who are organizing to assist the rest of their city.</em><br />
<br />
The real groundwork has begun. Forming leaders who will change the
future of Gemena is an essential part of this program’s success. We
can’t wait to see what these young leaders are capable of accomplishing.<br />
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<small>
This entry was posted on Monday, February 4th, 2013 and is filed under <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>.
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christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-80593227694430181472013-01-30T02:25:00.000-08:002013-02-04T05:56:20.243-08:00Africa Expert?!In my new role working as liaison between the Covenant Church and World Vision, I wanted to share some thoughts about my role in communcations.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFXu358nsz_fiLvn5_34bmeGRtUgPUK1cMpiIGVKau4P01AklyfdvY5w53dBwQgEFJdEu26LXOFkMhpW1wcVCs-DWmX5QDOrWOfQnrTzJo6wjdeaTR81gQA3OYHz9E-yBknaAMLDRXtA/s1600/IMG_2096.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXFXu358nsz_fiLvn5_34bmeGRtUgPUK1cMpiIGVKau4P01AklyfdvY5w53dBwQgEFJdEu26LXOFkMhpW1wcVCs-DWmX5QDOrWOfQnrTzJo6wjdeaTR81gQA3OYHz9E-yBknaAMLDRXtA/s320/IMG_2096.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Dr. Mossai Sanguma, Director of World Vision Gemena</span></td></tr>
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Last night we celebrated the birthday of the Director of
World Vision in Equateur province, former Covenant Church of Congo President
Mossai Sanguma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some of you may know his
name, and some of you have met him during his time in the States studying at
North Park University and Fuller Theological Seminary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He has been a very influential leader in this
region and continues to occupy that role with his relatively new position in
World Vision.</div>
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We celebrated in his home, which is always full of people
and always full of food to share.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last
night was no different, and we enjoyed a spread of goat, fried fish, chicken,
rice in a mushroom sauce, and pineapple.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As we talked and laughed together, the topic turned toward the subject
of “experts” on Africa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I commented on
how interesting it was that reporters from some major news sources
labeled “Africa Experts” were Caucasian males from Europe or the States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Why does the world still, so often fail to give voice to African experts from Africa?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Sanguma shared frustrations about
meeting people or reading books written by people who claimed to be experts on
this region of Congo, but who had spent a total of two weeks here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the things I really respect about
Mossai is his willingness to challenge me in my assumptions about my role here
and about my foreign perspective of his culture.</div>
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And this made me reflect on my role as a correspondant
between the World Vision office and all of you churches and donors back in the
States.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a very delicate position
to be in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am not Congolese and I have
lived in Gemena not even a year, yet I am one of those reporting on World Vision’s
work and it’s interplay with people, organizations and culture here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So I want to set a disclaimer and say, I am no expert.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My goal is to give voice to what is happening
here, and though I know I will be biased, I can only pray that God uses my
words to communicate the true voice that needs to be heard from Gemena.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully, I work with a wonderful Congolese
staff who has agreed to review my work and tell me when I’m off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it is with their help and perspective that
we have the privilege to hear the Congolese World Vision story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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And I invite readers to ask questions, make critiques and
put in their two cents too.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Transparency, onward.</div>
christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-54970146586875299972012-11-29T09:42:00.003-08:002012-11-29T09:44:52.657-08:00Another CKC Update <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #757364;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;">Check out this story on the Covenant Kids Congo blog at: </span></span></h1>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #253345; letter-spacing: -2px; line-height: 44px;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/adolphines-story/">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/adolphines-story/</a></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #757364;"></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #757364;">
Adolphine’s Story</span></h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/adolphines-story/#respond" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on Adolphine’s Story">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on November 29th, 2012 <br />
Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/hope-sunday/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Hope Sunday">Hope Sunday</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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<em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Written by Christine Buettgen, short-term missionary in Democratic Repulic of Congo</em></div>
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Christine at the office working on her blog post.</div>
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Yesterday I went with one of the World Vision community volunteers, Karl, to meet a child that he helped to register for international sponsorship. Both Karl and I live in a neighborhood called Bokonzo, so he agreed that we could meet a child in that same neighborhood so we wouldn’t have to walk all the way across town. As we headed out in the blazing Congo sun, I asked if we would be walking very far. He assured me it would be a short walk.</div>
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One hour later, sweat dripping off my nose, my feet wet and muddy from trekking through the river, I realized that my own neighborhood extended far beyond my previous perception. It was fun to walk with Karl – kids would run out to the road to greet him, and he embraced them with joy and love. I asked who the kids were, and he said he had met most of them through the process of registering children for the World Vision sponsorship program. It’s not always common to see men be kind and playful with children in this culture, so I could see this was another benefit of World Vision’s sensitization for these young leaders.</div>
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A lot of time and energy has been invested in training these community volunteers. They not only have a big work to do in registering thousands of children to be sponsored, but they are learning how to take ownership of their community, to know them well, and to value even the poorest.</div>
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Congo struggles with a culture of classism, where the wealthier look down on the poorer, and a sense of hierarchy is seen everywhere from families to businesses to churches. These young community volunteers are encouraged to build relationships with even the least of these, and value them as neighbors and friends.<span id="more-1264" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-1268 " height="240" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2012/11/IMG_1637.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="320" /><br />
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Adolphine’s house.</div>
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With Karl we met Adolphine (name changed to protect identity) who is a World Vision kid, although she has not yet been matched with a sponsor. She is sweet and timid, and was shy to speak with me, a white, strange looking foreigner, but was quick to jump on Karl’s back, squealing with laughter. Her parents say that she is well-behaved and helps around the house as she is asked. They told us that the only time she misbehaves is when she comes home from school and there is no food to eat. I think all of us would be angry if we walked 3 kilometers in the midday sun after completing a day at school and we had had nothing to eat since the night before.</div>
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Adolphine lives next door to her cousins. 15 family members live in one house and 12 in the other. All three homes are mud structures with three small rooms inside each. Every family member sleeps on the dirt floor; there are no beds to be found.</div>
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Last year Adolphine lost one of her cousins to malaria and the other died as an newborn. They weren’t sure of the cause of the newborn’s death because they couldn’t pay hospital fees to determine the problem. Another of her cousins is visibly sick and malnourished. We asked what the problem was with her cousin, and it was explained that they simply have too many children (11) and cannot afford to feed them all with their meager garden and no opportunity for other work.</div>
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When I asked Karl what he thought of the visit, he said he was hopeful for Adolphine’s future. Her parents value education and are doing everything in their power to make sure all of their children attend school.</div>
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Please consider Adolphine and her family as you and your church pray about hosting a <a href="https://www.worldvision.org/forms.nsf/hope-sunday-event-kit?OpenForm&ce=2&campaign=2030951" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #458fbc; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Hope Sunday</a>for Covenant Kids Congo.</div>
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</span>christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-85510234691353891312012-11-24T02:24:00.000-08:002012-11-24T02:24:46.220-08:00Covenant Kids Congo UpdateCheck out my blog update on the Covenant Kids Congo blog page! First of many, be sure to follow CKC for their daily updates too: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/reflections-on-congo/">http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/reflections-on-congo/</a><br />
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Reflections on Congo</h1>
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<span class="post-comments" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/reflections-on-congo/#respond" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: url(http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/wp-content/themes/8303-blogs/images/comment.png); background-origin: initial; background-position: 0% 50%; background-repeat: no-repeat no-repeat; border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; float: right; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 18px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 4px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="Comment on Reflections on Congo">Post a Comment »</a></span>Written on November 20th, 2012 <br />
Filed under: <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/missionary-update/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in Missionary Update">Missionary Update</a>, <a href="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/category/uncategorized/" rel="category tag" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; color: #85b245; font-family: inherit; font-size: 11px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" title="View all posts in News & Updates">News & Updates</a></div>
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<em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Below is a blog written by Christine Buettgen who currently serves </em><em style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">as a short-term missionary in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). Working with community development programs to support marginalized women in the northwest region of the DRC, she recently completed her M.A. in International Development. Christine has also completed training in tropical agricultural development at Educational Concern for Hunger Organization (ECHO) as well as a course through Community Health Evangelism (CHE). She is a member of Winnetka Covenant Church in Wilmette, IL. Christine will continue writing blogs for us in the future; keeping us up to date on the situation in DRC.</em></div>
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<img alt="" class=" wp-image-1255" height="310" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2012/11/Buettgen-Christine.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="242" /><br />
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Christine Buettgen</div>
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The Congolese people struggle daily to meet their immediate needs. Everyday I am approached by people who don’t have enough to eat, who have only one set of clothing, or have no idea where they will find money this month to pay their kid’s school fees. These are people who are so focused on day to day survival that things like good education and clean water are issues they are often too tired and preoccupied to fight for. This is the reality of life for the average person in Gemena, DR Congo.</div>
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As a foreigner being challenged by all these immediate needs, it would be easy to spend the entirety of my time here giving money away to meet each and every request I am confronted with. But our church has been a presence in this country for 75 years, and it seems important that I honor that work that has been done here by carrying it on in ways that transform Congo, even as I am transformed by the experience.<span id="more-1243" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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The Covenant missionaries and the staff of World Vision Congo are working hard to put together programs that will empower, train, and build capacity. We believe that facilitating learning that empowers and strengthens the community will leave a sustainable legacy of strong leadership and development. Let me give you an example.</div>
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<img alt="" class="wp-image-1256 alignleft" height="288" src="http://blogs.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/files/2012/11/IMG_06732.png" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-right-style: none; border-top-style: none; border-width: initial; border-width: initial; display: inline; float: left; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; margin-bottom: 2px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 7px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 4px; padding-left: 4px; padding-right: 4px; padding-top: 4px; vertical-align: baseline;" width="384" />I attended one of the meetings that World Vision Director Bob Kisyula held when he was in Gemena a few weeks ago. He had called leaders from all of the different World Vision community partners to come together and learn more about their partnership model. The training showed the importance of community ownership, and shared statistics on the state of the Congolese economy in comparison to other areas of the world. One point Bob shared that was particularly striking was that the DRC has the land and growing potential to feed the entire world. So, he asked community leaders, why is it that we are having trouble feeding ourselves when all the resources we need are in our hands?</div>
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We hope that by asking these critical questions, patterns of thinking about the state of poverty in this region will begin to change.</div>
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Pray for the growth of these seeds of change being planted in the minds and hearts of the Congolese people.</div>
</div>
christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-69126662741399993092012-11-12T03:48:00.002-08:002012-11-12T03:48:36.813-08:00Francine
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<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tjDV0jm2yoh_8-N_7sMeZE0LZ1tjG8HMFer3JMVJEpBtijk2v5EgJt0wHOKKO2QNzkhUDBi9NAaJNIG4YieWMWoWf4QOxsFIuCl6BG43CD6BBg9GJ3zMqvNYnh4v_kH8H76bAL0Yvkw/s1600/IMG_1408.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tjDV0jm2yoh_8-N_7sMeZE0LZ1tjG8HMFer3JMVJEpBtijk2v5EgJt0wHOKKO2QNzkhUDBi9NAaJNIG4YieWMWoWf4QOxsFIuCl6BG43CD6BBg9GJ3zMqvNYnh4v_kH8H76bAL0Yvkw/s320/IMG_1408.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Today was disconcerting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I woke up running through in my mind how I would speak to a group of
women in Congo about how to improve their micro-businesses.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Other thoughts were running too, I was fuming about an email
I received earlier this week. After three days, one minor comment a co-worker made
kept ringing in my head and making my heart sour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So, with that comment on my mind, I went to my women’s
meeting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The meeting itself went well,
there was open sharing and building of community, essential to formation of self-help
groups that can work and save to provide an economic safety net together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
But, I noticed Francine (not her real name) hadn’t come to
the meeting today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She had stood out to
me from our first Wednesday morning meeting, because she was a prayer warrior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Her solution for every problem that came up
was always to be on her knees in prayer, day and night, and to not forget the
power that each of us had through the Spirit in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I remembered her because of her hopeful
spirit, because she inspired me to take my faith deeper.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I assumed she didn’t come to the meeting because she had too
much work at the house, in her garden, or a family member was sick in the
hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Those are some of the regular
reasons that keep women from showing up to meetings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But at the end of our morning session, it was
shared that Francine herself was in the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What for? we asked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Last week her husband beat her so badly she
could barely walk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My heart sank into
the pit of my stomach.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I didn’t know. I
didn’t know the burden that she carried with her everywhere she went.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I insisted that we go visit her in the health
clinic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We walked in the blazing sun, and through the sweat of my
furrowed brow I tried to think of what I would say to my friend, when I knew
all of my normal American advice would be less that helpful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>“ You leave that son of a bitch. You don’t
deserve this behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Do what’s right
for yourself and for your kids.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
that wouldn’t work here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being married
is your social key to survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If a
woman wanted a divorce, especially someone like Francine, without a high school
education and another job to support herself, she is chained to her
marriage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Leaving her husband would be
social suicide.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And in Congo, social
ties are everything, the key to survival.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So her choices are to stay with an abusive and devaluing husband, or be
excommunicated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh God, help her. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We reached the health clinic, but they informed us that Francine
had already gone home.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She lives in a
mud home not far from the clinic, so we hurried on to see her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She tried to smile as we approached, and was
quick to find us chairs so we could sit and be comfortable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I shared a broken bamboo chair with Francine
as she settled in to tell us her tale of woe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Her face was downcast, but I could see, her spirit was not broken.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She told us what had happened the Sunday
before – her family had two guests staying for the evening, and Francine was
responsible for feeding and taking care of the guests, which is a typical role
for Congolese women.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cooking and
cleaning literally take all day, so Francine was exhausted, and had had little
time for herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Finally, when the meal
was finished and the visitors were relaxing with a cup of coffee outside the
house, Francine decided to bathe before going to bed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she was bent over to wash her feet she
felt something come down hard on her lower back “WHACK!!”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gasped for the air that had been knocked
out of her lungs and tried to turn around to see what happened – her husband
continued to hit her, screaming that she should not be outside the house with
the visitors, that she was being unfaithful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Francine fought to get out of his grasp and yelled for help, and
eventually the neighbors stepped in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But
damage had already been done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francine
told us through a quiet yet hard voice that she needed to leave, because he
could have hit her on the head and she would be dead already. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francine has a difficult
decision.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She could go to her family,
over 400km away for refuge because the community recognizes that her husband is
a mean drunk that is not changing his abusive behavior.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But if she does that, her husbands family has
the right to her three children, and they will not be able to go with her to
Bumba, her hometown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is likely that Francine
will decide to stay with her husband and continue to endure beatings for fear
of losing her children.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There is no abuse hotline to call here, no functioning
policing system.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francine will rely on
the council of her neighbors, church and extended family members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And she is not broken, because she has a
faith stronger than mine – she knows her God has a plan for her life and that
he would not let her suffer for nothing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When you look into Francine’s eyes, she sees beyond pain and abuse – she
sees the light that she has been invited to claim, and she is reaching, always
reaching for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I thought back to the email that had made me so angry
earlier that week. I was all up in arms about a small comment that was made
about me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have the privilege of being
angry, and being able to safely voice my opposition when I feel I’ve been
wrongly judged.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Francine doesn’t have
that privilege, and is forced to live in fear for herself and her children, but
continues to trust that God will make a way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>My worries suddenly seem so small and silly.<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Pray with me for Francine, and the millions of women just
like her in Congo and around the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-39823568793236359482012-10-29T04:29:00.001-07:002012-10-29T04:29:12.089-07:00harvest dinner and women's micro business trainingJust had a wonderful chat with my WCC family at their Harvest Dinner last night. Despite technological challenges, I was able to be heard! Thanks so much to Dad, Mom, Jeff, Bernie, Greta, Terese and everyone else who helped collaborate to make it happen!<br />
<br />
I shared about a class we started in basic bookkeeping for a women's group here in Gemena, so I here are some photos of the class. These ladies have been a blessing to me, and so willing to learn something new!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYofKyBUew40dLRK-bUhfxcWrTO5LfEtKEGYLo2zdbRIXo8l3WxUtcbc8uouEOI2hBAROwCH9vGPLpI8us-X7UpO6kcWNSmeek532X535WiRjvjXSUc3-jMRZuYgTBfdYk1gf_Y94SL8/s1600/IMG_1435.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqYofKyBUew40dLRK-bUhfxcWrTO5LfEtKEGYLo2zdbRIXo8l3WxUtcbc8uouEOI2hBAROwCH9vGPLpI8us-X7UpO6kcWNSmeek532X535WiRjvjXSUc3-jMRZuYgTBfdYk1gf_Y94SL8/s320/IMG_1435.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Drama depicting good business practices, i.e. keeping organized records of sales. The ladies liked their drama so much at class that they decided to perform it for their church the following Sunday!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmvDbqRUMDHx-2CjLo2as662IYJDidUqCIkyZHbaDxftohVZBDWHTT_g4ky-Q0-tF2efUo9JhykHQG4FqKxwYJJAnUA6DQy3RqGxUY9yvffOe7jo-2cZujt6vZ9CS0Z2xKkN-mczxRcA/s1600/IMG_1461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmvDbqRUMDHx-2CjLo2as662IYJDidUqCIkyZHbaDxftohVZBDWHTT_g4ky-Q0-tF2efUo9JhykHQG4FqKxwYJJAnUA6DQy3RqGxUY9yvffOe7jo-2cZujt6vZ9CS0Z2xKkN-mczxRcA/s320/IMG_1461.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Here's our practice "checkbook". We use plus and minus signs for debit and credit to help our illiterate group members. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MzMu7d5pQvVRL39D4SLWcjw6Rmlz3TMPP4o97bQ9_SdDOKKgo6ks4bf0Wo6FdTecDaqlKHypkxFSzlRfv-JqbNK7eYMDzsHjOOxfTaGUy4GAJi6hKATMiHbs2KFlNcDNG47DyY9uT78/s1600/IMG_1462.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5MzMu7d5pQvVRL39D4SLWcjw6Rmlz3TMPP4o97bQ9_SdDOKKgo6ks4bf0Wo6FdTecDaqlKHypkxFSzlRfv-JqbNK7eYMDzsHjOOxfTaGUy4GAJi6hKATMiHbs2KFlNcDNG47DyY9uT78/s320/IMG_1462.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">This woman is writing "kosomba", "to sell" for the very first time in her life! I think starting up women's literacy classes might be the next endeavor.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vHqBp52KQ9pLoshzYok4_BTJsDnRlJD5Zm2_mMd23cu1dy1qNHFG3_Mf1uBN9AEg-2CHzXKVYZaXWJnra8R3PuQbk-2OKjh_tCS2RILRTCOOaR1bN-BBo8bsN-zL425sObAcYfhawNs/s1600/IMG_1464.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3vHqBp52KQ9pLoshzYok4_BTJsDnRlJD5Zm2_mMd23cu1dy1qNHFG3_Mf1uBN9AEg-2CHzXKVYZaXWJnra8R3PuQbk-2OKjh_tCS2RILRTCOOaR1bN-BBo8bsN-zL425sObAcYfhawNs/s320/IMG_1464.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Our checkbook, complete with symbols to represent purchases and items sold, although it's hard to see in this picture. Every woman received a notebook and pen to practice this week, and we'll come back next week to see how everyone did keeping track of their finances.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<br />christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-70725313477716072262012-10-03T13:44:00.000-07:002012-10-03T13:44:00.511-07:00reflections on chaos<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<br />
The
defining factor of my life as of late is living in the present because the future
is so completely unknown.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This way of
life is counter North American culture, and I think a lot of my US friends
would feel very uncomfortable with the unpredictable, day to day mentality of
living.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes I hate it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I spend time and energy to plan a
seminar, and no one comes because of a rainstorm I get frustrated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I understand why – lightning storms here are
more frequent and deadly than anywhere in the world – so I stay home too – but it
messes up my plans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I guess it’s about
control.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the States, I more or less
had control over many day to day circumstances – what time I got up, what food
I ate, what I wore, how I got to work, and where I spent my free time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have some control over these decisions here
in Congo, but it is much more restricted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I get up when I hear the kids talking and playing right outside my door
at 5:45am.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I eat what’s available –
that’s generally greens, beans, rice and fruit. I am trying to wear pants to
break the norm, but the reality is that it is more socially acceptable for me
to wear long skirts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it gets
old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I walk or take a motorcycle on
roads ruined by erosion to wherever I need to be, if the roads are passable
that day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My choices for free time are
pretty limited - I went to a restaurant the other night that had only roasted
goat meat on the menu.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Actually, there
wasn’t a menu either, you just have to ask for what you want.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s the only restaurant in town.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Even my
job seems to be constantly changing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
start projects, something else more urgent comes up, and the entire department
shifts their focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Planning ahead
doesn’t happen naturally and I am consistently preaching the importance of
gantt charts and timelines, yet often to no avail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I am learning day by day to find calm within
the chaos, and to truly understand how life works here.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
realize too, that I’m describing chaos how I define it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My Congolese friends would probably be
overwhelmed at the fast pace of life in the States, the cutthroat corporate
environment, the high value of perfectionism at almost any cost.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That could be the epitomy of chaos for many
of the people I know from the Global South.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s about perspective.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyday
I have to remind myself to look through another pair of lenses to gain insight
on a different point of view. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And, <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">I
hope</b>, I am becoming better for it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-45674069488405701942012-08-27T04:50:00.000-07:002012-08-27T04:50:17.157-07:0075th Anniversary Celebration
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
days are running.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We just finished with
the 75<sup>th</sup> Anniversary celebration of the Covenant Church in Congo,
and it was an epic event – two days of 8 hour long church services?! President
Gary Walter said it well:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">“I’ve
heard Alaskans talk with pride about how if Alaska was cut in half, Texas would
still be the third largest state, not the second.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the church service we had today, if
it was cut in half, it would still be the two longest services I have ever
attended.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CZpdgxfKV9GQgSd2aAtfbjb3TjkIUJ2ZY9j-Ir_PrUeyqPRSNhp-Qpb9QUrr9zM1XMhLpjKX19jCUyE5StA01rjn4bQB6LwR7Qh6sn86xpmi0GIkuecom554ZuV-55U_frPNtvRevck/s1600/IMG_1149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1CZpdgxfKV9GQgSd2aAtfbjb3TjkIUJ2ZY9j-Ir_PrUeyqPRSNhp-Qpb9QUrr9zM1XMhLpjKX19jCUyE5StA01rjn4bQB6LwR7Qh6sn86xpmi0GIkuecom554ZuV-55U_frPNtvRevck/s320/IMG_1149.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Opening ceremonies, complete with a salute from the Congolese military.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">True
statement. Despite long days, it was a blessing to revisit the united history
of the ECC and CEUM in Congo, look at where we have come from, learn from
successes and mistakes, and map a new pathway forward for the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There
were around 25 foreigners present at the celebrations, mostly Americans, and representatives
from Canada, South Sudan, Kenya, Central African Republic and Congo-
Brazzaville.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The celebration highlighted
the diversity of the church through Mbaka, Mbandi and Pygmie cultural programs
and songs in French, English,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lingala,
Swahili, Mbaka, Mbandi and more! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3u8n9q4VrMwOMCWPMIgw3_tLNFaWzcHpojuk74zlIlfbhnmqnTaS5i45DPYGKQflm1n9EzNacKa0x740iJcVwqAxkRRRXlUBbniX21R8DTmLajtDhy1Q-8_S-WIRtZdpiKnVfZZscCU/s1600/IMG_1190.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE3u8n9q4VrMwOMCWPMIgw3_tLNFaWzcHpojuk74zlIlfbhnmqnTaS5i45DPYGKQflm1n9EzNacKa0x740iJcVwqAxkRRRXlUBbniX21R8DTmLajtDhy1Q-8_S-WIRtZdpiKnVfZZscCU/s320/IMG_1190.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Foreigners! Mostly representing past and current missionaries to the Congo and current Covenant offices reps. It was great to be together to reflect and learn.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I was
encouraged by the celebration of different cultures represented, and also by
the time given to women to talk about their role in the church.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Pastor Esther and Reverend Kikwiti encouraged
women of the church to take their place and to take up roles of leadership in
their homes, communities and churches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When women’s rights were discussed there was still snickering in the
crowd, a reminder that we have a long way yet to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But with our first three ordained women’s
pastors in the CEUM, they have blazed the trail for young women leaders who
will come after them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvE0DcBbdxhowPXMrxnpvBW-vwAFNjboUTU195RgT0YKqoABGyjZixzmx791AhV2Sypw7tT5uQ9EfVTgiu4qsLihSW92ZWRuIWTaX8RaUyUGgUbzm3TizsDBSGlYgUNxpvaRVhhv8raU/s1600/IMG_1152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUvE0DcBbdxhowPXMrxnpvBW-vwAFNjboUTU195RgT0YKqoABGyjZixzmx791AhV2Sypw7tT5uQ9EfVTgiu4qsLihSW92ZWRuIWTaX8RaUyUGgUbzm3TizsDBSGlYgUNxpvaRVhhv8raU/s320/IMG_1152.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The pygmie group travelled hundreds of miles by bike to be here for the celebration. They had previously been an excluded and marginalized people group in this region, so it was great to see them have a special time of prayer and recognition during the ceremonies.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-_Nl1yaJVG8BQOWeXnXPwex712aKr8uF5Y9gUlxvjJ4MwN7fhCFyjXmZ8lyfRSL4K0wY0WQs-DSHX1ikNxcZ-bgLLpUndj2fTXj07gbTy0JU0OsXEiikfvXKvIVTpU4SRByo_C8I0Qs/s1600/IMG_1168.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-_Nl1yaJVG8BQOWeXnXPwex712aKr8uF5Y9gUlxvjJ4MwN7fhCFyjXmZ8lyfRSL4K0wY0WQs-DSHX1ikNxcZ-bgLLpUndj2fTXj07gbTy0JU0OsXEiikfvXKvIVTpU4SRByo_C8I0Qs/s320/IMG_1168.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cultural programs celebrated mbaka culture of the past - people are not wearing grass clothing and body paint today. The group in white are the "majorettes" and dance beautifully! The group includes girls age 7-11.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Jg8ZKCYYk5u1KaY1GZKLMai9Jw6oauJ3HD7msVeEZwqaWMEjIp4jQMb1PM0agFu55nN-jU9qCzmspQupkdLqtach5gGOryjJQ_eVDt8ixL4WWtxV62rFCi7vh2FO_PsQb3ATYTs6Ing/s1600/IMG_1141.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="318" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-Jg8ZKCYYk5u1KaY1GZKLMai9Jw6oauJ3HD7msVeEZwqaWMEjIp4jQMb1PM0agFu55nN-jU9qCzmspQupkdLqtach5gGOryjJQ_eVDt8ixL4WWtxV62rFCi7vh2FO_PsQb3ATYTs6Ing/s320/IMG_1141.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">To my left are Rev. Kikwiti and Rev. Kanda, two of the CEUM's ordained women pastors. They are my friends, co-workers and co-visionaries for our collective work with women's ministry and development.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Today,
I went to the field bordering the new girls school with Rev. Mama Kanda (one of
the 3 ordained women pastors) and we prepared the land to plant peanuts and
corn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We are experimenting with a method
called “Foundations for Farming” using principles of sustainable agriculture to
double corn yields. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once we see the
method working well, we will have the girls in the community learn and share
this new technique that will help feed this community where malnutrition is one
of the major battles the Congolese face everyday.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">A miraculous expectation, that </span>we find a hope for our future in a seed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetBOMJVB7LwfgbkpSyZPh-5TDUrKmTVzAucJwrpb0NEN37e0f2PWVE5qdy3wZKzIhashuFYRFvVtTzSHOv_1rO15L4YsiTfYdbbwM4gW5qgC0IfEg92P0voxyBqEQtEW6EOv8R3fcNYM/s1600/IMG_1290.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhetBOMJVB7LwfgbkpSyZPh-5TDUrKmTVzAucJwrpb0NEN37e0f2PWVE5qdy3wZKzIhashuFYRFvVtTzSHOv_1rO15L4YsiTfYdbbwM4gW5qgC0IfEg92P0voxyBqEQtEW6EOv8R3fcNYM/s320/IMG_1290.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></td></tr>
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<!--EndFragment-->christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-45343307055329077592012-06-27T01:44:00.000-07:002012-06-27T01:44:24.434-07:00the essentials<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFW1i6zc8TkhkX3wXKaLLbnrPq_20IESuDwrKyqJyIi21Vrm0xC6a3KCm16pqdnca3h1GcUCYr7rEUfltWv6hgWXcZ7g2eRHktxsyAWpSNa3qtts0WSrvQ_PpxMZMEOfFwxnUjzds6jk/s1600/IMG_0919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdFW1i6zc8TkhkX3wXKaLLbnrPq_20IESuDwrKyqJyIi21Vrm0xC6a3KCm16pqdnca3h1GcUCYr7rEUfltWv6hgWXcZ7g2eRHktxsyAWpSNa3qtts0WSrvQ_PpxMZMEOfFwxnUjzds6jk/s320/IMG_0919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">my neighbor's place</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<br />
Living in rural Congo means that I have a lot more time to read, or rather just less distractions. I just finished the book "What is the What" by Dave Eggers (suggested to me by Claire Nelson!) and it was incredibly insightful to find parallels to experiences of the main character, Achak, a Lost Boy from Sudan, and my life here in Congo. Of course there are many things I cannot relate to at all - running as a refugee day and night with hardly any food or water, eating bugs to survive, risking attacks by lions and crocodiles. My life is not nearly that frightening. But I do relate to Achak's experience in a small African town before the war, the simplicity of day to day life that made him happy, the need for family and dependance on friends for every day needs. He describes the night being blacker than black, and without electricity I don't think I have ever been in such a dark place (except for the depths of the caves in Torotoro with Matt and Elsa Johnson in Bolivia!) This part of Congo truly feels off the beaten path, and it is changing me, and re-focusing my life priorities, again. Perhaps that is what has always drawn me back to this continent. There is always emphasis on the essential, because there is no time or opportunity to distract ourselves with things that don't matter as much. Here, it all comes down to food, shelter, God, family, community, music and dance. <br />
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Achak is relocated to Atlanta, GA after 10 years surviving a refugee camp. He reflects on the way the extreme wealth of the United States has both a positive and negative impact on the Sudanese refugee community. There is violence, depression and unrest among the refugees because they struggle to find happiness in their new home, because cultural values differ so greatly from their own. <br />
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When I read news from home, I am struck at how difficult it is to remove ourselves from the non-essentials. Our culture dictates that we be non-stop people, and that there is little value in turning out the lights, listening to the chorus of cicadas at night and reflecting on creation around us. Achak, and my African friends here in Congo have an inherent sense of the importance of making time for these simple moments.<br />
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<b>And sometimes, it takes a more radical move to rediscover the essentials.</b>christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-82156883885530142592012-06-18T01:28:00.000-07:002012-06-18T01:28:08.777-07:00Gemena to Karawa and Tropical FruitMoved to Karawa, DRC. Pics from the transition to my new home (for now) and my visit to the farm at Kanana where team member Paul Noren is drying mangosteen fruit as an income generation project to support CEUM development, and a pic of me and my Karawa housemate, Marta Klein, who is a nurse at the hospital here.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDAbEdzhCeAsqgpPbNiXmukiGLV-O5xZ0D2qJUM_NZ_is0mtJHaC8fg-Iq-hyKFDS-tBFGgyPrRYfmY-sphfEcaDDq9ouyw2cthFqulqo4W_b9NOqqQCXI7tgWfBROapGH-4J2yHmg6A/s1600/IMG_0906.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHDAbEdzhCeAsqgpPbNiXmukiGLV-O5xZ0D2qJUM_NZ_is0mtJHaC8fg-Iq-hyKFDS-tBFGgyPrRYfmY-sphfEcaDDq9ouyw2cthFqulqo4W_b9NOqqQCXI7tgWfBROapGH-4J2yHmg6A/s320/IMG_0906.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Saying good-bye to the Goma family in Gemena. I had a wonderful time living with them! Merveille, 13, did my hair as a parting gift. Loved it!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mama Kikwiti, my tutor, colleague and friend with her daughter Fedora (right) and niece Deborah (left). These are my first friends in Congo, and I will miss not seeing them everyday.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoH-J6r5v3-YbWeqCS2guoaVBysCzp8y6xIVg9w3dkdWjlL10E2qogKpBv6dkVdTv8djdSdESp2iPt_iE0_nqGMuU0WL6CE88Btn-BANeee_L_Z1KbUdJeEeGI3AZX7pSGHyQKSUFqMc/s1600/IMG_0977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicoH-J6r5v3-YbWeqCS2guoaVBysCzp8y6xIVg9w3dkdWjlL10E2qogKpBv6dkVdTv8djdSdESp2iPt_iE0_nqGMuU0WL6CE88Btn-BANeee_L_Z1KbUdJeEeGI3AZX7pSGHyQKSUFqMc/s320/IMG_0977.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My new home in Karawa, a 2 hour drive from Gemena. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PSYzzlFyGTb_cSUxz0ZUIC0xz1EN1XAz8DgfaOVL_IMTrcNTRRkT_6o2VzrQszEsGmiEAUUhWHuYatk-iCuMCV82caiyJ4-SF205_HrQvbNgAorwMftLa_D2nslONmxPPTMot627J9U/s1600/IMG_0975.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PSYzzlFyGTb_cSUxz0ZUIC0xz1EN1XAz8DgfaOVL_IMTrcNTRRkT_6o2VzrQszEsGmiEAUUhWHuYatk-iCuMCV82caiyJ4-SF205_HrQvbNgAorwMftLa_D2nslONmxPPTMot627J9U/s320/IMG_0975.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My street.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx7chbgJ7suON4s44knulVVFccq4lXN1yXZrA69BeBlKu3a9HwRutsgiUFyq2lkLQgJw7IJmKP2AyChKJefoQzzinRnD1fTXsNKSRH_17p203qcFWEGt2ENRf3igMiV822zEc3VRURpM/s1600/IMG_0960.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgx7chbgJ7suON4s44knulVVFccq4lXN1yXZrA69BeBlKu3a9HwRutsgiUFyq2lkLQgJw7IJmKP2AyChKJefoQzzinRnD1fTXsNKSRH_17p203qcFWEGt2ENRf3igMiV822zEc3VRURpM/s320/IMG_0960.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My running path. I have to go at about 5:30am to beat the heat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmL5tSwy4Ncfg-lYhaPwUTkRLU_P_A5eGJbu987qMb2wNd162Hs-gEBzNh5yhpyZe65mZt1QXHOGZvYu28otlH4yjgJigplyhdOBdGsSQrKk5dMTw_CIuVyh20OPVuT-t41SW_pjd-8w/s1600/IMG_0965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqmL5tSwy4Ncfg-lYhaPwUTkRLU_P_A5eGJbu987qMb2wNd162Hs-gEBzNh5yhpyZe65mZt1QXHOGZvYu28otlH4yjgJigplyhdOBdGsSQrKk5dMTw_CIuVyh20OPVuT-t41SW_pjd-8w/s320/IMG_0965.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The end of my running route, the air strip in Karawa. The beauty of this area is stunning, pictures don't do it justice!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9ihET8jXx06OJaxsnpD0K6041249FbAW2714DakySbYcPv4txnjubikHg2VhK-KZfbFY0ssx4bLtHLAGRggjTVQQqNsWRQBnNF94M1HCCtKbhwy3ffudHbImRhmN9bKVn5Ij9vDmyiI/s1600/IMG_0931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB9ihET8jXx06OJaxsnpD0K6041249FbAW2714DakySbYcPv4txnjubikHg2VhK-KZfbFY0ssx4bLtHLAGRggjTVQQqNsWRQBnNF94M1HCCtKbhwy3ffudHbImRhmN9bKVn5Ij9vDmyiI/s320/IMG_0931.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I went to Kanana Farm with Paul Noren, my co-worker who has decades of experience with agricultural development here in Congo. This fruit is a variety of durian, one that Paul introduced. The taste is good, but texture is a bit slimy for me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNJqXozV2jN7yXvJimSoNits_hYmnsYtZtNwldcSQSrSgjKr86VUWPclWYNUtNeegU1dw9fXLA_1hFkjBllZG7uE6hbj4vSGR_0xAkgZU1lcNNyKi7whCsVN4A9U-L0FYefyo-ZLrPls/s1600/IMG_0936.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNNJqXozV2jN7yXvJimSoNits_hYmnsYtZtNwldcSQSrSgjKr86VUWPclWYNUtNeegU1dw9fXLA_1hFkjBllZG7uE6hbj4vSGR_0xAkgZU1lcNNyKi7whCsVN4A9U-L0FYefyo-ZLrPls/s320/IMG_0936.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Cactus fruit. That's right, cactus in the rainforest! The fruit is fresh and crisp with little black edible seeds. Yum!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DIjQTwLkiADE9_PyU8cMBtawj5KqljmjBVSjxkgTxOlZxR9dq1W-0NnXAspoWluCIS2flgPS3R34Yzvm70AXWaB8rqRdWBUkZKG2r5JzzLhaPLBSAYFtRgMg3XK8rwHvt_JXxlQIkAY/s1600/IMG_0949.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6DIjQTwLkiADE9_PyU8cMBtawj5KqljmjBVSjxkgTxOlZxR9dq1W-0NnXAspoWluCIS2flgPS3R34Yzvm70AXWaB8rqRdWBUkZKG2r5JzzLhaPLBSAYFtRgMg3XK8rwHvt_JXxlQIkAY/s320/IMG_0949.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Mangosteens are one of my new favorites. They have about five sections per fruit and is sweet with the perfect amount of tangy.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKZ0cV8ayMhLYnxRljNHzDC6DJ0HhWM5IQhdb9WQddvCrqfluLxaw_9KVhnCmfSmiJ6i7v8DEcz4Sjr3D5nJKjyalE57rJ0sZTmOyQTDILVu-ABTlxSvfdJjDhS0FHE55t2L-GJ1EB2I/s1600/IMG_0926.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVKZ0cV8ayMhLYnxRljNHzDC6DJ0HhWM5IQhdb9WQddvCrqfluLxaw_9KVhnCmfSmiJ6i7v8DEcz4Sjr3D5nJKjyalE57rJ0sZTmOyQTDILVu-ABTlxSvfdJjDhS0FHE55t2L-GJ1EB2I/s320/IMG_0926.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Paul built a fruit dryer and we will be selling dried fruit in Yaounde and for the 75th anniversary celebration coming up in August.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorpX0W7_daelg1Ig491pq6HnCF1roaoc0_FElkIWGWuzn_vAml82ZjguGi4p_BdlC2vrbvjD1cvIs09jgHw_Ep0PzmYxllZ5fbYAGiqtMTZYT5yzIqpGrvw9P1_7mBbkAhAljgMkLThE/s1600/IMG_0938.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhorpX0W7_daelg1Ig491pq6HnCF1roaoc0_FElkIWGWuzn_vAml82ZjguGi4p_BdlC2vrbvjD1cvIs09jgHw_Ep0PzmYxllZ5fbYAGiqtMTZYT5yzIqpGrvw9P1_7mBbkAhAljgMkLThE/s320/IMG_0938.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I will bring some of this home with me when I come back. It would be great in trail mix or as a snack by itself!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sr-IJG3hX5ABHEt6Kz8-tSwDKK3-0E5sfIfvKD1ESzqyW_Knde6gu79ej2oOeHYrs2nukG9VJsr71gUYuTEZ8kKSuElXQuLT2K2hPC0YspophkGP4f35sAZH7yACBAkY_T0AP6MfU-U/s1600/IMG_0915.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sr-IJG3hX5ABHEt6Kz8-tSwDKK3-0E5sfIfvKD1ESzqyW_Knde6gu79ej2oOeHYrs2nukG9VJsr71gUYuTEZ8kKSuElXQuLT2K2hPC0YspophkGP4f35sAZH7yACBAkY_T0AP6MfU-U/s320/IMG_0915.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Thought I should add a picture of me with my new housemate Marta (left) as we say goodbye to Free church missionary Sarah and her baby Hannah. Making friends in every new town! And if you're curious, my hair only lasted 2 days like that. It gets too itchy.</span></td></tr>
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<br />christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3853191363893115415.post-70117432242706915762012-06-13T07:40:00.001-07:002012-06-13T07:43:44.146-07:00Congo Kids Update<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #3a3936; font-family: 'Myriad Pro', Myriad, Tahoma, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<h1 class="posttitle" style="font-family: 'Myriad Pro', Myriad, Tahoma, Arial, 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, sans-serif; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-bottom: 0.25em; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0.5em; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px;">Personal update soon to come, but in the meantime, read on about how Covenant Churches are supporting the work in my community here in Congo! Read the story on the Covenant website <a href="http://www.covchurch.org/news/2012/06/12/sacrificial-giving-yields-50000-for-congo-kids/">here</a>.</span></span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;"><br /></span></span></h1>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444;">
Sacrificial Giving Yields $50,000 for Congo Kids</span></span></h1>
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By Stan Friedman</div>
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MAPLE GROVE, MN (June 12, 2012) –President Gary Walter was stunned Sunday morning when members of <a href="http://maplegrovecovenant.org/" style="color: #2c74b9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Maple Grove Covenant Church</a> presented him with a $50,000 check to benefit <a href="http://www.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/" style="color: #2c74b9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Covenant Kids Congo</a> powered by World Vision.<span id="more-10843" style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"></span></div>
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Walter receives check from Erlenborn</div>
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“Wow, wow, that’s amazing,” said Walter in a soft voice.</div>
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Pastor Chad Erlenborn gave Walter the check while introducing the president, who later brought the morning message.</div>
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The money was raised as part of the congregation’s “Do Something” campaign. Erlenborn describes it as a short-term campaign to kick-start a long-term strategy to end extreme poverty.</div>
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The underlying theme was that no one person or organization could end poverty, but “we can all do something,” Erlenborn says.</div>
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Leaders were inspired by Isaiah 58, in which the prophet calls on Israel to fast for justice and serve the poor. Congregation members completed cards pledging to “fast” from a certain product or activity and donate the savings to the campaign.</div>
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“We asked people to give up something good to participate in something great,” Erlenborn says.</div>
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Some congregants gave up certain foods, others substituted meals such as beans and rice for their regular dinners. One individual rode a bike to work rather than drive and donated the gas money. Others decided not to go on vacation.</div>
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In the beginning, leaders did not know in what specific ways the money would be used. “Nine months ago when we started this, all we knew was we wanted to do something,” says Erlenborn.</div>
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<img alt="" class="size-full wp-image-10871" height="260" src="http://www.covchurch.org/news/files/2012/06/Gary1.jpg" style="border-bottom-style: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-color: initial; border-left-style: none; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-style: none; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-style: none; border-top-width: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" width="260" /><br />
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Walter speaking to congregation</div>
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They believed God wanted them to use the money to support ministry concentrated in one area. When leadership learned of the <a href="http://www.covchurch.org/covenantkidscongo/" style="color: #2c74b9; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Covenant Kids Congo</a> project, they thought it was a perfect fit.</div>
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The congregation initially hoped to raise $25,000 – that would be matched with money from the church’s mission fund and other special gifts. The church far surpassed its goal and raised $53,000 – before the match.</div>
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Rather than just match the $25,000, church leadership decided mission funds would be used to match the entire amount, so the final total was $106,000. They decided to contribute $50,000 to Covenant Kids Congo and then allocate the remaining funds among several ministries.</div>
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“The beautiful thing was that it was sacrificial giving,” says Erlenborn.</div>
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Before Erlenborn presented Walter the money, he gave him all the pledge cards and asked the president to deliver them to the Congolese when he traveled to the country in August. “It’s not just the check that matters, it’s our heart,” Erlenborn said.</div>
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Walter replied that he would read the pledges from the cards, noting, “the gift will be incredibly meaningful to them.”</div>
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Erlenborn said Sunday’s worship service “was probably one of my best days I’ve had as a pastor, seeing how the church responded to the need.”</div>
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Following the service, Walter said, “I was so heartened by this gift. This is the fruit of a congregation that has really been seeking how to tangibly engage around deep need in the world, particularly Congo. I know there are many other congregations doing the same.”</div>
</div>christine merlehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10955640152146254765noreply@blogger.com0