Espoir Congo Testimonies

Espoir Congo
By Dom and Marie, Congo

And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.—2 Timothy 2:2

Last month we held another graduation ceremony for the next group of young people who completed the 12 Foundation Stones (12FS) course. This is the fourth graduation event we’ve held since coming to Congo in 2008. We see this as a visible fulfillment of 2 Timothy 2:2. In our lives as missionaries, we don’t often get to witness the fruit of our labors, so to speak. We usually sow the seeds, do our best to follow up on people, and trust God for the increase, without really seeing how far that first seed has gone.

Patrick.

Gerse.

These nine young people who just received their certificate have all been met and taught by Gerse and Patrick, who graduated from the 12FS in May 2014. They had met Olivier at the University of Kinshasa while they were completing their medical studies. Olivier, who was met by Andre and Mary back in 2009, had completed the 12FS course in 2011. It was after the retreat we had organized in October of the same year that he felt called to start teaching the 12FS at the university. It was inspiring to have the “old timers” testify during the ceremony, pray for the new graduates, and give out the rewards, while Gerse and Patrick led the show.

And for us, it is so rewarding to take a backseat and just marvel at what the Lord has done, by His Spirit, to win and train these very potential young people, who now love to call themselves by the Family’s name.

We will let some of the graduates speak for themselves, and pray it will be as inspiring for you as it has been for us. Isn’t it wonderful how the Word is so alive and transforms lives from every nation and culture?


A few months ago, Gerse started giving me tracts, which I found quite interesting. I knew the intensity of his faith, and that he was serving the Lord. Each time we met, he would give me more tracts and Activated magazines. I was wondering what to do about it, because I’m his pastor, I’m a theologian, and I was wondering what could this child teach me? So I decided to look more into it. I felt like a fish who is used to swimming in a small river, and who all of a sudden finds himself in the ocean. So I made the decision to study the 12 Foundation Stones Bible course from beginning to end, and I understood why it was so important for me to get to know the Family International.

I’d like to share a small testimony. I had gone to visit one of my church members who had been so ill for over a week that he could no longer get out of bed. He and his wife were very distressed by this situation. I started sharing with them the message of love I had learned in the Foundation Stones, and while we were talking, I felt within me the strong desire to pray for him. All of a sudden, I told him, “Get up in the name of Jesus Christ!” He got up, and that was it, he was completely healed! I want to give the glory to Jesus and to thank the Family International for these teachings which gave me the faith to pray for this sick man.

Now that I have completed the course, I want to give myself more fully to preaching the Gospel, because the harvest is plenteous but the laborers are few. Also, I see the importance of putting 2 Timothy 2:2 into practice—what we have learned, we must pass on to others, so they in turn can pass it on.—Pastor Sukari

Pastor Sukari.


I thank the Lord to have helped me discover the Family International, thanks to Gerse. I have received wonderful training, and what I liked the most in this course is lesson #5, about the Golden Rule, how to love others. It has taught me how to better show love to those I meet. My vision is to spread the message of John 3:16, to show people how much God loves them, no matter what problems they face or what conditions they live in, to teach others how to put their trust in Jesus and to believe that Jesus is able to solve all of their problems.—Ruth

Ruth.


In the beginning, when Gerse would come to talk to me about the Family International, I wasn’t really interested, but the day I discovered what it was really about, my life changed. Before, I was incapable of reading the Bible, but thanks to the 12FS course, I am a different man, and I can only thank God for that. My desire now is to obey Mark 16:15 to go into all the world to preach the Gospel to every creature, and give to others what I have been entrusted with.—Jimmy

Jimmy.


It is thanks to my brother Gerse that I have discovered this Bible course. I heard him talk about it, and it made me want to take this course as well. Now, I want to do what it says in 2 Timothy 2:2, and teach others everything I have learned.—Munduku

Munduku.


One morning, while I was charging my phone in a shop, I met Gerse and he invited me to the 12FS Bible course he was teaching. In the beginning, it was not easy for me, because of the timing and the difficulties of transport because I study at the University of Kinshasa, which is quite far away. I also had health problems and was generally very depressed. So I cried out to the Lord, and today, I can testify that it is thanks to the Family International that I was able to overcome my problems. Now I thank God because necessity is laid upon me to share His Word wherever I go. Woe is unto me if I don’t preach the Gospel!—Patrick

Teacher Patrick and Thierry handing out graduation certificates.


If you could see my face right now, you would understand that I am filled with joy! I can’t even find the words to say, because today is the day that I am becoming a missionary! I feel so blessed to have met the Family! I see people here in Kinshasa who haven’t had that same opportunity, so I thank God to have chosen me. In the beginning it was easy for me to come to the classes of the 12 FS because I lived right there in Massina, but then when we moved to Kingansani (a different part of town), it became very difficult for me to attend the classes. It was so hard that I almost gave up. But I asked the other students to pray for me. I remembered the verse that says that if one falls, the other will pick him up. So thanks to their prayers, I was able to continue and to finish the course and now I am a missionary. My vision is to fulfill 2 Timothy 2:2, because I can’t keep this course to myself, I’m going to share it with others.—Olga

Olga.

Please pray for all these new graduates from the 12FS course, for the Lord to help each one to find their calling, and open avenues for them to witness and share their faith. Pray also for the supply of all their needs. Thank you!

If you would like to help them continue their work, communicate with them on their facebook page.

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A Plea from Jordan!- Will you help?

Dear Dennis and all,

I did not mentioned in the newsletter the situation with Syria.--Which could use your prayers. The possible attack has really affected the whole Middle East, especially things like the tourism industry which is a main source of income for these countries. In Egypt, for example, some hotels have had to close, and many hotels are running only 10 to 20% capacity. This affects the livelihoods of many of the working class, that are already barely making a living. And most other people stop spending and saving up their money, in case there is war. So that greatly affects the economy as well.

Jordan is probably safe from attack because it's friendly with the States and there are American bases here. But all the countries have close ties to each other, especially trade. It's a bit like a hand with its 5 fingers. Syria is like the thumb and if Syria is blown up it will greatly affect the rest of the hand and make life difficult for the rest of the countries around it. Jordan depends on Syria for fresh vegetables, fruit and meat, since Jordan is desert. Also almost all the trade from Turkey passes through Syria to get to Jordan. Turkey is like the "Japan" of the mid east, it manufactures everything from furniture to broom sticks and if cargo can't pass through Syria then it has to go by boat to Aqaba (to Southern Jordan) or by plane through Lebanon, raising prices tremendously. Of course a lot of people can't pay the price increase so companies go out of business and people lose their jobs. So please pray for peace, as it's really the domino effect here in the Middle East.

For the Family Kitchen project in Jordan, we are trying to buy a supply of food to have a buffer in case things close down so we can continue feeding the hungry. We were expecting 1 million Syrians in Jordan by the end of the year, but now with the threat of an attack more are coming. There are already 2 million Syrian refugees in Syria itself that have no home. So please pray for us that we can be a blessing to the families we are helping. If you'd like to donate that is welcome as well. Thank you so much!

Much love,
Jacki in Jordan

PS: If you are interested in helping us in this mission to help reach the needy in this part of the world, please contact Dennis and he will tell you how you can help.See also our page on facebook: www.facebook.com/FamilyKitchenJo

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Ministering to the Saharawi

Paloma, David, and Cristina, Spain

One of the projects of Haciendo un Mundo Mejor (Making a Better World) focuses on aiding the different camps of refugees located in the Sahara Desert, near central Africa. For the last nine years we have organized groups of 10–15 volunteers that have visited and assisted these war-torn people known as Saharawi.

Our volunteers bring food, clothing, school supplies, medicine, and toys for the children. We live as the Saharawi do, staying in haimas (desert tents) or mud houses during our three-week stay.





About the Saharawi

The people who are now known as Saharawi settled down as a Bedouin tribe in Western Sahara near the ocean. Eventually it became a Spanish colony for over a hundred years. Because of disputes with the Moroccan government, the Spanish left the people there to their own fate. A subsequent war with the Moroccan government forced a great part of the Saharawi population into the desert, and many families were separated as a result. As of today about 200,000 Saharawi are living in extreme conditions in the Sahara Desert.

In addition to the aid and materials we bring, we also conduct various programs, such as seminars, educational and cultural activities, theater, and clown shows. We perform in different centers and school facilities which are spread out across the desert.

Our goal is to share God’s love with as many as possible through our music, skits, and performances. We also spend time talking with people and listening to their heart cries. Since the majority of people in this region are Muslims, we distribute Motivated, which is well accepted.

With the help of many sponsors, and the TFI Mission Grant Fund, a team of 11 people between the ages of 15–57 embarked on a three-week trip in September–October 2012.

There is a lot that goes into the preparation for these trips, considering that the location is over 5,000 km from where we live, and located in the Sahara Desert.

We started working out the logistics for this trip months in advance, beginning with a detailed report of what we wanted to achieve in the camps, as our plans and itinerary had to be approved by the proper authorities. Once we got the appropriate clearance, we began arranging the visas and airline tickets. We also had to hire drivers and vehicles that could take us through the desert and arrange lodging, along with many other details. In the meantime, we worked on the shows we planned to perform in the many schools and centers we would visit.



Here are some of the accomplishments of our trip:

• We performed in 15 schools in three different camps. Approximately 3,000 children attended the programs in total.

• We were invited to perform in a cultural program along with many other national groups. Since this took place over the Easter holiday, there were a lot of Spanish and foreign people present.

Young girl with her new doll.

• We brought a variety of presents, clothes, shoes, and toys, which were donated to the many needy children and families we visited.

• We did an interview with a national radio station and talked about the programs we were doing in the area.

• We were invited to participate in a national television show where we recorded six songs. These songs are going to be broadcast by satellite to all the camps in Argel, and also played throughout the year on an international Saharawi news channel.

• We donated educational material for children at various centers and institutions. We also distributed hundreds of Motivated mags. These magazines formed the basis of the different seminars we conducted during our time there.



We received some very positive reactions from the teachers and headmasters of the schools we performed at. Here are excerpts of a couple of letters:

“On behalf of the headmistress and group of teachers of the Longrono school, we want to thank you for sharing such a beautiful day with all our boys and girls which offered them the opportunity to enjoy all these things: dances, songs, and to have such a happy day. It has also enabled them to see things that they know nothing about nor have ever seen before, and that they could never have imagined. All our children have enjoyed a moment of happiness and joy. Thank you. We hope to see you again soon.”



“On behalf of the group of teachers and of the students of the secondary school of Said Esgaller, we want to extend our appreciation and thanks for all the educational and recreational work you carried out which has left a positive impression on the hearts and minds of the students. We hope that this valuable work will continue in the following years.”

All in all, our entire trip was a great success, with each piece of the puzzle falling into place exactly at the right time.



Here are reactions from a couple of our young volunteers after their visit to the Saharawi:

This was my fifth trip to visit the Saharawi, and every year it gets better. It’s so amazing! It makes you look forward to your next trip with excitement, knowing you will encounter many wonderful opportunities and new experiences.

The Sahara is a magical place, and its people are even more so. I admire each and every one of them for their love, spirit of giving, endurance, positiveness, faith, sacrifice, and so much more. The Saharawi are an incredible sample to all who visit them. I think it is because they come in contact with something that you cannot find too easily: their pure way of doing things, their love. These people are blessed by God. You can feel it. Their spirit, the way they live and interact with one another—sometimes you feel like you just can’t get enough—they carry so much peace. It is wonderful to be around them.

I feel very blessed to have met the Saharawi people and to go on these trips. Even though I would love to stay longer, I am very thankful for the time that I spent there.

I really enjoy doing clown shows for the children. Seeing them happy and laughing is a wonderful experience. All the schools we went to really enjoyed our performance and asked us to come back before next year.

Singing at the cultural program that took place in the refugee camp was something unexpected but exciting at the same time. We performed with a Saharawi singing group, which made me feel closer to them.—Anita (17)



I still can’t believe how fast time passed on this trip. It was amazing…. It’s so hard to describe…. I have seen so many things and have lived through so many emotions that I cannot imagine not going to the Sahara again. It was one of the best experiences of my life. I went there to give my all and came back with so much more. The Saharawi taught me how to be a better and kinder person. They have so little but they are so happy with the little they have. They showed me the treasures of life. They don’t have a lot of material things that the world offers, but they do have a lot of love and they have each other, and this helps them to face life and its difficulties. I wish to be like them—loving, caring, and sharing. I just love them and hope this is not the last time I get to see these wonderful people.—Vicky (15)

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Espoir Congo- Newsletter!

ESPOIR CONGO

“ Hope is the bridge that helps us cross over any difficulty. ”
June 2012
“When everything seems to be tumbling down around your ears and you feel as if there's no hope, call out to Me and My keys and I'll lift you out, up, and above it all!”
Kikimi Village Development Project
Dear Friends,
Thanks so much for your prayers for us this past month, your words of encouragement and your gifts. We are so thankful to be able to stay in touch with so many of you. Thanks for your prayers for Marie and Stephy, who’s doing much better. And thanks for your prayers for Dom, who kept things going in Kinshasa in her absence with the help of our precious Congolese members.
Stephy
Thanks to the Lord’s faithful supply, the building of the third classroom has been completed this month, despite some drawbacks and difficulties. (When the workers were laying the bricks for the walls, a violent storm took it all down while the cement was still fresh.) We just need to complete the finishing touches, like getting plywood for the ceiling, putting glass on the windows, getting a blackboard, desks and other furniture, etc... Theo and Florence are insisting on naming the new classroom after Natie, who invested quite a bit into the kids when she was here, and all we had was a (borrowed) banana leaf shelter to meet with them and distribute food.
New
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NeFinished clas wo water tanr the water, the schoo a praise pforward foment on thew water tankssroom nks, 2500 r tanks to fol and the dparty to celor the proje children’sk litres eachill up whendispensarylebrate theect develops health. h, is also n it rained! y will have e first day tpment, as This he
Food Distribution
Kids at the tap, so happy to finally have water
The next step will be to set up a system to bring water from the stream down the hill so that water can also be available during the 3 months of the dry season, so please pray with us for God’s supply for it.
Our friend Salim donated a bunch of chocolate cereal boxes, a real treat for the kids. Breakfast continues to be served to the pupils, and on Saturday, the orphans receive food and toiletries packages.
Dom unloading supplies
Agriculture
Yummy cereals
Begging is a huge problem in Africa, and Theo is concerned that the orphaned children we’ve been caring for, do not become lazy or take for granted the help that has been given them. He wants them to show their appreciation by doing chores and to learn good work ethics. Giving them vocational training in tailoring and agriculture will also give them the means to earn a living later on.
For this purpose, on Saturday, the orphaned kids come over to the school and the older ones receive agricultural training. They have each been allotted a little plot which they are responsible for. They have learned to prepare the soil, till and plant.
Orphaned boys tilling their little plot of land
The girls and the younger ones do chores around the school, and help prepare the food packages. After a few hours of work, everyone enjoys a yummy snack. Theo is also faithful to teach them how to pray for every need, and then praise the Lord for the answers. They all love Jesus and know they owe Him everything.
Women Empowerment
The girls and younger ones have fun sorting out the harvested peanuts.
After work, all enjoy a yummy snack.
More babies born this month, with midwife Florence’s help and oversight.
New baby born in Kikimi last month
Youth Ministry
Incubating Micro-Enterprise
Bible Studies
Dom is finished up the basic business management course to our young entrepreneurs, and will continue coaching those who have applied for a grant. Even though at first some concepts seemed to be difficult for them to fully grasp and implement, this close monitoring is proving to be positive instruction and input and we can see progress.
Taking notes
Etienne: He was the first one to apply, and, having proved himself faithful with the first donation, has now received the full amount which he has invested in sim cards, air time, and cell phones. He is also planning to invest in the renting of a small booth. His new learned diligence and hard-working habits, as well as his salesmanship have earned him a good name with the phone company, who has now offered him a salary to become a team leader for new employees. He is very inspired by the progress made in such a short time, thanks to the boost Espoir Congo and FCF have given him. He’s also learning how to combine witnessing with his business activity, using a megaphone to attract people, distributing tracts and posters, preaching and praying for people.
Cedric (full-time university student): He applied to start a micro-enterprise selling bread and various products. His mother is also applying to restart her former activity of a whole-seller on the market, an activity which she was forced to abandon after her car accident last year, which had made her lose her capital. She was the sole bread-winner of the family, her husband having been unemployed for the past 25 years. Being enabled to start again is giving this family new hope and fresh inspiration. Cedric is also very happy with the prospect of becoming financially independent, to finance his studies and make a living.
Dom got into advanced Endtime studies with our members, and covered more of Daniel, which was super exciting and new for most of them. These classes are re-enforcing the vision for them to grow spiritually and learn to stand on their own, and Thierry, Gains, Etienne and Cedric all now have their own 12 FS Bible study groups in different parts of the city. We are very proud of them, their dedication, love for the Lord, and their passion to teach His Word to others.

Thank you!
Titus 2:13: “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.”

We love you lots and thanks to all those who are sending us news, gifts, and prayers. We so appreciate it and can really feel your support in the spirit.
With much love always,
Dom and Marie
“The keys of the Kingdom can breathe new life and fresh hope into any person or situation.”

􀀠 E-mail: gino.dominic.v@gmail.com (clotilde@africawork.net)

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