IN THE MARGINS: DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness…” (Isaiah 43:19)
BATTLING EXTREME POVERTY FOR LIFE
- Gemena, the largest city in northwestern DRC, had no paved roads, running water, electricity, banks, or post offices.
- One child in 10 dies before reaching age 5 in Gemena.
HOPE FOR CHILDREN’S FUTURE
The northwestern corner of the Democratic Republic of the Congo is a forgotten land on the road to nowhere. In a desperate attempt to survive, isolated families flock to Gemena, the area’s largest city, only to realize there are no jobs, economic opportunities, or agricultural land. They build temporary mud huts on parcels they hope no one else will claim and scavenge for temporary labor that pays 50 cents a day. Parents wake up early to beat thieves to the family’s precious crops, grown on rented land. They pick whatever meager fruits and vegetables have ripened — often the only morsels separating them from starvation. Too often, grieving families can be seen carrying tiny caskets to an overcrowded graveyard. Tragically, most of these deaths could have been prevented.
Yet, through the prayers and sacrificial giving of a growing group of U.S. child sponsors, these families are daring to believe that a miracle is possible. Ledia, the new sponsorship program in Gemena, means “A new thing is coming to the village.” And it is.
Parents share their excitement as they see improvement in their children’s health through water and sanitation programs. Now three schools and two maternity clinics have been erected and equipped with plenty of help from community members. Trained community volunteers ensure families of sponsored children and others in the community have the basic resources they need and remind parents about upcoming trainings. Grandmother Elise Zembe is among those learning how to ensure her grandchildren have good food to eat. “There have been many days when we didn’t have enough food for our grandchildren,” Elise says. “But I learned how to feed them the right types of food, and they don’t get sick as often. Now, with even a few peanuts or beans, look at how much energy they have.” “My dream for my children is that they follow God and that they have a better life than we have been able to give them,” says Zelekumbi Zembi, another grandmother. “With the World Vision program, they will not suffer in poverty.”
PLEASE PRAY:
- Pray that the life-saving effects of clean water and sanitation will be available to everyone in Gemena.
- Pray parents will be able to provide the food their children need to grow and thrive.
- Pray that community members will grow together economically and spiritually
WHAT DO YOU THINK?
Out of 187 countries, Democratic Republic of Congo is 186th on the human development index, yet the country is blessed with vast amounts of mineral wealth. Do you see a conflict in providing aid to people who are unable to tap into their nation’s wealth? What role can the church play in helping them to see that the next generation benefits from economic growth from these resources?
