Meet Tresor. His mother and father died when he was very young. At that point a neighbor family took him in until he was seven years old. When the family’s son died they believed that it was because of evil spirits and kicked Tresor out of the house. For two and a half years he slept in the marketplace and begged during the day for scraps of food. He had never been to school and lived on his own during this time. He begged for someone to take him in, care for him, and help him go to school. Sabuli Sanguma and other women of the Congo Covenant Church (CEUM) took him into their care and are providing for his needs. He attends school and helps out with the technical services of the Protestant University nearby. Tresor now has a safe place to sleep, meals to eat, and loving care in the name of Jesus Christ.
Congo
Tresor’s Redemption Story
Noa – a 4th grader in Congo
Noa and his classmates greet a visitors at their school.
Noa lives in Bogose Nubea, a small village 45 kilometers outside of Bokonzo, DR Congo. The area is quite remote – poor roads, no running water, no electricity. Noa recently turned 10, and is the second of six children. His father is unemployed, but works diligently in his garden so he can provide one meal a day for his family. Noa’s family is plagued by battles with malaria and malnutrition. His mother recently gave birth to his youngest sister, who died when she was only 3 days old. Continue Reading »
Back to School for Kids in Congo
It’s back-to-school time in Congo! As you see kids around your neighborhood heading to school take a moment to pray for the boys and girls going to school in Congo – and for the ones who are not able to go.
Covenant Kids announces a new ministry partner in the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) – Kindergarten School! Scholarships for this age group will provide teachers’ salaries, classroom facilities and other educational needs. Children age three and up will be able to attend the kindergarten school. Here they will learn the basics of language and math. They will be better prepared to enter elementary school and on track for a life marked by good education. If a young child can attend kindergarten school their older brothers and sisters are freed from babysitting responsibilities and able to attend elementary school. A whole family can be changed by scholarship opportunities.
Welcome Kindergarten School to Covenant Kids!
International Women’s Day
Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day. This day was set aside 100 years ago to celebrate and recognize the achievements of women around the world. The global focus of the day shows respect, admiration and love for women of all ages and stages in life. It also is a day to focus on the needs of women around the world. This year’s focus is on women’s equal access to education, training, science and technology. This echoes the Millennium Development Goal to “eliminate gender disparity in primary and secondary education”. These Goals were developed as a means of reducing poverty and acting faithfully with Micah 6:8 to “. . .act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God”
New uniforms for school!
Scholarships given through Covenant Kids provide education for girls and young women every day. Girls in Bogota, Colombia receive uniforms and are able to go to school. The longer these girls stay in school the stronger their ability to choose who and when to marry.
In Congo, young girls are encouraged to stay in school with scholarships. Their families can not afford, or would simply not pay, to send them to school.
In Southern Sudan less than 5% of children receive an elementary education. Most schools do not even allow girls to attend classes. The Good Hope Academy, who receives Covenant Kids scholarships, allows girls to go. With an education, some of these girls will go on to be teachers who can then empower the next generation.
Girls at Good Hope Academy
The computer lab at the English Medium School in Solapur, India.
And in India, scholarships given to the English Medium School in Solapur allow young girls, some of whom come from impoverished families, to learn in computer and biology labs.
Please join us in empowering these young women around the world. Donate a scholarship on-line in honor of International Women’s Day and change the life of a young girl today.
Congo Profile: Sabuli
Marti Peterson is the wife of Curt Peterson, Executive Minister of Covenant World Mission. Marti traveled to Congo with Curt in October and spent time with Rev. Sanguma, president of the Covenant Church in Congo, and his wife Sabuli. Sabuli runs an orphanage that receives scholarships from Covenant Kids. Marti writes,
When I had a chance to visit Congo, I most wanted to spend time with my friend Sabuli. I wanted to see her garden and visit with her extended family – the orphan children who have found their way to her. As we walked and talked I realized that I was with a Proverbs 31 woman: “A wife of noble character who has her husband’s full confidence. She gets up while it’s still night; she provides food for her family.” Sabuli walks two hours to her garden while it is still dark.
“She considers a field and buys it; out of her earnings she plants a vineyard.” Sabuli has purchased 10 hectors (about 25 acres) of land. She started with a small plot of land and little by little, by God’s grace, she has purchased plots so that she now has this large garden that is planted with peanuts, corn, rice, banana and much more.
“She opens her arms to the poor and extends her hands to the needy.” From her garden she feeds all the children in her orphanage (about 40 children), her sisters and the others who work with her in her garden.
“Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her.”Sabuli once told me that if I came to Congo and saw all the needs of the children I would cry. She is right, there are so many needs and hardships that it’s overwhelming and your heart breaks. Sabuli has cried but has not eaten the bread of idleness. She is working very hard to care for the needs of family, children, friends and neighbors in her corner of the world.
“Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.” Thank you Sabuli for all you shared with me and taught me while I visited your home.
© 2013 The Evangelical Covenant Church |