Request for prayer

This past week, violent clashes erupted in Kananga, the city that where we live in Congo. A militia group from the tribe near Tshimbulu who experienced an attack a few weeks ago that we described here came to Kananga, and attacked the airport and fought with military. A reuters article this week reports that the death toll was 49 people. Many of the tribal militia were using machetes and clubs, and there are many people wounded. The situation seems to have calmed down, although schools are closed this week and the atmosphere remains tense.

For us, one of the most concerning aspects of this was that the center where the children in the Ditekemena (HOPE) program live is very close to the airport where the attack took place. In the midst of gunfire, the caregivers took the children into the woods and surrounding homes to hide for a couple of days. They have now been moved in a few different groups to homes closer to the center of town. In the midst of the attack, their food stores at the center were looted and they will not have funds to resupply for at least a few weeks. Please pray that local churches in Kananga will be able to help to provide food and care for the children in this midst of this crisis.

Children and caregivers in the Ditekemena program, in December of last year.

Please continue to pray for peace in Congo, and for successful resolution to this particular conflict. We think of all of our colleagues and friends in Congo, and pray that even in this turmoil, they would know and live out God’s hope and love. We grieve that so many areas in our world are experiencing tragedy and fear right now. We pray Psalm 62:1-2 for our friends in Kananga and these hurting people and places all over the world:

“My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”