Democratic Republic of Congo: My Cause

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress..."                       --James 1:27


*After spending two weeks in the Democratic Republic of the Congo this summer, I've become a full-fledged, big hearted advocate for this country. I will do posts occasionally on the subject matter and hope to get more people interested in this amazing country -- and helping Africa as a whole. You can check out the original trip post below and all of the posts I wrote leading up to it plus my recaps and more below: 
 

• Congo Journey Part I 
• Congo Journey Part II 
• Congo: That's Why I'm Doing It 
• Congo: Way Beyond Kony 
• You Can't Save the Children By Liking a Facebook Status 
• Congo: When Helping Hurts  
• Radical: Being There Matters  
• Tough Mudder: Can You Spare $5? (Sending the kids to school) 
• Orphanology 
• Half the Sky: Be the Change 
• Congo: The Day I Met Ben Affleck (Again)

 
When I was 11 years old, a couple of Bible verses changed my life. This is one of them. With it, (and the one I share below)  I knew three things: I loved God, I loved people and I wanted to go overseas to share God’s love with them through service. I’ve been able to follow that through to places like Mozambique, Lebanon and Kenya in the past. Now, I feel lead to a new place – the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Two years ago, my church heard about an orphanage in the Congo that desperately needed money to survive. I believe the amount was something like $5,000. We took up a special donation for it and ended up giving nearly over $15,000 – and getting a calling that God wanted us to go there and help in person with building projects, educational resources, and medical issues.

By serving the orphans in this dark, misunderstood African nation, we can make a difference. Africa is home to so many children orphaned by war, disease and poverty. Their need for love is endless, and their need for proper food, clothing, shelter, education and medical attention is essential.

In Kenya, 2003

But there are so many children that need these things and aren’t getting them yet. By sending teams like ours there to provide resources, we help to enable the orphanage to provide for more children who haven’t had the opportunity to be rescued from a life of despair. The great thing about this trip is not only will we be able to provide them with their physical needs, but we will be doing it as act of love in the name in the name of Jesus.

This trip will encourage and build the hope, focusing on child advocacy for the 68+ orphans cared for by Congo for Christ Center. We will work alongside Pastor Jeremiah Rukukuye of Congo for Christ Missionary Church, and with the orphans and local staff to assist and serve in developing the orphanage’s capacity to provide education, medical care, and sustainability for the children.

"...And when the Holy Spirit comes on you, you will be able to be my witnesses in Jerusalem, all over Judea and Samaria, even to the ends of the world." -- Acts 1:8

The trip for one person to make is $3,000 – part of which will go to project costs and things that will contribute to building projects, education and medical attention. I’m asking that you will consider being a part of something great that God is doing in the Congo by donating money towards our team’s trip. Each donation received will be prayed over diligently.

I firmly believe that God is doing a great work in the Congo and truly feel called to be a part of that work.

The time is here now -- and I'm so excited to be a part of it.