In God's Heart Ministry

Ping pong time

2011-07-02T03:04:00.000-07:00

Augy (right) teaches 8 yr. old Dieu Donne to play ping pong with the help of a chair to even things out. Dieu Donne (God given) is the most recent addition we've received from the Katanga children's tribunal. We're not sure how long he'll be with us but I'm glad to report he's doing very well.

Mutombo Kabamba

2011-05-25T00:44:00.000-07:00

Here is a picture of Mutombo from 2006.... I love to see the change that the Lord has brought about in his life. Compare the picture below. Mutombo was one of the first boys who we began feeding back in 2005 & 2006. He would always come in hurriedly, drink his tea & eat the bread we gave quickly & rush out, with his large plastic bag in tow, to go all around town to pick up plastic bottles. He had to meet the quota that his 'boss' gave so he'd be able to eat or have laundry detergent. Now his worries are just to study (he's in 7th grade), wash clothes, finish chores, eat & play soccer. He loves to sing & praise the Lord.

Recently Michael & I rode a bus the 1.5 hours to Likasi, where Mutombo lived with his uncle. The uncle reported that Mutombo had been sent to live with him by his father until the paternal grandfather came to take him, when he was about 7 or 8 years old. The grandfather accused him of being witch & tied him to mango overnight before taking him the next day to a children's center. After some months at the center he left & rode the train to Lubumbashi where we met up with him. The trip helped to explain the fearfulness that made winning his trust so difficult. Thanks be to God who leads us in triumph...in Christ!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2010-12-20T04:30:00.000-08:00

I was able to get a bit of cooperation to get most of the boys looking my way to snap this picture.

We're really grateful for the past year with it's successes & provision.

Nathan

2010-12-16T03:07:00.000-08:00

This is 11 year old Nathan. He is one of the boys the Katanga province justice department brought to us 2 months ago. He had spent 1 month in adult jail for picking up a plastic bag he found by the side of the road. He was brought to us because no family had come to look for him.
Three days ago Michael went to the address Nathan gave him for his family. Michael was quite surprised to find the various aunts, uncles, children & other relatives angry at his even bring up Nathan's name. He'd been chased out (along with his twin brother) for being a witch. They believe the deaths in the family (including his mother's) were all caused by Nathan & his brother. This is a familiar reason for boys to be thrown out as the society tries to find a scape goat for the tragedies they face. I'm just glad he is with us enjoying playing, school and just being a boy.

Ilunga & Mulumba

2010-11-02T00:33:00.000-07:00

Here is 16 yr. old Ilunga & young brother, 14 yr. old Mulumba. They've been with us for a year and a 1/2 and are 2 of my very favorite boys. They have suffered difficulty most of their young lives but now are thriving in the safe place that God has made for them. They fled their home days after their mother died as they overheard her family blaming her death on them being witches. The conclusion was that Ilunga & Mulumba should die. They were 8 & 10 years old at the time. As they traveled on top of or under trains Ilunga made sure that Mulumba was safe; even, on one occasion, choosing to risk death or serious injury letting go of his safe place under the train when he saw Mulumba had fallen so that they would remain together.
We call Ilunga 'Commander' because he behaves like a soldier. Don't do the wrong thing where he can see you or he'll correct you or make sure that you are brought before some authority regardless of the cost to him. He is a young gentleman in a land where you don't find such people.

Kale

2010-10-11T08:59:00.000-07:00

This is 16 year old Kale. He has been with us since April of 2007, when he came one day with another boy. He was very dirty & I think high on glue or some other chemical. How he has changed! He now loves school (he's in 7th grade) and is really beginning to do well. Before he came to live with us he worked stealing whatever he could. His father died leaving his mother alone with him and 2 sisters. A couple of weeks ago he was telling me about that experience and how he (at age 7 or 8) would go to the market & pick up pieces of corn to bring back to his mom & sisters so they would have something to eat. Not long after he began to ride trains back & forth from the province he lived in to Lubumbashi. I'm so thankful that the Lord has kept him & that he now has hope.

What we eat.

2010-10-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

This, on the left, is what the Congolese MUST eat. It's bucardi. Corn meal & water. They haven't eaten if they haven't had this. Even if they ate a chicken, rice, 3 vegetables, potatoes, bread....etc. If they haven't had bucardi they haven't eaten.
But on Sundays we've started having spaghetti. They think it's for variety (which is partly true) but the reason we started eating it is because it was and still is on sale for .83/pkg.

And this is Michael showing us all how to cook spaghetti Nigerian style.

Everyone was shocked to see him cooking because that is not something men do in DRC.

Cooking fuel

2010-09-02T02:04:00.000-07:00

This is Dauphine, the man who comes every Thursday to bring the charcoal we cook with. He usually arrives at the house around 8 or 9 in the morning; after riding from his home for about an hour. We spend about $80 per month on charcoal. The bundles of charcoal weigh around 25 pounds each. I see many men in & around Lubumbashi selling charcoal. Many of them ride their bikes for hours & hours.

Jeres.

2010-07-14T03:01:00.000-07:00

Jeres & Toto discuss whether or not to amputate Jeres big toe. Jeres of course argued hard to keep it while Toto teased him that maybe it would be best to cut it off since it had a small injury that required too many bandaids. Jeres lost both his parents and has been with us since May. He is eager to be getting on with school and is in 1st grade.
His toe averted amputation!

Wash day.

2010-06-16T04:03:00.000-07:00

Every Saturday morning the boys wash their clothes. Well they are supposed to wash their clothes. It has been a battle all along in every way. First just to get them to do it, to get them to wash all their clothes that are dirty, to admit that something is dirty, to not use all the soap (too much is not enough), to not fight over the buckets & basins, to wash more than one person per basin, etc, etc, etc. The battle goes on & on. I usually use the carrot of soccer or showing a DVD to get them started & to finish. But still you'll end up with someone like Kamba with a pile of dirty clothes hidden under his bed or worse yet in a basin of water.

MY hero.

2010-06-09T00:54:00.001-07:00

Tarzan, the wonder cat. Responsible for making sure all the rodents, large & small, are either dead or at least stay on the roof. Thanks Tarzan.

Before & After pics

2010-04-06T05:47:00.000-07:00

Wanted to show in pictures what the Lord has been doing here since 2005. The picture of the boys receiving bread & tea was taken while they were still living on the street. That is Yannick pointing and looking at the camera. AND here is Yannick today in the suit that our friends in Belgium provided. Transformation. And not just outward but I am thrilled to report that not only is Yannick now dressed, fed & sleeping well but he's learning about the Lord, receiving an education and being reconnected with his family. That is resurrection power!!!

Aaron

2010-03-19T11:15:00.000-07:00

Here's Aaron with his 1st level class. He is a good teacher, a pastor and I think an artist. I always like to go in and just look at his writing on the board. Below is an example of his handwriting. In the Congo school system great emphasis is put on handwriting... actually it is more calligraphy than just handwriting. I think it's pretty.

Katanga fabrics

2010-03-12T13:27:00.000-08:00

Here are the some of the boys 'modeling' some of the fabrics that I see everywhere, everyday.

Above is Ilunga with the black/tan/white. Below is Yannick with green and Jacque is holding the orange/yellow/white. Most of the women, and some of the men, where clothing made from bright bold fabrics like these. I love to look at all the colors & patterns they wear.

Before & After pics

2010-03-09T01:36:00.000-08:00

Here is what they looked like when there were 12 of them.... 2007.

Now they are 30 and how they've grown!! God is good!!

Thank you Belgians!

2010-03-08T00:01:00.000-08:00

Here are the 4th level boys with their teacher, Mr. Gerome. They are wearing sports clothing that the Belgians furnished money for. The boys love having outfits for physical ed & to wear to play soccer.

Belgian gifts.

2010-02-13T01:51:00.000-08:00

Here are the boys & Michael with Samera, receiving the letters, cards & pictures that Samera brought them from Belgium. Samera's stepmother, Michele Dokens, lives in Belgium where she works for a private school. Because of her the ministry was the school's Christmas 'project'. The kids there raised money for school supplies and lots of other things, which Michele will have shipped to us. The boys were very happy & excited to get letters & pictures of the classes in Belgium. We're very grateful for Michele, the kids, their families, the teachers and the school for all they've done. THANK YOU!!

What THEY eat. WARNING: disgusting.

2010-02-12T02:51:00.000-08:00

Sorry for any ill effects these pics may have on you. Just wanted to show a slice of life from here in Lubumbashi. The boys were happy & excited last week that these big fat catepillars were part of their meal. I could not look at them let alone give even 1 a try.

More cooking in Congo.

2010-02-12T01:41:00.000-08:00

This is the kitchen. And that thing that looks like a wheel of a tire filled with charcoal is just that and serves as one of the stoves we use. In the back ground is bags filled with the charcoal that we use. It is made by a man who brings it once per week (more on him in the near future). Two of the boys work in the kitchen with the cook for 2 weeks at a time. It is has helped them to learn to schedule their lives as they have to haul water, start the fires, go to the bakery for bread, chop vegetables, etc..... And do all of this along with their school duties. It has been a humbling process for them also as males in Congo usually don't help with cooking at all.

What we eat.

2010-02-08T02:28:00.000-08:00

The giant, wooden mortar & pestle thing above is to smash
saumbie (sp?) leaves; which are then cooked and then we eat them. One of the boys favorite greens.

This is Kambala doing the work of smashing and cooking.

African bugs.

2010-01-30T09:34:00.000-08:00

This is a Congolese lady bug, sitting on Kale's hand. It has yellow spots on a black stripe that runs down it's back and red down low on either side. Kale likes bugs.

There is a winged thing that comes out once a year that all the boys run after & jump up to catch. Then they eat it. Right there where they catch it. Adults tell me that it is good if you catch many & saute them. I'll never know.

Congo water source

2010-01-27T00:00:00.000-08:00

This is the way we get water in Lubumbashi. Someone hauls it. This week Malumba had the job of hauling 9 of these plus filling up a large plastic barrel. Two boys share the job for 2 weeks then Toto appoints another 2. How far do they carry it? About 1/4 of a city block. In the past many a fight was fought to get the job finished, now (thanks to the Lord's transformational abilities) the job just gets done.

In Jesus's Hands

2010-01-17T18:31:00.000-08:00

This is 14 year old Fabrice. He came to live with us in April '09. He had seen Joe & Yanick at the soccer field for a couple of months and when he heard about where they were staying & since they had all been friends at one time Fabrice asked them to intervene on his behalf so that he could have a place to live & be able to attend school. Finally there was room for him & Michael told Joe & Yanick to bring him. After a couple of months with us Fabrice asked me for paper to draw something he had been thinking about. He drew the picture showing himself as a small sheep in Jesus's hands.

Looking back.

2010-01-17T04:58:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to post these 2 pictures to show and remind myself of how far we have come in the area of the school. The picture on the left was taken in June '09 at a celebration of the boys progressing from one class to the next. Out of 28 boys, twenty seven of them passed onto the next class. Eleven of them jumping from 4th grade to 6th.
The picture below comes from September 2006 when we had just started. Teacher Edward was using a door as the blackboard to teach the 12 boys we had started with. Now we have 5 classes, 7 teachers and 6 blackboards. Real blackboards; like the one in the picture on the top.

He restores my soul.

2010-01-16T02:39:00.000-08:00

Here is Tshbaka (pronounced Chibaka) getting sugar for the morning tea. He's around 14 years old and is a wonderful example of the Lord's power to transform. He used to be a wild boy; disrespectful, rude, failed in school & didn't care. After being with us for 2 or 2-1/2 years he is a different guy. He opened up to us over the last year & told some of his background. His father died when he was 10 & he was hit with the ever popular accusation of being a witch. This meant that he was taken to a "pastor" and stripped and beaten. Hard. He was able to get away and that is part of how he ended up living on the streets. Also, in the last months I'd finally asked him why he didn't act like he heard well. Answer. Because he doesn't hear well. He'd experienced numerous ear infections with broken ear drums when he was small; explaining the reason he would act like someone with pretend ears. I am grateful that the Lord has saved Tshbaka and helped all of us get to know him. Now he is one of the sweeter boys we have, much calmer. And he is determined to do his best in school. AND when Tshbaka leads praise... everyone follows. It is awesome to see another of the diamonds God has given us being revealed.

Brothers united 2

2010-01-14T06:22:00.000-08:00

Here are James & Matthew (Sengwa). The were reunited when 16 year old James came to live with us in early December. They came from a western province to live with their uncle after their parents died in 2008. Twelve year old Matthew came to live with us in April of last year due to difficulties in the uncle's family. When the difficulties hadn't been ironed out James joined him. I am glad that we had room for them as the next thing for them would have been to join boys on the streets. They are both extremely intelligent and love school.

Comings and goings.

2010-01-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

On the right is Bilonda, at the grade promotion we celebrated in June. Even though he was 2nd in his class & had been with us for over 4 years he decided to leave last month. I am sorry he left but glad that he at least is with his family even though they aren't able to put him in school. And the other picture is of Patrick who left for 1-1/2 years but after going all around Lubumbashi decided he would return to us no matter what. Unfortunately it is too common for some of the boys who have been with us the longest to decide to leave. But I am grateful that the Lord has brought much more stability to the mindsets of all the boys so that now we are at 30 boys.

Sunday afternoon.

2009-12-31T04:07:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture from earlier this year (2009). I am just just hanging out with the boys, letting the clothes dry, waiting for food to cook, looking pretty cool in my African fabric skirt.

Brothers united

2009-12-04T04:04:00.000-08:00

After 7 years of not seeing each other Yannick's (R) brother Andrew came to see him last month. They had been separated when their mother died & the extended family pretty much chased them away. Andrew was able to get our phone number after Michael & Yannick had visited the uncle's house and one of the uncle's children gave him the number. He was choked up when he first came in & saw his younger brother. They sat & talked about the difficulties they had experienced and Andrew was able to encourage Yannick to do well in school, listen to the people over him & to follow the Lord. Andrew leads a prayer group in his church & is on the worship team.

Kamba

2009-12-04T03:27:00.000-08:00

Here is Kamba. He is a wonderful comedian... and an expert at getting out of doing his chores.. or delaying to wash his clothes.
He will make you laugh & laugh... He's busy here making noise & is there under the tree blessing the checker game.

Emmanuel

2009-11-30T03:01:00.000-08:00

This is the chubby Emmanuel. He can sing and sing. He knows many songs & has a very beautiful voice. Plus he loves to dance. He is in 3rd grade & does very well except when he is irritating the teacher... then he'll be kneeling somewhere while class continues. Through out the day it is very common to hear "EMMA"... meaning that someone is angry at him or irritated at him. He is not bothered and just argues back or goes on to the next place to create a stir. He drives me nuts... then comes back and flashes a smile that makes me forget what the problem was.

Ministry of restoration

2009-11-28T04:39:00.000-08:00

Michael & 5 of the boys went to a town near Lubumbashi to see if they could connect with the boys families. They were successful in finding Pascal's family. Unfortunately his mother had died the day they arrived, but his father was very glad to see him. He wept loudly upon seeing Pascal and prayed and thanked God.

(L to R) Shadrack, Michael, Mutombo, Dieu Merci, Joe & Pascal.

Hunger in Africa.

2009-11-28T04:12:00.000-08:00

Here is a map showing the places where people are not getting enough to eat. The countries that are red are where the suffering is. Congo is the large country in the center of Africa. It was listed as second from the bottom of all nations in hunger. The report noted that 72% of the people in DRC do not receive enough food.

He restores my soul.

2009-07-09T08:09:00.000-07:00

I am very glad to announce that our 11 fourth & fifth level students who took the 6th grade test passed!! We are thrilled because as you see with Yanick in the picture below they are growing up. Yanick is around 16th years old and had no school until he came to live with us September of 2006. He has excelled in school even while he has had to learn to submit to authority & not use his own strength to get through life. I am very proud of him and all the boys who have been doubling up on school so as to prepare for the test and move forward. The Lord is truly a restorer of souls.

Shanick, the scholar

2009-07-03T19:13:00.000-07:00

As I've written before, 13 year old Shanick loves learning. I thought that it was sweet that since I was in U.S. he has had Michael send me 3 of his drawing assignments. Here is a picture of him and below is his map of Congo.

Boys will be boys.

2009-06-29T13:49:00.000-07:00

Here is Kamba receiving an impromptu bath from his friend, Kambala & Toto. Kamba is never the first to bathe and sometimes just wets his arms, head & legs so as to avoid the process altogether. But at least on this particular morning he got clean before his teacher came.

Early morning baths

2009-05-02T05:13:00.000-07:00

Here is Toto helping the boys to get hot water for bathing before the electricity goes.... It was 5:30.

What we're really here for.

2009-04-28T01:57:00.000-07:00

Meet Matthew. His uncle brought him as he was a 'problem' for their family. After his father had died last year (his mother died some years ago) he had been sent, in September, from western Congo to live with his uncle. He has now been with us a month and after being treated for Typhoid and his bruises healing from some abusive treatment he is happy, loving school & no problem at all.

Friends

2009-04-24T01:38:00.000-07:00

Here is our new friend, Tarzan. She showed up in the compound early one morning and was stoned by one of the boys as a witch before I saw her. She was seriously injured so I spent the day avoiding her & wondering how we'd put her out of her misery. The boys who aren't afraid of cats, spent the day taking care of her & by the next day she was able to walk & is now doing great.

Playing with Alain.

2009-04-08T05:29:00.000-07:00

That is Alain behind all the tape. And as you see he is even cuter without the tape. He is 12 or 13 and is in grade 1. Recently he told me that he enjoys school now, that before he was always sad and thinking about the difficulties in his life. Alain is very bright and has a great sense of humor.

Goodbye rain.

2009-04-08T05:08:00.000-07:00

Here is a view out of the front door of results left by the last big rain of the rainy season. The compound finally dried out after 24 hours.

Trip to the zoo

2009-02-25T02:19:00.000-08:00

We surprised the boys with a trip to Lubumbashi's zoo 2 weeks ago. Most of them had been there before when they were living on the street, but this time their trip was paid for and they entered via the gate and not by climbing over the wall.
Ever the student, Shanick had to write down where each animal came from and it's scientific name.

The gorilla seemed to want his pictures taken (and to show the piece of corn in his mouth) so I did.

So after looking at the monkeys, snakes, ostriches, deer, lions, tigers & alligators (and the ever energetic Kamba & Diedier running and running along the fence with the deer) the boys all loaded up in the mini bus and the rest of us in a taxi and we went home; just in time to miss a heavy rain.

Papa Michael

2009-02-01T09:18:00.000-08:00

That's Michael in the middle of some of the 1st boys that he became 'Papa' to. Michael has been a pastor in Lubumbashi for over 10 years. In 2003 he began to have a desire to help the boys he saw on the streets there. As a former African boy (growing up in eastern Nigeria during civil war) Michael has great wisdom to know how to bring the guys in, love them, lead them to the Lord and discipline them. God has really gifted him to know what the boys need to feel at home; how to work with the Congolese nationals; how to negotiate with everybody, and to always stay joyful and filled with faith.

Workers, teachers, members of the ministry.

2009-01-19T10:36:00.000-08:00

Here are Misters Aaron (R) & Edward(L). That's Papa Michael in the middle (more on him later). Aaron is a pastor and teaches 6-7 boys in the first level class. He rides his bike for around an hour to get to work by 8 A.M. in the morning.

Edward has been teaching the boys since we first got into the house, Sept. of 2006. He has endured everything from having to use the 1st blackboard that was the back of a door, having some boys physically fight him or throw rocks at him and all that for a beginning 'wage' of $20 per month. He has been very faithful and has even surprised himself, I think, in how much he loves the boys. He teaches the 5 level class.

This is Lovey. Isn't she cute in her traditional Katanga fabric, Congolese outfit. I worried about her in the beginning because she is just as big as a minute but she doesn't back down to any of our sometimes rowdy guys. She teaches Kambala & Ada in 2nd level class and is also a student in the university.

Emmanuel and Augy

2008-12-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

Here are 2 of the guys in their new uniforms at the start of the school year.

Boys will be boys #1.

2008-12-21T20:10:00.000-08:00

Here is a picture of Kalu's foot after 9 stitches & some healing time. What happened? Fighting over a bucket with Diedier. The bucket was for bathing and both wanted to be first (never mind that there were 8-9 other buckets they could have used). Diedier took Kalu's bucket. Kalu head butted Diedier. Diedier picked up a big brick and there you go Kalu's foot was split open. Now that you've seen his embattled foot, here is a picture of Kalu's lovely smile.

God, Thank You.

2008-12-13T10:00:00.001-08:00

I returned to Lubumbashi in July to find 11 year old Dieu Merci sick with malaria & a broken knee cap. He and I spent the next weeks riding in the taxi, back & forth to the clinic, and working to keep his fever down and watching DVDs together. Then just when we thought he was improving the symptoms came back and he was diagnosed with typhoid, another bout of malaria, and after his leg remained swollen we had it X-rayed again and the doctor discovered tuberculosis on the bone. So even though it was a very trying time and Dieu Merci is still taking medicine we are so grateful that the TB was found so that his leg & body can heal. Plus I am grateful to have been there to show him love in ways that he has not experienced since his mother died or left him when he was an infant.

The new beds!!

2008-12-12T10:29:00.000-08:00

The boys are all now sleeping in their new beds. Each one has his own after 2 years of no beds, or sleeping 2 per bed and finally they managed to destroy most of the wooden ones completely so were forced to sleep on their mattresses on the floor. So they were more than happy to pitch in and help to paint the beds. ~Teresa

2 Year Anniversary

2008-09-23T18:40:00.000-07:00

Ada & Kalu waiting for the party to begin.

Here is a picture of the teachers, staff and the boys in their new shirts. And I am there in my purple dress! The bright fabric we are wearing is called Katanga fabric is native to our area of Africa and as you see, is a feast for your eyes....like a rainbow. The guys were so happy to have them. Plus they finally received new school bags and so have been able to trade in the plastic grocery bags they had been using to carry their school books & supplies. ~ Teresa

Last week the boys celebrated their 2 Year Anniversary of living in the house they currently rent in Lubumbashi. Prior to the them living in the house they were getting fed daily snacks and still sleeping on the streets. The past years they have grown spiritually, physically and academically. They are doing great. When they moved in there were 12 boys, now there are 25! Many of the 25 are some of the first 12. It has been so cool to hear what our Awesome Heavenly Father is doing for these boys. ~Cassidy

"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!" Psalm 66:5