The Church in Tanzania, July 2, 2007

THE UNITED METHODIST CHURCH OF TANZANIA

I am glad to inform you that I graduated with the master degree in Peace and Governance and won the Bishop Emilio J. De Carvallo Special Leadership Prize for the Student of has Demonstrated Best Leadership Potential worthy 2.5 million Zimbabwe Dollars which is now equivalent to U$40 in the black market. I am now getting ready to go back to DRC.

Peace and grace to you

Kimba

Pictured is guest speaker Dr.Caroline Ndjuki giving Kimba his masters degree. Kimba is a member of the North Katanga Annual Conference.

Deaf Ministry News from Betty Musau June 8, 2007

Deaf ministry in North Katanga was a dream but now it is alive.

The deaf ministry of the UMC in North Katanga has been honored by a grant from The UMC Committee on deaf people, hard of hearing and deaf blind. This grant was made possible thanks to Ms. Carol Stevens who is determined to help the deaf communities in Africa. The deaf misson team from USA was in Zimbabwe last time and today the mission is active in North Katanga.

The deaf mission delegation from Zimbabwe visited the deaf community in Kamina with the project proposal of starting the deaf ministry and strengthening the partnership. At this occasion, the Ephphata deaf school in Kamina; the only one in the area, expressed the need to get materials that will enable deaf students, both children and adults, to acquire appropriate literacy levels since the fact that deaf adults are often fluent in sign language has not been considered a useful qualification and recognized by educational authorities.

Today,the deaf community in Kamina has received the following materials: sewing machines, nails; sledge hammer, folding rule, tape measure, wood fix, metal saw frame, saw blades, wood saw, krankshaft, clamps, crayons, optical squares, squeezers, stavely, mallet hammer, wood chisels, circular saw; football and pump. The president of deaf is holding the sewing machine and the other deaf lady holds wood materials.

The club is at work. we will continue to spread the good news of our Lord Jesus Christ to the community of our brothers and sisters who were for so long forgotten. Our wish is to see these tools help the deaf children and adults look at the future with hope. May God contnue to inspire goodwill people to think of the marginalized people.

For the coming month, Rev Willy Banza Yumba, the Deaf Ministry Coordinator plans to increase awareness of problems faced by deaf people in North Katanga and the participants will be lay leaders of local churches and DSs and local pastors.

Christian Education News from Betty Musau June 6, 2007

Sunday the third of June was a special day for children in UMC Kamina at Kamina Centre local church.

The worship service was conducted by children. Throughout the week, children ran the whole program. On Sunday, the moderator as Junior Mumoneka, and the preacher was Junior Liyagogo. The name junior means "Younger". The service started with an opening word from the monitor, Nathan Maloba.

He exhorted the congregation with the scripture from Proverbs 22:7. He said, "Each and everyone, as disciple of Jesus, should be nursed from youth group before aiming at responsibility in the church.

Junior Liyagogo preached from Deuteronomy 6:5. The theme was "Serve God with the whole heart and your soul". He encouraged brothers and sisters to love first God, then serve Him. He challenged the congregation by saying we as Christians cannot pretend to love God without serving Him. To love God is to adore him and to make our every day, the day of mission.

During the worship service, youth interceded for the church , the growth for the church and the their group. In this picture, you will see them kneelin and interceding.

The word from children was that, we need good education, good nursing, good eating; because it is our right. Children voiced to obey parents .

The Chairperson of Christian Education encouraged the congregation and reminded parents to send children for sunday school. Christian Education training helps children to grow morally, spiritually, and intellectually. Children for today are church leaders for tommorrow. The chair person is pastor John Kabala.

Bishop Ntambo Steps Down as Africa University Chancellor
Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda will step down as chancellor of Africa University at the end of 2007 due to conflicting legislative and episcopal schedules and duties.

Ntambo, 59, announced his resignation to the university's Board of Directors on April 14. He hopes a new chancellor is chosen by the end of 2007 or the beginning of 2008. Read the full story on the United Methodist News Service

Report from Betty Musau April, 2007 on activities in North Katanga

North Katanga recieved the medical team from Texas who visited Kabongo and Kamina. The membership was 8 people and the team leader was Doctor Jon Mac Taylor. The mission of their visit was to provide medical care and to teach brothers and sisters how to deliver basic visual care so that they may lead healthy and have productive lives. They were also here to meet the visual need of communities by offering a teaching plan , to prapare community based services and provide vision assessment, eye health education, refer patients to eye doctors,see if eye glasses are needed and dispense eyeglasses.

Over fifteen hundred people came from Kitenge to Kabongo for the medical care. This medical team treated high blood pressure, goiter, parasites, malnutrition, malaria, leprosy, minor visual problems, they assisted Doctor Patrice with surgery and provided medications fro the pharmacy. Local people provide their medication too.

Bishop Ntambo joined the team in Kabongo. The team was collaborative and there was a nice exchange of experience, locally and from guests.

From Kabongo to Kamina Melody Ball rode the motorbike because she had teaching duties that she had to respond to Lupandilo students request.

She trained 14 people with whom she initiated the Kamina Vision Initiative. Eight women attended the workshop and six men. She set up the steering commitee which will carry on the work. She encouraged the trainees to make a difference by working in the community and responding to the needs of the community. North katanga community was so enthusiastic and joyful.

In addition from Melody Ball issued certificates to the participants and they wre happy, as it is ssen on the picture. Participanst performed a play of a women who went for the eye check up. At the end, Melody Ball said: this is the end of the workshop but the beginning of the work. She commissioned participants to be healthy and work in the society.

Report from Betty Musau March 22, 2007 on activities in North Katanga

I would like to share with you activities that happened in North Katanga:

1. Kabongo hospital visit where a woman with an amputated foot and with a swollen leg was carried on the bicycle and brought to the hospital for treatment.

2. The opening center for knitting center in Muitobwe by the youth chair person. 3. A man and woman refining palm oil with the traditional machine. Per day they got 30 liters.

4. Pictured is a group of young men who were Mai Mai, that means civil rebels. The church has rehabitated them by setting up the carpentry center for them to be useful.

5. Training from the Department of "Theologie par Extension" headed by Rev Kanonge Muteba. He visited Malemba, Katongola, Mulongo Districts. His teachings were based on evangelism, church growth and development, homelitics, ethics and christain duty, methodism, administration in the local church, Christian responsibility, pastoral and lay ministry, finance in the local church, UMC in North Katanga, Christian family, liturgy, advice from John Wesley, and judicial administration.

Both lay people and pastors participated in the training in different areas.

Report from Betty Musau 2/12/07 on De La Plaine Local Church

I am reporting on a story about the worship service from "De La Plaine" local church from Kamina. The preacher was the lay woman who is the president of the lay women in this local church. The scripture reading was from Esther 2:4,Gen3:1-6, Exodus 19:4-6. The theme was Obedience. Obedience brings benediction. When one fears God, he or she becomes faithful to God and he or she becomes serviceable to the neighbor.

She challenged women and all the congragation that, as women and Christians, we all need to live within our boundaries, with an appreciative attitude in the church, at work and in our family.That is what the president of the lay women in this local church to be faithful to God. In the picture, you will see the choir for young boys who serve God with their singing in this local church.

 
Bishop Ntambo Elected to DRC Senate
From the United Methodist News Service:
Bishop Ntambo Nkulu Ntanda, a United Methodist bishop in the Democratic Republic of Congo, has been elected to that country’s senate.

The new Senate is expected to be installed Feb. 3. Congo's Parliament has two chambers, the Senate and the National Assembly.

Ntambo, 59, has been bishop since 1996 and was active in the peace process in his region. He leads the denomination's North Katanga Area in the Congo and also serves as chancellor of United Methodist-related Africa University in Mutare, Zimbabwe.

In an e-mail message to United Methodist News Service, Ntambo confirmed his election by the provincial assembly of Katanga Province but said his main emphasis will continue to be on his pastoral and episcopal duties.

On Jan. 19, Congolese provincial deputies considered 1,127 candidates for the 108 seats for senator across the country. Four seats were allocated for each of the 25 provincial constituencies, with the remaining eight seats assigned to the city province of Kinshasa. Each senator has a "five-year renewable mandate," according to the All Africa news service.

Read the full article here.

Report on Day of Deaf-Mute from Betty Musau, February 4, 2007
February the 4th was the special day of deaf mute in Kamina at Centre local church. Rev Muyambo is the Zimbabwean pastor who graduated from AU the senoir pastor in Zimbabwe Annual Conference. He came to Congo to initiate the ministry to those who are deafmute. He was accompagnied by Ishmael, a lay deafmute.

We had a choir of deafmute people from Garengaze denomination from Kamina. The choir sang the song "I am strong in the blood of Jesus Christ." The translator for the group of deafmutes is the director Masangu from deafmute school of Garengaze denomination in Kamina. They came to worship together with UMC members of Kamina Centre. The preacher was Ishmael, the deafmute from Zimbabwe who preached from Matt 28:16-20. The theme from his preaching was "Love." The Great Commission is the proof of love. In Christ we are all loved. At the mountain, we are all made Christians by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit commissions us in the world to preach the good news. The preacher came from Hilltop local church from Mutare. He is the first born among three children. He works at the signposts in Mutare where he communicates with other workers by sign papers. His experience of work is 16 years. He is married to Emma and they have two children

The translator of Ishmael was Rev Muyambo The translator of Rev Muyambo was Rev Willy Banza from English into Swahili. Pastor Willy is the Assistant Pastor of Kamina Centre.

We thank God because he is good all the time

Betty

Report from George Howard's Visit to DRC January, 2007
The 2006 elections have been completed and the elected leaders have turned their attention towards rebuilding the country. I had the honor of meeting three UM's from North Katanga who were elected to serve in congress. They hope to develop relationships with US Congressional Leaders as they learn how to govern their country.

President Kabila continues to be in conversation with Bishop Ntambo, and points to the work of the UM Church in North Katanga as a model of development.

The peace which has settled in has enabled the UMC to reclaim territory which was at war. Two District Superientends have new motor cycles to travel across their area visiting with leaders and preaching to their congregations. Aids seminars are being conducted, and leadership training is happening. Church construction is again a high priority as new people are coming to Christ, and individuals and communities whose lives have been ripped apart by war begin the process of healing.

Ministries in Kamina continue to expand too. While I was there a train car loaded with 500 bags of cement arrived after a six month journey from Zambia. Now construction can begin to complete the kitchen, dining/study room and bathrooms/bathing rooms for the orphanage. The chairs arrived for the university which opened with its first students, and Kamisamba Farm expanded its fields from 5 to 23 hectares. (57 acres.)

The delivery of needles and yarn, dolls, soccor balls, glow in the dark bracelets, and toy cars made for a delightful evening at the orphanage. It was obvious that regular meals, and mosquito nets have contributed to the childrens health and growth.

West Ohio contributions sent in December 2005 totaled $183,397 which paid for 2 motor cycles, 10 ham radios, bicycles, 2 Africa University Scholarships, 4 new churchs & parsonages, university construction, new construction at the orphanage and much more. Hope is alive in Democratic Republic of the Congo and part of that hope is rooted in the connection between West Ohio and North Katanga.

If you would like to see photographs from the trip, you may view them here.]

Report from Kamina from Betty Musau, January 28, 2007
I visited the farm of the head master of Kenda Bantu in Kamina , especially in Katuba. The Headmaster was a school boy at this High School. He became a teacher from 1990 to1994. He taught psychology at this school. Since 2003, he has been the Headmaster. He has 886 pupils and 23 teachers.

We visited the farm field for self reliance for the school. In this picture, the Headmaster is removing weedsfrom the soja beans field. The produce from this field will contribute to the building of a laboratory for the school to teach biology and chemistry. They plan to build conference room for the school and make some benches for pupils.

Letter of Thanks from Rev. John Mutombo
I am Reverend John Mutombo of the United Methodist Church in North Katanga. I am married to Kalenga Mutombo and am blessed with three children.

I graduated from Africa University, Department of Theology, and wish to express my sincere gratitude to all who contributed from near or far to my studies while in Zimbabwe. Sometimes people do not know how important their help is. It is indeed with honor and privilege that I encourage them to continually do good to others. God who knows from a distance their good actions, will also say thank you through his means of grace.

I am today the North Katanga Conference Director of Public Relations, and vice treasure of the African Task Force of the Special Program on Substance Abuse and Related Violence or SPSARV. I am also an associate pastor at Kamina Parish UMC.

May God Bless you all,

Rev John Mutombo jomunkana@yahoo.fr

January 12, 2007

Report from Kamina from Betty Musau, January 21, 2007
Let me share with you that The opening ceremiony of the University was done. Two professors from Lubumbashi came: Prof Luboya Numbi, and Prof Kabyla Ilunga, from Public Health of Lubumbashi. We have the faculty of theology, Public health whereby students were very excited to join this faculty.

From Kamisamba farm, fish ponds are dug for the fish and a tank for water is being built.

Mama Mujinga from the orphanage is very grateful for all that you do for North Katanga. She received gifts from friends afar and you will see the picture of George. As far as Goerge visit is concerned, charity is a mission. It was a mission of love, hope for the future of those children. In Christ, we are brothers and sisters. Ministry of George among children is the gospel in action. We thank Eileen for the work of love and we thank all friends who contribute to the future of the orphans.

Report from Katongola from Betty Musau, January 21, 2007
I visited Katongola, one of the district in North Katanga, 75 km from Kamina where the District Superintendant Nsenga Mukongele is leading. He is both a Pastor and a Nurse. He shared the projects in his District:

• Future building of the church and the DS office; We see in the picture that he is piling rocks for contruction.
• He led the charge conference from 12 to 14 Jan 2007. He supervises 10 local churches.
• On Sunday, 14 church members raised 65 kg of maize (corn) and two iron sheets for the construction of the church. 65 kg of maize will be sold and the amount of money will be sold for the purchase of cement and other materials.
• Other projects are a farm of palmtrees, fishponds , raising of goats and pigs.

Report on the World Clergy Women Meeting, from Betty Musau, December, 2006
On the 16 December 2006, North katanga clergy women met in francophone parish to hear a report from the World Clergy Women Anniversary that met in the USA.

Membership of clergy women:4 and the attendance was 30.
Preacher was Pastor Mukalay Mwadi Gertrude.
Theme: Power to change as the spirit of God in on me.
Our family is the first ground for outreach. When the spirit of God is on one, he or she can change things. One's presence somewhere can bring solution, hope to people and bring life. Women play the special role in family and respond to special needs when the spirit of God is on them. Women have the key to outreach.

For this special day, different women from local churches, gave their testemonies in the area of outreach.

A survey on clergy women in North katanga was given by Pastor Chantal Kalenga, the local pastor in Kamalonga Parish. The report on world clergy women was given by Pastor Hortence Ilunga Monga. At the end there was a refreshment as a sign of fellowship among women.

Report from Orphanage from Betty Musau, December 10, 2006
The story below is about Maman Mujinga, the director of the orphanage. She carries the baby of one year. This litlle girl is called Esther. The mother of Esther died on esther birth. the father of esther was killed by mai mai, the group of rebels who was killing people in malemba , kabongo and the rest of North katanga where there was war. Maman Mujinga took esther when she was only four days old. Esther had her grandma only . The grandma of esther brought esther to UMC orphanage in kamina.

Maman Mujinga has eight children as her own and she accepted to adopt Esther too. She said the love of God has brought Esther in this orphanage at only four days old. She was emulating Jesus's response when they brought children him. Jesus said, let children come to me, do not stop them because the kingdom of God is such as they.

Now Esther is one year old , she can play with other children as she is in the God's family. The love of God has no limits, no boundary.

Editor: Betty Musau
photographer: Fabrice Mujinga

Kamina Friends Obtains Non-Profit 501(c)(3) Status
Kamina Friends, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has received 501 (c) (3) status as a tax-exempt, not-for-profit corporation. Originally incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation in 2005, this status now enables the organization to accept charitable contributions which are tax deductible as allowed by law.

The major focus of Kamina Friends has been to implement a pilot economic development project in Kamina, a rural center in the Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in Africa. The need for increased economic activity within the region is great as the area has been undergoing a major governmental and social transition over the last decade.

This pilot development project in the DRC is the beginning of an effort to launch similar activities throughout Africa. The project will employ Enterprise Facilitation®, a proven economic development model developed by the Sirolli Institute. This method has been successfully implemented in rural areas suffering economic distress.

Enterprise Facilitation® builds on the capacities of a given community to generate and support small businesses with appropriate technology and local expertise. Enterprise Facilitation® is not about salvation from outside, but about unlocking and harnessing a community’s potential. This potential has been evident during Kamina Friends’ visits to the region over the last three years as we developed strong relationships with the leadership of the area.

To learn more about the project or how you can help, contact:
Kamina Friends, Inc.
31 W. Church Street
Fairport, NY 14450
(585) 223-9560
Email: information@kaminafriends.org
Or visit us on the web at:
www.kaminafriends.org

TWO DAYS WORKSHOP ON HIV /AIDS:TRAINING OF PEER EDUCATORS IN THE PROCESS OF PREVENTION (Part 2). held on Nov 18-19, 2006.
Youth's contribution in the prevention and reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The training started with the worship service. The opening prayer was given by Pastor Betty Musau. Membership was for 60 participants. The scripture reading was from Nehemia 3:1-2, 12, 17, 31-32. The preacher was Pastor Makonga Mpiana. Theme was: Stand up and Work together.

Youth has to contribute to God's work in the process of prevention of HIV/AIDS. The preacher appealed to youth to build up their lives and revive their heart about the bio-terrorism which is HIV/AIDS.

The country has the elected President and the relaxing time is over, so youth has to stand up and contribute to the construction of the Congolese wall which has bees destroyed for 45 years.

Each and everyone are responsible and capable of rebuilding the Congolese wall which has been broken.

The issue of HIV/AIDS is each and everyone responsibility to sensitize his or her environment; community in order to stop the spread of chaotic pandemic.

Youth has to get one Vision, one idea, one sentiment in order to build the country and stop the proliferation of the disease. People die because they lack knowledge. Youth declares because they were lost and now as they are informed and trained in the process of sensitization, they thank God for the opportunity of being trained and informed on the very, very important issue of life. Life means Good health. The process of prevention is the beginning of life and the church is there to embark us in the process of life.

Youth has resolved to be conscious and be able to share information that they have gained about HIV/AIDS to the family, community.

They decided that in youth group, any youth before marriage, he or she has to get tested before wedding ceremony. Youth they resolved to abstain from casual sexual behavior as long as he or she is not married.

They wished to get more training.

TWO DAYS WORKSHOP ON HIV /AIDS : THEME/ TRAINING OF PEER EDUCATORS IN THE PROCESS OF PREVENTION. held on Nov 18-19, 2006.
Venue: Kamina centre
participants: pastors, school teachers, head masters.
facilitators: Pastor Ilunga Mumoneka and Ntambo Mwavi.
membership:45

The workshop started with a worship service and the preacher was the District Superintendent of Kamina , Kasongo Kazadi a Kabengele.

The scripture reading was read from the book of Jonas 1:4-5, 12 and from the Gospel of Mark 4:35-39. The theme was : Christians have to know the solutions to problems. He developed the idea that God sends always facilitators to enlighten people’s mind about their difficulties in order to get the solutions. AIDS, he said is a reality and as a church, let us help people know about it by being conscious and being sensitized , know what is happening in our community. Its is church’s reponsabilty to find solutions to the AIDS’s reality.

The facilitator introduced the topic and explained the aim of the workshop.

he explained how the church has the potentials in trainers and the church is involved in the process of prevention and spread of HIV/AIDS.

He appealed to the participants to incorporate in the curriculum the program of sensitizing church members, pupils and students.

The group of pastors was very active because from the childhood to adulthood, the church has been careful and it is church ‘s responsibility to take care of people affected with HIV/AIDS. HOLYNESS is the key to prevention, they said in their commission

The group of lay people composed of school teachers, heads of schools was very interested in being committed to share the experience from their schools. The impression given by both the pastors and teachers is to get the HIV/AIDS TEST CENTER IN KAMINA.

Editor: Arthur Mpoyo
Pastor: Betty Musau

November 15, 2006: Report from Rev. Ilunga Monga Ilgha in DRC

Last night the office of CEI or IEC Independent Electoral Commission published the provisional results as follows:
Bemba: 6,818,821 votes or 41.95%
Kabila Joseph: 9,436,839 votes or 58.05%
Total of all votes was 16,255,660 out of 189 towns and territories.

That is all we have so far. We are waiting to see if there will be some claim from Bemba to be dealt with by the Supreme Court, then they will publish the official results on Sunday, 19 November. Just keep us in prayers for peace in this country.

November 6, 2006: Report from the Methodist News Service

On Nov. 6, the [Council of UM] bishops sent a message to the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo congratulating them on the country's recent elections.

"On this glorious occasion," the bishops of the United Methodist church "would like to take this opportunity to congratulate President Joseph Kabila Kabanga and the government of the Democratic Republic of Congo for this historic accomplishment."

The message, signed by council president Janice R. Huie, said the bishops hope that election results will be accepted by the candidates and by the people for the best interest of the African nation. The bishops also expressed their prayers for both the government and the Congolese people and conveyed the denomination's support "in this new era that is dawning" for the country.

"We further pray for the peace, unity and prosperity for your great country," the message concluded.

Read more on recent Bishops' meeting in Mozambique

October 31, 2006: Run Off Elections Mostly Peaceful

The run-off elections between Kabila and Bemba were held on October 28, 2006. Violence in Bumba in northern Equateur province resulted in a re-run on October 31. Additional violence was reported in Fakati. However, aside from these two incidents, the election was reported to have been remarkably calm and peaceful.

The results have not yet been announced and there is potential for further violence once a winner is reported. Please keep the DRC in your prayers and pray for peace.

Here are recent news reports on the run-off elections:

• Congo-Kinshasa: Elections Democratic, Credible, Transparent - SAOM
  
• Annan hails DRC elections
  
• Riots after Congo elections bring fears of fresh fighting
  
• Congo most important Africa poll since apartheid
• Congo authorities say false results endanger poll