The World Gets Flatter
In the past decade or so an estimated 5.4 million people have died in D. R. Congo as a result of what some describe as “Africa’s first world war.” Add to that another million refugees. Most casualties of war happened not because of direct conflict, but from the slower deaths of malaria, diarrhea and pneumonia. And try this on for a truly horrifying statistic: forty-seven percent of the dead were children.
Providing an eye-witness account is my indigenous pastor friend who runs an orphan ministry there:
"The crisis we face here has cause a great damage. Many people have been killed, women are treated very badly, many of them are raped, one woman to be raped with more than 7-10 men, women with pregnant have been maltreated very badly in the way that you can’t explain, this has brought a great shame, many children have left orphans. Please, keep praying for all these, also it has caused the price of food to get very high."
In the weeks that followed he didn't mention it again. He spoke only of his sick child who recovered leaving a hospital bill of $48. But he was thankful his girl didn't die. Then I received this late last week:
"Hello, dear faithful in the Lord, a friend of mine in His holy name. Thank you so very much for your prayers for me, family and the ministry.
"Your message has encouraged my heart a lot to know that somewhere the Lord has placed His saints like to be praying for me.
"Yes, the Holy Spirit led you well, for I am facing hardship of life. And the problem is this: the Lord blessed me with a faithful friend that was committed himself to be paying my house rent every month and also sending me every month some amount for food, medical care, etc. But this friend of mine now is two month, he is very seriously sick and it seems that there is no hope for his living. Now I have not yet paid my house rent for two months, and again getting food for my children this also is very very difficult, so all these has made my heart feel life is so difficult, especially when I saw my kids crying for hungry, this is hurting my heart a lot.
"So please keep praying for God's provision in this situation.
"Thank you again and God bless you for your love and concern with me and my family."
We have tried to find aid organizations near Pastor Fred to help him, but so far with no success. Will you please say a prayer for him and his family and their work? And for the peace of D. R. Congo?