Congo XII

Friday August 3

We went out to the Elikya center project again this morning, but this time the Free Church President (Selenga) and V.P. Ibengi took us around the property and shared the vision for the place. We heard once again about the housing for widows and orphans, the garden plots they will have (for food and income) and more about the training they will do. Some of the training is already occurring in other locations (seamstresses, for example), so the training buildings will be put to use as soon as they are completed. The director’s house is almost finished and they have been using the construction on that to begin training some boys in masonry.

Across the road (we would say a trail) is a large piece of property that Habitat for Humanity was developing. But they have pulled out of the country, so Tom has approached them about letting the Free Church build homes on it and using the original 120 acres for gardens, training buildings and other things. Tom thinks the property is large enough for about 1,000 of the style of homes Habitat was building. Habitat has been very open to the idea and the talks seem to be progressing. The homes would be fairly small and would house two widows and 3-4 orphan girls each. At this point the estimate to build a home is between $2,500 and $3,000. It left me wondering if Cornerstone could raise that amount in a year? If we had this as an ongoing project for 3-5 years they would build 3-5 homes. A pretty significant thing in my mind.

The training buildings (and the equipment they will need) will be more expensive, perhaps $75,000 each, and a church in the U.S. is helping with the first building, which is good to see.

After our time at the Elikya property we gave a ride to a boy who is in the Global Fingerprints sponsorship program. He wanted us to see his home so we stopped for a little bit. He is an orphan who is living with his sister and her family. The home is the typical mud-hut and is in disrepair. It will stand for a while longer until the termites eat the branches used as a frame, then it will collapse and they will build another like it.

As we walked up to the hut Tom pointed out the boy’s sister and said she suffered from Cretinism. A condition resulting from the lack of iodine as an infant it causes the body and mind to not develop properly and thus creates other problems, as you might imagine. So the Global Fingerprints staff not only is working with the boy, but his sister and her family presents needs and challenges, too. What an important work they are doing.

When we returned from the tour we had opportunity to meet with about 25 of the widows who are being helped by the ministry. We sat under a couple of trees and listened as each told her story. Although each was unique, there were some themes that came up in several of the stories. One such theme was that when a husband dies in the Congo his family has the right to confiscate all his property. If they do, and it seemed like most do, then the widow can be left destitute. If she has children to care for it is even more distressing.

To compound matters, there is an attitude in the Congo that a man should only marry a virgin. Thus a widow has no chance of remarrying and finding stability in that manner (this is also true for a teenage girl who gets pregnant; she will be an unwed mother for life). It is a horrendous practice especially as men are not expected to be virgins themselves. To me this is a clear example of what sin does to people.

So another theme that came up was that many of the women were homeless. They had lost the house to the in-laws or else they had no means of upkeep and effectively were homeless. It was very difficult to listen to. The third theme that came up a number of times was that many of the widows where caring for their grandchildren. Because of the war and the ravages of AIDS, many of the widows have lost their children who in turn left orphans behind.

Yet even with their immense problems these women are ministering to others. When they meet each week, if they have anything extra (such as some salt), they bring it to the meeting to share with others who don’t have any. They make trips to the hospital and prison to check on people who may not have any family nearby. Without family nearby, the prisoner or patient is without a source for food or clothing, and so the widows try to help these people in their need. It is humbling as well as amazing to watch.

What a day.