Off to the Congo!

In 1994, over 800,000 Rwandan Tutsis and Hutu moderates were killed in the most unambiguous case of genocide since the Holocaust.  Since 1994, over 5 million Congolese civilians, militants, and government army officers have died as a result of political and ethnic conflict, disease, starvation, and other unnatural causes.  Due to the recent flare-up this past year, some 250,000 additional people have been displaced from their homes in the North Kivu province and taken up residence in the town of Goma, the province’s capital.  See more photos at: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/2008/11/congos_crisis_worsens.html

MONUC, the UN’s mission to the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has recently been in peace talks in Nairobi with the CNDP (Congres National pour la Defense du peuple), the rebel army operating in the Northeastern part of the country (http://www.monuc.org/).  As we hope and pray for justice, redemption, and peace to reign in this country, it is also vital to consider the lives of those living away from their homes who are desperately in need of emergency relief items.  Check out the following organizations currently working to provide for these people: http://www.mercycorps.org/countries/congo, http://healafrica.org/cms/, http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/articles/crisis_in_the_congo/, http://www.theirc.org/special-report/congo-forgotten-crisis.html.

Armed with a French/English dictionary, Learn Swahili books, an old copy of Heart of Darkness, and King Leopold’s Ghost, I will make my way to the DRC in the days ahead to partner with the local people who are currently working with displaced families and orphans.  Please remember the Congolese people in your prayers as we attempt to raise awareness about this country’s needs, hope for a better (near) future, and work towards a lasting peace.