Brass For Africa
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News update -- 12 May 2004 bulletin
News from Judy Acheson (CMS UK) in Congo
From Judy's prayer letter dated 25 April 2004
"Let
me give you the statistics of what the MU worker found for women on her
first visit around the Diocese of Kindu after three years of war :-
- Widows as a result of the war: 650
- Women who were raped: 799
- Those who lost everything: 3,364
- Those handicapped/injured: 439
- Those totally incapable of coping: 151
- Those who were killed: * 899
- Still in the forest - no clothes: 1,555
* Killed by being buried alive, gang raped, beaten to death, chopped to death.
"This is only one diocese, what of the rest?
"We do not have statistics for the youth but many have been killed, many joined the various rebel groups because of vengeance, losing their belongings or trying to find a living. We praise God for those who refused to be dragged into the fighting. How can we help them to start their lives again.?
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"We have a major task ahead. The Diocesan youth leaders need much help and further training to meet these challenges. We need to consider the following:-
- To establish youth groups in every parish throughout these dioceses so that young people can be helped to think through issues for themselves and so not get dragged into such conflicts again without thinking.
- To set up girls' groups in particular to help the rape victims to come to terms with what has happened, help them to faith and forgiveness of their abusers and to give them a means of making money through micro-projects. In these groups the HIV positive ones will be given the support and love they will need.
- We will need to set up homes for the orphaned girls who have no-one to support them and maybe have AIDS.
- To help the young people to know how to establish their own micro-projects that will enable them to meet their own needs.
- To help each Diocesan youth department to set up their own money making projects to enable them to meet their own needs - travel, training, salary and helping youth where necessary.
- To set up workshops to give young people training and a living.
- To set up literacy programmes. 7 years of war has meant many have not been to school at all and now they are too old to start.
"Please pray that God will show me the way ahead and that I won't get bogged down by the enormity of this task."
News from the BFA committee
The committee met on Sunday 2 May 2004:
Over the last 2 months, BFA has forwarded support for 25 pastors.
The committee agreed:
- to support another 5 pastors.
- to provide money for needed bicycles in southern DRC
- to send US$600 immediately for relief work in Lubumbashi (see 29 Apr 2004 bulletin)
- to fund the purchase of equipment needed for Youth work in DRC
- to financially support the training program planned for July 2004 by Masimango in Kindu
Thank you for your partnership in this strategic work in DRC