Debbie Braaksma, Africa Area Coordinator; Jeff Boyd, Regional Liason for Central Africa and I traveled to Kananga and Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo this week to meet with Presbyterian Community of Congo (CPC) and Presbyterian Community of Kinshasa (CPK) church partners. In Kinshasa, we were joined by Christi Boyd, Facilitator for Women and Children’s Concerns for the PC(USA) in the region.
We had the opportunity to visit Presbyterian schools, hospitals supported by the PC(USA) and meet with church leaders about community development, health, evangelism, education and many other issues.
We also had the opportunity to speak with community leaders about the role of the United Nations, the current economic and political system in the DRC and areas that leaders think can change and improve. We spoke of mineral rights and community development.
We visited women’s empowerment projects and spoke with women leaders about the role of women in the DRC.
Today, we will meet with women’s programs to speak about work against gender-based violence and youth programs.
Please pray for continued development of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and for a sustained and everlasting peace.