Last night we were privileged to host a visitor from the Congo. Here at BUC we have been learning about the Congo ever since our own Elizabeth McMillan made a sojourn there two years ago. She brought back some of their stories to us and so when we heard that someone from the Congo would be visiting in our region we asked that she come to see us. Maman Nzeba is the General Secretary of the Department of Women and Families for the Church of Christ in the Congo. The ECE (Eglise du Christ au Congo) is the association of 65 different Christian Protestant denominations with about 12,000 parishes. In her work she works with the churches to address the critical challenges arising from colonization, military insurgency, civil war and cross border invasions. Much of her work oversees the care and support for women and children through the hospitals, health clinics, schools & universities, domestic training centres for women, feeding programmes in urban areas, theological education centres, and agricultural development projects as well as care for orphans.

 

She brought to us the painful story of the cultural and social upheaval in her country. Years of war, invasion and violence have had profound impact and caused the destruction of the infrastructure. Last night she had a small audience of 40 but we sat stunned to hear her tell the story of soldiers coming into the villages and raping the women and then forcing men at gunpoint to rape their own mothers and daughters. After this abuse the women are shunned and seen as damaged goods. Many of the women are treated as chattel and have no sense of independence or power. She told us that the church is working to empower women and to help them recognize that they are created in the image of God. 

 

For the last year our congregation has offered a variety of ways for people to contribute to an “Extra Measures Fund” so that money could go directly to the ECE to aid in the education of orphans. We have been proud of the just over $6000 we have raised. I showed Maman Nzeba our Sunday School hall where we have a map of the world with an arrow pointing to The Congo. The map is surrounded by pictures of the children from The Congo. I told her our Faith Trek offering goes to the Extra Measures project. She asked to see our little offering container where the children put in their money, and then she hugged me and said “Thank you.”

 

As I have prayed about and reflected on the experience of meeting Maman Nzeba, I confess, I mostly feel embarrassed.  What we have done is so paltry in the face of our affluence and their desperation. I always feel uncomfortable when confronted with the needs of the developing world and in that I am reminded how fortunate and privileged I have been in my life.

 

What I am committed to now is to pray for Maman Nzeba and her work. She is the driving force behind providing leadership for women and children and offering hope to the most vulnerable of the Congolese as they grapple with the challenges wrought by poverty and oppression. I will pray; and I will make another donation to our “Extra Measures Fund”.