Bald Man Blogging
Bald Man Blogging
Maman Mobutu Ministry CarePoint, DRC
The King will reply, “Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you
did for me.” Matthew 25:40
What a first day in the DRC! I have been on staff with Christ’s Hope International since 2009, and every time I am in Africa, I am blown away by how God is truly working in and through the ministry to care for the precious children of Africa! Today, my first full day in Kinshasa, was amazing!
As one of the leaders of our Child Sponsorship program, I am always worrying about how to assure our faithful Child Sponsors that we are using their donations wisely and effectively. Oh, how I wish I could transport each of them to the field where they could watch our awesome CareGivers in action! I KNOW it and I regularly hear the anecdotal stories, but when you see the way these children are cared for in person, it is nothing short of amazing.
I am in Kinshasa, DRC, to go through our first “formal”
Ministry CarePoint Evaluation. This is an evaluation that we have developed to assess every aspect of the operation of our CarePoints as well as the effectiveness of the care we provide. Since this is our first evaluation, it has been a great learning experience for me. It is really the first time I have dug so deeply into the real nuts and bolts of the ministry and I am so encouraged.
Play Time at the CarePoint
The team in Kinshasa has great systems in place to manage and control the finances, control supplies, etc. Costs are minimized by sharing resources (two CarePoints operating out of the same facility on opposite days for example) This is hugely important and something that a Sponsor wants (and needs) to know.
But it is most amazing to see how the children are monitored and supported in their progress. Each child has a notebook that contains detailed records on the child’s educational, spiritual, physical and social progress. In many cases, you can even see the progress through their studies as reports from the child’s school show increasing test results. If any child is having difficulties, a tutor (Wille - shown at the top of this post with a student) works with the child to make sure he or she catches up.
Physically, the children are getting a balanced meal and a snack each CarePoint day. Mama Laurentine, the CarePoint Cook prepares detailed menus each month that have been reviewed by a dietician for dietary balance. I was also able to meet Giselle, a young lady who would have lost her leg due to infection had it not been for the medical care provided through the program. There are many, many more stories such as these!
Most of all, I was thrilled to see how the Child Sponsorship program is really coming together!
I got to meet Augustine, a child that we sponsor!
I was so excited to meet little Augustine, the child that we have been sponsoring since March. Then, I was really frustrated to see how sad she was not to have received any letters from us. We had written to her for Easter and the letters had not yet arrived! It turned out that the next day (Tuesday), they arrived in a big envelope from America. Five weeks to get a package from the US by regular mail! Anyway, she will be excited to see them tomorrow!
Newly sponsored Sarah writing a letter to her sponsor
Sarah, one of the CarePoint girls who had just been sponsored was in the process of writing a letter to her Sponsor when we arrived. There was at least five letters to children from their Sponsors this month that were first time letters and the children are thrilled! The communication is starting to flow back and forth across the ocean and the children are starting to realize that they are loved and prayed for by people that they have never met halfway around the world.
So, I will post more later... But as I said, I wish I could have every Sponsor come and see what their faithful support is doing. Children are growing physically, spiritually and mentally in large part due to the support of our Sponsors and of course, the work of our amazing staff!
Thank you to one and all!
BH
Monday, May 19, 2014