Welcome to the City of Refuge International News Blog!
Here is where we will be listing Congo news and the latest updates on our orphanage construction progress. We will also be posting prayer requests and specific needs, and giving glory to God for His kindness and blessings.
12 comments:
Dear friends I am happy to let you know that we have considered your comments about the website and have made some changes. Our blog is up and running. Please let us know what you think.
Blessing,
Richard
I just now finished updating the website. You've GOT to see the pictures of the kids! Goto the Projects page... Enjoy!...and God Bless You!
-Randy Fultz-
It is amazing to see how God has been blessing the children of City of Refuge! May we all continue to be faithful to pray for the work God is doing. The children are so precious!
In Christ,
Erin
Dear partners:
Let us take time to reflect on the year of 2007. The ministry was formed early this year, and by God's grace, it became a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Since June, ninety-two orphans have been receiving regular nutritious food. In September, forty-seven of the children were provided with school uniforms, supplies, and monthly tuition.
Measuring three square-acres, the land is now completely enclosed by the security wall, and has both running water and electricity access. The security wall construction progressed rapidly, and was completed in November. The security wall itself is ten feet high, measuring 150 by 60 meters. The front side includes two large metal gates, and the back has two smaller exit gates. Now, we have an orphanage site ready to go.
Finally, with the tremendous effort of Geiger, the COR representative in the Congo, the children celebrated Christmas at the orphanage site, complete with songs and dance, and gifts of new clothes and fine leather shoes for each child. Christmas pictures will be coming soon!
As we begin 2008, we plan to see completion of all the buildings at the orphanage site. Once the buildings are complete, staff will be hired, and all of the children will be moved to their permanent home.
More so, we know that the completion of the orphanage project is only one piece of the broader COR vision. The Democratic Republic of the Congo is a country hard-hit by years of war, with thousands dying monthly. According to human rights groups, the Congolese war has been one of the deadliest, second only to World War II.
In addition to caring for the needs of our orphans, we look forward to expanding our work, beginning in the city of Kamina. Kamina itself has no reliable source of running water, irregular electricity, inadequate education systems, debilitated healthcare resources, and unemployment rates of 90 percent.
However, with the recent establishment of democratically-elected national and local government representatives, the first in forty years, the people of the DRC are hopeful. It will take time for the government to be stable. Indeed, there are still pockets of rebel groups whose tactics threaten the progress and stability of the country. Thousands have been displaced, and many women and children have been raped or abducted by rebel groups or forced into sex trafficking. Thousands of innocent civilians have been killed.
It is our hope and prayer, that by God’s grace, the City of Refuge International might provide a means by which such suffering can be addressed and alleviated. The broader humanitarian vision of the COR includes establishment of business opportunities, development of city infrastructure, opening of educational opportunities, training of job skills, and increasing access to physical and mental health services.
We want to give a heartfelt thank you to all who have supported the City of Refuge with generous financial contributions, and an abundance of prayer. We encourage those of you who have joined with us to continue your lifesaving efforts! To those of you who are not currently a part of the City of Refuge International, we invite you to join us in this effort of saving the lives of Congolese people, and instilling hope for a brighter future.
If you have any questions, feel free to contact us at any time. You may contact us by phone or by email. Also, please refer to our website for updates. Our blog is also up and running, and we invite your comments and suggestions. Anyone interested in contributing to the blog can do so by first setting up a free Google email account, at www.google.com.
Sincerely,
Richard Kitumba
President
City of Refuge International partners,
Happy New Year to you all! May this year be full of hope, joy, and peace.
Richard
Hello,
Richard I am Erin's cousin Lyndsey. I am sooo excited to finaly get your website correct and begin what I feel is going to be a journey with you, erin and the City of Refuge. I have spoken with Er many times and I will be talking to her today. I would it if you or her would create an informative email that I can send out to the masses threw my company. I would love to begin rasing awareness and funds to help out. Love to you. Please get back to me. my email is lyns.gamble@gmail.com
John and Richard-
I saw the website again today and I am always inspired by how much has been accomplished. I know the people of the Congo will be forever blessed by the work you have begun. Thank God for you both!
-Margo Fultz-
I'm excited to see this website and look forward to being a part of what is happening in the DR Congo. I have also been following another ministry that started at the end of 2005 in Bukavu, DR Congo. It is wonderful to see
God working and starting new ministries in different corners of the DR of the Congo. If anyone is interested, you can find it at http://www.irsmin.com then from Administrative select ministry locations then DR Congo.
Hello Viva,
Thank you so much for getting involved with COR!
Do you work with Iris Ministries? I looked at their website, and particularly at the DRC ministry page. I have heard a lot about the Baker's work in Africa, and truly, God is doing amazing work in the DRC.
Would you like to pass on your contact information to info@cityofrefugeinternational.org so we can keep you informed?
Many blessings to you,
Erin
Hello Margo,
Thank you for continuing to be involved with the City of Refuge, and for posting to our blog.
We know that you have a heart for the people of the DRC, and we know the Lord will continue to work through you.
In Him,
Richard
Erin and Richard-
I hope to visit the Congo either in early May or August, just for a few weeks. I would love to keep in touch and know what I can do for the children and how I can help them. After May 2009, I am dedicating more than just a few weeks to them, but until then, what can I do to help the orphanage? Gracie mentioned fund-raising, so let me know. I'll also be brainstorming. God bless!
-Margo
Hello Margo!
Thank you for writing. Are you thinking about traveling to the DRC this year?
I got your call too, and I'm really excited to hear that you're interested in helping out by raising awareness and funds. I'd love to hear what some of your ideas are. I would love to talk with you on the phone soon.
Here are a couple ideas: you could host a DRC awareness event on your campus, or at your church in Portland. Also, do you think any of your professors, or any school clubs you belong to, would be interested in hosting Richard as a guest speaker?
Talk to you soon!
In Peace,
Erin
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