A letter from Mike and Nancy Haninger in Congo
February 2009
Dear Friends,
For the past three months we have been having a wonderful and busy time visiting old and new friends across the country while interpreting the mission work of the church in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. We consider it such a blessing to be able to worship and to share meals and ideas in congregations all over our great nation. It is always inspiring to feel the love and concern of people for their brothers and sisters in Congo. In spite of the many great problems that we face in our country today, it is uplifting to know that so many faithful Christians have not forgotten the least of God’s children in other areas of the world.
Dr. Mubikayi and ladies with fistulas repaired.
We wanted to share some good reports from Congo related to our ministry. The first relates to the work we are doing to address the suffering of women suffering from obstetric fistula. Dr. Leon Mubikayi, our Congolese ob-gyn partner wrote us several weeks ago to tell us that he had been contacted by the medical director of a distant health zone who had identified nine women suffering with this tragic affliction. The Land Cruiser that we were able to purchase through donations of good Presbyterians was used to transport these ladies to the Good Shepherd Hospital. They were housed in the newly constructed fistula “welcome house” that was a gift from a faithful donor. These patients were provided food and medical care for any other problems while awaiting surgery, which was also provided at no cost. Those who were ready for discharge from the hospital awaited transportation back to their villages in that same welcome house where their needs were again met through the gifts given by you all. All of these special ladies were returned to their village where the women, once rejected, were joyously welcomed back to their families and their villages. We thank you all for the love you show these lovely young ladies in restoring to them the dignity of their lives and hope for a brighter future.
Distributing moringa trees to mothers and children.
Another area of continued success includes the programs in our ministry that address the terrible problem of hunger. One important and exciting strategy in malnutrition prevention is the moringa tree. Our faithful partners in this endeavor, in particular Jean Luc Tshipamba (the Congolese moringa program coordinator), work tirelessly to expand this miraculous gift from God. Jean Luc and over 1,000 trained volunteers continue to hold seminars and training sessions, distribute trees, seeds and educational materials and survey the work in an ever-expanding geographical area where incorporation of the moringa leaves continues to dramatically reduce the prevalence of malnutrition. The other exciting news related to this activity is the positive work toward being able to conduct in 2009 a scientific study requested by the World Health Organization and sponsored by the University of Kinshasa that will properly quantify and verify the many observations made on the effectiveness of moringa as a global prevention strategy for malnutrition. Although there are numerous good scientific studies already in existence on moringa, few have been conducted in Africa. The purpose of the study is to provide a published, peer-reviewed study that would satisfy the scientific requirements for inclusion of moringa in WHO strategies. The research protocol is in development with the university faculty, and we are receiving positive feedback from faithful donors toward helping fund this study. Scientifically validated proof of the impact of moringa powder on malnutrition prevention will result in a much greater understanding and proper use of moringa, which means preventing children from starving to death. It is hard to imagine a wiser use of gifts than this.
To those of you we have had the pleasure of recently visiting; we want to thank you for your warm and generous hospitality. For those of you we were not able to see this trip; we hope to see you in the future!
Our Love,
Mike and Nancy
The 2009 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 39
