Congo Hope

10/03/2026

Great report from Congo Leadership Initiative!!

07/19/2026

Dr Tshiamala Clément -son of Émile BANSUGILA who has served many years in the hospital lab at Good Shepherd Hospital in the DRC.

In 2015 Emile brought Tshiamala Clement to meet us during one of our visits. The young man’s temperament and determination impressed Jan and me. We made a commitment to help with secondary school. University and medical school followed. Now, 11 years later Dr. Tshiamala is serving in the Lubondaie Hospital.

This is especially meaningful as Lubondaie is where my parents served 1939-42, where my sister Sarita Manuel was born, where I lived for three years in high school, and where my mother served for a decade from 1964 to 1974.

It feels like it was meant to be!

06/27/2026

📚🎓 À tous les ,
L’Université Évangélique en Afrique ( ) vous adresse ses encouragements les plus sincères à l’occasion des examens d’État 2026.
Après des années d’efforts, de discipline et de persévérance, le moment est venu de récolter les fruits de votre travail. Abordez chaque épreuve avec confiance, sérénité et détermination. Croyez en vos capacités et donnez le meilleur de vous-mêmes.
Que cette étape importante soit une porte ouverte vers un avenir rempli d’opportunités et de réussite.
🌟 Bonne chance à tous les finalistes ! Que Dieu vous accompagne et vous accorde sagesse, courage et succès.

06/27/2026

2026 fundraiser a success!
https://www.educationcongo.org/special-project

06/27/2026

Check out this in-game content from Portugal vs DR Congo on 6/17/20...

06/13/2026

Last year donations from Waverly Road Presbyterian (Kingsport, TN) and Shallowford Presbyterian (Atlanta, GA) sent funds to construct a small building as a Synod office in Bulape, DRC. The building was built entirely by local labor and villagers made and fired the bricks. Even the youth got involved with making bricks and carrying them to the construction site. They had left over metal sheets after roofing the building.

Fast forward, 6/11/2026 I received this photo.

The village leaders were so encouraged by the work on the Synod building that they are now constructing a guesthouse utilizing the left over metal roofing and, once again making bricks and providing the labor.

Sometimes a little outside boost is all that is needed to help restore hope and move things to the next level!!!

04/04/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1DjRfC7JxY/ The work done by Dr Mukwege's Panzi Foundation restores lives and dignity as they support sexual violence victims.

04/04/2026

03/14/2026

Cohort #10 of Congo Leadership Initiative training for young leaders in Kananga. Each cohort spends 14 Saturdays going through leadership and entrepreneurial training. Half the group are young ladies and half young men. The future of a nation!