Dear PCP friends,
Spring is finally here in Chicago! We are enjoying the spring weather by sitting outside and sipping on freshly roasted Karawa coffee. Our partners in DR Congo are experiencing their rainy season which is a blessing for growing coffee; yet will prolong bridge completion to some extent.
You are on our minds and hearts as we marvel at the Lord’s provision over the past year. Your gifts, prayers, phone calls and video chats with us have bolstered PCP’s impact in DR Congo as well as encouraged our team. Just today I was on a Zoom call with Rev. Duale, the new President of the Covenant Church of Congo, who expressed his profound gratefulness for you! He understands the gravity of Covid-19 in the US, and sends his heartfelt thanks for your financial support amid deep uncertainty. Many thanks!
Looking ahead to activity in 2021, we covet your prayers and support as our plans include returning to DR Congo. PCP Medical Ambassador teams hope to intensify their training with Congolese colleagues. Karawa Coffee Project will become its own business and expects a significantly larger harvest this fall. Strategic bridge building continues with partner Hope International Development Agency.
Bright hope for DR Congo warms our hearts as we continue with you, our partners, in service to the Lord through PCP. Please join us in thanking Him for the wonderful ministry results shared below.
Joyfully in Christ,
Renée Hale
Executive Director
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Karawa Coffee Is Here
The PCP team, Covenant Church of Congo, and partner Café Africa would like to thank all our ministry partners who helped us exceed our $190,000 goal, raising more than $213,000 for the Karawa Coffee Project during the fall 2020 appeal! Since 2017, your support helps our partners reduce extreme poverty, enhance food security, and build the economy, resulting in improved livelihoods for coffee producers and families.
- There are now 2,185 families represented in growing coffee
- 1.2 million coffee plants have been planted since 2018
- Nearly 1,122 hectares now host coffee plants
- The Covenant Church of Congo engages coffee producers, families, and project leaders in spiritual encouragement by hosting coffee seminars, organizational meetings, and church services.
Karawa coffee arrived in Chicago mid-February. Everybody's Coffee in Chicago is storing, roasting, and shipping Karawa coffee directly to you. If you have not had the opportunity yet, there is still plenty of time to order Karawa coffee. Thank you for investing in DR Congo!
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New Karawa Hospital Pediatric Ward Completed
The Karawa Hospital Pediatric Ward was completed February 24, 2021. The bed capacity increased from 18 to potentially 60 beds, which is more than twice the bed capacity as the previous building!
A major factor in the initiation of the construction was the time the hospital staff took to create the best building design. This added to the planning period; however, it provided a more appropriate building for the increasing needs of the hospital. As a result, the new facility was creatively designed, with a very open, light-filled, warm and welcoming atmosphere for infant and childcare. The new design provides for one general ward, two isolation rooms, a neonatal room, one private room, and two offices. The ward began accepting patients in early March 2021.
Rev. Duale (President of the CEUM), local officials, and pastors dedicated the new facility with much celebration. The original cramped, small building that provided care (at times for two children to a bed), is now being converted into a new Triage/Emergency Center.
Thank you to our generous donors for funding a new hospital ward for children!
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Bridges Give Life
Congolese engineers and many workers continue to construct a 9-bridge complex connecting Bogose Nubea and Karawa. During construction people are crossing on temporary footbridges which are safer than the former log bridges. This robust project provides safe passage for vehicles and pedestrians and is the first time in over three decades that these two geographic areas will be connected. Due to an early rainy season, this project will likely be completed over the next several months.
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