God Did Not Forget Us

In previous posts, I have spoken about Nyankunde, a village in northeast DRC where Samaritan’s Purse currently has two health and nutrition programs. For decades, Nyankunde was home to an interdenominational mission base, consisting of a Bible school, airstrip, printing press, a pharmacy and a hospital. Due to the influx of European, North American, and even Asian missionaries, the village was seen as an area of relative prosperity. The village had access to resources that other localities did not. The schools were better, the medicine was better, and jobs could be found with one of the various missions present. Several of my Congolese colleagues grew up in Nyankunde. Almost all of their families were from other villages, and moved to Nyankunde to improve their quality of life. Interestingly, many of my colleagues learned English through playing with the children of the missionaries.

Unfortunately, the resources that attracted the families of my colleagues also attracted military conflict during the Second Congolese Civil War. Viewed as a prime area to loot, militia groups came burning buildings and slaughtering innocent civilians, including over 1,000 hospital staff and patients. As many as 4,500 people were killed in the village as a result of the violence. Thirteen years later, Nyankunde is still feeling the effects of this pointless genocide. Over the last several years, those displaced from the conflict have gradually returned. However, very few have a tangible way of providing for their families, as employment is scarce and basic agricultural information has been lost.
Today, both the hospital and airstrip are running again, but at a much lower capacity than before the war. Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF) operates the airstrip, while World Medical Mission, the medical arm of Samaritan’s Purse, employs six expatriate physicians.* Samaritan’s Purse has also constructed an operating room building for the hospital.**

Something That Requires Faith

 In addition to the operating room, Samaritan’s Purse was also hoping to reconstruct the maternity ward that was destroyed during the war. Every winter, Samaritan’s Purse releases a Christmas gift catalogue (http://www.samaritanspurse.org/our-ministry/gift-catalog/) to raise funds for our various projects. In 2013, two American siblings who previously took a cake decorating class, Gabe and Livy, wanted to use their hobby of decorating cakes to raise money for Samaritan’s Purse. They first set off by raising $14 to purchase two chickens. They then raised an additional $75 to buy a goat.
Raising money for these projects came naturally for thirteen year old Gabe and his nine year old sister Livvy. It came so naturally that they were disappointed in how easily they raised the funds. Gabe felt that he was able to meet his previous goals on his own strength, and desired to do “something that requires faith.” That is to say, he wanted to be involved in a project so seemingly impossible that it could only be accomplished through God’s help. So he and his sister searched through the Samaritan’s Purse catalogue and found the most expensive project listed: the construction of a maternity ward for $35,000.

Gabe and Livvy quickly returned to baking and selling cakes. Word of their mission to fund the maternity ward spread, and other children also began helping out. Many of these children became so passionate about project that they asked their parents to donate money in place of receiving birthday and Christmas presents. Upon reaching ten thousand dollars, the project gained media attention. Gabe was invited by a former baker of the Queen of England to be tutored in gourmet baking techniques and be a guest on his television program. During their television appearance, the siblings raised $12,000 for their project. Among the viewers was a representative from the Muhammad Ali Center, who was particularly touched by the children’s story.




Picture of the Gabe and Livvy with Muhammad Ali.***

2014 marked the 40^th anniversary of the infamous 1974 “Rumble in the Jungle” boxing match between George Foreman and Muhammad Ali. In an effort to raise the nation’s international profile, recently inaugurated President Mobutu hosted the fight in the capital of Kinshasa. Ali, who knocked-out the then undefeated Foreman, is still beloved in Congo today. In order to commemorate the anniversary of Ali’s victory, the Muhammad Ali Association planned a large party, and the organization wanted Gabe to bake enough dessert for 700 guests. During the celebration, Gabe and Livy were given an opportunity to share their desire to raise money for the maternity ward. An anonymous donor in attendance was so moved by their story, that they provided the remaining $13,000.

Coming Home

The story behind the reconstruction of the maternity ward is multi-layered and can be chronicled from many different angles. It is therefore important not to overlook the many people who made this project possible. The construction of both the maternity ward and the operation room buildings were managed by SP’s Jon Miller. Both Jon and his wife, Heather, are the children and grandchildren of missionaries in Africa. Heather’s grandfather managed the aforementioned printing press and constructed the building that now houses Samaritan’s Purse’s staff in Nyankunde. Perhaps even more amazing is that Jon was born in the same maternity ward that he reconstructed. Not enough credit can be given to this couple for their involvement in this project and the mentoring they have given to the younger SP expat staff.

Exterior of the new maternity ward.

God Will Not Forget Us

I had the privilege of attending the opening ceremony of the maternity ward. In attendance were Gabe, Livvy, and their mother.  It was a blessing to hear them to tell their story first hand, and to eat the softest cupcakes I have ever consumed.

During the ceremony, the president of the hospital gave some stirring words. “When the war started,” he proclaimed. “We said that God will not forget us. [But as the war progressed, we became discouraged, and] we thought that God forgot us. But now we can say that God did not forget us, and that God is with us.”

Even after experiencing unimaginable hardship, our Christian brothers and sisters can affirm that the Steadfast love of the Lord never ceases. His mercies never come to an end.

The new delivery room.

 

*Though I need to validate my sources, I was told that over twenty missionary doctors were once simultaneously working at the hospital.

** http://www.samaritanspurse.org/article/from-death-to-life-2/

***Photo credit: https://www.facebook.com/GabeTheCakeMan/photos/pb.124103517665890.-2207520000.1446388932./715076195235283/?type=3&theater

You can learn more about Gabe “The Cake Man” and his sister Livvy at http://GabeandLivvysavetheday.com/ or by following them on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/GabeTheCakeMan/.