April 2015 E. N. Ravenhall
REPORT ON VISIT TO SOUTH KIVU, DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO
AND BUJUMBURA, BURUNDI: APRIL 2015
Introduction
A visit was undertaken to the South Kivu Province of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
(DRC), and Bujumbura, capital city of Burundi, between 11 th
– 25 th
April 2015. This was in company with Lauren Lembo, of YWAM (Scotland), and with the purpose of teaching a series of pastors’ seminars in diverse places throughout this region, facilitated by missions colleagues
Mana Shemahamba and Edmond Hatungimana of the DRC and Burundi respectively.
The South Kivu Province of the DRC continues to enjoy a welcome measure of stability, and this in turn encourages the incubation and development of business interests which promote prosperity. Occasionally rebel factions make incursion into this Province with intent to destabilize society with chilling effect. This, despite the significant presence of United Nations’ forces in the area, but happily these are no longer frequent in nature. Due to a season of very heavy rains prior to our arrival in Uvira, (the border town from which we would operate), a number of strategic road bridges were destroyed, and to some extent this provided a minor inconvenience to our movements, but a much greater impediment to normal life and trading among the Congolese residents. Despite these catastrophic bridge failures severing the national road artery serving all of the Eastern DRC, no external assistance in restoring same was evident in effecting repairs or replacement. This reasonably demonstrates an accepted opinion within common Congolese thinking: that no one is interested or cares about them. Thus, when any visitors appear from the “outside”, such as ourselves, intent on serving them with passion and commitment, then they are understandably celebrated, and we were frequently moved by the kindness, generosity and appreciation shown to us in this nation.
Bujumbura is more affluent than its immediate Congolese hinterland, but we were advised that rural Burundi is much worse, having a very low rate of literacy, and surviving badly on poor subsistence farming. As such, community development projects are greatly in demand. During the course of our visit, Burundi was gearing up for a national election during which the President would be chosen. Much speculation existed over whether current President Pierre Nkurunziza would elect to stand for a third term in office – contrary to the prevailing constitution. Should he do so, then the popular reaction was expected to include street protests and civil disobedience, most likely degenerating into some rioting within the capital city. Churches were praying for a peaceful solution to the prevailing tensions.

Youth With A Mission has launched a national work within Burundi and, together with its natural expressions of evangelism and training, has a big vision to model means of transforming local communities. This is to be both applauded and encouraged. A visit was made to their newly rented operating base, and some discussions enjoyed with their National Director Jagen
Nzunguri. Future partnership opportunities are foreseen with YWAM (Burundi).
Democratic Republic of Congo
Pastors’ seminars were taught in Uvira, Kiliba, Sange and Luvumbi, and the church leaders attending these events numbered 350. We shared the teaching through interpretation, and went on to preach at three CEPAC, (Swedish Free Mission), services in similar style. These services were attended by over 2,000 people, and a particular highlight was Lauren’s preaching at a
“youth” service, (18 to late 30’s age group), at which there was an enormous response to interest in missions.
Wherever we went there was a tremendous hunger for teaching, and invitations were frequently received to return again. Equally, popular was Lauren’s singing, and she delivered solo items at some of our meetings.
Whilst at Kiliba a visit was made to the Wycliffe Bible translation centre, where translation of the Bible into local Congolese language Fuliri has just been completed after some 20 years of work. This is obviously a cause for much rejoicing, but any such euphoria is muted due to the lack of funds to actually now print copies of this translation. We travelled with the Wycliffe
Director for a few days as he desperately tried to raise awareness and funds by public subscription to finance a print run of same. This is not untypical of working in Africa, where it feels as though each advance has to be fought for against often seemingly insuperable odds...
Burundi
Three teaching events were undertaken in Bujumbura, two as seminars to church leaders, and one as part of an evening service at the large Life Centre Church. All were, again, well received, with further similar visits being requested in the future. The Life Centre Church has a particularly wide and inclusive vision to bring transformation to the nation in various aspects of society, and hopes to cooperate with rural churches to affect improvement through community development projects.

A pleasing aspect of our time in Bujumbura was opportunity to visit the fledgling YWAM
(Burundi) Base, and then learn about their proposed purpose and current activities. Led by Jagen and Ruth Nzunguri, the complement of seven staff have developed a broad range of ministries, however, lack of manpower limits the frequency with which some can be undertaken. (This applies particularly to the street kids’ feeding programme and hospital visitation occasions).
One regular and permanent feature of their activities is running a pre-school for 20 children some
12 miles distant from the Base. Seen as the first element of a progressively expanding children’s education programme which will eventually include up to senior school, a fresh intake of pupils with the new school year will double the size of the school. At this school none of the pupils’ families are able to afford school fees, and so in each case pupils are individually sponsored through their education by benefactors.
Another outward reaching ministry here concerns the many fishermen working on Lake
Tanganyika, and efforts to evangelize them. The measure of success of this work may be judged from 55 such men making a decision for Jesus last week, and all but two of them wanting to be baptized immediately. Each of these new Christians is currently being led through a weekly discipleship training programme as they are grafted into local churches.
On the subject of discipleship, one YWAM Discipleship Training School is run each year: this may well need to increase in time...
A women’s group run by one staff member has a distinction in that these ladies all have disabled children – who are also welcome. The group undertake handicrafts together, share and learn from each other about dealing with disability, and the children are able to receive comforting massage and physiotherapy from professionally qualified staff member Melody, who runs this programme.
Ultimately, the YWAM team see their work expanding throughout the nation with other bases, and headquartered from a centre dedicated to modelling community transformation. The means of achieving this will be through providing services of health care, education, vocational training, etc, and a suitable 3 acre plot has already been identified adjacent the pre-school, on the edge of
Bujumbura.
Finally, a visit was undertaken whilst in the city to the operating centre of “Albinos Without
Borders”, a work of growing international consequence, and overseen here by Pascal Matabishi.
Albinism is a very serious condition in much of sub-Saharan Africa, largely because it makes the individual carrying this condition prey to ritual murder. Witch doctors, among others, prescribe owning body parts of albinos as a remedy for various conditions, including AIDS, and sometimes even limbs are removed from live “donors”. Albinos Without Borders campaigns

with passion for the human rights, protection and dignity of such people, and Pascal is a man whose dedication to this end is inspiring.
Conclusion
Church leaders within the DRC and Burundi have lagged behind more recent proliferations of
Christian teaching, and are keenly feeling their need in this area. They are both desperate and grateful for any help given in these matters, and eager to implement lessons learned. This makes for very fertile ground for teachers... They are also facing hardships associated with poverty and perhaps politics also in days to come. This demands heightened measures of understanding from teachers. It is well worth the effort: well worth the journey to serve these dear men and women of God and His purposes for their nations.
We will continue in contact, and look for future opportunities to serve them in this way.
E. N. Ravenhall
Curlew Cottage,
Lumsdaine,
Coldingham,
Berwickshire,
TD14 5UA.
01890 771172 ravenhalls@hotmail.com

Appendix I
Index to photographs following:
1.
CEPAC Church, Kiliba, DRC: Church leadership group following Pastors’ Seminar.
2.
CEPAC Church, Kasenga, Uvira, DRC: Pastors’ Seminar, Ed Ravenhall teaching.
3.
CEPAC Church, Kasenga, Uvira, DRC: Pastors’ Seminar, Lauren Lembo teaching.
4.
CEPAC Church, Kasenga, Uvira, DRC: Sunday service congregation.
5.
CEPAC Church, Mulunga, Uvira, DRC: Youth Service, Lauren Lembo preaching.
6.
CEPAC Church, Sange, DRC: Pastors’ Seminar, Ed Ravenhall teaching.
7.
Apostolic Church, Gatumba, Burundi: Our Mobile Team following a Pastors’ Seminar;
(left to right) Mana Shemahamba, Edmond Hatungimana, Lauren Lembo, Ed Ravenhall.
8.
Rehoboth Ministry Church, Bujumbura, Burundi: Pastors’ Seminar venue.
9.
YWAM Bujumbura, Burundi: Women’s Group Ministry undertaking handicrafts.
10.
YWAM Bujumbura, Burundi: New YWAM Base, general view.
11.
“Albinos Without Borders”, Bujumbura, Burundi: Director Pascal Matabishi, (centre right), with Edmond Hatungimana, Ed Ravenhall and Lauren Lembo.
12.
Life Centre Church, Bujumbura, Burundi: Ed Ravenhall preaching, evening service.

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