Projects in DR Congo 2023

“Compassion in action”

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.” James 1:27

“Helping the poor, helping those in need, it has never been a matter of money yet the disposition of one’s heart.” Pastor Emanuel Kashira.

In a region that is ethnically and politically divided like Eastern DRC, we demonstrate compassion without discrimination of religion nor ethnicity. With our very small budget, we were able to minister to the poor (widows, displaced and retired pastors) with a big heart.

Nevertheless, we are still facing challenges with fundraising. We’re hoping for a financial breakthrough with your support to meet our budget and so help more people in need. For a crisis of such intensity like in Goma/Eastern DRC, our work may seem so little and insignificant in comparison to the huge need on the ground, yet when looking at things from the context of the widows who received help, the retired pastors with zero income who receive a social assistance of $50 USD monthly, the desperate and hungry displaced who receive the small amount of food from our ministry to survive for at least three or four more days, our compassion is indeed making a big impact to the recipients. Besides, they know we care, which boost their morale as well as their mental wellness.

I would like to thank God for stirring into our hearts, this vision of Compassion to the forgotten victims of the war in Eastern DRC and for giving us the strength, the resilience and the faith to do the work in spite of the lack of financial resources as needed.

Last year was busy with food distribution at KANYARUCHINYA one of the main displaced camps in the outskirts of Goma. This camp is located about 15 miles North of Goma at the feet of Nyiragongo volcano. To get there with our load of food, our team had to rent a bus which was about $50 USD (in DRC and especially in Goma USD is used as the local currency). Our team did their best to reach a handful identified displaced in KANYARUCHINYA, 100 women (mothers) at a time, by rotation. Our team on the ground also did UPENDOs a Swahili word for “Agape love” which were home visits to elderly/retired pastors who are home bound with various life-threatening illnesses and with zero income and no social assistance. Each month $50 USD has been given and continue to this day as a monthly financial social assistance. This UPENDO ministry has made a positive impact in the spiritual, mental and social welfare of the families affected.

About the WIDOWS, our team on the ground also gave some financial assistance to widows, rotating from one church to the other, due to a huge number of widows registered with our ministry. We have officially over 900 widows registered as recipients. This help consisted of a small stipend to a group of identified widows. Some time, we served $20 USD per person, often times $10 USD per person, and other times $5 USD per person depending on the funding. On a regular basis we have been serving 50 widows, other times 90 widows, or 30 widows (monthly), depending on the funds available. Some widows, are selling tomatoes and or bananas in the market to get some small extra income for survival.

On April 14, 2023 (this is a special day when we celebrated the launching of this ministry 20 year ago) we served 500 widows, each received a gift of $10 USD and a brand-new outfit, gifts received with dancing, singing and Thanksgiving to the Lord and to the donors.

In 2023, we also reached out with UPENDO to Muslim widows into our community, about 40 Muslim women are registered as recipients with our ministry.

Thanksgiving: To GOD for stirring this vision into our hearts, for Uxbridge Baptist Church, our biggest financial partner in this vision, as well as our friends in Kingston who have been supporting us. Our big “Thank You” goes to Devxchange for their partnership, for including and trusting what we do on the ground in Goma/Eastern DRC. Our thanks are extended to our faithful, dedicated and committed volunteers team on the ground in Goma, Christine Kashira, Jean-Pierre Buhendwa, beloved faithful team Darius Kanzira who passed away suddenly last September 2023. Both Paul Haws and Mimi Kashira Haws consider it an amazing privilege to represent Jesus among the poor and the destitute in Goma/Eastern DRC through compassion in action.

Please join us, with your financial support.

Mimi Kashira Haws

Eastern Congo/War Relief

Fondation Pasteur Emanuel Kashira