TouchGlobal's March Newsletter

A GRATEFUL BOY

One week ago, I was at home drinking my coffee. Suddenly, I saw a young boy crying near my house. When I came near to him, I realized that it was one of our sponsored orphans named Gbolo Bakafi from Mbari Region. This boy was on his way to school. He felt sick (stomachache), and so I took him to the health clinic for treatment. After getting some medicine, I gave him a ride back home. He's living 6km from Gemena. When we arrived at home, he was so thankful to us and the GlobalFingerprints program.

Two days later, we travelled to Ndango, Mbanza-sud and Ndolo- liboko to renew children pictures. We met many children who were waiting for us, and many of them thanked us for all the program is doing for them. Many children and guardians (young and old) thanked us for the good things that GlobalFingerprints is doing for their children. We had a good trip and God protected us until we came back home in good health.

- Mandaba

2009 VBS PROJECT - SHOE ME

We are challenging kids throughout the EFCA to raise $25,000 to buy 2,500 pairs of shoes for Congolese orphans. In the U.S. having shoes is pretty much a given. This is not the case for kids in Congo. Most children wear flip flops that are often broken and sewn back together. Sometimes the soles are totally worn down, or the shoes are too big or too small. But kids wear what they have, and shoes don't get thrown away until there is nothing left.

Since they often walk 8-10 miles a day, having good shoes is critically. Walking is a child's means of transportation - there are no cars. School is ½ to 3 miles away. The market is 1-2 miles away. Children are sent everywhere with messages and deliveries. They walk to church. They walk to the water source to fetch water and carry the bucket back on their heads. They walk to the forest for fire wood.

Encourage your church to get involved! More information is on our website under "Resources." You can also share the GlobalFingerprints DVD with VBS program leaders. Email globalfingerprints@efca.org if you need a copy.

FROM RACHEL

787 orphans sponsored as of February! We continue to press on to our goal of 1,500 sponsored Congolese children, so keep praying and sharing with others about GlobalFingerprints. I'm looking for volunteers who would represent GlobalFingerprints in their local church. Let me know if you desire to do so (rachel.martin@efca.org).

Recently, many of you received a note from your child. We are still working on a few regions, and hopefully our Congolese team will be caught up soon. Mandaba also informed me that he has uploaded new pictures for a few regions, so check your sponsorship information to see if there is a new picture. The team has been traveling to different regions...and it is a challenge for them! Pray for safety on the roads.

Some sponsors have asked me how their sponsorship actually helps. Below is some additional information on how your sponsorship is changing the life of a child in Congo.

• Educationally: We pay the school fees (school isn't free in Congo), provide 2 uniforms annually, a backpack, notebooks and pens. In addition, we are working on providing shoes for each child. Check out the web site for more information on the GlobalFingerprints Shoe Me program.
• Medically: Each child receives an ID card giving him/her access to medical care. Many of the health centers, as well as Tandala Hospital, are part of the Congolese Evangelical Free Church ministry. Some children also receive health care at private health care centers, as well as Catholic and Covenant ones, depending on how far they live from one of our centers.
• Nutritionally: Each region with sponsored children receives money monthly for nutritional projects benefiting the orphans and their extended families. They plant gardens, and have protein (such as peanuts and beans) to share with the kids. They raise goats and chickens, and have fish ponds. As these projects grow, the children benefit from them more and more.
• Spiritually: Children are shown God's love and His truths through the supervisor, the local church, Sunday school ... and through all of those involved in GlobalFingerprints. During home visits, the supervisor prays and shares with the child. They are taught lessons from "Choose Life"... making wise choices in their lives, choosing good friends and God's way and His principles. They come to understand that Jesus loves them.
• Socially: The children are part of a family ... not only their extended family, but the GlobalFingerprints family. They love belonging, and find much security and love in being a part of it all.

$25/month accomplishes a lot in the life of a Congolese child! Continue to pray that we would reach this first goal of 1,500 sponsored orphans. Pray for the staff in Congo, that they would serve God and these children faithfully. In these hard financial times, some of you may be struggling to keep up with your commitment to GlobalFingerprints. May God provide for you, and may your faith in Him grow as you daily depend on Him.