Kongba's Story

Reprinted from the Global Fingerprints newsletter.

A few months ago, I got to know a 12-year-old boy named Kongba. He is best friends with Eyenga, one of our sponsored orphans. We at GlobalFingerprints know Kongba through Eyenga's visits with Rachel Martin.

Kongba is in a family of five children and has recently become sponsored by GlobalFingerprints. When I met him, we had a little talk about his life. Before being sponsored, life was really difficult. Kongba's father died and the children were left alone with their mom. There was no one to help the family. Pake, Kongba's mom, was selling a few things at home or in the market to feed her children, but these were not sufficient.

Kongba and his brothers were not going to school like other children. Sometime Pake was gardening to feed her children, and she was helped by Kongba and the others.

Every time Rachel Martin visits the Congo, Kongba follows her with his friend Eyenga. After a recent GlobalFingerprints staff visit, Kongba is now a sponsored child in the GlobalFingerprints program.

Things have changed in Kongba's life. Now he is attending school with others, and his health care is secured. When I visited with him, Kongba shared, "GlobalFingerprints has changed many things in my life because I am sponsored. I have friends in the U.S. and many people are praying for me." He is so thankful to his sponsor for praying for him. He also is asking God to bless her and the program of GlobalFingerprints.

- Mandaba

From Rachel

We are currently sponsoring 882 Congolese orphans! Help us reach 1,000 by sharing the news and challenging family and friends to sponsor an orphan. It is one of the most wonderful gifts you can give a child!

Through our VBS "Shoe-ME" project this past summer, close to $30,000 was raised for shoes for orphans! I was there when they began purchasing the shoes, and the kids were thrilled. It was exciting as they tried on shoes until the right size was found for them. They now are ready for the new school year!

Pray for Mama Lopango, Congolese GlobalFingerprints program manager. She has been quite ill with a heart problem. When she went to Kinshasa in July to open this GlobalFingerprints area with the sponsorship of 22 orphans, she was able to see a cardiologist and begin treatment. I have received this message from her:

My sister Rachel,

I am very happy to thank the Most High who led me to work with GlobalFingerprints. I also thank our partner TouchGlobal and the CECU Congolese Church who have allowed me to fill this position. It was God's will and while I was in Kinshasa, I was able to get help physically for my heart condition. May God bless you all.

My family is well. Continue to pray for me with my health. I am taking medicine and will have another doctor's visit on October 25.

We are caring for all of the orphans in GlobalFingerprints. For this new school year, they have all received notebooks, uniforms, shoes, backpacks, love kits. But one region, Imesse, is having serious tribal problems, so pray for the kids in that region.

Our orphans are very happy - all of them! One more time, may I ask God to bless all of you who are contributing to GlobalFingerprints.

Mama Lopango

Thank you for your ongoing prayers and financial support of this very important ministry. Your generosity is touching lives ... eternally, all across the Congo.

GlobalFingerprints is a ministry of EFCA TouchGlobal. Visit TouchGlobal at www.touchglobal.org for information on how lives are touched and hope is found, across the country, around the world, every day.