Methodist Missionaries work to improve quality of life in the Congo

Methodist Missionaries work to improve quality of life in the Congo
By Roman Hofer

It has now been half a year since we first came to the Democratic Republic of Congo. After about a month of settling in, we had the privilege to visit The Pacific Northwest Conference in April, getting to know the many wonderful people involved in the Bishop’s Taskforce Hope for the Children of Africa. It was inspiring to meet so many folks eager to improve some of the lives of the people in the Congo. Thanks again for your great hospitality!

For those who do not know us yet, we are a young family. Our names are Roman and Daria and we have our wonderful daughter Jael, who is eighteen months old. We originally come from Switzerland. I have a Master’s degree in Economics and Business Administration and Daria has a Master’s degree in African Studies.

We both were exposed to missionary work in some form before. I volunteered for a few months in an income-generating project in Peru while Daria did some volunteering and some University related research in Tanzania and Zambia.

When we met, we were both surprised to see one another having a heart for serving the disadvantaged. And we promised each other that we would go on mission together someday, preferably to Africa. This was seven years ago. As time went by, we became a little bit lazy. We both had good jobs, family and friends we didn’t want to leave behind. One day a good friend reminded us: “What about your plans of going to Africa?” That woke us up.

Daria worked at the head office of the Swiss/French United Methodist Mission Board in Switzerland and went for project travel to the Congo. Along the way we learned about the possibility to become local project coordinators, so we applied for the position and were accepted.

Why is it important to us? We both grew up in a Christian home where we learned that there are others who do not have as much as we do. We both wanted to help in one way or the other with the understanding that people who live in less advantageous areas of this world can live better lives. So we both studied something where we felt we can use it for this aim. We believe that God sees every human being as precious and unique. Somehow not everyone believes that, so there is a lot of inequality and we want to contribute in order for people to have more equal opportunities.

We are based in Lubumbashi. That’s the second biggest city of the Congo. About 1.5 million people live there. We are closely working together with the local United Methodist Church. I am working as a local project coordinator. This involves supporting the local United Methodist project managers in budget planning and writing reports to the United States and Switzerland. Such projects are the two orphanages Jamaa Letu (CEJAL) and Barbara Tshisola (BART), nutrition and school support for street children, two hospitals in the bush, the local youth group “Jeunesse pour Christ” and the Methodist University in Mulungwishi. Through my experience in business administration I will also train local accountants in bookkeeping and drawing-up financial reports.

Daria is supporting the local United Methodist Health Board. She is assisting the coordinating doctors in writing up a strategic plan in order to write project proposals that in turn should help acquiring funds.

The ministry of the United Methodist Church in South Congo with vulnerable children has been supported by the Pacific-Northwest Conference since 1998. If a child in the Congo loses his parents, there is usually another family member who can take care of them. But many of the girls and boys in the United Methodist orphanages have been neglected or mistreated before they came to the orphanage. Some of them have been accused of witchcraft and of being responsible for their parents’ unexpected death. Therefore the extended family refuses to take them on. Others lost their parents because of the war and fled to Lubumbashi in search of means to survive in the big city.

The United Methodist Church in South Congo is an Episcopal Area containing five annual conferences and approximately 500,000 church members. It is the second largest denomination after the Catholic Church. The United Methodist Church has a strong presence in the everyday life of the Congolese people. Beside pastoral services the church also serves the community with health facilities, schools, universities, orphanages, nutrition programs and agricultural development.

In a country where state service delivery is only gradually improving, the work done by churches is indispensable.

Roman and Daria Hofer are missionaries of The United Methodist Church with a special relationship with The Pacific Northwest Conference. The PNWUMC was involved in the development of missionary positions and their placement in them. Local churches and individuals are encouraged to support their ministry with prayers and finances.  Their Advance Special numbers are #3021820 for Daria and #3021821 for Roman.  Additional information about their ministry is available on the General Board of Global Ministries website, www.umcmission.org.

A Journey in Mission (D5007) A Journey in Mission is a DVD of mission stories from United Methodist Women. There is a resource CD for programming as well as the DVD stories.To reserve this video now, e-mail The Regional Media Center.

Here I am Lord: Missionaries of the United Methodist Church (D4441) This DVD includes stories of missionaries in the Congo. To reserve this video now, e-mail The Regional Media Center.

No Plan B (D5053) Todd Phillips helps answer the question “How can I help a world in need?” In four sessions, Phillips travels to Rwanda and the Republic of Congo to explore how to make a difference to people looking for hope and help. To reserve this video now, e-mail The Regional Media Center.

Channels 66 is NOW AVAILABLE ERTs needed in Colorado • Faith leaders warn of implications of U.S. shutdown • UM Agency condemns chemical weapons • Mission u/5 Columns of Mission • Paul Jeffrey visits the PNW (schedule) • Giving to an Advance Project • Methodist Missionaries in the Congo • Why We Still March! • Walker: On My Deafness and Blindness • The Father’s Heart • Musings: Love Notes • Bishop: Church as a living organism • Nurturing Elders: Geezer Forums helpful for info, connections • To subscribe to Channels, e-mail channels@pnwumc.org.