Church helps flooded village

The United Methodist Church is working with the provincial government to provide relief in flooded areas along the Congo River.

Kabwe Leonard, a father of six and pastor of a United Methodist church in Kisanga wa Byonyi, took temporary shelter in the church with his family after his home flooded.

The flooding destroyed the homes and belongings of other Kisanga residents, while some lost property to looters.

In Bukama, the floods destroyed crops, which will mean a poor harvest, said Jeanne Kalenge.

Many areas along the Congo River have flooded in recent weeks, including Kisanga wa Byonyi. The flooding destroyed the homes and belongings of many residents, while some lost property to looters. Photo by the Rev. Betty Kazadi Musau, UMNS.

North Katanga Area Bishop Mande Muyombo visited Leonard and spoke to people in the flooded areas, calling on them to practice social holiness and focus on bringing peace of mind to those whose need is the greatest in order to transform the community in need.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief provided a $10,000 grant and the church used the money to hand out tents, cooking pots, salt, sugar, cooking oil, maize and buckets to flood survivors.

Professor Kalenga Mwenzemi Jackson, governor of Haut Lomami, drove from Kamina to Bukama to speak with flood victims along the Congo River. He underlined the partnership between the North Katanga Conference and the provincial government in developmental work.

Kalenga Tshoni, 75, thanked Muyombo for the church’s help in Bukama.

Milele Kayashingo said the church helped him wash clothes and distributed cooking pots since the flood, as well as providing tents, cornmeal and cooking oil, which he said would feed his children for a week.

“When the church is where we are and where we suffer, what the church does touches our heart…,” said Kayanshingo, a community leader.

Ngoie Muyombo, disaster coordinator for the church, was happy that UMCOR played a significant role in assisting flood victims.

It is encouraging to know that the church helps not only United Methodist members, but also community leaders and others, Ngoie Muyombo said.

Musau is secretary of the Central Congo Conference and health board chair of the North Katanga Conference. News media contact: Vicki Brown, Nashville, Tennessee, (615) 742-5470 or [email protected]. To read more United Methodist news, subscribe to the free Daily or Weekly Digests.