February 2011
It is hard to believe that it has been over a month since I came back to FACTEB. I believe it is time for the much-delayed update.
To begin with, thank you very much for praying. As some of you already know, the trip back home was quite an adventure. It was like hitchhiking by air due to the snowstorm that shut down most airports in Western Europe. Thank God, I made it safely in Boma on Christmas Eve.
On December 26, Lau and I left with the boys for Muanda to spend some down town as a family at the beach. The usually one and a half hour trip took us three hours because of the road conditions. Time at beach was fantastic. We came back on the 30th, hoping to make it all the way to Maduda where we intended to spend New Year's Day with my aging parents. Unfortunately, we couldn't make it with the small car we're using now, as it had rained virtually nonstop the previous two days. Indeed, shortly after we left, the road to Muanda was closed as the conditions had badly deteriorated. It has since reopened, but only for 4x4 willing to take a five-hour safari.
Yes, we're seeing more than usual amounts of rain this year. It reminds me of the way it used to be when we were kids. While this is excellent for farmers who are expecting bumper crops, it has been hard on those poor dirt roads that had just been serviced. The return of the swamps in the low lands between Boma and Muanda has brought back mosquitoes in a big way. I've just recovered from my first bout with malaria in more than twenty years. Thank God, the rest of the family has been in good health.
At FACTEB we have good reasons to rejoice, as the Lord has blessed us in so many ways. First of all, life on campus seems indeed pleasant. There is an excellent atmosphere both in Chapel and in classrooms. Once again, the Lord has sent us an excellent group of new students.
Furthermore, apart from God's miraculous provision for our needs, FACTEB has reached a significant milestone few weeks ago as I received from the hands of the National Minister of Higher Education the decree granting FACTEB final accreditation for all its programs. To top it up, we're expecting President Joseph Kabila to sign in the near future a decree that will grant us legal status as an institution of higher education. All this will significantly raise the profile of our institution within the country.
First Alliance Church in Calgary raised for us 60,000 dollars in one weekend. This money is going to build one married students residence. We're expecting to start construction as soon as we receive the transfer. Our hope is to get this residence ready for students in October.
Once again, ReGen came through with 48 scholarships for our students. This project is not only a blessing for our students and the Church, but as Administration, we have also come to depend on it. Without this kind of support, we would not be able to function.
Work on the main floor of our new library is virtually done. I say "virtually" because we're getting to move in. However, with the significant increase in the price of cement, we ran close to 10% over budget. This did not allow us to finish flooring on the main reading room. We've applied for adding funding, while at the same time we're praying for funding of the second phase, which is the second floor with offices and classroom space. Please, pray with us.
The other projects we had the last few years are also done. Both the two married student's residences (C1 and C2) and the pigsty were completed within budget (including the retaining wall for the residences). We're now using one of the apartments (C2) as a temporary guest house. We have five pigs in the pigsty and the first may have their babies in few months.
We have received from a local Dutch company a 5KVA transformer. Once it is connected to the power grid, this transformer will certainly make a big difference to the quality of power we get on campus.
For those who have been wondering, the crisis within the Church is moving toward final resolution. Last month, the National Minister of Justice signed a decree recognizing the Transition Authority (Colonel Babaka's Team) as the only legal authority of the Alliance Church in Congo (CEAC). The next step will be a General Assembly in two weeks, February 21-25, where a new leadership for the Church will be elected. Of, course, we still have all those lawsuits that are still pending and President Nzelele may still appeal the decision of the National Minister of Justice. However, what really matters to me is that with few exceptions, ministries in our local Churches are back to normal. At least at the grassroots level, there seems to be peace.
Please continue to pray with us for the following items:
- All the visits we're expecting in the near future: Kyle and Colleen Jantzen, Ray and Vi Downey, Sandy Ayer, Joseph Ngoma Nzita, and Liévin Khonde Tona.
- One of visiting professor and an alumnus of FACTEB, Liévin Khonde Tona, who is defending his PhD thesis in France this April.
- One of professors, Robert Mabiala Mbambi who is caught in the political turmoil in Egypt where he is studying Arabic. His school is only about 100 meters away from the Tahir Place where the gatherings and confrontations have been taking place.
- We're still working through the red tape to get our transformer connected to the main grid.
Thank you again for your continued support.
Kenzo