{"id":5134,"date":"2013-10-02T18:47:35","date_gmt":"2013-10-03T01:47:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/?p=5134"},"modified":"2013-10-02T18:47:35","modified_gmt":"2013-10-03T01:47:35","slug":"methodist-missionaries-work-to-improve-quality-of-life-in-the-congo","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/methodist-missionaries-work-to-improve-quality-of-life-in-the-congo\/","title":{"rendered":"Methodist Missionaries work to improve quality of life in the Congo"},"content":{"rendered":"<style><!--p.padding {padding-left:.5cm;}--><\/style>\n<p><strong>Methodist Missionaries work to improve quality of life in the Congo<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>By Roman Hofer<\/em><\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s 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!<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s degree in Economics and Business Administration and Daria has a Master\u2019s degree in African Studies.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p><!--more More from Roman and Daria and their work in the Congo--><br \/>\nWhen 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\u2019t want to leave behind. One day a good friend reminded us: \u201cWhat about your plans of going to Africa?\u201d That woke us up.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>We are based in Lubumbashi. That\u2019s 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 \u201cJeunesse pour Christ\u201d 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.<\/p>\n<p>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. <\/p>\n<p>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\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<p>In a country where state service delivery is only gradually improving, the work done by churches is indispensable. <\/p>\n<p>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. &nbsp;Their Advance Special numbers are #3021820 for Daria and #3021821 for Roman. &nbsp;Additional information about their ministry is available on the General Board of Global Ministries website, www.umcmission.org.<\/p>\n<p><center><em>Special thanks to Barbara Dadd Shaffer<\/em><\/center><\/p>\n<hr>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=3258&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"A Journey in Mission (D5007) \" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/RESOURCES_AJourneyinMission.jpg?w=696\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"padding\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=3258&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>A Journey in Mission (D5007)<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nA 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 <a href=\"mailto:ejohanson@pnwumc.org?Subject=Re: A Journey in Mission (D5007)\">The Regional Media Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=2694&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Here I am Lord: Missionaries of the United Methodist Church (D4441)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/RESOURCES_HereIamLord.jpg?w=696\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"padding\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=2694&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Here I am Lord: Missionaries of the United Methodist Church (D4441)<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nThis DVD includes stories of missionaries in the Congo.  To reserve this video now, e-mail <a href=\"mailto:ejohanson@pnwumc.org?Subject=Re: Here I am Lord: Missionaries of the United Methodist Church (D4441)\">The Regional Media Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=3362&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"No Plan B (D5053)\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/RESOURCES_NoPlanB.jpg?w=696\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"padding\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=3362&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>No Plan B (D5053)<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nTodd Phillips helps answer the question \u201cHow can I help a world in need?\u201d 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 <a href=\"mailto:ejohanson@pnwumc.org?Subject=Re: No Plan B (D5053)\">The Regional Media Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/channels\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Channels 66\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Channels_66_cover_149px.jpg?w=696\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"padding\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/channels\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Channels 66 is NOW AVAILABLE<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nERTs needed in Colorado \u2022 Faith leaders warn of implications of U.S. shutdown \u2022 UM Agency condemns chemical weapons \u2022 Mission u\/5 Columns of Mission \u2022 Paul Jeffrey visits the PNW (schedule) \u2022 Giving to an Advance Project \u2022 Methodist Missionaries in the Congo \u2022 Why We Still March! \u2022 Walker: On My Deafness and Blindness \u2022 The Father&#8217;s Heart \u2022 Musings: Love Notes \u2022 Bishop: Church as a living organism \u2022 Nurturing Elders: Geezer Forums helpful for info, connections \u2022 To subscribe to Channels, e-mail <a href=\"mailto:jlove@pnwumc.org?Subject=Re: Sign me up for Channels!\">channels@pnwumc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>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 [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":5145,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[111,168],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5134","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-channels","8":"category-missionaries"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/NEWS_Missionaries.jpg?fit=600%2C600&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2l75j-1kO","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5134","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5134"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5134\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5146,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5134\/revisions\/5146"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5145"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5134"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5134"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5134"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}