Central Congo Area Bishop David K. Yemba recently reported destruction caused by heavy rains and strong winds to Diengenga, where United Methodists have created a clinic, a trade school and a farm, all lifesaving, cooperative mission enterprises.
“The disaster is not only to the church property, but it also to the community,” wrote Yemba. ” It is unfortunate that while we are still dealing with the other disaster in Kananga, Diengenga becomes victim of similar severe destruction.”
The Diengenga farm, which produces crops, milk, eggs and other animal by-products, is a key project of the Congo Partnership that links the Central Congo Area in mission with the Eastern PA, Peninsula-Delaware and Western North Carolina conferences. The clinic serves the local community and surrounding villages, and the trade school provides secondary-level education and training in several building and repair trades.
Yemba updated Congo Partnership missionaries Jonathan and Donna Baker on the crisis and asked that donations to help Diengenga recover from the extensive storm damage be sent to UMCOR. However, Eastern PA Conference churches and members are asked to direct donations to the Conference Treasurer’s office (indicate “Congo Partnership” on check memo lines). Donations will be credited and forwarded to the Congo Partnership office in Pen-Del.
Read Jon and Donna Baker’s mission blog. Also, visit the Congo Partnership Website.