Building Bukavu

I am so eager to write about our first visit to the main prison in Bukavu after initiating a feeding program. Due to Covid, all prisons were shut down allowing no food or outsiders to enter.

 All except for several of our coworkers, who go in weekly to teach and encourage, they WERE  allowed to bring in food!  

I admit to having mixed emotions. I was being allowed to speak to the whole prison, witness baptisms, plus visit the infirmary where several hundred reside, the women’s section, and even the minors, the boys under age 18, some as young as 12 or 13, where they live. Rarely is anyone allowed in those areas and we did not know what we would see or feel. We wanted to see the whole picture, how the food was made, delivered, how it was dispersed, to meet the men, particularly the several hundred who cram themselves in the chapel regularly to sing, praise God and pray. Is three meals a WEEK enough? Are those who cook too exhausted to continue? Does it have long reaching effects, like learning that God’s true nature is loving- kindness and mercy? Will donations continue to arrive? There were many questions with answers found only in Congo. 

More photos and a video or two are on both our FaceBook accounts:

Facebook Jayn Harkema and Facebook Building Bukavu 

So first we met with co-workers. It was VERY informative! We heard stories of what the men had been saying, believing that it must be the work of God working through people in America, and of course how thankful they are. They talked of knowing that without food their only future was certain death. Our coworkers made it clear that they wanted to continue. In other prisons the inmates are dying by the tens and twenties, their bodies laid out in front hoping someone will bury them. At this prison, not one person had died of starvation since we began!

“(God) Who executes justice for the oppressed, 

Who gives food to the hungry. 

The Lord sets free the prisoners, opens the eyes of the blind, 

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. ” Ps 146:7-8 AMP

At Tracy’s Heart, they had constructed a covered kitchen to cook rice, beans, and a special cabbage dish once a week by some of Tracy’s Heart ladies. A truck is rented with men paid to haul it all up the stairs to the truck. These ladies are the poorest of the poor, often being homeless or having had to be in the sex trade to survive. Since they now have hope and have met a loving God, they want to give back by giving to those even poorer than themselves. The other 2 meals consist of uncooked food being brought to the prison where the inmates cook it themselves.  

Did I mention porridge?  It is also made by the women, especially for the Wagongwa, meaning the sick people of the infirmary. Tuberculosis is there plus other diseases and they were basically skin and bones. Byabeca was told that the men in the infirmary were not doing well in spite of the food being given. In a vision she “saw” that their bodies could not handle the rice and beans of a normal Congo meal. They needed something different, a high protein, vitamin and carb packed porridge made with soy flour and other ingredients. Voila! The men started to thrive, able to sit up or even walk again. They became happier, and hope returned. It was an amazing turn around! . 

When entering, thanked us with gracious words, enormous smiles, clapping, even joyful applause. Then they prayed for God to bless US because of the love we had shown them during such a difficult time. We were greatly humbled and though I had determined not to cry……I had tears. Credit does not belong to us, it is many of YOU who responded out of love! It is the enormous  love of God which empowers us all to want to be on His Team, sometimes giving sacrificially, to share that Love.

 Thank you!!  

Under His Wings , Jayn for the Harkemas

Would you like to be on His team with us? We do need more team members who can help financially or with prayer. Donate button is located below. 

Also check out videos on Tracy’s Heart Foundation on YouTube. BTW Tracy’s can really use more support, monthly or one-time! 

DONATE BUTTON: give via PayPal OR with credit or debit card. We are a 401(c)3 organization 

For checks use U.S. mail: HFCA Harkema, PO Box 355, Middleville, MI. 49333

If desired, you can designate either Prison Ministry or Tracy’s Heart. Otherwise needs will dictate.

Where do I begin? It has been 11 days since we left the States to return to Democratic Republic of the Congo. The plane ride was uneventful, gratefully so. Lots of empty seats, smooth flight, little turbulence, but tough on mask-wearing rules, even though you can’t get on a plane without a negative covid test in your hand. Which, by the way, was really difficult to do during the New Year holiday week-end! 

Our layover in Amsterdam was short and easy. Landing in Kigali, however, was another experience altogether! White coated service people asked many questions. It turned out Brenda’s Covid test was the wrong kind according to Rwanda’s rules. Also, some code was missing we were supposed to have we know nothing about. It was amazing how calm we all were because we really didn’t know if we would be able to enter or be sent home. But in time, when all the terminal passengers were gone, a lovely young woman came to find out what we needed. She knew her stuff and kindly figured everything out. 

One by one we went behind a curtain in a corner of the terminal to get another Covid test taken. Afterward we picked up our luggage and were whisked away to a government sponsored hotel to be quarantined until the results returned. Mine came right away, Ray’s and Brenda’s did not. That meant they were stuck in their rooms while I got to go shopping with a friend. (I bought Rwandan coffee and sliced cheese.) We had a connecting sitting room in between our tiny bedrooms so no one actually felt too confined and the staff were always helpful. It was a beautiful place we could never have afforded under normal circumstances, but there were special prices for quarantined visitors. They brought us 3 meals a day. The hotel was called “Heaven Boutique Hotel” so we joked a bit about visiting Heaven. 

Complicated circumstances concerning why Brenda and Ray’s test results took so long, but eventually, with help from our friend Christoff, we were released. He rented us a small bus for our combined baggage and off we went for the 7 hour trip to the Congo border. Because we got such a late start, we arrived at the bridge/border after dark and there were no lights. We stood outside in a line in the rain and mud at the Rwandan side to check out of the country, then walked across the dark and muddy bridge to the Congo side. Normally the border and Imigration offices close before dark but they had been told we were on the way and – wonder of wonders – 2 immigration officials waited for us! They greeted us like long lost friends, and asked all the important questions in a little room with one light bulb, wrote down the answers by hand in a log book of sorts (no computers)  and off we went. They did not open even one bag or suitcase! Up the hill we trudged, our coworkers and vehicle waiting, where piled in; wet, bedraggled, jet-lagged, tired and hungry, but happy to be “home.” 

From then on problem after problem arose. Electricity was off for the first 4 days as the electric company worked on our street to put in something called Cash Power. That means we go to their office to prepay for electricity as often as needed. No pay, no electricity. Sounds good, we thought!  When the workmen got to our house they asked for nails, screws, hammers and wire to do their work. They had no tools or equipment! Yes, we’re definitely back in Congo. Now does our electricity work all the time as we thought? Nope. Is it strong all the time? No, sometimes not high enough to run household appliances but we have lights and a propane stove! So we have more than we used to. Our motto: magnify the positive.

Water, too, seemed to be a problem as Brenda’s pump wouldn’t work. Back to bucket bathing.  Our guard dog had chewed up the wires. Then a fully loaded semi had tires explode, sounding like a bomb going off. Where? Right in front of our gate! It sat there for 3 days waiting for help to unload it so it could be fixed and moved. Consequently we could not get out to buy needed supplies. I could go on. 

Please be advised I am NOT whining, crying or angry, I am only sharing the facts. Disappointed? Sure. Hopeful? You bet. But this is the reality of living in a third world, especially the Congo. MOST of the time we are prepared for it. But there is work to be done here, good work, and we know in our hearts this is our time and place!

Under His Wings, Jayn 

Next time: What is the future of our prison ministry?

TO DONATE: Paypal @ buildingbukavu4him@gmail.com

         HFCA ℅ the Harkemas

PO Box 355

Middleville, MI  49333

Heart for Central Africa Mission

Tracy’s Heart Foundation

Building Bukavu 

Website: buildingbukavu.org

FaceBook: facebook.com/buildingbukavu

Email: jayn.a.harkema@gmail.com

           buildingbukavu4him@gmail.com

Back in July of this year I blogged part 1 of an interview with Byabeca, who is director of Tracy’s Heart Foundation.  Brenda Buell is the founder. She continues that role whether Brenda and myself are in Congo or when we are not. She certainly is the heart and soul of Tracy’s Heart and performs each role she carries with commitment, courage and creativity tirelessly. Here is part 2. (Italicized words are the actual translation, non-italicized are my comments)

This war experience and my father’s illness was the turning point in my spiritual life: even though I was born into a Christian family and grew up in the church, it was now that I started to seek the Lord like never before. From then on I entered into a personal relationship with Him and He started to reveal things to me. I learned of His will for me, His plan, and how I could best serve Him. I started by teaching Sunday School. 

After the war, life continued to be very difficult. Finding food was very hard, and to pay for schooling was a hardship. I remember we children going here and there to sell anything we had or could find in order to buy food. People who knew my father did occasionally help rescue us during that time and by the Grace of God I was able to press on with my studies until I received my diploma.

In the same year I got my diploma, God gave me UNGA as my fiance and in due time we got married. Before meeting Unga, men came to my father’s house to ask me for marriage. I always said no. But when I met with Unga something was different in him. I felt in him a tender heart and I agreed to marry him. After our marriage I continued my schooling at a local University. I studied Theology plus Peace and Development in the 3rd world. During that time I again experienced God’s Grace and Favor because I had no  means to pay. Unga had begun a job as a high school teacher, but in Congo teachers are the lowest paid of all workers. We had nothing for food and were in a bad house. It had been a holding pen for goats. Yet in the middle of that we were filled with love for each other and we learned to be patient.

Hoping to enter my 3rd year at University, I realized I would have to abandon it because of a great lack of funds. I was doing research for a book I was writing on the development of women in the church. For more information I went to see a representative of the church organization I belong to. He gave me some information from his point of view and pointed me to Ed Buell, an American missionary, for more details that he might have. After listening to me he wanted me to meet with his wife, Brenda Buell, who also had plans and hopes for women of the church. From our meeting, (most certainly a God moment!) we decided to work together at Tracy’s Heart, a work she had begun to help the many traumatized women who had been kidnapped and horribly abused during the many years of war. She wanted to love them with God’s love, impart new hope and healing from the invisible scars, and train them to begin microbusinesses, something that would help them for the rest of their lives. So, with Brenda as my chief we began teaching them how to make clothes, baskets, silk flowers and much more. I had taken tailoring in high school so I was able to teach this and many other classes. (Byabeca is a very, very good seamstress, making patterns and designing clothing.  NO patterns are available in Congo!) 

That meeting was certainly an answer to my many prayers. The first thing she did was give me a salary, then helped me find a better house, also helping to pay for it. I was able to buy food regularly and meet other needs, as well. 

Unga and I now have 4 children, 2 boys and 2 girls; Kennedy, Baraka (means blessing), Brenda (named for Brenda Buell) and Babunga (named for Byabeca’s Father) whom we call Babu. We are a happy family and are so grateful to the Lord for all He has done. We also thank  Brenda, Jayn, Ray and the people of America who help them work with us and for us. 

Would you care to help us bless Byabeca and all our exceptional hard working coworkers this Christmas? We want to give them each a bonus so they can provide food for a Christmas Day celebration plus a new outfit                                                                                                                                                                      for each of their children, a Congo tradition. 

Donations can be made through… 

Payal:  buildingbukavu4him@gmail.com

OR Snail mail: HFCA the Harkema’s, PO Box 355, Middleville, MI  49333

And THANK YOU!

Under His Wings,

Jayn

Heart For Central Africa Mission, a 401(c)3 

Building Bukavu

Tracy’s Heart Foundation

Just what have we been doing since so abruptly having to return to the States last March? Like most people we were stuck in our homes, unable to see most of our family for 3+ months, but continued to have contact with our Congolese co-workers, who have become our “other” family.  Trying to survive all the ins and outs, fears and hopes, and *makelele during these long months of Covid has produced many conflicting emotions.

*A Swahili word that fits the pandemic crisis perfectly in a way English words don’t. Let’s just say it means crazy, mixed up and troublesome in many different ways. 

The first was sorrow and grief. We couldn’t see our family! In Congo we are around people 24/7. Then suddenly there was no one. Things were going well for me at Tracy’s Heart and I looked forward with joy to what the remainder of this term would bring. I was connecting with the new group of women at Tracy’s Heart and they me. My ability to speak and teach in Swahili had jumped forward bringing me personal satisfaction. To be told we had 24 hours to prepare to leave the country before the borders would close was, to me, catastrophic. Then upon arrival home, learning we could not see those most important to us for what turned out to be months was another blow. 

Add to that I am not a technically talented person so all the changes and things I had to do to navigate my connection and continued work with Congo was frustrating at best. Plus, it was shortly after we returned that I learned about the tragic shut down at the prison. That meant there would be NO food whatsoever for the prisoners. and they would slowly die of starvation. The price of food in Congo skyrocketed because borders were closed and supplies were limited. To be honest, I struggled with the slippery slope of depression. 

Ray, however, is always a Godsend because he has a steady personality, no ups, no downs. He takes changes with equanimity and faith that God will “turn things for our good,” no matter what the situation. (Romans 8:28) That was of tremendous help. 

In my natural mind, I could not see how on earth we could possibly feed all the starving people connected to Tracy’s Heart let alone the nearly 2000 men, women, and boys in the prison!  What about the devastatingly poor and elderly in the churches we are connected with? Nevertheless, I couldn’t get it off my mind or out of my prayers. The wonder of wonders, God was working behind the scenes touching people’s hearts to respond to the need! In a short time, we were able to transfer funds to our Tracy’s Heart co-workers to begin buying and delivering large quantities of rice or beans or cornflour or whatever they could buy to the prison where the inmates would cook it. Not one person has died of starvation since! Also, Tracy’s Heart co-workers passed out smaller bags of staples many times to other people in need. 

To date we have continued to feed those in the prison as well as other TH mamas, the elderly, and those in dire need. School has begun again and we’ve been able to help many parents by providing uniforms, notebooks, and shoes for their school aged children. No one here can imagine how grateful or encouraged the people were! Nor how they saw that a loving God was behind the gifts from American people! Consequently, many are renewing their faith in God or realizing for the first time there is One Who cares deeply for them!

What looked like a hopeless situation became something quite different. In the process, the name of Tracy’s Heart has become rather well known now. Check out our FaceBook page or Brenda Buell’s posts or watch Tracy’s Heart Foundation YouTube videos. You can see what actually takes place there. THF is now able to expand into other areas so more marginalized women have the opportunity to learn a trade or craft and can begin a micro business. However things may look when we find ourselves in a storm, God has the power and the love to “make a way where there is no way!” and “can do more than we can think or even imagine!” Eph 3:20

None of us have knowledge of what the coming months will bring where the virus is concerned, we can only make our plans all while realizing they might have to change. Consequently, we are planning to leave for Congo around January 4 and have begun the required processes. More than ever we desire to continue our work there. 

Under His wings, Jayn for the Harkemas 

DONATIONS: Paypal ℅ buidingbukavu4him@gmail.com
Snail Mail: HFCA The Harkemas, PO Box 355, Middleville, MI 49333

SOS! We need help to continue with the feeding program at the prison in Bukavu! Presently, $1,000 provides 2 meals A WEEK – that’s not a day – for the nearly 2,000 inmates for a month. A kind of porridge is also provided for those who are already very ill for a breakfast meal. Most are men, some are women, often with babies, other homeless boys. Sadly, we recently discovered some of those boys are under the age of 14 and have NO CHANCE of getting out.

The inmates are VERY grateful when our co-workers arrive with each meal and express it readily. It is true that no one has died since we began this feeding program. They know they have a very short life expectancy due to starvation without the care the people of America are showing them. They also know that it is the love of God in many of us that pushes us to help a people we will never know, in a place most of us will never go.

1) But…..is 2 meals a week enough? Until Congo is opens up again to let friends and family of the prisoners bring in food, I am hoping we can up the meals to at least 3 times a week. Additionally, we must buy bowls and cups so they don’t have to eat out of plastic bags or their shirt. Clothes, too, would help as most do not have a change of clothes. Our Tracy’s Heart ladies have already been sewing up hundreds of masks for the inmates because they had none.

We have concluded that we need a lump sum of $5000 to stockpile enough food to guarantee 3+ meals a week for several months, no stopping and starting.

2) Is there nothing we can do to alter the lives of boys who have no hope whatsoever? Normally they have done little or nothing wrong. They are orphans or boys who have escaped being kidnapped by rebel groups. No one wants them around. They are often dirty and people think they are only looking to steal. They are unable to go to school, though they deeply desire to, and are not welcome to play with other boys who have families.  They scrounge for food by searching rubbish piles for some little thing to sell for pennies and buy a length of sugar cane or a beignet to eat. If they get picked up by the police they are taken directly to prison and can never get out without money and a home. Without family they WILL simply starve to death.

What about the boys 14 and under? What is it we can do is a huge question. Research has begun.

Herein may lie a fork in the road of what our work can be in Congo. The Lord says…“Wisdom is the principle thing: Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting get understanding.”  So, we are asking God for wisdom and understanding in what can be done and how to do it. Without question this would take money! The right Lawyer to be hired, perhaps a place to be rented where street boys can sleep & have shelter, regular food is necessary and good people hired to care for them. We ask for prayer. It is difficult to know this and not be moved to action.  

Hopefully, we will be returning to Congo in early October and oversee the work in greater detail.  Please share this with people, churches, and businesses. We need your help. Thank  you!

Under His Wings, ray and Jayn Harkema, HFCA

“True spirituality that is pure in the eyes of our Father God is to make a difference in the lives of the orphans and widows in their troubles, and to refuse to be corrupted by the world’s values.”  James 1:27

 Donate: PayPal c/o buildingbukavu@gmail.com

Checks to: Heart for Central Africa, The Harkemas,

PO Box 355, Middleville, MI 49333

 Heart for Central Africa is a tax deductible 401(c)3

Building Bukavu is Ray and Jayn Harkema under HFCA

If you have looked at many of Tracy’s Heart photos, you will have undoubtedly seen Byabeca, probably without knowing it. She is the director of Tracy’s Heart Foundation and an extraordinary woman and leader. She is usually in the middle of everything that goes on. Without her Tracy’s Heart would not be operational. When Brenda and I are back in the States she keeps the program running. (Brenda is Brenda Buell, founder and creator of Tracy’s Heart, the one who oversees everything and raises the money to operate. Without her vision and continual work Tracy’s Heart could not exist. I will introduce her at a later date, too.) 

Byabeca knows her countrymen and women well, is cognizant of their difficulties and struggles from personal experience and is educated in development tactics, considerations, and needs in her part of the world. Above all, she loves God and is committed to love others. With His Love she reaches out to touch women of unstable means with His love. Consequently, Byabeca does everything she can to help women rise above their station in life. We could not do without her.  

The Italicized words are translated from her interview in French and Swahili to English by a coworker in Congo, then sent to me; the non-italicized words are mine, intended to help the reader understand something.

When I was born, life was very bad for my family and for the country of Congo, then called Zaire. It was a period of great hunger. My father was studying at the Bible Institute at Camp Mwezi (in the mountains above Bukavu operated by American missionaries) The day I was born was the day the missionaries chose to pass out food. Food was a welcome gift because we had no food in our house. Seeing the condition of our lives, the missionaries decided to give my father a job and a salary while he went to school. 

After a few years of training my father was sent to be pastor to the MUDAKA church (up in the mountains above Bukavu) and we moved into a *house next to the church the missionaries had built. (at that time it was parents with five young children) After a few years the **Harkema family came to work with my father. We lived together with them in the same house, eating the same African food with them, my Mother cooking together with Jayn in a bad **African kitchen using pieces of wood to cook. (Please remember these are her words, not mine.)

*This was a very small 3 room house with a corrugated tin roof and dirt floor. The bathroom was a long-drop surrounded by a corn stalk fence. 

**this will be explained from my (Jayn’s) point of view in more detail in a coming blog.

***Cooking was done over an open fire on the ground outside at the back of the house. Her mother, Masoka, and I (Jayn) sat on tiny wooden stools 6 inches off the ground to cook and wash up after. 

From there we could feel the heart of Jesus in the Harkema family. Jesus left Heaven to come to be with us and live like a human. For those who don’t know Congo, it is another world, it’s not like America. When someone leaves America and comes to Congo, not to live in a city but in a village, it is a great sacrifice and a sign of great love. 

After many years in Mudaka my Dad was sent to work and lead the Camp-Mweze church and also worked with Bwana Doggett in the Bible Institute where many pastors were trained. At the same time he was working with Bwana Butler in the prison to teach and preach about Jesus. Many people came to be Christians. In the year 1996 the missionaries began to leave Congo (The Genicide in Rwanda/Burundi had exploded and bled over into the border country of Congo causing uprisings, splinter rebel groups, and civil war) At the same time my father became very sick and had to be sent to Nairobi, Kenya to get good (medical) treatment. With all the missionaries gone and war erupting, life became very hard. Families were very, very poor and our family was not spared. 

I have bad remembrances from the war that came to Congo. We were running to seek refuge in Bwahungu in Walungu (an area south of Bukavu) when we found ourselves in an ambush of (2 rival groups) of rebel soldiers. We realized we were in the middle of a battlefield and there I saw horrible things happening. As I was crawling and moving forward, someone always took my place. Repeatedly that person was shot and badly injured or killed. We saw many people die. When we left that place, we were not ourselves any longer. We were terrified. Young children especially had difficulty bearing it all.  

But this is not all there is to Byabeca! No, there is much more, so stay tuned, it will be continued next time. 

Under his Wings, Jayn

A generous person will prosper;
    whoever refreshes others will be refreshed. – Proverbs 11:25 NIV

Donate: PayPal c/o buildingbukavu@gmail.com

Checks to: Heart for Central Africa, The Harkemas,

PO Box 355, Middleville, MI 49333

 Heart for Central Africa is a tax deductible 401(c)3

Building Bukavu is Ray and Jayn Harkema under HFCA

In my ongoing series of introducing some of the people we have contact with in Congo, I bring you Ephrasie next, a widow to whom we help by bringing food supplies. In Bukavu, there are many such widows. Often their husbands were older so sickness and disease plus the many rebels, wars and warring factions have decimated most older men. Some time ago Tuesday was declared the day that widows, the infirm, and the poorest of the poor could come to town and beg on the streets and in the shops without being hassled. On other days they are shoed away. Most live far away and walk many miles to come to town to get what they can, hoping it will last another week. When Brenda, Ray and I go into the downtown area of Bukavu we do so prepared with money to give out. We know some of them now and they know which shops we frequent so they wait for us there. In return, they help guard our vehicle or open our doors for us when able. 

Ephrasie comes from a village in North Kivu province where things are very different than in the area around Bukavu. It was a rural area only while Bukavu is a large city. She was a baby when her father died but remained under the care of her mother with several older siblings. Consequently, her mother had to be enrolled on the list of area farmers. By doing that she could manage one meal a day for her children. But being without a paying job, her mother was not able to send any of her children to school. (Schooling in Congo is not free) 

While her friends were moving forward in their studies she was spending more time daily at the “poor farm.” She began farming with her Mother at a young age always with one goal: getting enough food for their family. By being with her mother each day she was able to glean stories and advice about life that would help her as she grew. The difficult part of life was when someone became sick; (malaria, typhoid, yellow fever, measles, and many other diseases were prevalent) But there was no money for medicines, so suffering, sickness and death stalked them often.

Ephrasie was a Christian from a local church and by going to church she met a man who eventually  became her husband. His background was similar to hers. His family were farmers, too and very poor. When she married she went to live with her husband in her mother-in-law’s house. Her mother-in-law was a widow with 5 other children to care for. Because of the education and Christian view of life Ephrasie received from her own Mother she was able to live with them all in peace. (From my perspective and experience in Congo this is rather unusual!)

Some years later Ephrasie’s husband died in the war. (a result of the genicide in Rwanda) As the fighting escalated the entire family had to flee. Unfortunately, they all became separated from one another, no one knowing where any of the others were. 

Now she’s living her old age and cannot work. She depends on her children. But they themselves are married with families of their own and struggle with all the same problems of extreme poverty. Though they want to help her they cannot meet all the needs.

It is with kindness, love and many, many hours of work our co-workers at Tracy’s Heart put in to accomplish the enormous task of feeding the most desperate. They constantly seek sources to buy beans, grains and oil at the lowest prices possible, store, carry, repackage and deliver it all. Next blog I will begin introducing one of our co-workers, Byabeca, the director of Tracy’s Heart both when we are in-country and when we are in the States. All I will say for now is she is a treasure! Don’t miss her story.

Under His Wings, Jayn

Heart For Central Africa

Building Bukavu

Tracy’s Heart

“Those who live to bless others will have blessings heaped upon them, and the one who pours out his life to pour out blessings will be saturated with favor. ” Prov 11:25 TPT 

Blog: buildingbukavu.org

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For checks: HFCA The Harkemas, PO Box 355, Middleville, MI  49333

Everything Looks a Bit Different Now

Happily, Tracy’s Heart is back in business, though in a much limited way! Now, more than ever we are committed to helping women become skilled enough in various trades to be self-sufficient, making enough money to feed, clothe, and house themselves and any children they may have. They, like us in Michigan, must keep distances between themselves and others, wear masks, and stay away if ill. Byabeca, director of Tracy’s Heart Foundation, has restarted the program previously shut down by the pandemic, by splitting them into 2 smaller groups that come on different days. 

For those women who are learning to sew, can you guess what their first project is? Face masks for the pandemic! For those who are further along in their sewing skills, they are making dresses with a pattern Byabeca designed that will fit many differently sized women. Why? To send down to Uvira, the town destroyed by the ongoing flood created by the nearby broken dam. So many people have lost their homes along with all their belongings, leaving them with only the clothes on their backs. I never cease to be amazed at the ingenuity, creativity and caring of Byabeca to care for her countrymen, in this case the women!!  

If you have followed my blog or Face Book log at all you will know that Tracy’s Heart is also the heart of food distribution for those who are in critical danger of starving. Because of the pandemic, food costs have escalated so alarmingly so that many can no longer afford much, particularly single mothers and the elderly. Any donations we get are quickly transferred to Congo where our co-workers at Tracy’s Heart are able to buy huge sacks of rice, dried beans, flours like corn, soya or mahogo, and gerry cans of oil for continuing to feed the people. Never was this need for funds so critical or so unforeseen!  

That brings me to the prison scene. There, because of continuing funds being donated, we are still able to provide food to the prisoners housed there. Nearly 2000 men, boys and women, some with babies, are getting a meal a day! Those that are very ill get a bit of breakfast as well. No, that’s not eggs and bacon but is the average mainstay of rice or a grain cooked with oil and water. As you may have seen in a previous posting, another prison outside of Bukavu has not had any food at all since the pandemic shutdown. That means all are in some stage of starvation and many have already died. Some too weak to walk have been transferred to the local hospital but hospitals do not provide food either. However, if a prisoner has family or someone able to share food with him, they can bring it to the hospital. We are avidly praying about this prison though at the moment we are not heavily funded enough to include it in our feeding program. Please feel free to share this blog with anyone!

In Congo today there is a mandatory shut down of everything for 3 days in the area called Ibanda where we live. Then the shut down will move to a different area, Kadutu, for three days. That means some roads are being shut down and everyone is ordered to wear a mask and stay home. In fact, if a policeman sees you without one you will be fined. Caught a second time without one, the fine doubles and they have the  power to put someone in prison if they choose. I cannot imagine that this is going to go well. (Just checked the news there and it is indeed not going well.) Nor can I understand what exactly it will accomplish. But the word is someone, don’t know who or what, will be spraying “something” to  “sanitize” the town. Is that even possible? Hmmmmm. 

In the meantime, Ray and I eagerly look forward to things opening up in Michigan again! We are well and just celebrated our 52nd anniversary. However, this week a former colleague and friend from our former mission has succumbed to the virus. Ed Nichols, a man larger than life, with go-power and the ability to get things done with the love of the lord ever leading him on. We are saddened, and many people in many parts of the world are mourning him, too. I know many in Congo are also mourning his passing. But to us it is a home-going. We know it is not the end of a life so well lived but the beginning of one that is new and better, now being in the presence of His Lord and Savior. For that reason we can celebrate!

Under His Wings, Jayn 

“Whoever brings blessing shall be enriched, and one who waters shall himself also be watered.”     

Prov. 11:25 ESV

Heart for Central Africa Mission, headquartered in Terre Haute, Indiana

• Tracy’s Heart Foundation and Building Bukavu

Jayn’s Blog: buildingbukavu.org

Facebook: buildingbukavu (Ray and Jayn Harkema)  

For Donations 

Paypal ℅  buidingbukavu4him

Snail mail: HFCA The Harkemas, PO Box 355, Middleville, MI  49333

In the coming weeks I will be introducing a number of people, some of whom we are helping with food as well as some of our co-workers doing the actual work of delivering the food. It is said we cannot truly know a person until we have walked in their shoes. Therefore, we often make assumptions, even form prejudices, based on personal experience or mere physical looks, dress or hair color. It has been my experience that assumptions are so often wrong. 

When we have the opportunity to know someone, where they come from or what they have experienced, it colors and changes how we see them. That can be helpful and good or it can the other way, as well. One of the things about living in Congo I most enjoy is meeting people and getting to know them and their history. Most come from very different life experiences than mine. 

I begin with Ezechiel. (It is pronounced like Ezekiel, the Bible prophet.) This is his story as told to a friend in Congo, translated or interpreted through 3 languages. Occasionally, I will put exact words in quotes, though in English. BTW you might be surprised to know that most Congolese people speak a minimum of 3 languages, often more, with or without a formal education.

Ezechiel  was born in 1954 in a small remote village in upper North Kivu Province, DRC (Congo).  Life in the village was very difficult. Without towns or stores nearby and travel other than on foot did not exist, clothing was not available. So they wore leaves. Because the village is in a forested mountainous region, the cold and other difficulties due to lack of clothing existed. (Sometimes certain kinds of beads worn around the waist were used as currency) Where he is from coins and paper money did not exist. Ezecheil had heard of school and he badly wanted to learn and study. But school was too far away and cost actual money that they did not have. 

Life was simple: it revolved around the quest for food. His father was a huntsman, hunting game with bow and arrows. When successful in bringing down animals, the whole family, including distant relatives, would feast on the meat. The women would hunt the forest for edible vegetables, roots, herbs and greens of many sorts. As a young boy he would go into the forest with his mother learning what was safe to eat and what could cure certain illnesses. No hospitals and clinics were available so they relied solely on treating sickness with natural remedies found in the forest. As he got older he would hunt with the teams of huntsmen. Sometimes his knowledge of herbs and fauna was called upon when a man from the hunting team was hurt by an animal. 

Then white people started coming to their village to establish a medical clinic. From that time on coins would begin to circulate. Later more white people came to the village looking for strong men to help with their homes or businesses. He found a job being a gardener at a clinic and began earning money to help meet his needs. Because he had a job he was able to pay the *bride price and marry a woman of his choosing. In time they had 8 children. However, the job didn’t last (and for reasons I can only guess at — wars, independence, white men having to leave the country, more wars) feeding, clothing and schooling his children was very difficult.  

“Now I am old,” he said. “Eating comes by chance (We would say luck) and even finding clothing is difficult.” His children are all grown and married but are also very poor and unable to help him. (There was no story of how or why he moved to Bukavu. For many it is the lure of finding a job and a better life, but that is rarely found) “There is no one to help but the Christians who have compassion.” His need is for food to keep his body strong. “Because I am old already, death (without food) will come quickly.” 

As you can see our countries, our circumstances, our histories are very different. Even the way we think or view life can be different. I often wonder how people keep going and make it through life when there are so many difficulties. But for those who believe in Jesus and trust in God, no matter the church or denomination, they are strong and resilient people. They continue to have joy amidst the worst of circumstances and look forward to heaven.

Ezechiel is one who receives food through us and Tracy’s Heart, each time enough to last a week or more. Of course, we hope to continue as we are able. It is our desire to bring comfort, hope, and a sense of being cared for – by the Lord and by us – along with the food. 

Under His Wings, Jayn

“Whoever brings blessing shall be enriched, and one who waters shall himself also be watered.”       Prov. 11:25 ESV

Heart For Central Africa, Terre Haute, IN Tracy’s Heart Foundation and Building Bukavu

Jayn’s Blog: buildingbukavu.org

Facebook: buildingbukavu (Ray and Jayn Harkema)  

EMAIL: buildingbukavu4him@gmail.com

EMAIL: jayn.a.harkema@gmail.com 

For Donations 

Paypal ℅  buildingbukavu4him@gmail.com

Snail mail: HFCA The Harkemas, PO Box 355, Middleville, MI  49333