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Friends and Family,
There is so much to say in this update journal. I had two visitors from the United States over the last
two weeks. Ben and Sandy Wiggs try to come each year. Last year they, along with Michala Cowley,
did not get their visas so they could not come. This year Sandy is in school again so she could not
come. Ben came and brought Michala with him. Ben came to teach computer seminars. He did a
great job. This year we had five days of seminars. Even Emmanuel, our computer expert at Tracy’s
Heart Foundation, learned some new things. This was the first year for us to offer it to a small group
of young people. Most of them knew very little about computers. Ben brought each student a thumb
drive from the states. They were thrilled to get one because the ones from here are expensive and
last only for a short time.
Michala is a 19 year old who will be beginning college classes this fall. This was her first mission trip.
I usually do not recommend coming to Congo as a first mission trip but she did great. She taught
Sunday School teachers from seven churches some new ways to teach. With the supplies we had on
hand and the things she brought with her we were able to supply them with some teaching material
as well. Then she taught a seminar to a mixed group of young people. We prepared for around 40
but 65 showed up! She focused mainly on purity and showing our Christianity by the way we live.
Rarely does a young person come to talk to the young people so they loved Michala. She also
taught a seminar to young girls on the same topics. God really blessed the time Ben and Michala
were here. The Holy Spirit took over the work. Ben who is not a preacher even preached on Sunday
morning and I translated. It went for about 30 minutes and the only complaint was that it was too
short!
I am planning on leaving here on August 30th or 31st and then returning by the end of October. They
are many prayer needs for here.
1. The General Assembly will be held August 23 - 29. During this time there will be an election to
choose the next Executive Committee. This is a very crucial election because it determines who
the church leaders will be for the next 4 years. Things are not going well with the existing
Committee. There is much corruption and fighting. Please pray the Holy Spirit will show up and
speak to the hearts of all who have a vote so that God’s men will be chosen.
2. There is still fighting down in the south part of the country. Much brutality and horrors are
happening there. Please pray that this conflict will soon be settled. Pray also for the
people being tortured and killed and for their families.
3. I will be bringing a Congolese woman home with me. She will be available to speak about
Tracy’s Heart Foundation. She does not speak much English so I will need to translate but
she has some very important things to share. If any of you would be interested in having
her speak at your church or share with the missions team please contact me at
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Please be praying in advance that her time in the states
will be enlightening and fruitful.
On a lighter note, at least some may think it is a lighter note. During the time Ben and Michala were
visiting we were all away from the house for the seminars. Chantal, who works in the house, went to
fill the buckets of water in the guest bathroom. She saw at once that Sammy, the cat, had caught
two rats somewhere and taken them into the bathtub. The large rat was already dead but the young
one was still alive. Sammy was enjoying playing with it. She said the bathroom was a mess and she
had just cleaned it. As she approached to get the dead rat Sammy growled at her. He had no
intention of letting anyone escape with his prize. As she stood there trying to figure out what to do
without Sammy carrying the live rat into another room someone knocked on the gate. Since she was
the only one at the house she was very grateful that it was Jean Marie, one of the zamus, night
watchmen. She told him to come to the bathroom quickly. Sammy saw there were two of them so he
left the rats and ran away. Chantal carried the dead rat outside and made Jean Maire get the live
one. She did not stick around to see how he killed it. Both rats ended up dead and outside. Ben
and Michala never knew anything about it. Neither did I for that matter, until today. I am very
thankful to have a cat that catches the rats. These were most likes messing around in the pantry but
Sammy took care of that. I am now working on how to teach him to catch them then take them
outside to eat or play with. Did I mention I hate rats?! Love, Brenda

Praising God after Michala’s teaching seminar at Tracy’s Heart Foundation!