Volcano update

Life returned to normal pretty quickly in the parts of Goma untouched by the lava flows following May’s volcanic eruption. Food prices have risen in the city and traffic is a little slower on the main road due to the cracks outside the main hospital following the earth tremors. The empty lava lake is beginning to fill again, sending a tremor or two across the city, but most of the residents of Goma have moved on to other concerns.

I was able to visit the site of the lava flow last week and it was like some kind of post-apocalyptic moonscape, with our parish of Kanyanja stranded in a sea of volcanic rock. Temporary homes are being built near the lava sites, and there are two refugee camps in the north of the city for those who lost their homes. Most of the separated children have also now been reunited with their families. The government has promised to give over some land to those who have been displaced, but this is on the other side of the city and people are reluctant to relocate. In the photo I am standing our parish church used to be with the vicar and archbishop.

The diocese continues to provide emergency help, most recently cash vouchers for 500 of the most affected people to spend on essentials the local market. We are starting a project to train 70 families in small-scale commerce, each being given a small amount of capital and the opportunity to organize into credit unions. We have repaired a school and the diocesan offices.

Now we are raising funds to rebuild our school and church in Kanyanja, which was completely covered in lava. There is a prohibition on building on the lava for now (although one man was spotted rebuilding his wooden house on the smoking lava the day after the eruption) and so we are in the process of negotiating with the local chief for a new plot of land.

Below images L-R: New temporary houses in Kanyanja, setting off for an evangelism campaign, sunset over a watering hole, Zimbabwe.

What have we been up to?

We weren’t able to get back to the UK this summer, but we had an amazing time staying with friends in Zimbabwe, discovering the joys of biltong, Victoria Falls, baobabs, kudu, sable, secretary birds, and tracking rhinos. The whole family came down with Covid in the two weeks before the holiday and so we are very thankful to have been able to go.

The Anglican Church of Congo elected a new archbishop at our National Synod in July, Bishop Ande of Aru, with whom Martin did a college placement in 2010. He will start in January. The synod also agreed to the diocese’s request to appoint a new Bishop of Goma by 2023. All we need now is a car, a house, a salary and some candidates …

Since our last update the diocesan tribunal has suspended 3 pastors. Students have returned from theological training in Kenya and we have sent more back. Our portable evangelism schools have almost finished, with many coming to faith and being baptized, and we have started to plant churches and renew church buildings. We are soon to re-open our Swahili-language Bible school to focus on training village pastors. Martin has become chair of the board of an inter-denominational evangelism school, Anthea has a temporary promotion to Head of Programme Funding for Tearfund and the children are back for year 2 of their Belgo-Congolese education experience.

How can you pray?

Thank you for joining with us in prayer.

• Give thanks for the work of the gospel in the Diocese of Goma

• Pray for Martin and Anthea’s new responsibilities

• Pray for the ongoing volcano response

• Pray for outgoing Archbishop Masimango and Archbishop elect Ande

From Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen