Presbyterian delegation shares insight from DR Congo

A team of 12 Presbyterians recently traveled to Goma, on the eastern border of the Democratic Republic of Congo, to take part in a 10-day World Mission travel-study seminar. The pilgrimage of hope and solidarity is designed to promote understanding of the impact of conflict and sexual violence in the volatile region and to enable Presbyterians—who are members of the We Will Speak Out US coalition—to learn best practices for accompanying the Church of Christ in Congo in ministering to survivors of violence.

Members of the team shared their travel journals with the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and with We Will Speak Out, so we can spread the word of their amazing journey.

FEBRUARY 2, 2016

Congo travel-study seminar – Reflection 4

Love will have the final word

The days leading up to our dispatched travels as three small groups this weekend showed us how necessary it is to have several back-up plans. But when even those fail, we are reminded of our reliance on God-given resourcefulness and grace.

The purpose of splitting into small groups and traveling to different areas was to provide diverse and intimate opportunities to learn about church-based ministries in response to sexual violence. They may be ecumenical and interreligious efforts through the Church of Christ in Congo (ECC) at the provincial level, denominational programs implemented by congregations, or church-supported individual responses by women leaders in the church. The intimacy thus created by small groups allows women left isolated in shame for the rape they have survived to share their stories. Too often they have endured violence at the hands of multiple men and even multiple occasions over the years. These are not stories anyone “wants” to hear, but they are stories we “need” to hear. They are stories the women need to tell for their own healing.

The church-based “listening homes” we’ve visited in places such as Butembo and Lubero exist to invite those who have been traumatized to talk with a trained and caring counselor. God’s love is expressed through listening, gentle words of comfort, an embrace, or the holding of the hand of a woman healing from abuse.

Mama Kavira Nganza, director of the Department of Women and Families for the Baptist Community of Central Africa (CBCA), shared with the three of us who visited the most northerly region of North Kivu Province how, in November 2015, she had encountered in a village listening center three young girls and one boy, all of whom had been raped two years earlier.  She was concerned that these children were not improving at the listening center; rather, they were showing signs that their traumatic experiences were affecting them mentally. She sent them to Butembo where the CBCA has a ministry for those whose mental state has been affected. Mrs. Kavira was so excited to see these four children today, realizing how they had been transformed.

They were smiling and showing signs that healing was progressing, although not yet complete.  As we discussed the differences between the processes and methodologies of trauma healing with children compared to adults, the importance of play was emphasized, as was the fact that the recovery process is often longer for children.

We give thanks to God for the kind and caring women who are dedicating themselves—many volunteering their time—to let love rather than violence have the last word.

Jeff Boyd
Regional Liaison for Central Africa

FEBRUARY 1, 2016

Congo travel-study seminar – Reflection 3

Lifting up God’s promises

God’s vision of a life of peace and justice for all of God’s people. It is a “not yet” passage, a “becoming” passage. On January 29, we visited those who live out their lives on the furthest fringes of this vision. We also met some of those individuals in Goma who have committed their lives in extraordinary ways to participate in growing the Isaiah vision into reality.

Friday was a 12-hour day. We were out on the brutal lava roads of Goma shortly after 8 a.m., heading for the first of four meetings. We were welcomed by exuberant singing and dancing at each stop.

At the Goma military base, we heard from Marthe, head of Federation of Army Wives, about the 3,800 widows and military wives in camp—only 800 of whom receive government benefits of $11 per month. We could see all around us the shacks the women constructed of scavenged materials. We learned about the extremely limited sanitary facilities, the insufficient water supply and the lack of schools for the hundreds of children at the base. We were shocked to hear that in order to survive, many women have no choice but to follow their deployed husbands, and they are then extremely vulnerable to ambush and attack by rebel forces. The women are so preoccupied with feeding their children that they find it hard to focus on issues of sexual violence and human rights.

At the Methodist Church, we met Mama Olela, who, with her cadre of women, spearheads a program that cares for orphans in homes of members of congregations, feeds street children, and works with Goma victims of sexual violence. One woman shared her difficult story: She was conducting business in a nearby town when seven soldiers from the M23 rebels raped her and two other women. She was taken to a clinic where Mama Olela found her and brought her to the church. She is now living with members of the church and she has started a business selling charcoal.

At the PRENAO Light School, Mama Annie welcomed us, surrounded by her 120 primary school and 30 secondary school orphans. In addition to running a primary school staffed by volunteer teachers and housed in a very basic wooden structure, Mama Annie has organized trauma healing and economic support for 35 rape survivors, as well as 80 widows. We heard the heartbreaking stories of two rape survivors and appreciated, with them, the support Mama Annie provided.

Our final stop was at the Centre for the Protection of Children run by Jeanne Banyere. We visited the hostels for orphaned boys and girls before Jeanne led us to another structure where we found two female survivors—the youngest 14—who are being treated for fistula resulting from rape. Some of these women have had multiple surgeries. In another room, we were introduced to rape survivors, the youngest of whom was 9. The survivors of sexual violence have lived through horrible experiences. Thanks be to God for the women who are comforting them, counseling them and training them in skills for economic empowerment.

Nancy Collins, Regional Liaison for East Central Africa

JANUARY 30, 2016

Congo travel-study seminar – Reflection 2

North Kivu Province and Kyeshero Hospital

On Thursday, our group, accompanied by Rev. Berthe Nzeba, got a snapshot of the extensive work that is being done in the North Kivu Province through the Eglise du Christ au Congo (the Church of Christ in the Congo or ECC) to support the survivors of rape.  Rev. Nzeba, based in Kinshasa, is the General Secretary of the ECC’s Department of Women and Families. The ECC is made up of more than 60 Protestant denominations in the Congo, and its member churches play a vital role in the social fabric of the country.

We began the day with a courtesy visit to the North Kivu provincial President of the ECC, Msgr. Mbala, who welcomed us and expressed his appreciation of the work that is done to support the victims of sexual violence, the children born to women who have been raped and war orphans. We then met with the women leaders of the ECC member denominations, who together constitute the ECC Women’s Federation. They talked about how women work together to keep their communities informed about incidents of rape that have occurred in the area where their church’s congregations are based and to support the survivors. Women play a proactive role in publicizing these incidents. For example, they:

• meet monthly to share information about what is going on in the areas they represent,
• organize demonstrations to protest each new incident, wearing black as a symbol of mourning,
• send written statements of protest to the government,
• fast, pray and collect funds for the victims of violence.

Our next visit was to the Kyeshero Hospital, which was opened in 2012 by the Pentecostal Church of Central Africa, another ECC member, with the mission to provide holistic care to the survivors of rape. Survivors, most of whom are minors, but who range in age from toddlers to elderly women, are referred to the hospital when their cases are more complicated. In addition to the medical specialists, the staff includes psychiatrists and counselors and people who provide training to help women develop skills that will enable them to become more self-sufficient. Many rape survivors are rejected by their families and communities, and the churches provide crucial support. We learned that, as Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton had visited the area and helped to secure funding from the Norwegian government to build the hospital.

At the hospital and at our later meeting with Baptist Church women, we had the opportunity to speak with some of the survivors and to hear their stories of being subjected to unspeakable violence—often more than once. The stories are heartbreaking, but the strength of the survivors is truly inspiring. During this visit, we also learned of the survivors’ solidarity groups, which have developed income-generating activities for rape survivors through savings and loan programs and skills training programs. Finally, we spoke with a group of lawyers about the challenges of holding accountable the perpetrators of sexual violence.

Anne Crane
Church of the Covenant, Boston, Massachusetts