A Message and Update from our howFar Orphanage

Pastor John has let us know that our team in the Congo has received the monthly funds for the howFar orphanage.  Your donations have provided clean drinking water, food and another month of living for the orphans and caretakers living in our howFar orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Pastor John writes,

"We have received the funds for food at the orphanage and children were too excited to receive it!  However [and], they prayed more blessings to you."

We are so thankful for your partnership in caring for these children, and helping us to spread the Gospel throughout Africa.  

Changing the Pattern: Supporting Rape Victims and Orphans in the Congo

We recently shared with you an update about our howFar Abused Women's Centers and Widows Centers in the Congo.  Shortly after posting that update, TIME Magazine released an article titled, "The Secret War Crime" (linked below), discussing the issue of rape in war-torn African countries.  One of the countries discussed is the Democratic Republic of the Congo, which is where much of our current work is being done.  

A woman and her baby sit outside a howFar Women's Center in DR Congo

Though this article is difficult to read, we feel that it is important to be informed about what is happening to the people of the Congo, and what we can do to change the vicious cycle.

Often times in Africa, the women do not have a voice - historically, there has been no punishment for rape, so when there are wars, the soldiers take advantage of the villages that they come into, knowing that they will have no consequences for their atrocious actions.  The TIME article says, "rape in war is as old as war itself." The article continues, with one of the women saying, 

"At least with a bullet, you die. But if you have been raped, you appear to the community like someone who is cursed. After rape, no one will talk to you; no man will see you. It’s a living death.”

The U.N. reports that 200,000 Congolese women and children have been raped during Congo’s long-simmering conflict. 

Not only are the women suffering from this injustice, but the children are too.  The children in our howFar orphanage in the Congo are there because of the constant warfare that has been present in the country for years.  Most of these children have witnessed their parents being killed right in front of their innocent eyes.  

The solution to this brutal and disturbing problem begins with you and me.  The way to bring about change, is to educate and care for the people of Africa.  If we can raise all 120 of the children in our orphanage, especially the young men, to understand that women are important, and that all people deserve respect - imagine what those 120 children will accomplish for their country as they grow!  If we continue to care for the abused women, and the widows, by providing counseling and medical help at our clinic, they will be able to face another day and help other victims.  

Please take the time to read the article below, make yourself aware of the devastation in the Congo, and learn about how you can help us change lives in the Congo!

TIME article: http://time.com/war-and-rape/?xid=time_socialflow_facebook

Click the DONATE button on our page to support our Women's and Orphans Programs.

Written by: Hillary Mackay, howFar Social Media and Marketing Specialist

howFar in the Congo - Abused Women's Centers and Widows Centers

Renée Maynard, Co-Founder of howFar, helps to create opportunities for in-crisis women in the Congo.  To provide these opportunities, Renée put into action plans for the Abused Women's Centers, and Widows Centers, to teach women the skills they need to provide for themselves and their families.  There are currently five operating howFar women's centers in the Congo. 

Renée Maynard with one of our team leaders at a howFar Training Center for War Widows

howFar Abused Women's Center counsels and trains women who have been raped by soldiers. 

• The North Kivu region, where the howFar Compound sits, has had the highest reported instances of rape in the entire world.

• Women who have been raped are customarily shunned by their families and are forced onto the streets.

howFar Widows Center trains and counsels women who have lost their husbands in the war. 

Donate today to continue supporting these women in need!

howFar will you go?

Written by: Hillary Mackay, howFar Social Media and Marketing Specialist

howFar Clinic - Democratic Republic of the Congo

Thanks to your generous giving, we were able to send the monthly budget for our clinic in the Congo so that they could pay the nurses, and restock their shelves with much needed medical supplies.  The howFar Clinic is in a remote village where the only other medical care is a three hour walk for the villagers.  On average, our nurses see twenty patients a day.

howFar nurses receiving much needed medical supplies.

Written by: Hillary Mackay, howFar Social Media and Marketing Specialist

howFar Orphanage - Day At The Lake

We have recently shared some stories and pictures of the children from the howFar orphanage going on some fun adventures.  There were three groups that split up to go on different filed trips - the first group took a boat trip across the lake, the second group was able to run free and play in a safe park, and the last group spent the day with some local fisherman on the water.

Our friend, Pastor John, wrote us to say that the children visited the net fishermen.  He said, "it has really been amising (amazing), children made a wonderful discovery."  In addition to the children enjoying this time of exploring new things, Pastor John also said, "Local leaders also thanked you when we informed them about the visit of our orphans."

Because of your support, we are not only providing for these orphans and giving them new experiences, but while doing this, we are also reaching the local leaders within the country.  This is a big deal, and we couldn't do it without you!

To continue helping us provide these wonderful opportunities, CLICK HERE:

 GoFundMe - Marks Kilimanjaro Climb for Orphan Education

Written by: Hillary Mackay, howFar Social Media and Marketing Specialist

howFar Orphanage - Day At The Park!

We wanted to share some pictures of the children from our howFar orphanage in Goma, DR Congo, on a recent outing.  We were able to send some additional funds so that they could have a special meal, and adventure away from the orphanage.  This group was taken to a safe park, where they could run and play without any danger.  Our friend, Pastor John, wrote us to say that the children “showed happiness that they had never shown before.” 

Children at the howFar orphanage - ready to enjoy fresh fruit.

Orphans anticipating a meal with chicken, meat is a rare treat in their villages.

Children arriving at a new park, eager to explore!

howFar orphans enjoy running free in a danger-free park

It is only through your generosity that these children get to have these experiences.  Because of your funding, these children will know love and joy that they would otherwise live without.  Thank you for helping us change the lives of 120 orphans in the Congo!

To join us in caring for our children, contact Hillary Mackay at hillary@howfar.org.