WAPI Water Project @ Mudja, DR Congo

One of the two core values at howFar is to "Love our neighbor as ourselves". We are doing that in rural northeast DR Congo in the village of Mudja.

Water is a critical problem in the area. When Mount Nyiragongo erupted in 2002 it covered the area from Mudja southward to Goma with its red hot lava flow. The catastrophe didn't end when the eruption ended and the lava cooled. The heat from the volcano evaporated all surface water, as well as, all subterranean aquifers. Today, water cannot be found beneath Mudja even by drilling the deepest of wells.

The villagers are forced to collect rain water through crude collection systems, gather water from small pools during the rains or walk the 25 kilometers round trip to Lake Kivu south of the city of Goma. The arduous 15.5 mile walk, nearly every day, is a dawn to dusk chore for at least one member of every family. But the walk to Lake Kivu is not the most daunting part of the task. It is the heavy load that they must carry back to the village that is exhausting. Each filled yellow plastic jerry can weighs a minimum of 40 pounds. For women the heavy load is carried on her back supported by a thick strap around the woman's forehead. Boys and men will carry two jerry cans. A load of over 80 pounds carried for several miles.



According to statistics the average person in the Unites States uses about 100 gallons of water per day. In Mudja, a person uses less that one gallon per day. That is for cooking, drinking, bathing and washing cloths.

Additionally, water can be contaminated in many ways. Ground water is often polluted by human and animal waste causing Cholera. Jerry cans are often improperly cleaned causing fresh water to become filled with harmful bacteria. The result is persistent sickness and disease in the village.

How Far Foundation is partnering with the Rotary Club of Buford/North Gwinnett to distribute Water Pasteurization Indicators (WAPI's), made by the Interact Club at North Gwinnett High School, to the village of Mudja. The simple devise shows when water has been pasteurize when it is submerged into heated water. For only 80 cents a villager can know that the water that they have worked so hard to bring to their family will not make them sick.

In January a howFar team delivered 500 WAPI's to the Batwa Pygmies living in Mudja Village.

The WAPI offers them a new peace of mind that they have not enjoyed before.

howFar seeks to "love our neighbor" by helping those who cannot help themselves.

Crimson Academy Opens

"Students await the first day of school."

On January 10, 2011 Crimson Academy opened. The, still growing, inaugural student body of 150 began there education in four classes, Primary 1, 2, 3 and 4. A terrific celebration attended by local leaders, educators, NGO's, faculty and parents heralded the landmark event.

"The top sector official cuts the ribbon!"

Crimson Academy, a partner project of howFar Ministries, The How Far Foundation and Crimson Foundation for Education, will educate primarily marginalized Batwa Pygmy children within the Gihara sector. These students will have an opportunity that few in their community have enjoyed. According to local leaders, a small number of Batwa have ever attended Primary School and only two are known to have advanced to Secondary School.

"We know that education is very important, and the only reason we don’t go to school is because of the request that we put on shoes. We can’t buy shoes, we can’t buy uniforms. And another thing is that if we went to school we would fail to get anything to eat. Even me, I am a man with a family but if I was given the chance to go to school I would. The problem is that I have to support my family, and generally it is poverty preventing us from going to school, that is the hindrance." (Source: Minority Rights Group International 54 Commercial Street, London E1 6LT, United Kingdom. Interview with Patrick. March 2008)

The goal of howFar is two fold. howFar Ministries will educate a generation of Christian Batwa who will take the gospel message to their people group of nearly 100,000 throughout Rwanda, Burundi, Uganda and DR Congo. The How Far Foundation seeks to break the long cycle of poverty and oppression by educating the Batwa.

"A wonderful transformation that has filled the village with excitement. The same beautiful children are in the photos below"

"Primary One"

"Primary Two"

"Primary Three "

"Primary Four"

Several weeks ago one Batwa father from Gihara/Kigina who was asked whether he would send his children to the new school replied,

"Learn what? We did not go to school and we are here. The children need to be with us and work. They go for water. If they go who will do their work?"

In spite of his misgivings the father relented and enrolled his children in Crimson Academy. In part, because the required registration fee was only 1000 Rwandan Francs - $1.70 which included the schools uniform. Unlike other primary schools in Rwanda, which charge tuition, Crimson Academy asks the family to contribute only what they feel that they can afford.Just two weeks into the school year the father came to the school leadership and said,

"I have seen such a change in my boy. He is learning of things that we have never heard of. Now I would sell everything that I own to keep my child in this school!"

"Crimson Academy Campus"

Crimson Academy will be unique in another area as well. It will be an English language school from Primary 1 throughout. Most don't begin teaching English until Primary 3 or 4. Rwanda's government said adieu to its colonial national language of French opting for English in the last few years. "The vast majority of our students will never know enough French to speak it. They will know English which will give them an advantage in the business community", said one school official.

The 6 acre howFar Crimson Academy Compound, in Kigina/Gihara, will be further developed in the coming months. Four additional classrooms and an office are needed to prepare the school to offer the full plan of Primary 1 through Primary 6.

To make a tax free donation to the project Click Here

Two Sisters

Maria and Shantari Mulikatata were befriended by some of the women from our Kigina/Gihara Church. The women knew that the two sisters were living in a very bad situation and were deeply concerned for them. They prayed that the sisters would be delivered from it.

Maria and Shantari's parents are both witches. Both have cast many spells upon their daughters asking demons to take them. The parents believe that if a demon, or devils as they call them, will take control of the daughters it will bring favor to the family and they will become wealthy. It is a very common deception though out Africa.

"We were continually bothered by devils", the sisters said. I can't imagine what that means but the Christian women of Kagina do...and they were frightened for Maria and Shantari.

The women from the church talked with the sisters and finally brought them to church. When we asked if anyone needed prayer they both came forward (photo attached).

Sunday, January 19, the two sisters were called from eternal darkness into the marvelous light.


In the three weeks that have followed, although the parents still attempt to cast spells on their daughters, they both confess that, "We are no longer bothered by devils".

In the US we often fail to see Satan's work. He is much more crafty and subtle here. We are callous to his ways. Yet, in much of Africa where life is simple, the people ignorant and living in darkness, they can see what we cannot. They can see the evil one. They see evil and they see good and they know the difference. Sometimes they choose to ignore it. Sometimes they choose to embrace it. And sometimes...the gospel comes to them and they are freed from it.

"Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you". James 4:7

Corodina"s Faith

Last July I visited our church plant at Gihara/Kigina, Rwanda. After a great ceremony to celebrate the first service in the new building, and the preaching of God's Word, I asked if anyone needed prayer. It has become my practice to pray for each person individually based on their specific need or request.

Several people came forward. Some to repent and receive Christ, others for strength, and some for healing. Corodina was one of the women that Pastor Augustin and I prayed for that day.

I met Corodina again while at Gihara/Kigina just a few weeks ago. Here is her testimony.

"Before you came to Umudugudu wa Kagina (Village of Kigina) I had a very terrible pain in my leg. It was so bad that I thought that I was going to die. It would not go away. It was a big illness. I went to witches and doctors to help me. They all said go home with your money and die. We cannot help you.

When death was ready to kill me the people of God came to my village and prayed for me. Now I don't have any problems. Thanks God I had an illness that could kill me but now I am alive!

Thank you. Praise God!"

Here is Corodina's testimony in her own words. (Interpreted by Olivia, the first member of the church at Gihara/Kigina.)



There was a time, not to long ago, when Corodina did not believe in God. She did not go to church. She believed in witchcraft.

Now she is saved by grace and she has been healed by faith.

Corodina is an active member of the church at Gihara/Kigina, Rwanda planted by howFar Ministries in 2008. She is now the cook for the church and our new school, Crimson Academy.

"Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises. Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church and they are to pray over him with oil in the name of the Lord; and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him. Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much."

James 5:13-16

Water Mission

(Reposted from Gwinnett Forum.com)


North Gwinnett Rotary members are working to help people in the Democratic Republic of the Congo with water pasteurization indicators (WAPI's). The Club and North Gwinnett High Interact Club members have produced 1,250 WAPI's to send to the Congo. From left are Tyler Phillips, president of the Buford/North Gwinnett club; Valerie Dirksen, who works with the Interact Club; Mark Maynard, executive director of the How Far Foundation, who [will leave for] the Congo Monday to deliver the WAPI's; Carolyn Hill, the Rotary member who brought the idea of making WAPI's to the club; and Leo Lawrenson, who coordinated the production of the WAPI's. Maynard is taking the WAPI's to Batwa pygmies living in Mudja, a village 25 kilometers from the city of Goma. Earlier in 2010, some 200 initial WAPI's were sent by the club to Haiti.

Educational Materials Donated to howFar

Carson-Dellosa Publishing has donated a variety of educational materials to howFar's latest school, Crimson Academy, located in Gihara, Rwanda. The gift makes it possible for the school to have innovative teaching aids and workbooks that are not available in Sub-Sahara Africa.

For more on this international education initiative of The How Far Foundation, Inc. and howFar Ministries, Inc. Click Here.

Over 200 Batwa Pygmy Children Have Registered to Attend Crimson Academy for the 2011 School Year

Carson-Dellosa Publishing, LLC, based in Greensboro, North Carolina, is a leading educational solutions provider for both educators and parents. Founded by two teachers, the company boasts a 30-year history of enhancing a child’s learning potential and environment through quality curriculum, supplemental learning materials, and classroom resources.

Today, Carson-Dellosa continues its legacy of offering a wide array of products that are created by teachers for teachers and parents. The complete product line includes supplemental books for math, science, social studies, language arts, and early childhood; classroom decoratives; pocket charts; and games and manipulatives for prekindergarten through the eighth grade.

Carson-Dellosa proudly provides teachers, parents, and children around the world with the best possible educational materials produced by the industry’s most recognized and respected award-winning brands including: Summer Bridge Activities™, Mark Twain, Key Education, HighReach Learning®, Frank Schaffer®, Spectrum®, Judy® Instructo, American Education Publishing™, and Brighter Child®.

howFar Receives Donation

The How Far Foundation, Inc., on December 22, received a donation of $1,400.00 from the employees of Lakeland Electric. The directed donation, for Crimson Academy, was presented to Philip Haynes, project architect and financier. The donation will be allocated for final construction costs and for the purchase of textbooks.


Crimson Academy will provide an elementary education to marginalized Batwa Pygmy children at Gihara, Rwanda. To date, over two hundred children have been enrolled for the 2011 school year. Classes will begin on January 17, 2011.

Click here for more on Crimson Academy.

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