Burundi Update 2022

Pastor Renovat Barutwanaya Talks With The Batwa Community

We first shared the gospel with the Batwa people in the village of Muramvya, Burundi in August 2008. On that day, several people left behind a life of Animism and came to Christ. Since that time the church has grown. Today there are approximately 60 Batwa members of our church plant at Muramvya led by a Batwa pastor. 

Burundi 2008

See the original story HERE.

howFar Ministries Murumvya Church, Central Burundi

Today there are three howFar Ministries churches in Burundi. They are in Muramvya, Bujumbura, and Ngozi. And they are not only sharing the gospel with Twa Pygmies, but with many other tribes. 

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First In Class Returns As Campus Pastor!

Many of you will remember that in 2007 we accepted an invitation to visit a Batwa Pygmy village near Gihara, Rwanda. We learned that there were no schools for the Twa children and that few ever received an education.

Our Board of Directors decided to plant a church and school in the village to reach the Twa people and to educate, train, and prepare a generation of children to evangelize their own people.

Batwa children at Gihara Village, Rwanda 2007

In 2010, Crimson Academy was launched.  One of the members of the first class was Lambert Uhirwa.  Lambert worked hard and was the #1 student in the school graduating in 2013. Lambert earned a spot in a prestigious Secondary School because of his high academic achievement.

Lambert's Graduation Ceremony at Crimson Academy. First In His Class. 2013

Today, Lambert has returned to Crismson Academy as Campus Pastor, fulfilling our dream of preparing men to return to their village to reach their own people for Christ! 

A Young Pastor Returns to Teach Where He Was Taught About Christ

Congratulations to Pastor Lambert. 

Thank you to everyone who made it possible for us to take the gospel message to Gihara, Rwanda in 2007.

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Goma DR Congo Orphan Care

Hello Dear Executive Director. 

We pray you are doing fine. We also are doing fine here despite the insecurity in Goma and around it due to the ongoing attacks by M23 rebels. 

Children and my family are safe and send particular regards to you, mom Renee and all your team. 

However, we praise the Lord for we have used the funds and were capable to cover the orphan's expenses for this first term of 2022 though these last two months the price has increased in the market. From now there is no more money left in the orphan's account. 

Able and his wife care for 7 orphans in their home along with their 2 children.

Children are preparing the last examinations for this school year and still are determined to work harder. 

Thank you very much for your continuous caring for vulnerables and particularly war-orphaned under my responsibility. 

God bless you so much. 

Barhashishwa Mastaki Abel

New Mill Dedicated in Tanzanian Massailand

The HowFar Foundation was able to celebrate a great milestone this week with the dedication of our brand-new Grain Mill in the village of Losimingori, Tanzania. 

The Grain Mill was fully funded by The HowFar Foundation. The Mill will provide a much-needed service to this area and will be a nice complement to the improved planting program that The HowFar Foundation initiated a couple of years ago. 

The Mill will not only provide jobs, but we will also be able to use the profits to subsidize maize flour to many less fortunate families in the area. 

Many thanks to Pastor Emmanuel Laizer our HowFar Foundation partner in Losimingori for all his efforts and oversight in getting this project accomplished.

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Jim Kelly

Board President

The How Far Foundation, Inc.

Tanzania 2021 Update

Pastor Emmanuel Lazier
Tanzania Country Director

Dear brothers and sisters. May I share with you my joy this last year has been a one of the good year ever in my ministry. God has put a smile on my face. U know planning a thing and see it successful makes you happy? Isn't? Even me there are many things (miracles) I have seen on my eyes and I always bless the Lord with all my heart. 

Pastor Emmaul's Family

1. CHURCHES. Last year we have 7 churches which I am overseeing them. And I am glad that all of them are active and doing well. Though there are sometimes ups and downs but they are growing. And God added joy to us that one of our brach church, Endarara has recently started a new centre, way far from that church. Early Feb they invited me to officially open the first service. 

Our new baby (Church) in Engaruka, with Pastor Augustine with the white t-shirt with black color.

2. BIBLE SCHOOL. as you know that by the grace of God we started a Bible School last year April 7th, 2021. With 12 students and now we have 14 students. All of them are boarding. And our young pastors come and get training there. And is 100% free for them so they are able to study very well. We provide everything. And we hope to get our first graduation party September or October. (We are waiting on your dates arrival so we set the exact dates). The graduation party will go with ordination. 

Also may I use this opportunity to tell you that already we have another class which are ready to start April 2022, it depends on our ability to take them. So please pray about it. Because we want every April will be our intake and Sept or Oct will be graduation. 

Pastor Emmauel speaks to faculty and new students on opening day at Pastors Training Center.

3. MICRO LOAN PROGRAMS 

Also How far have been supporting the poor families in Losimingori village with the micro loan program where right now we have 30 families benefiting from this programme, is still going well and we bless the Lord is helping them a lot. 

4. MILLS MACHINES. 

Dear brethren, end last year we started building and is continuing building a corn flower machine. For two reason. One is provide services to the community because there is no machine around and second is generate income.  The money we make from this project will go direct to support the programs we have now. I will detail you more when is done, right now we are 75 % of the work. 

How far has done a lot of community service both spiritual and physical. 

Bishop Reuben ole Tiges, Emmanuel's Father and Pastor Emmanuel

But last may I mention that last Christmas God gave me a biggest gift ever in my life, my father accepted Christ as his Lord and personal serviour, and we baptized him during Christmas Day. 

And because of him we baptized 7 more people in our church. 

howFar Haiti 2021 Report

Diane Moffi

Haiti Country Director

Haitiworks

 

 

2021 was not Haiti’s year!  Covid, random kidnappings, presidential assassination, dysfunctional government, major earthquake, 17 American and Canadian missionaries kidnapped,  gangs controlling major supply routes and gas supplies all contributed to one of the worst years in the last 10 years since we’ve been traveling to Haiti!

 

Yet, in spite of all the chaos, God has been working in Haiti through your support!!  

 

In March, we sponsored two local people on a mission trip to Miragoâne for spread the message of the Gospel at Easter where 45 accepted Jesus and 15 were baptized.  Additionally, the people attending the services received food and clothing provided by the mission team.

 

Unfortunately, due to the gang violence and threat of kidnappings, the Pastors’ and wives’ conference we were sponsoring in late October had to be postponed.  Please pray that we can have the conference in 2022 and that God will be glorified during the conference through the teaching.

 

Our school in Cite Soleil received teachers’ salaries, food distribution to the students, school supplies were purchased for return to school in September.  The wall behind the school, which was made of old pieces of tin sheets was replaced by a cinderblock wall with razor wire to make the school more secure for the children!

Orphans enjoy Christmas dinner.

A small tract of land was purchased near the school to house a mother and 3 children who were homeless.  The mother was blessed with a blender and a small generator to start a small juice business so she can feed her children, as well as beds and other household items.  Another family was relocated from Cite Soleil, the site of daily gang shootings, to a safer neighborhood with rent paid for the year for the new home!  Senior adults received food and toiletries in the spring and fall…all thanks to you!

Eathquake damage in southwest Haiti

In August, southwest Haiti was hit by a strong earthquake, which was felt in Port au Prince - over 100 miles away!  Reports indicate that over 2,000 people died and most of the people living in the area lost their homes.  Thanks to donations, howFar Haiti was able to send teams to the area to deliver supplies:  tarps, solar lights, food, clean water, diapers, toiletries, shoes, soap, medicines and Bibles.  Also, we were able to provide some supplies to a small church in Les Cayes for repairs to allow them to worship together after the earthquake!

Earthquake Supply Kit

We received several requests for medical assistance, treating tuberculosis, malnutrition, gunshot wounds, typhoid fever, heart conditions, child birth, injuries and infections.  One neighborhood received funds to buy desks for an after school English language program.  Hundreds of families have been fed and/or received food for their families during this year.  Including our orphanage of 35 children who were fed on a regular basis in 2021, received school supplies to start the school year and enjoyed a Christmas party…all thanks to you!!

Diane and Carl Moffi give the gift of food.

Please pray for Haiti and her beautiful people to have peace in 2022, through Jesus, and help them to continue to seek God!

howFar Medical Clinic Treats Volcano Victims

"And late on May 22, local time, things abruptly escalated: Fractures opened up in the volcano’s rocky sides, spilling fast-moving lava down its slopes. Some of it headed toward the city of Goma, a metropolis just six miles away that’s home to around 1.5 million people. The night sky shimmered with a crimson hue as lava, sometimes pilling up to three stories high, speedily invaded the streets of several villages surrounding Goma and swallowed any buildings it encountered, setting them ablaze. As of this writing, there have been 15 confirmed casualties, a number expected to rise in the coming days. Source: National Geographic News 

People Flee Goma as Volcano Erupts. Source: The Washington Post

The village of Mudja, north of the City of Goma, where howFar has a church and clinic, was at the epicenter of the eruption of Mount Nyiragongo.

Several people died, nearly every home was destroyed and hundreds of people were displaced.

Our How Far Foundation of Congo team has been working hard to care for our friends in the aftermath of the eruption.

Last week we received this report from Pastor John, howFar's Director for Democratic Republic of the Congo.  "We told Mudja [Batwa Pygmy Village] that today we could supply them with medecines and water and they were too excited. They prayed God to bless you more and more. This time as it is not raining here in Goma and the volcano has burned down the springs that helped to supply Water in Goma and in Mudja the situation is complexe. Many cases of diseases have been noticed day by day," 

The howFar Team Prepares to Treat Volcano Victims

Our team also reported, "Mudja pygmies were too excited to get the medicines and praised Lord for they will get once more free of charge treatment. They prayed God to bless How Far and its team." 

howFar Food Distribution to the Mudja Community. 

Thank you to everyone who quickly and generously donated to the How Far Foundation Congo Volcano Relief Fund. Your gifts made it possible for us to respond to the crisis by providing food, water, clothing and shelter to people who have no way to help themselves.  And now...your donations have provided much needed medicines to treat illnesses caused by thick ash in the air, poor sanitation, and unclean water.

Your help is still needed. To donate to the How Far Foundation Congo Volcano Relief Fund go to www.howFar.org.

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