The pastors arrived at the seminar
This pastor is the Secretary of the North Katanga Annual Conference, the largest in the UMC; and this is his bicycle!
in Kamina, Katanga Province, Congo riding their bicycles. We could see that the bicycles were important to them, and we could see that many were simply worn out. Here the fenders are gone, the pedals have worn away and the seat is broken. Yet it is in use, not in the junk pile as it would be in the USA.
So we talked to local UMC laymen who agree to go and get bicycle parts from the local distributor. We agreed on $1,000 of bicycle parts; tires, tubes, seats, pedals, chains, and sprockets.
When the seminar was over the parts were distributed to the pastors. There were smiles and thanks along with the celebration, singing, and some dancing to the songs telling the Bible stories.
Can you see the twinkle in his eyes!
Mama is happy too!
It was clear that the clergy were receiving a very practical blessing, something that would be a genuine help in their life.
The wife has a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye also!!
There is joy in giving as well as in the receiving!
