Congo Helping Hands, Inc.

Just a few of the videos that I (Woody Collins) have taken While Serving in Congo.

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLHsicOu7gZi1tVIpIk-zP1IzrX5eW9eE9

- I'm with Dr. Serge. Dr. Serge is the medical administrator at IMCK which is one of the premier and biggest hospitals for the Presbyterian Church in the Congo. And I want to have Dr. Serge talk about the importance of nurses. The nurses in the ITM program, where they serve and how important to the overall health and welfare of the people is those nurses in the training programs.

- Thank you, D, for this interview. First of all, I want to thank you for this opportunity to talk about the IMCK and especially to talk about nursing schools. IMCK has several department and especially the Foreman department, except the medical department, the hydro department, public school, public health department. We have the education department. In this department of education, we have two nursing schools. We have high term, we have also this term. One high school and another college. These nursing schools are very important, not only for IMCK, also for the benefit of our province, our city and our country also. We also, we have the students finish the nursing schools, they can help IMCK once they are hired at IMCK, especially in Good Shepherd Hospital. They can help population to heal them. And also, they can help also our country, our province to be developed because we have many medical centers, but sometimes, sometimes we have to face the quality of the students of the . We are working there so that we have, we have these two nursing schools and we hope that they will do good job not only for IMCK, but also for all population around the world because we have a student from IMCK to Kananga, to Kinshasa, the capital of the Congo. We have also the nurse from nursing schools of IMCK in USA, in Europe. I can say in short, around the world, Africa. This is my point of view. Thank you.

- Thank you Dr. Serge.

- Thank you so much. Thank you.

Summer is over, and officially fall season started last week. Also, all elementary school students are getting into the school routine of going to bed early, and all parents are getting into monitoring their children's homework, because before you can say, "One, two, three," the first grading period will be ending. As parents, we want to see our children do their best, and we do our best to provide them with everything, and whatever will make them successful. We work in our own ways, just as hard as our children in school, and we buy all of the necessary, and sometimes the not necessary things, that we can afford, all for our children. In Congo, I see parents making the same efforts we do in the States, but it is not the same, especially in the Central Kasai Province. Until this year, children's education was not a right, or free to all children. Congolese parents had to pay school fees of about $10 a month per child. That does not sound like much, until you realize that a parent may make only $50 a month from a job, that is, if they can find a job. Also, this is the first year, since the violence in the Kasai has ended. But listen, according to Luke chapter 17, verses nine and 10. Jesus talks about the servant duties, and relates it to the master/slave relationship. He said, "Do you thank the slave "for doing what was commanded? "So you also, when you have done "what you have been ordered to do, "say, 'we are worthless slaves, "'we have done only what we ought to have done.'" I think this applies to the parent/child relationship too. But what happens when we can't provide for our children, as necessary? Someone or some entity has to fill the shoes of the parent, in support of that child. This year, Congo Helping Hands have stepped up to support those children in need. We are providing some essential school notebooks and pens, to elementary school students, working with our local partners in Kwango, we have identified 12 schools in the poorest areas to support. When I saw the video of the children saying, "Thank you Mr. Jeff, thank you Mr. Woody, "and thank you Mr. Jim," I remembered Jesus' words personally to me in this way. The children thanked me for doing what Jesus had commanded me, and when I have done all that Jesus have ordered me to do, then I will say, "Jesus, I am Your humble servant, "I have done only what I ought to have done in Your name." School fees may have been eliminated, but school supplies are still a parent's responsibility. Those parent needs your help. Please consider making a donation to support these children in need of school supplies.

Congo Helping Hands is distributing school supplies (pens and notebooks) to needy elementary students in Kananga. Our partner, Jim Mukenge, selected 12 schools. Today is day one of the distribution. The children says Thank You to not only to Jeff (Mullins, our Director for Catholic Missions), to Woody (Collins, President and Director for Presbyterian Missions), and to Jim (Mukenge, Partner and Provincial Deputy).  Also, our thanks to Mama Bernadette Ngalula.

I'm back from my forced internet diet! The Congolese government asked the mobile phone not working too stop all internet and SMS service. I'm fine. The mobile internet and SMS were blocked from Dec31, 1200 hours to Jan19, 2400 hours. #Internet #Congo #SMS

It's pineapple season in the Kananga. Women walk around pineapple on their head for sale. A pineapple costs 600 Congolese Francs (about 36 cents). Nothing compares! Delicious! #Congo #Kasai #pineapple

I take a moto across town in the mornings. Since we used 3-4 drivers exclusively, it only takes a call. Also, we use them to run errands to pick up grocery items, supplies or other commodities. Then a call in the evening for the ride home. #Congo #Kasai #Kananga #Uber

Congo Helping Hands provide staple foods (cassava flour, corn meal, palm oil, sugar, and salt) to over 500 families in May 2018. On this day, the people was more orderly and constrained due to better planning and execution by the community leader.

The Sisters of Hope requested help to support 65 orphans which arrived at their door in the last week. #Congo #Kasai #orphans