Season's Greetings!

Greetings from HEAL Africa!
We hope your Christmas and holiday season has been full of peace, love for your neighbor, and the joy of knowing you are Loved.

We wish for you a happy new year, 2008, filled with the joy of challenges which will build new strength and skills, health to carry out the tasks you have, and the peace in which to dream, to build, and to reach out to those around you in love. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if Peace on Earth, Goodwill to Men (and Women) could actually begin with us?

We love the quote from Margaret Mead which is seen on T-shirts and many other venues,
“Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”

We ask you to continue to pray for the upcoming peace talks in Goma, delayed now until January 7th, 2008. These are scheduled to include all parties causing such injury to the Congolese people in North Kivu. We sincerely hope that these talks actually occur, and that the welfare and well being of the population are considered by all military and political parties to the talks.

Thanks to all of you who are supporting the ongoing programs, making it possible to continue the work of HEAL Africa!

Judy Anderson, on behalf of the whole team of HEAL Africa


Here’s what happened at HEAL Africa in Goma, from Lyn Lusi, on December 26th:
“Yesterday was a great Christmas day. We had a Swahili service from 7 to 9.30am and the hospital chapel was packed to bursting. There was great music, many choirs, including HEAL Africa staff and also the patients' choir.
The women in the transit house did a nativity play which was hilarious, but had a good message. We had a preacher who was one of the best I have ever heard - short, clear and effective. Then after the service, all the patients had a soft drink and bread, and then gifts to all the patients at the bedside (soap, rice and meat to cook). After that, they showed the Jesus film.

There's going to be a consultation between the politicians, the rebel leader, militia leaders and representatives of the villages that have been destroyed. It will be chaired by Abbe Malomalo, who headed the electoral commission during the transition. Please pray for this process - it's a hope for peace in North Kivu.”

Merci a nos amis francais!

Au nom de toute l’équipe de HEAL Africa à Goma je vous remercie de votre soutien au travail qui se fait actuellement au Nord Kivu, Congo.

Notre travail se base à Goma, mais nous avons un tout petit bureau aux EUA pour soutenir leur travail et pour partager les nouvelles de ce qui se passe dans cette région du Congo.

Notre équipe est au travail, même si la plupart des ONG internationales ont été évacuées, parce que HEAL Africa est Congolais et dévoué à aider la population. Je vous envoie un courrier reçu de cette équipe cette semaine dernière. Ils passent à travers toutes les lignes tenues par les groupes militaires différents, car depuis des annees l’équipe de HEAL Africa est reconnu sur terrain pour leur soutien médical pour toutes les différentes tribus. Ils enseignent sur les maladies, la transmission VIH, et essayent de sensibiliser les militaires sur la violence sexuelle. Voici un email du chef d’equipe au program manager,
« Permettez nous de vous faire part de notre rapport de mission pour assister les IDPs venus de Nyazale et de Kikuku. Les récents affrontements de dimanche 2 déc. ont fait plusieurs déplacements et victimes de conflits. Curieusement tous les humanitaires ont été interdits de se rendre sur terrain pour secourir les victimes de conflits. Sollicités par le CSR kibirizi et soucieux de remplir notre mission de la clinique mobile en zone de front j'ai sollicite une autorisation a OMS et OCHA et je l'avais obtenu. Sommes actuellement en poste a Kanyabayonga et en supervision mensuelle avec Timothée et Kabuyaya le nouveau superviseur de territoire car la situation est toujours très préoccupante et attendons poursuivre notre assistance si nécessaire.
Priez pour nous et notre province qui est en proie au conflit avec flambée de haine tribale. »

Nous vous remercions de tout cœur pour votre soutien, surtout dans cette période qui est tellement troublée pour les gens du Nord Kivu.

Nous vous souhaitons la paix,
Judy Anderson pour l'equipe de HEAL Africa

Where in the world is HEAL Africa staff?

We thank you for your support for the programs of HEAL Africa during this difficult time. Yes, the violence is worse than it's been in many years around Goma and North Kivu. We wonder, when will it end?

Yet the staff has chosen to continue to work in spite of the hazards. They've asked for prayer. We just got this from Lyn Lusi, Program Manager in Goma. It tells the story. It highlights one of HEAL Africa's distinctives. It is a local organisation in Congo, doing the work that needs doing--in spite of the challenges. The staff has built credibility because they have been going into each of the militarily-controlled areas over the past years--bringing medicine, training nurses and community leaders in preventing HIV, raising awareness about violence, bringing agricultural help, working with families with disabled children, grouping mothers into solidarity groups to save for their own maternity care; they've become known as bringers of good news.

So please continue to pray for their safety and wisdom as they continue their dangerous work to build a better future for Congo!
Thanks again,
Judy Anderson



Here's the letter:

Dear friends,

While I was travelling away from Congo last week, I received a travel warning from the UN security forces, formally forbidding any travel outside Goma.

I passed it on to all the project staff.

I had an immediate response from Ndungo and Ciza, both of them reminding me that if they did not bring help to the civilian populations trapped behind the battle lines, no one else would go.

Today I heard from Ciza exacty what happened. All the staff were unanimous in their determination to continue bringing whatever help they could to the remote villages. Ciza called Patrick Lavand'homme (OCHA coordinator) and asked for special permission to go on with the work. Two hours later, Patrick called him back and gave permission, because we are not an international NGO.

3rd December, the ambulance loaded up and went out to Kibirizi, to bring desperately needed medical supplies to thier hospital. They went on through the park and up north, rescuing some runaway child soldiers on the way, and taking them to the nearest demobilisation camp. Their whole story is one of terrified displaced people running in every direction, hungry, cold and desperate. Different bands of militias and soldiers occupy villages without any central command. Ciza and the driver at one time had 20 women (pregnant, old, disabled) packed into the ambulance, to drive them to the next safe place. At every road block, they had to explain who they are and negotiate access and safe passage. I am amazed by their courage.

Today they came back to Goma to resupply. This time they are targetting the isolated population that has taken refuge behind Nkunda's battle lines - almost exclusively Tutsi farmers from Masisi. To have access to these people, the team needs safe passage from General Mayala commanding the FARDC; Camille Ntoto knows this man, and is getting the permissions. It is very important to take the message to these refugees that they are Congolese like us, and we will do all we can to bring them help as well.

Please pray for Ciza, for Ndungo (Choisir la Vie) and Bolingo (Comites Nehemie), for Mama Neema (Safe Motherhood), for Adelard (Enfants Comme Nous) - all of them are using their project resources right now to bring help to the people stranded and in desperate need because of this fighting.

Pray for a speedy end to this fighting.

Thanks.