Goma Refugees Update

We made it to Goma, at the north end of Lake Kivu, this morning at about 10 AM.  It was a 2 hour trip by ferry.  The ferry trip up the lake is not bad but the larger ferries have all had some kind of problems and are not running right now so the one we took was much more cramped.  There was no room to move your feet much at all and there were some engine fumes coming into the cabin.  I sat next to a window so I could get a little good air.  The further to the front the better so on the way back I will go even further up.  The ride though was smooth.  They don’t allow pictures so I can’t add one of those for you at this point.

 

We met with the church leaders of this area and discussed the funds we received from IDES for the refugees.  They are very thankful for the help as these people have really suffered.  Most of the money will be used for long lasting things like blankets and clothing but some clothes and medicine will be necessary as well.  They had worked out a very good list of things to buy and are now revising it down a little so they can fit within the budget we have.  Then they will have a 10 person committee to do the distribution which will include people from every level of the church.  It is a very good plan and should be able to be done in the next few days.  Tomorrow they will buy as much of the goods as possible and then work on the plans to get it transported to the outlying areas where the hurting people are living.  At this point there are no longer people living out in the open.  Everyone has a least a tent like structure to be in but many have no way to stay warm, etc.  Also there are some who can return to their homes but they have to rebuild so a small percentage of the money will be to by some roofing for them.  In those areas they can get poles and mud for the walls but roofing is the difficult part.  It won’t help everyone but a few will be blessed.  Most of the members of our churches who have been displaced will get something.  This should reach into the lives of more than 500 people.  God bless all have given for this and other emergency situations through International Disaster and Emergency Services (IDES).  God bless all the work IDES does.