The Marsh Family
Congo Chronicle, November - December 2007
Just as I was getting used to writing 2007, 2008 came along and now I have to remember to write the right year, Happy New Year from, Kinshasa, Congo. As a family we were able to make a trip to South Africa to visit our family. Esther and I were able to make to take a 10 day trip to Kitwe, Zambia for the Central Africa Leadership Conference. It was such a refreshing time for us. I attended the block course on “Expository Preaching from the Old Testament” by Dr. Sam Horn, while Esther attended the other lectures that were offered.
We were able to spend our time in South Africa between our parents and my sister and her husband who were able to come from England. We were all able to spend Christmas together, and will treasure the memories as we don’t know how many more times we will all be together again. We returned to Kinshasa, on the 31 December 2007, in time to welcome in the New Year.
It’s always good to get away and also good to return to our home. Before I go further, I must include November’s ministry news here. For the Last four months, I have been following the theme “Life in the Father house.” We have been dealing with many aspects of the body of Christ, and the local church, thus November we looked at “How to choose a church”. I feel there is still a lot of teaching needed.
Short Summary
Marsh Family: Robert, Esther, Joshua, Cherith, Jordan, Jeremy, Chelsea & Chaylee.
Country: REPUBLIQUE DEMOCRATIQUE DU CONGO (DRC).
City : Kinshasa (Capital city) – estimated population of 7 million people. It’s the capital city of DRC and is also considered a province.
Language: Lingala, Kikongo, Tshiluba, Swahili and French.
We have been serving in Congo for 13 years. Three years in interior (1994 – 1997), teaching in the Bible school, evangelizing and as assistant pastor of Berea Baptist church in the village of Longa for two years (Pastor Jean Bakonga is now pastor). Due to the civil war we were evacuated. In 1998 we return to Congo, and settle in Kinshasa.
The Lord has blessed us with good health and we are content to serve him here in Congo until He leads elsewhere. We minister in the language of Lingala, and some French (the official language). The Lord has blessed us with 6 six children, Joshua (12) born in Kinshasa, Cherith (9), Jordan (8), Jeremy (5) and the twins Chelsea & Chaylee (2) were all born in Boksburg, South Africa. We would appreciate your prayer that our children will begin to learn the language too, and be able to serve together with us as they grow older.
Congo is slowly emerging out of an eight year civil war and there is still some fighting in the east. The civil war closed much of the country to travel, causing the displacement of hundreds of thousands of people. Many of them are in Kinshasa, making it’s’ population over 7 million people. In Kinshasa we have a total of 14 churches, 12 of these churches have Congolese pastors, who have graduated from Bible School. On Saturdays, along with three national men, are teaching in the Bible School. Courses run from 9 AM to 3 PM. 2009 we are planning to move the Bible school to a more central location. The Lord has blessed us with property in the City of Dibaya Lubwe.
Now we are praying that we will be able to build the needed buildings to house the professors and students that will come for many parts of Congo. We are praying about the possibility of a FM radio station here in Kinshasa. Do pray as we work on the application process.
- We would appreciated prayer for Esther’s’ Parents Mark & Wyla Grings, both are on the mission field in South Africa. Esther’s mom is showing signs of memory loss and lack of strength and energy most days.
- Pray for the schooling of our children – we thank the Lord for our teacher that has come to help-a young missionary lady from South Africa.
- Pray concerning our need for increased finances. At the moment we are at 75% of our needed budget.We are planning furlough 2009
- Pray as I pastor “Eglise Baptiste Nsango Na Bomoi” where the Bible school is held.
- Pray for the students of the Bible School-steadfastness and provision.
- Other serving in Congo: The Grings family (in the states of furlough). Lee & Becky Ward, Bob Grings (86 yrs).
- Special prayer for our friends The Dawson Family.
I hope this brief summary of our ministry in Congo will help you to know how to pray.
In Christ, Robert & Esther Marsh
Web site:www.congoministry.org
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Robert & Esther Marsh
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Congo Chronicle, July - October 2007 |
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Dear praying family,
These last months have gone by and much has happened
in our lives. Again we want to thank you for your faithfulness in
prayer as it gives us courage and strength.
In JULY, We had a number of people that wanted to be
baptized. After announcing the date in church for the
baptisim a man approached me to be baptized. I arranged to
meet with him. It turn out that he was not saved and was assuming that
if he was baptized he would have his sins forgiven. This is a all to
common misconception that many have, along with many others who believe that good works,
and keeping the 10 commandments, etc; will bring them into favor with
God. I met with Papa TyTy (Tee tee), presented
him with the gospel, and on the second meeting with him he accepted
Christ as his Savior and
joined the candidates for baptism. The week before the baptism, we had a
baptistery built. We thank the Lord that it was completed two day
before we had the baptism service. Normally we would have to go
early in the morning (5:00am) to a river close by, and most times only
the ones getting baptized and maybe a few other attend, but with the baptistery on the property we were
able to have the baptism as part of the Sunday morning service. I would like to make
mention, that is was such a blessing to baptize "3" people that were lead to
Christ by one of our deacons Pango Mayaya and "2" by our evangelist Jean
Badinga.
The FM station application is
still in the preliminary stage please continue to pray.
AUGUST
Brought a lot of changes to our home.
The first was the arrival of our school teacher from South Africa,
Louise Morrison. She arrived safely
on the 26 August. Again she is a such a blessing to us, not only
in that of the capacity of teaching our children, but that she was
faithful in hearing God's calling on her life and completed that long
and hard process, as a single lady, of calling and arranging meetings in
order to share her desire to come join and help us. I know that
both she and her family have grown as they saw the Lord provide and work
out, what seemed an impossible thing. She is able to stay in the
small apartment behind our house that was originally built for when my
parents Mark and Wyla would come to spend time working here. Do
continue to pray for Mark and Wyla as they stand by the work in South
Africa.
Secondly, during this
month the Lord brought two other Congolese young ladies to live with us.
One is Winnie's sister, Pricilla. Many of you remember Winnie has
been with our family for over 4 years now. Pricilla is 21yrs and
in her final year of nursing school. The other is a 16 yr old
Congolese girl, Fallone, who actually has spent most of her childhood in the
States, but because of a situation was brought back here to Congo.
She was brought to our attention through the US embassy and we were led
to provide a home for her for the present. She is looking to return to
the states in the way of foster care. We would ask your prayer for
the right family for her. We would ask your prayers for all of our
family. It has taken some adjusting as our family grew from 9
people to 12 in just one month. It has been good to see the Lord
undertake for our needs even though we were not financially set up for
so large a number.
We will be taking a 5 week
break in Dec. to South Africa for several reason. As a family we
feel the need to take some time on our own. I also have some legal
things for the family, that need to be taken care of in South Africa,
and Esther also would like to spend some one on one time with her mom
especially. Esther and I are also hoping to attend the central African
leadership conference in Zambia for some spiritually encouragement
and time together. We were suppose to take our USA furlough this year
but we feel we need to postpone it till 2009, as we have a number of
ministries and new ministry we needs to attended to.
SEPTEMBER
The highlights of September:
First of all, there were 8
students that graduated on the 2 September 2007. We held the graduation
as part of the Sunday morning service, which I think went well.
Pray for many of these that graduated that they will do God's will in
their local churches, and some even sensitive to the calling of the Lord
to serving elsewhere where there is a great need.
The second was that I made a
1800 km round trip to
a village called Dibaya Lubwe, along with 5 other men. It took us two
days to get there. Our purpose was two fold, one to have a seminar to
encourage the believers, the other to survey for a Bible
Institute. In the seminar we all
took turns teaching from the book of Hebrews. We had a wonderful time
and each did a good job on their teaching. We had some pastors from other
churches in town come and listen, may of them teaching error. Many of
these pastors have their flock under their thumb, using fear, making people
give gifts (normally money) to be healed or
experience deliverances. I pray to God that they were able to hear Gods word.
There are so many that are still entangled in keeping the law, and good
works. And there are hirelings keeping them there for there own material
gain.
The second reason for making
this trip was to look into the possibility of starting a bible
Institute. Dibaya Lubwe is located on the Kasai River, making it possible
for students to come from many parts of the interior of the country. The
cost of living is also a lot lower than that of Kinshasa, which mean that there
can be the possibility of having families stay on campus. The Chief of the
village has offered us property, five hectares for $6000.00. We have
made it a matter of prayer.
October
has been a month of
Ordinations. We have had 4 men that have gone through our bible
school here in Kinshasa, that were ordained. I was able to attend the
ordination, of Samuel Munanga. He is the man pastoring the church of
Sanga Mamba where we spent the last three terms serving. It was a joy to
see the church behind this man and his family. I preached and
challenged him on the area of not only "Beginning well, but Ending Well.
The last two I have not be able to
attend, as I have been sick.
Two weeks ago, I came down with a flu
virus combined with an attack of malaria. For the first 4 days or
so, we just thought it was a flue, but when the violent shakes set in,
Esther along with Pricilla practiced their nursing skills, and because I
was so weak and nauseated they gave me few injections for nausea and
pain then I was finally able to swallow and keep down a malaria cure. I praise the Lord that
after another week I am on the mend. I'm still a little weak, but
am managing to get some things accomplished each day. I guess loosing 12
Lbs wasn't bad for me, but I wouldn't recommend the method it took!
Our children are doing well in school, and looking
forward to the December break. Winnie one of our Congolese daughters
is in her final year of High School, and needs much prayer to do well
and the Lord's direction in the next year. The twins will be two
on the 7th of Nov and continue to keep us laughing (and crying when they
accidentally break something) and on our toes!
With this I end, thank you for you support and prayer,
Robert, Esther, Joshua, Cherith, Jordan, Jeremy,
Chelsea & Chaylee Marsh along with Winnie, Pricilla, and Fallone
- We thank the Lord for his protection on a daily basis.
- Continued peace in the country (still some
trouble in the east of Congo).
- Opportunities to minister as the Lord wills
- For those that heard the gospel on our Sud-Kwango
trip
- Pastor Batshingi at Mbanza Lemba.(He is
looking at taking a wife)
- Pastor Christoffe at Kimbwala.
- Bible Institute - we have one and half months left.
- Early morning prayer meetings(6 am). Monday to Saturday.
- We thank the Lord for answering our prayer
for water, water has come in everyday now for the past two months!
- Praise the Lord, we have Joshua and
Jordan's passports now with the valid visas and we did NOT have to pay $3000.00!!!!!
- Praise the Lord for the 6 people baptized
on the 29th July 2007
- We praise the Lord for the safe arrival and of our new missionary school teacher
Louise Morrison who arrived on Aug 26.
- Printing of Lingala Song Book - Layout is done, and we are working on proof reading. We are wanting to print 3000 copies.
- Pray for the Lords will concerning the FM
station, still in the preliminary stage.
- Bible Institute and the obtaining of
property - $6000.00 for 5 hectares.
- Our Congolese daughters Winnie, Pricilla
and Fallone, the Lord's will in each of their lives.
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Congo Chronicle, May - June 2007
Dear family and friends,
Well I have officially added a few more hats to my collection of responsibilities. Dan & Christine Grings left for furlough the 3rd of June. Do pray that the Lord will give them a fruitful and "restful" time back in the USA.
On mothers day on our way out to eat, Esther and I were both amused and saddened by a game our children were playing in the car. It is a game most of us have played, of counting the different colors of cars, but in their game it was, who can count the most bullet holes in the sides of buildings as we past by. We we're so saddened by the outbreak of violence, but praise the Lord the whole city has been calm for the past months, and all that remains as evidence to what happen in march is the bullet holes in the buildings along the "30th of June" boulevard. Please continue to pray for Congo and the setting up of government and restoration of the country. Pray that the Lord will allow the gospel free course.
I had the privilege of presenting the gospel to a man out side our gate. He came asking for finical aid and that I would pray for him. After inquiring how I could pray for him he said that he had a personal sin (immorality). He wanted me to pray for deliverance from it. I said to him, that is was not my pray that was going to deliver him, but that first he needed to be born again, and that God will forgive him his sin and set him free from the bondage of sin. I presented the gospel to him and he made a profession of faith. I challenged him to come to church that Sunday, but he did not show. Pray that he was sincere, and that we will be able to make contacted with him again.
We have 8 students that are in their final year of Bible School. One of these students Davide Gode, is burdened to return to his village and evangelize and preach. This is a great answer to prayer. It is a hard thing to leave the city and go back into the interior of the and be a missionary to one's own people. Pray that the Lord will lead and guide Davide and his wife Tantin. Davide has just a few months of bible school left, and we would like to see him spend at least a few month with us before going back to the Bolongo. There is another man Pango and his wife who are willing and seeking the Lord's direction also considering ministering in the interior. Pango is in his first year of bible school and has 3 more year of study left. Pray that there will be more like them. Both of these men are key men in the church at Cartier Congo.
For some time now we have been praying about a radio station here in Kinshasa. Lately we have been making some inquires as to what is involved, and what are the formalities. We feel that this would be a great asset to our ministry, an evangelistic tool, but also a source of consistent biblical teaching which is so lacking in Kinshasa, Congo for that matter. Pray that we will be able to get in touch with the right people and may even start the application process soon.
Pastor Ndomvi (Pastor of Philadelphia Baptist Church of Masina) and I made a road trip by motorcycles to "Sud Kwango". We were planning to do evangelism and hold a seminar with some of our pastors and deacons who would be traveling in to meet with us. The trip was long and tiring, and if there is a 101 ways of sitting on a motorcycle seat, I believe we did them all! The total distance covered was over 900 km round trip and still we did not get to our destination as we were not able to find petrol (gasoline). So we ended staying a few days at a village call Mosamba. We had many opportunities to witness, and give out literature. Sunday we had a evangelistic service in the morning, with about 20 people, after the morning service we had a open air service in a village about 20 minutes away. So though we were disappointed to have not reached our destination (Kapata, which was near Mawanga) which was still another 150km away, we thank the Lord for the many opportunities to preach t he gospel and we know that He had a reason for us being where we were. Two of the pastors trekked two more days (from Mawanga) to reach where we were and we were able to spend a day together talking and encouraging them in their ministries.
Prayer Requests:
- WE THANK THE LORD FOR HIS PROTECTION ON A DAILY BASIS.
- THE MAN I LEAD TO THE LORD AT THAT GATE - THAT WE WILL HAVE CONTACT WITH HIM AGAIN.
- CONTINUED PEACE IN THE COUNTRY.
- OPPORTUNITIES TO MINISTER AS THE LORD WILLS.
- FOR THOSE THAT HEARD THE GOSPEL ON OUR SUD-KWANGO TRIP.
- PASTOR BATSHINGI AT MBANZA LEMBA.(UNIVERSITY OUTREACH).
- PASTOR CHRISTOFFE AT KIMBWALA.
- BIBLE INSTITUTE - WE HAVE ONE AND HALF MONTHS LEFT.
- EARLY MORNING PRAYER MEETINGS(6 AM)-WE FINISHED A STUDY IN THE BOOK OF ROMANS. MONDAY TO SATURDAY.
- EARLY MORNING, WEDNESDAYS AT KIMBWALA - WE ARE STUDYING DOCTRINES RELATED SALVATION.
- WATER SITUATION - THEY ARE LAYING A NEW WATER PIPE UP OUR HILL! DO PRAY FOR WATER!!
- VISAS FOR THE JOSHUA AND JORDAN ARE STILL AT IMMIGRATIONS, BUT THE US EMBASSY IS ASSISTING US.
- BAPTISM PLANNED FOR THE 29TH JULY 2007.
- THE ADDED RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE CHURCH AT QUARTIER CONGO AS DAN AND CHRISTINE GRINGS LEAVE FOR FURLOUGH.
- THE SAFE ARRIVAL AND SETTLING IN OF OUR NEW MISSIONARY SCHOOL TEACHER LOUISE MORRISON AUG 26. THE LORD'S DIRECTION IN HER LIFE IN OTHER MINISTRIES THAT SHE CAN FIT INTO.
- PRINTING OF LINGALA SONG BOOK - LAYOUT IS DONE, AND WE ARE WORKING ON PROOF READING. WE ARE WANTING TO PRINT 3000 COPIES.
The children are officially on School break. Miss Becky has left us to go on her furlough to the states. We are expecting Miss Louise Morrison from South Africa, Durban to arrive end of August.
In Christ,
Robert & Esther Marsh
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Robert & Esther Marsh |
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Congo Chronicle March - April 2007 |
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Dear family and friends,
Mbote na bino! (Greetings to you).
All I can say is we have been meaning to get this letter to you sooner but between our responsibilities and unstable electricity for the last 2 months it's taken us this long.
On the 27 March, a group of us (Dan & Bob Grings, Pastor Hose, Pastor Gbalanga and Mr Mikedo) returned from a week- long seminar at the church in the city of Idiofa, a 3 hour flight away.. It was the best location that pastors from other churches in the Bandundu province could travel to. I believe there were Pastors that traveled from distances of 15km - 460 km(25 - 285 miles) walking for days, and others just hours.
We held a three day seminar - Wednesday to Friday. Saturday we participated in an ordination council for two men. One of these men graduated at our Longa Bible Institute. Sunday they had the morning service combined with the ordination service.
Who would have imagined, that the events of the 22-23 March 2007 would have happen. During this "2 Day War" in down town Kinshasa, it is reported that there were between 160 - 200 killed. Sadly a more realistic numbers are a lot higher. We live about 15 - 20 minutes from down town Kinshasa depending on the traffic. We are so grateful to the Lord that it did not spread to other parts of Kinshasa and that the Lord protected our families while we were in Idiofa. (Kinshasa is divided into 24 communities, we live in the community of Ngaleima, in the district Macampgne).
Congo is in much need of our prayers. I am praying that the Lord will give a plan and solutions to the need of training, as many of the areas of Congo have been closed for the passed years due to the eight year-long civil war. People have fled their villages to other parts of Congo, some having to live in refugee camps, or having to start a new life in a new village. Over the passed two years people are slowly returning to there villages, and travel between provinces and cities has become possible again.
Continue to pray for the ministries at the Kimbuala church and the Mbanza lemba/University work. Our co-workers Dan and Christine Grings will be leaving on furlough in June and I will be taking over the ministries at the Quartier Congo church as well. The Church that Mark Grings began. I am asking the Lord to show me how to use my time profitably for these different ministries. |
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- We thank the Lord for his protection on a daily basis.
- Continued peace in the country.
- Opportunities to minister as the Lord wills
- Pastor Batshingi at Mbanza Lemba.
- Pastor Christoffe at Kimbwala.
- Bible Institute.
- Early morning prayer meetings(6 am)-We finished a study in the book of Romans. Lord willing we will start in the book of Ephesians. Monday to Saturday (except Wednesday at Quartier Congo.
- Early morning Wednesdays at Kimbwala - We are studying doctrines and themes concerning salvation.
- Water situation. We haul from the Grings house on a regular basis.
- Visas for the Joshua and Jordan are still at immigrations.
- The added responsibilities of the church at Quartier Congo as Dan and Christine Grings leave for furlough.
- The safe arrival and settling in of our new missionary school teacher. The Lord's direction in her life in other ministries that she can fit into.
- Printing of Lingala Song Book - Layout in done, and we are working of proof reading.
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On the home front, the kids only have a couple weeks of school left and then their teacher Becky Bardon will also be leaving on furlough. The Lord is continuing to provide and Lord willing a young lady missionary from South Africa, Louise Morrison, will be arriving to be our new school teacher for the new year starting in September.
The twins who are 18 months. now are growing in leaps and bounds and we are all amazed at their differences. They are not identical, and have their own looks from different sides of the family as well as personalities. They keep us on our toes.
Jeremy who is 4yrs now, enjoys playing with them. Jordan managed to run into the back of our car door and cut his forehead and eyebrow. Esther again got out her medical kit, and went to work making butterfly bandages and bandaged up 2 pretty deep gashes and thankfully it has healed up well. The kids are finally over the 'whooping cough' and the family seems to finally be over these terrible repertory infections that seemed to plague us this time back.
This last week I needed to take Esther in to the Dr. to see about the possibility of a blood clot again. Thank the Lord there was none, but she has been given instructions to not spend long times just standing, and to get both exercise and rest for her legs.
We thank the Lord that we have prayer partners like YOU! |
| In Christ
Robert & Esther Marsh |
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Robert & Esther Marsh |
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Congo Chronicle, January - February 2007 |
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Well Christmas has come and gone and the New Year is already approaching the end of the first quarter. We want to thank you all for the gifts you've sent us this past year and for the Christmas gifts. Because of this I was able to buy Esther a new stove. This has proven to be a valuable asset in the kitchen and I have already enjoyed cookies, peach cobblers, coconut pies and chocolate cake ...etc. Maybe I should get a second stove!
Seriously though, we know that you are praying and are ever thankful to the Lord for all of you backing us in prayer. |
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Family News |
| The twins are very "busy", and are both helping mom in the kitchen. They get up to unpacking all her Tupperware, pots and pans, and on unsupervised occasions, pouring out flour and different cooking goodies over the floor and adding a little food coloring to the mixture and "voila" you have a mess. But everybody loves them and lends a helping hand when they can. The older children enjoyed a week off school as the Grings family made a trip to the interior, back to Yassa and Longa. Lord willing they will return the 6 March 2006 . We have all struggled with upper respiratory colds, and coughs and with extreme earaches with the boys. This week off gave time for everybody to just relax and lay low for a while. |
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Ministry News |
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JANUARY - "As we approached the door to the morgue, the man tapped three times on the door before entering..." Superstition is ingrained into the fabric of this culture and society.
A two year old of one of the members of the Kimbuala church died due to malaria. Malaria is still the number one main killer in Congo . This is due to inadequate medical centers, and quick diagnoses of the malaria. Pray for this family as they grieve the passing of their first child. The day of the funeral of the child, the family of the mother insisted that she return home with them, which she did and was there for two weeks, so really they have not had the time to mourn as couple.
Later on it was explained to me that they "knock" on the door at the morgue to let any "spirits" know that they are about to enter. How wonderful to know that for the believer "..Absent from the body, present with the Lord.” This is the reason we are here to share this wonderful truth with them!
FEBRUARY - I was able to hold a week long, Monday – Sunday Bible conference at the Messina church. I preached a series of messages on The Body of Christ, and dealt with the 'gifts' within the body. We had to spend a lot of time dealing with the mater of tongues, healing and prophecies. There is so much confusion, misuse and deception. Lord willing once a month we will hold this same 1 week conferences at the other churches here in Kinshasa . Do pray for pastor Osé and wife Odette as they lost their baby who was born 3 months early yesterday. Today The Grings and Esther and I were able to visit and be with them a while. |
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- Bible School - Saturdays 9:00 to 15:30
- Quartier Congo early morning bible study, Mondays - Saturday 6am.
- Kimbwala- (45 min drive away) early morning bible study, Wednesday 6am
- Sundays alternate between Kimbuala, Banza-Lemba and other churches.
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- We thank the Lord for his protection on a daily basis.
- Good attendance and attentiveness at the Bible conferences.
- Peace in the country
- Planned trip to Bandundu province - Safety and efficiency in travel on the roads.
- Opportunities to minister as the Lord wills
- Pastor Batshingi at MBanza - Lemba
- Pastor Christoffe at Kimbwala
- Bible Institute
- Early morning prayer meetings(6 am)-fed and taught and encouraged in the Word. Monday to Saturday at Quartier Congo,
- Early morning Wednesdays at Kimbwala
- Water situation. We have not had water come to our house for over 3 months. We haul from the Grings house on a regular basis.
- Visas for the Joshua and Jordan are still at immigrations.
- For everybody to get over these upper respiratory flues. Good health.
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| In Christ, |
| Robert & Esther Marsh |
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Merry Christmas
"For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace." Isa 9:6
23 December 2006
Dear Prayer Partners,
Birthdays, Hospital, Elections, Merry Christmas, Happy New Year..
Well I've decided that I will combine both November and Decembers' newsletters.
NOVEMBER. The Month of November was a very busy month. Firstly, important birthdays- the TWINS turned ONE on the 7th, and on the 16th Joshua turned 11 yrs old. Both of these are hard for us to believe, how time has gone by! To remember that Joshua was born here in Kinshasa 11 years ago.
Also during this month Jeremy, our 3yr old, broke his arm falling/jumping off a moving swing. He's the first of our children to have a broken bone. We have had many falls and cuts. Jeremy managed to brake his left arm just above the wrist. He spent a night in the hospital (Esther stayed with him), so that they could set his arm under anesthetic the next morning. The monday after the fall he was back to "his old self". It was hard for him to see the other children running around in the rain - they love the rain or swimming. The cast was removed a week ago, after having it on for four weeks. All in all we are so thankful to the Lord, that the right Dr's were available and everything that was needed to care for him was available .
Another major event in Nov., was that Congo held a democratic election and chose their president for the first time in more than 40 years. This has been a long slow process, and not without loss of life. We need to pray that the Lord will give Mr. Kabila wisdom to govern this large country. It has faced many years of war and decades of corruption.
DECEMBER. Rainy season is upon us, with a vengeance. I continue to hold early morning Bible study's at both the Kimbuala church and Petrol Congo. Due to impassable roads, I was not able to make it to Bible study at Kimbuala for the first two weeks of December. The road was washed away from the bridge, but has since been repaired. Do pray for these times that the church folks will grow and be edified in the knowledge of the word. Bible Institute is continuing on with no real break at this time.
We are also in need of more of our song books, and so I will be taking on the project of printing them. Do pray that equipment will all work well, and that the Lord will bless this project.
The twins and myself (Robert) have had colds, and sore throats the passed week and it is still lingering. We took Chelsea to the Dr a week ago and she has had a course of antibiotics. I spent last Sunday in bed, while Esther took the family to church, and today I was not able to teach my Bible School classes due to my sore throat and the fact that my voice is gone.
FROM US. We would Like to wish you all a CHRIST- centered christmas, and a year filled with opportunities to please and serve the Lord with joy.
Matters for Prayer:
We are still waiting for the boys passports. Pray that we will be able to get them soon.
Pray for the Bible study at Kimbuala.
Pray for the Bible study at Petrol Congo.
Pray for the Bible School, that the student will be ernest in their studies, and that we will be able to have a good school year, without too many interruptions.
Pray for the Lords provision for us as family.
Pray for Pastor Bosange and his family, he is the pastor at Kimbuala - .
Pray for Pastor Tamwe Richard, in his church planting ministry at Camp Munganga - They have had some set back due to the need of a meeting place.
Printing of Lingala Song Books
Pray that we may get water on a regular basis. Preferably every night to fill our storage tanks.
Thanksgiving:
Thank the Lord for His provision this past month.
Praise the Lord we have the Twins passports & 5 year visas.
We thank the Lord that the swearing-in of the president that was held on the 6 December 200, took place without incident.
We are thankful to the Lord for all who pray and give to the ministry here in Congo.
Thank the Lord for those who have showed interest in helping with books for the Bible school. I have already purchased a few books.
Praise that Jeremy's casket was removed and the X-ray showed every thing back in alignment.
Thank you to all who helped with the Bible School Book Project - I will be able to give you report on the project next month.
In Christ
Robert, Esther, Joshua, Cherith, Jordan, Jeremy, Chelsea and Chaylee MARSH
Visit our web site: www.congoministry.org Visit Esther's Blog: http://themarshfamily.name
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Dear Friends
I was sitting at my desk and had just sent out a quick
up-date concerning the situation in DRC, when Esther came in saying that we
needed to quickly go and pick up Jeremy from play group at our friends the
Carlsons. He had fallen off a swing and they had thought that perhaps his arm
may be broken. We quickly got the things together that we thought we might
need, and rushed off praying that it wasn't too bad.
After getting to emergency and having an x-ray we found that
his arm (down near his wrist)was broken and that being as little as he was that
he would need to have it set under anesthetic. Well, because he had eaten they
said they would only be able to do it the next morning. So Esther and Jeremy
spent the night there, and Jeremy's' arm was temporarily bandaged and they
started an IV.
I returned the next morning. He was transferred to another
building were they set his arm. The whole process was finished and we were able
to go in and see him at around 10:30am.
There was a lot of waiting for this and that, but thankfully at 5:30pm we were able to bring him home, after
promising the Dr that we would be careful to keep his arm raised to prevent
swelling and return if there were any problems.
Thankfully we had a peaceful nights sleep and he seems to be
doing fine. We allow him to get up now and then, but then he has to return so
that we can "hang his arm up" above his head to keep the swelling
down. He really does not like this, but he is so much happier to be at home,
that he isn't complaining too much.
We are so thankful to the helpful hands of missionary
friends, The Carlsons the Wards and the Grings who took care of the rest of the
children while were were gone and prepared meals for us too.
And to those of you who phoned to show concern and prayers.
Thanks a lot! At one stage we even had a few Bible students and professors
waiting at our doorstep to welcome us home, but we were quite late and they had
to go on home. We thank the Lord for the concern of His people wherever we are.
In Christ,
Robert A. Marsh
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| Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord
may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with you: (2Th 3:1)
Two nights ago we watched on local TV the announcement of
the presidential results. The announcement was made earlier than was planned.
Joseph Kabila obtained 58% and Jean-Pierre Bemba 42% of the votes, it is
reported that the later has said he will contest the results.
The result must now be upheld by the supreme court. THESE
ARE CRITICAL & TENSE DAYS for the people of Congo.
People are so easily provoked to unrest. Much prayer, and intercession is
needed for this vast country.
- Pray for
calm and peace.
- Pray that
none of the parties will resort to fighting.
- Pray that
this will truly be an end to wars and terror that has ravaged this country for
many years.
- Pray that we will not have any disruptions in our
ministries, and worship services.
In Christ,
Robert A. Marsh
If you are interested Esther has a BLOG:
www.themarshfamily.name
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| Dear Prayer Partners
We have had a steady growth in our attendance out at
Kimbuala since having changed our Bible study from Thursday afternoons to 6:00am Tuesday mornings. This was due to many of
the people finding it hard to make it in time for the Bible study in the
afternoon. Many work down town so they have to use the taxi system. This system
is comprised of min -vans or cars crammed with people, and is not adequate to
handle the volume of commuters.
Wednesday mornings I'll be going out to Petrol Congo-where
the Wards minister to teach the 6:30am
morning Bible Study there.
Bible School
classes started on the 14th of October, but class had to canceled on the 28the
as it was the eve of the presidential elections. We have 28 students enrolled
in the Bible school and our prayer is that we will be able to have an
uninterrupted school year.
Sunday morning, the day of the election, we awoke to a hard
constant rain, which started at 4:30am
and lasted until 2 pm in the
afternoon. Because of the rain the polling booths opened late. There were a few
incidents that happened in Kinshasa,
but otherwise voting took place calmly. There were reports of a number of
incidents in the Northeast and east of Congo,
shooting and burning of polling stations.
The whole country is on the edges of there seats waiting for
results. This should take place mid November. We ask you to pray that the
announcement of the winner will not spark unrest and violence as it did last
month. It seems that any little thing provokes unrest.
Matters for Prayer:
- We are still waiting for the boys and twins passports. Pray
that we will be able to get them soon.
- Pray that all parties will accept the out-come of the
elections that were held on the 29th
of October 2006.
- Pray for the Bible Study at Kimbuala.
- Pray for
the Bible study at Petrol Congo.
- Pray for
the Bible School,
that the student will be ernest in there studies, and that we will be able to
have a good school year, without to many interruptions.
- Cold and
flu's are going around and both twin have sore throats. Chelsea
also has ear infection and has gone through a course of antibiotics.
- Pray for
the Lords provision for us as family.
- Pray for
Pastor Bosange and his family, he is the pastor at Kimbuala.
Thanksgiving:
- Thank the
Lord for His provision these past months. We have been here 5 months now.
- Thank the
Lord that the voting whent realitively smoothly, dispite some of the problems
in the North East.
- We are
thankful to the Lord for all who pray and give to the ministry here in Congo.
- Thank the
Lord for those who have showed interest in helping with books for the Bible
school.
- Chaylee is
over her ear infection, and Chelsea
is on the mend.
- Thankful
for the Lord's protection of Jordan-
he fell out of a pai-pai tree on his head-not even a bump. Our angels were
working overtime again.
In Christ
Robert & Esther Marsh
Viste our website: www.congoministry.org
Viste Esther's Blog: http://www.themarshfamily.name
"He who is assured that the work in which he
engages is God’s will for him will find therein a means of steadfast
continuance, no matter how great the trials and difficulties he experiences.
When the will of God is the foundation of our activities, it acts as a
counteractive power against all self-glorying and should render His glory the
inspiring aim of our whole being and service. It will lead us to say with Paul,
“Not I, but Christ.” (Vine, W. Collected writings of W. E. Vine. Nashville: Thomas Nelson )
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Dear Prayer Partners,
8 September 2006
- I accompanied Pastor Ndomvi Talamaku, on a village trip to the village of Kasonga Lunda. We spent two nights in the village. Most of Saturday was taken up with a seminar
dealing with topics like: Assurance of Salvation, Eternal Security,
Christ-Centered life. We awoke to rain early Sunday morning which lasted till 14:30, and finally it let up so we could have
a hurried church service. Before having to return to Kinshasa.
11 September 2006
the Children had a week break, before starting the new school year. We are so thankfull to the Lord for Miss.
Becky Bardon, and Miss. Rachel Powers who put in a lot of time and effored in
teach our children.
13 September 2006
was take up with preparation for Bible school. We are looking at trying to get
the level of studies up to standard. In
fact much of this month is put aside for the preparing of syllabyses, lesson
plans. etc...
16 September 2006
We were invited to Sanga Mamba Baptist for a Sunday fellowship meal. It was
good to visit with our brothers and sister in Christ.
18 September 2006
our things that we had set aside to be air freighted from South
Africa three months ago arrived. Hind sight
is always 20/20, we will probably not do it again, as we had to pay almost 90%
customs on the goods.
29 September 2006
is my spiritual birthday, 26 year ago, I repented of my sin and received Christ
as my Savoir in the lounge (Living room) of pastor Mark Grings. I remember how
I even whent fishing with my father that morning so as not to have to go to
church. But that evening, of all things,
my father, after seeing such a change in my Mother, accepted Pastor Marks'
invitation to tea before the evening service. Both my dad and I were convicted
by the Holy Spirit, and trusted Christ as savior (My mother, elder brother and
my younger sisters had already trusted Christ as savior after the morning
service).
2 Thessalonians 3:1 ". . . . pray for us, that the word
of the Lord may have free course, and be glorified, even as it is with
you:"
Prayer
- We have to
forfeit Joshua’s and Jordan’s permanent residence visa as they want us to pay
$3000.00 which we don’t see any way that we can afford. Thus we have made application for a five year
work permit for them; pray that there will not be any complications and that
the Lord will supply financially for this need.
- We also
have the twins’ passports at immigration, waiting for their work permits to be
granted – they are in the last stages of the process.
- Pray that
all parties will accept the out-come of the coming election that will be held
on the 29th of October 2006.
- Pray for
the early morning Bible Study I am holding at Kimbuala – I leave the house at 5:20am to get to Kimbuala at 6:00am. We are holding an hour long class. Today
was the first day and we had a good turn out.
- Bible
school starts of the 14 October 2006.Please pray
for our spiritual life and trusting in the Lord.
Thanksgiving:
- We praise
the Lord for the arrival of our things from Johannesburg.
- Chaylee is
taking some steps of her own – she be walking soon, and Chelsea
is not far behind
- We thank
the Lord for our good health since being here.
- The older
children are in their 2nd week back to school after weeks break. We are
thankful for our faithful prayer warriors and supporters.
In Christ,
Robert & Esther Marsh
our website: www.congoministry.org
email us
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