Current Appeals
We Are The Missionaries Of Africa
Dear Friends,
"If you give someone a fish, you feed them for a day;
if you teach someone to fish, you feed them for a lifetime.”
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve heard this proverb. So often in my work here among the Missionaries of Africa, it is a saying that has been at the heart of our work among the poor of Africa. Countless times I have heard the Missionaries’ stories of their ministry to get to the cause of poverty among African men, women and children. And once that cause has been revealed, the Missionaries do everything they can to make a real change in the lives of those who are suffering.
This is particularly true in the Democratic Republic of Congo -- where Fr. Herve Hamel, a Missionary of Africa -- is working among Central Africa’s orphan children.
The Democratic Republic of Congo has been the site of one of the bloodiest conflicts the world has known since the Second World War. In less than five years, more than three million people are believed to have been killed -- the majority of them innocent civilians. The fighting, destruction and overwhelming loss of life have left an incredible number of children without parents . . . boys and girls roaming the streets -- hungry and tired without any source of food or shelter . . . children unable to care for themselves.
Recently, we received a letter from Fr. Herve explaining the crisis facing the orphan boys and girls in his mission. “Life here is dangerous enough for adults,” Fr. Herve explains. “But for little children, it can be worse than anyone could ever imagine. Many of them have witnessed the deaths of their parents as well as the destruction of their homes and property. These innocent boys and girls have lost everything and everyone they have ever known. Now they must start all over again.”
“At the present time,” he continues, “we are taking children in to our center – providing them with food, clothing and shelter. Still, though, when these boys and girls reach a certain age, they will need to begin providing for themselves. Since these children are orphans, though, they do not have the money they need to purchase school books or supplies. They also do not have the money to pay for training for themselves -- training that would help them develop skills such as sewing, woodworking or carpentry.”
“For the youngest children -- between the ages of six and 12, we want to begin teaching the educational basics -- such reading, writing and math,” he writes. “For older children, we want to teach them food production, mechanics, wood working and help them develop other skills as well. I am hoping there is some way you can help us make this happen.”
My friend, even though this is my first time writing to you on behalf of our missions, I hope that you will help us continue our work as you did so generously through my predecessor, Fr. John Lynch. The needs of Africa’s men, women and children -- especially orphans – is overwhelming.
My hope is that we can send at least $35,000 to help the orphaned children at Fr. Herve’s mission in Buni (in the Democratic Republic of Congo) as well as the missions serving orphans throughout other areas of Africa. These funds will help us continue providing not only food, clothing, water, shelter and pastoral care -- but will help provide education and skills development as well. In so many ways, we will truly be “teaching someone to fish” . . . giving them the help they need to lead productive lives.
Whether you can send a large gift or a small one, please know that the greatest thing we can do is to let these young boys and girls know they have not been forgotten. Again, I thank you for the help and support you offered through Fr. Lynch . . . I pray we can continue to count on your kindness once more.
Your Missionary Friend,
Denis P. Pringle
Director of Development
P.S. Your generosity is what makes our work possible. You and your loved ones remain in
the thoughts and prayers of all our missionaries! Thank you again.
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