The joy on the children’s faces is something I will never forget.
As we arrived, the children gathered around, their eyes wide with excitement as we began handing out gifts. They opened them with pure joy—laughing, clapping, and tearing through the wrapping as fast as they could. One of our little boys, Angel, was so eager that he used his teeth to open his gift faster, not wanting to miss a single moment. For them, these gifts were treasures—simple yet filled with love. Moments like these remind us why we go. Why we carry gifts across oceans. Why we return again and again.
Giving gifts to children is always a beautiful thing. But as we watched their joy, I was reminded that the greatest gift has already been given to us. Scripture tells us:
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son (John 3:16)
Christ Himself is the greatest gift—freely given, out of love. That truth shaped every moment of our mission. Yet, alongside the joy, we faced a deep and urgent challenge.
During our mission trip to Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, we went seven full days without water. With 30 children and 7 adults in the home, daily life became extremely difficult. We were forced to buy water every single day just to have something to drink and cook with. Showers were impossible—we wiped ourselves instead, conserving every drop. Cooking, cleaning, and caring for children became a daily struggle.
Kinshasa was originally built to support approximately 300,000 people. Today, the population has exploded due to rural migration and refugees fleeing conflict. Exact figures are hard to pinpoint, but recent estimates place the population at approximately 17.8 million (2024–2025). The aging water infrastructure simply cannot handle this growth. Pipes are breaking frequently, and during our stay, one major pipe rupture caused two houses to collapse. To prevent further damage, the city shut off water entirely.
Water has become so scarce that 20% of families are preparing for the worst by digging wells and building reservoirs—if they can afford to.
That is why we must act. We are planning to build an individual potable water reservoir on our compound to ensure the children have reliable access to clean drinking water every day. A 100-ton (100 m³) plastic or steel tank costs between $8,000 and $14,000, but once installation, foundation work, piping, and essential system components are included, the total cost will be approximately $25,000.
This reservoir will:
- Guarantee drinking water for the children
- Protect them during citywide water shutdowns
- Prevent future mission trips unnecessary interruptions
- Allow us to share water with the surrounding community
Despite the hardship, the children remained joyful. We celebrated my birthday together, and the older girls came by just to sing and pray with me. Patrick and Christophe were in the Congo for the first time, deeply moved as they stood in the church their grandparents helped build for the community. These moments reminded us that love, faith, and presence matter—but water sustains life.
Today, we are asking for your help. Scripture reminds us that even small gifts matter:
“She out of her poverty put in all she had.” (Luke 21:4)
If you have pennies, bring them all. They may seem small to you, but together they can provide life-giving water to children who depend on us every single day.
Please consider donating toward this $25,000 goal. Your generosity will ensure that the joy we witnessed—the laughter, the hope, the dignity—continues, sustained by something as essential as clean water.
Thank you for standing with us. Thank you for giving. And thank you for helping us protect the lives entrusted to our care.
