Not long ago we received the 2017 “White Cross” shipment. There were loads of rolled bandages, gloves, suture, gauze, uniforms, and infant blankets.

When I was preparing to leave the United States to return to Goma last month, I received a message from Bill asking me to bring back between three to four thousand plastic zip-lock bags to make PEP kits.

Kathy Rice, RN, Tim Rice, MD and their youngest daughter Nancy moved to Vanga, Democratic Republic of Congo in 2015, to work in a rural village hospital. Kathy was given the position as head of the Nursing School in Vanga, educating 250 of Congo’s finest future nurses and midwives.

 I’m so excited to officially announce that we’re building a new building for the Mitendi Primary School (which currently holds classes inside the Mitendi Women’s Center), and thanks to some very generous donors, we’re kicking off the fund-raising with half the funds needed already in hand! Amazing!

Easter Sunday in Kikongo was loud…more than normal loud. Whistles blew and horns blasted, people yelled out cheers, children went up and down the isles of the church and crowded the windows and doorways.

It was a long journey returning to the Congo from the U.S.  After 9 months of almost constant travel, it felt so good to arrive back to our own little apartment and unpack our suitcases! We’re happy to be settled, and as Michael said, “to be able to do the work instead of just talking about it for so long.”