Governor Moise Katumbi (top center) called a press conference to announce the Jamboree.
2014 was yet another good year for FPM. We started off by accomplishing the challenging task of importing and modifying a DAF truck, which proved to be very useful in the following months, transporting everything from cholera medicines to construction supplies to scouts attending our July Jamboree.
Speaking of the Jamboree, it was a great success, being both an educational experience and teambuilding exercise for the Congolese and American scouts in attendance. This was the first large-scale scout gathering in North Katanga in several years, and leaders say it was a source of great pride and new energy for the ministry, which provides youth an alternate to joining gangs and militias. Special thanks goes out to the Tenke district for organizing and hosting the event and the Indiana United Methodist scouting ministry and the team they sent for raising funds and serving as co-leaders. [Read more about jamboree]
Speaking of the Jamboree, it was a great success, being both an educational experience and teambuilding exercise for the Congolese and American scouts in attendance. This was the first large-scale scout gathering in North Katanga in several years, and leaders say it was a source of great pride and new energy for the ministry, which provides youth an alternate to joining gangs and militias. Special thanks goes out to the Tenke district for organizing and hosting the event and the Indiana United Methodist scouting ministry and the team they sent for raising funds and serving as co-leaders. [Read more about jamboree]
The other big event this year was FPM’s teaming up with the UM’s North Central Jurisdiction’s Volunteer in Mission Program and Indiana United Methodist Women (UMW) to support the foyer (women’s vocational training center) project of the Mulongo District’s UMW. Three young United Methodist women from Indiana and Ohio comprised the very first Mission Discovery trip to North Katanga. The women journeyed by rough roads all the way to Mulongo and made village visits even deeper in-country via our riverboat. Along the way, they heard powerful stories of courage and faith in the face of violence and tragedy—including the story of how the women of Mulongo had already hand fired over 20,000 bricks for the construction of a community center for women. Thanks to this collaboration and the leadership of Mary Kabamba, the foyer is on track to be mostly completed in 2015 with a grand opening ceremony in 2016.
In terms of the FPM team, Rev. Joseph Mulongo took lead role this year and is the main person to credit for the successful coordinating of all of these projects—including several other construction, scholarship, micro-enterprise, and mobility distribution initiatives not mentioned. Rev. Dr. "Biking" Bob has been focusing on completing his book, Rev. Maloba has been working on an MBA at Africa University, and Rev. Taylor began work on a DTh in Missiology in the midst of moving from Djibouti to Algeria. We also added a new member to our inner circle, Leigh Shepherd. Leigh led our Mission Discovery team and has stepped up to help us take FPM to the next level as an organization.
Special thanks to everyone who contributed your time, talent and finances this year—especially our friends at Fondo d’Congo.
Be on the lookout for announcements about plans for 2015—including a bike tour of North Katanga with students from Purdue University’s Wesley Foundation!
Love to you all and thanks for your continued support,
Joseph and Mary, Bob and Teri, the Malobas, Taylor, Leigh and the rest of the team.
In terms of the FPM team, Rev. Joseph Mulongo took lead role this year and is the main person to credit for the successful coordinating of all of these projects—including several other construction, scholarship, micro-enterprise, and mobility distribution initiatives not mentioned. Rev. Dr. "Biking" Bob has been focusing on completing his book, Rev. Maloba has been working on an MBA at Africa University, and Rev. Taylor began work on a DTh in Missiology in the midst of moving from Djibouti to Algeria. We also added a new member to our inner circle, Leigh Shepherd. Leigh led our Mission Discovery team and has stepped up to help us take FPM to the next level as an organization.
Special thanks to everyone who contributed your time, talent and finances this year—especially our friends at Fondo d’Congo.
Be on the lookout for announcements about plans for 2015—including a bike tour of North Katanga with students from Purdue University’s Wesley Foundation!
Love to you all and thanks for your continued support,
Joseph and Mary, Bob and Teri, the Malobas, Taylor, Leigh and the rest of the team.
 |
| Visiting the bricks that will soon become a foyer |
 |
| 2014 Jamboree in Tenke |
 Rev. Nyembo, conference evangelist, leading scout Bible studies |
 |
| This year's FPM Nursing Scholarship Recipients |
 |
| Musumba UMC and others were able to roof their sanctuaries with help from friends in Indiana |
 |
| We bought a truck! |