Dear Friends of BESI / Radio Kahuzi,
You may have heard or read about M23 rebels takeover of Goma and Bukavu on February 16th. We have been living under “house arrest” since then only venturing out to make a quick trip to the market to get food once a week.
That fist week, Danny, our photojournalist, and his family suffered the loss of his younger brother and others defending their village near Goma, 100 miles north of Radio Kahuzi. Also, Feza’s husband, Primo, lost his brother-in-law around the same time defending his family.
The M23 advanced to Katana and the DRC soldiers that were guarding the Kavumu Airport outside Bukavu, evacuated and retreated to town. The head of the Catholic Archdiocese told General Pacifique Masunzu, who commanded a key military defense zone in South Kivu at the Congolese military base in Bukavu to take his military out of Bukavu to make their defense away from the population centers; however, M23 has been in full command of Bukavu since February 25th.
We appreciate your prayers as we live through another time of stress. Our Radio Kahuzi FM is off and on air, depending on which staff member feels safe enough to get to work. No one dares to venture out after 6 pm or before 6 am, our equatorial sunrise and sunset. This reminds us of the same situation several years ago when we awoke at 6 am with a sniper standing in our street firing three meters from our bedroom windows toward the houses and MONUSCO forces, who were launching mortars in the other direction with their backs in our direction.
We went on the air Tuesday, February 25 after deciding to register with the new government on Monday. They said they will provide name tags / cards for our journalists so that they can do reporting. We do what we can to keep moving ahead. Banks / ATM service is spotty requiring three or four stops to find cash to pay our staff and bills that don’t stop coming.
Each morning there are bodies found around the city of those who ventured out after dark or for some other reason. Adults lock themselves in to avoid being caught and dragged into the ranks of the M23. Young people are being kidnapped and taken away to be trained to serve in their military. There is lots of silent stress. Our day and nighttime guards travel long distances to keep a watch for us. Lambert is now off to take the cure for malaria. Our water has been off for several days and nights. Our taxi driver shared that all movement after dark is outlawed except for taxi and they must be off the road by 7 pm and cannot travel on some avenues unless they have a passenger going home. A friend and businessman sent a worker to bring an evening meal, but he never returned…possible kidnapping.
We are thankful for the Lord’s leading and His Appointed Times as He gives us several million new generation military and displaced civilians moving into our war zone and under our FM antennas’ outreach in their several different heart languages, and access to all those He chooses for us to bear witness and share our testimony! Please pray that the Lord will continue to help us ALL to be ready when opportunities arise to share our testimony to His Glory and Honor, Let us all remain faithful In the Lord’s work!
Keep Looking Up!
We are looking for His Soon Appearing in the Heavenlies!
Richard and Kathy McDonald
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