Kathy Chasing the "Bird Killer"

Dear Friends of Radio Kahuzi, 

Isn't this world so strange, nothing like we knew before the Corona-Virus. Actually, we've been experiencing a lot of this new world for many years, it's just now that things have changed so drastically. Yes, there's the life without water in the pipes and the electricity being off for many hours, but now the things that really count-like church services! Yes, our churches are still in lock-down! Who would have ever imagined. The bars and markets are open, but not the churches!

African Church Family at newly built church

Our alarm clock goes off at 6:00 am and so starts the day with so many different varieties of birdies singing to tell us to wake up. When people start going to work, the birds get quieter and quieter. They know better than to make themselves known, as the guy who goes around the neighborhood with his sling shot doing quite a bit of target practice (on the birds)! The "bird killer" knows that I don't like that, so he waits at the top of the road and when he sees me, he takes off!

Kathy chasing the "Bird Killer"

HAPPY, HAPPY BIRTHDAY, KATHY!

Here you are singing your own song of life long before you ever dreamed of a Richard, or reaching thousands of souls through missionary radio. You continue to be a role model of love and dedication to our Heavenly Father. It has been exciting to see God's hand upon your life as you continue to play such an important role in the success of Radio Kahuzi.


You are a rare and exceptional lady. You have much love to give and you have shared it with all those who have had the privilege of knowing you.

"Who can find a virtuous woman? for her price is far above rubies.


...She stretcheth out her hand to the poor; yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.



...Strength and honor are her clothing: and she shall rejoice in time to come.


...She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.



...She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.
 

...Many daughters have done virtuously, but thou excellest them all."




Proverbs 31: 10 - 31

May the Lord fill your heart with JOY at all that He has done!
 


With Much Love and Admiration from the BESI Board, Family and Friends

THE CALL TO AFRICA

To order from the publisher:

https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781631295492 

The story of Joyce Owens, missionary and dear friend to Richard and Kathy McDonald is now available on Amazon.com or directly from the publisher. 

This book is a labor of love by Joyce's sister, Glenda Owens, also a dear friend to the McDonalds. Glenda's desire is that the book would be used of the Lord to financially bless the ministry of BESI / Radio Kahuzi in the Democratic Republic of Congo where Joyce labored for the Lord and enjoyed fellowship with the McDonalds on many precious visits to their home in Bukavu. 

By ordering the book from the publisher a greater portion of the profits will go to (BESI) Believer's Express Service. Inc. 

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY

RADIO LICENSE SIGNED 29 YEARS AGO

HOW IT ALL BEGAN

As we revisit the events of July 4,1991 during this current lock-down, Kathy and I are very thankful to have lived several zenith events where we have experienced the Holy Spirit's intervention. Despite our frequent incapacity and simplicity as we live through this Age of Grace, we realize we are nearing the End Times and the conclusion of the Holy Spirit's work here on this earth. We are very grateful to be a part of that work during this tumultuous time.

Choosing a Name for our Station
In our legal application to the government, we named our Christian Programming, "Cherith Radio" memorializing our difficult experience during that time, which seemed to parallel the Prophet Elijah's tutoring by the Holy Spirit at Cherith Brook near the Jordan River. We named our development programming, “BEST Radio” or “Bukavu Extension Service - Technical Radio”.

Later, Fred Bahler, Kathy's father, nick-named it Radio Kahuzi after Mount Kahuzi Parc National de Kahuzi-Biega, the highest peak and home of the silver-backed gorilla located near Bukavu.

Our Cherith Brook Experience
Kathy and I, along with Fred Bahler, had begun our "Tent Making Ministry" (self-support), with the Lord's direction, which took us through the Cherith Brook experience with very little food or funds, bringing into our lives a professional couple, Wim and Lita, of Coca-Cola Company, with facilities in Bukavu.

Missionary, and friend, Doctor Barlow asked us to follow-up on his ministry to this special couple. They were of two different world religions, and considered us as "Holy People." However, the Lord used them to minister to us physically with food and fellowship as we shared the Gospel and Christ's presence and testimony. They also listened and were ministered to by our radio broadcasts, which had just begun.

Encouraged by the "Widow of Zarephath"We chose our logo for BESI, representing the "Widow of Zarephath" and her dying son written about in I Kings 17: 1 - 12. She is carrying a bundle of sticks and the embers on her head with which to start a fire and prepare their final meal. Having only a handful of flour and a little oil she shared and ministered to Elijah the Tishbite during his time of discouragement and famine. The story teaches us to keep our eyes, our heart, and our mind on Jesus Christ, so that the Holy Spirit can walk and work effectively beside us, and that the Lord will supply what we NEED to serve Him.

President Mobutu Grants First Radio License

Though we had requested and developed the "dossier des lettres" for a broadcast license over five years working through each layer of the administration, local and national, Kathy and I had no reason to hope and no real idea what the Holy Spirit was preparing for the DRC, (formerly, Zaire) until the 4th of July, 1991, when we saw the American Ambassador, Robert Oakley, and the Cultural Affairs Officer on National Television, saying Good-bye, and presenting a golden Fishing Eagle to President Mobutu, as he prepared to leave the country.

Richard shaking hands with President Mobutu

and asking for permission to begin first free radio.

Mama Mobutu smiling and shaking hands with 

African citizens paying their respects. 

Our Permit, signed that day, July 4th ended the state monopoly on television and radio! We believe that the Lord led President Mobutu to end the Party State and change the Constitution, opening the Nation to multi-party elections and to establish Freedom of the Press, with BESI's permission as a private national broadcaster in Shortwave and FM.

However, after a few years, a Minister petitioned to close all Private Radios, Radio Kahuzi in Bukavu and in Kinshasa! This led to a Supreme Court intervention, where the Chief Justice wrote that they could NOT close Radio Kahuzi, because he had earlier given as proof that they were a Democracy: the existence of OZRT (RTNC Radio Television National of the Congo) and BEST Radio (Kahuzi)! "If they closed Kahuzi, he would have to resign as Chief Justice, because they would no longer be a Democracy!”

Over the 29 years since granting our license, more than a thousand radios and TV stations have begun and flourished in the DRC. The Lord has created wonderful stories of conversion and reconciliation of warring groups through our broadcasts and listener responses. Many times, militant, and warring factions took the time to listen to the News and Christian programming of Radio Kahuzi which made a difference in their lives.

Mai Mai Commandos Believe on Christ

One such story is of the conversion of two Mai Mai commandos. (Lt. Richard MBUYU on rt)

On Christmas Day in 2000, after a third of Bukavu had fallen into their control they listened to the Word of God in their own heart language over Radio Kahuzi and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ! They returned home to the Fizi Territory some five hundred kilometers to the South. There they constructed a church to the Praise of the Lord Jesus Christ.

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing 

by the Word of God." 

Romans 10: 17.

Thank You for "ComingAlongSide."
Serving in His Grace,
Richard and Kathy McDonald

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, RICH

Psalm 30: 5

The nails that were hammered through the Savior’s hands, were driven through the Father’s heart. 

The spear that rent the Savior’s side, left its mark in the Father’s bosom. 

The Father suffered both with and in the Son.

Pastor Henry F. Kulp

June 27, 1965

Up from the grave He arose, 

With a mighty triumph or His foes,

He arose the victor from the dark domain,

And He lives forever with His Saints to reign,

He arose, He arose, 

Hallelujah! Christ AROSE!  

Corona Virus Arrives in Bukavu

Rich, Kathy, Danny, Samuel, Pastor Gregoire and Feza

Who would have thought just a few weeks ago that this virus would make such troubles for everyone! Now, even churches, and missionaries and radio stations are being affected by this as we all are very dependent upon on our donor partners, and when they suffer, so do we! That’s why we are so very thankful for your gifts which gives us an extra boost of encouragement that is needed to keep Radio Kahuzi on the air, and your prayers for us and the journalists, and all the hurting folks around us that never expected this big problem in the world.

Yesterday, Rich was able to buy some extra rice and cans of sardines, for, if worse, comes to worse, we at least have that to keep us going. We have extra cans of fruit and peanut butter and bread (at least the bakeries are still open) and some veggies in cans and some dry soups, (the borders are closed between here and Rwanda, and now, today Goma is off limits for anyone trying to travel from here to there, and Goma folks and boats from coming here; but a lot of food normally comes from Goma, but it's not clear how much food will be allowed to be transported!

Today, one of our workers, and all around helper, said there were hardly any people walking the streets this morning and not many cars, People are so afraid.

Sure praying that the Chloroquine treatment works, as we all know it as a Malaria treatment and that would be so wonderful if that works and becomes available here and there. The same Doctor that headed up the E-Bola program here in our area, is now working with President Trump on the Corona virus which is great news for us!  We are able to follow on Fox News via Youtube, and so we are kept informed with what's going on in the world, which is such a blessing for us to have that!

We pray everyday for you, Radio Kahuzi Partners, and knowing that you are praying for us too is really a blessing for us! These sure aren't easy times, are they! 

Thank You for “ComingAlongSide."

Serving in His Grace,

Richard and Kathy McDonald

Keep Looking Up...

...for His Soon Appearing in the Heavenlies!

NEW BEGINNINGS IN D. R. CONGO

Proverbs 3: 5 & 6 

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not to your own understanding!"

Kathy and I are Praising the Lord for His Guidance and Deliverance in 2019 and Beyond! We send you New Years Greetings, trusting our Lord for His best blessings and joy throughout this new season to serve Him!

We Thank You for your Faithfulness to the Lord and His Work here in the African Great Lakes Region, as we have experienced His Spirit's Intervention in so many lives and situations, for which we appreciate your sharing in the ministries through Prayer and Giving!

HINDERANCES ON ALL SIDES

Recent news headlines cause us to seek your prayers in a new way as our team also lives with uncertainties resulting from the past forty years of world conflict and those who would hinder us in the region.

CHRISTMAS BECAME A TIME OF GRIEVING

Our Christmas Season became a time of added stress and grieving for our Radio Staff and Radio Club families.

Two other team members were briefly hospitalized curtailing some planned Christmas Ceremonies with seven Kahuzi Radio Clubs. These vital team members operate the Panzi / Kazaroho Health Clinic and Nutrition Center providing health care to the destitute. Their Christmas ceremonies became a combined memorial and funeral service as the mother of our Coordinator and Radio Club President died on Christmas Eve.

As Believer's in Christ we know that all of these painful, earthly experiences are only temporary. 

"For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory; II Corinthians 4: 17.

HINDRANCES TO CAR REPAIRS

Our transmission repairs were successful and the 2000 Range Rover now has all gears working and the replaced exhaust pipes no longer block the exhaust flow! But our master mechanic did not come from Kigali (seven hour drive) with the computer monitor to reset the electronics and remove the computer's "Over Heat" warning on the gear box and exhaust system, possibly because of the confrontations at the border.   

HINDERANCES AT THE BORDER

Each day brings new details of the complications at the border
crossing! 

Recently, Kathy heard a report that Kenyan and Rwandan forces eliminated a group of Islamic terrorists on the Kenya / Somalia border. I have not been able to confirm it.

But for Kathy and me, those kinds of warnings began in 1983 when the U.S. Embassy in Kigali, Rwanda warned us to never let our baggage out of our sight, as we were in danger because we were being Medevaced to Washington, DC for eye surgery. 

As it turned out our Air France flight was the first plane to carry a bomb that exploded in the Paris airport terminal immediately after we deplaned and transferred to our TWA flight. Thankfully, nothing was slipped into our baggage but as we later learned, we were the target for planting the bomb. The man seated beside us, on the Air France flight, told us he was Gaddafi's Finance Minister coming from Bujumbura, Burundi where he was financing the building of Libya's Islamic mosques and other projects in the region. Two years later, they succeeded with a similar TWA flight! 

So we appreciate prayer for our team, our region, and our travels,
as this new period of uncertainty begins with the Iran situation and the regions!

HINDERANCES TO OUR SW SIGNAL...

10 - 40 Window

Recently we were asked to consider broadcasting the "The Story of Jesus" from

the "Jesus Film" in Arabic and other languages of and to the 10 - 40 Window, but our frequency has already experienced jamming from Iran and Russia, so we will need to pray before adding to our notoriety in those countries just North of us! We currently reach this area in English, French, Swahili and others, but not Arabic, yet.

BROADCASTING "THE JESUS STORY"

During the Christmas and New Year season Radio Kahuzi has enjoyed continuing our tradition of broadcasting the sound tract from the film and now we have the new audio radio version in MP3 format that we have added links to our www.radiokahuzi.blogspot.com !

Also, we are adding Bible messages in French, Swahili and English on a daily basis as D and M and the Smiths collaborate with our translation effort. You can click our link below to follow our "BESI Publications" progress.  

We are thankful the Lord is giving us this means of leaving an on-going testimony for future generations after the Rapture has taken us Home to Glory! 

We praise the Lord for our ever improving set of tools for ministry outreach!

Thank You for

"ComingAlongSide."

Serving in His Grace, 

Richard and Kathy McDonald

Keep Looking Up...

...for His Soon Appearing in the Heavenlies!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM D. R. CONGO

It’s Christmas once again! And doesn’t that bring back memories! I remember how everyone had their favorite stories to tell when the missionary families got together, and what a wonderful time we had, sitting around the Christmas tree, drinking the last cup of coffee, with all the cookies and chocolates, to make it all so sweet.

First we had the reading of the Scriptures of Jesus’s birth, “And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins. Now all this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken of the Lord by the prophet, saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.” Matthew 1:21-23. Then the stories would start coming, about Christmases of more recent years...

One year, a young Missionary couple, just starting their lives, to serve the Lord in the Congo, arrived in Kinshasa, the BIG CITY as it was so famously called. And when they arrived at their Hotel, they found that the airline only gave them a room and not food! So with a dollar in their pocket, (someone had advised them not to carry any extra cash, so they wouldn’t lose it!) they took a walk around the Memling Hotel, and found a couple avocados and some sandwich bread to buy from one of the street vendors - for a dollar - and that was Christmas Eve supper! Imagine how they felt about that! But, being young, and knowing that the next day, they would be flying on to Bukavu, to finally arrive and be celebrating with Fred and Millie Bahler, Kathy’s parents, they were so happy!

The next day, Christmas Day, they finally were on their plane, headed for Bukavu, eight hours away and half way across Africa. But first, they had to stop in Goma, where they learned from the pilots that there was a storm, so they didn’t know for sure if they’d be able to land. Most pilots found excuses like this, for not flying on to Bukavu! But, Richard had an idea, and decided to tell the Steward to give a note with a missionary pilot’s radio frequency to the pilots, and to tell them to call Kathy’s Father, Fred Bahler on the HF radio and ask for his pilot’s weather report
So, the pilot did just that, and finding that the weather wasn’t that bad, they were able to stay on the plane and make the last leg of their flight on to Bukavu! As they watched and prayed, just before landing at Bukavu’s Kavumu Airport, (which was very, very short air strip), they saw Lake Kivu churning and throwing up white caps, which didn’t seem too reassuring!

Fred and Millie Bahler, Kathy (Bahler) and Richard McDonald

But, the next thing they knew, they were landing with screeching tires, and the 737’s huge metal retro-shields on the jet engines, in front of us, flung open, and the retro rockets fired, to suddenly stop, at the end of the runway! As the plane turned to taxi back from the end, they looked down the huge cliff below the plane – it seemed a mile deep ! What a shocking revelation! No wonder pilots did not want to land at Bukavu – with hardly any runway, and a Huge drop-off at the end! But Praising the Lord, they had made it!!!

Sooo began our adventure into Missionary life in Zaire, formerly the Belgian Congo, and now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. And, so the exciting adventures just kept coming and coming, and we know that the Lord brought us through all of them, even when we didn’t know what to do so many times! All Praise for all these Wonderful years goes to our Heavenly Father, for taking care of Richard and Kathleen Sheryle (Bahler) McDonald!!!

We THANK YOU ALL for praying and giving, some of you from 1972; and we Praise the Lord for all the special friends He has Called Along-Side His Ministry to us and through us, through these Very Blessed Years of Service in His Family!! It is a miracle!

With Much Love and Prayers
 for a Blessed Christmas and New Year, 
Richard and Kathy McDonald

She died of a Broken Heart...

KATHY REMEMBERS...

Greetings from D R Congo,

Here we are with Thanksgiving just around the corner and does that ever bring back memories.

First, we want to thank you for all your help  and  prayer support for us. I should have written  sooner, but with our lights and batteries the way they are, we  just have to work around all of that "fujo" (craziness)! Right now at 1 PM, the lights  are off again, but in a few hours we might  have them on again. 

Gala, Kathy, Richard
Gala and her husband invented the Go Ye Radio.
Gala will most likely win a Nobel Peace Prize for her
work on Reconciliation and Peace between tribes.

Before the 1996 wars, we used to have Thanksgiving with all the Missionaries in town, and there were quite a few. We used to all bring a dish of some favorite food, and many times we even had turkey! One of the Missionaries would fatten up a local, skinny turkey, and cook it for the rest of us. One year, one of our Missionaries brought out a turkey from the States in their luggage! Of course, the bag or trunk got mislaid or delayed and it  thawed out on the trip, but we held our breath and cooked it anyway! We all made it! If we don't have turkey, we buy some  chickens and  pretend they're turkeys!!   

At Thanksgiving time, we're always asked what we're thankful for. We could take forever to make a very long list to answer that  question, but since we don't have that much time (in heaven we'll  have that privilege), here are a few things we're very thankful for: 

First, we who are saved because of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who  died and was buried and rose again the third day, have eternal life! We will Praise Him forever and ever!

We're thankful for family and friends, especially Harold and Barbara Smith, who have dedicated their lives to serving our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ along with our special BESI Board of  Directors, Representatives, Churches, Prayer Warriors, and  Partners who also have come-along-side, with the Holy Spirit's  Enabling, to keep us in the D. R. Congo and Central Africa with  the Radio and other outreach Ministries going with their love, prayers, and hard work!! 

Just this week, we were reminded, of how thankful we should be, each day and moment, of how the Lord brings us through so many good times and even the hard times. He is always Faithful! This little story is to remind us of how thankful we should be...

 ...A man and his wife and five children recently moved to Bukavu from the jungle to escape the dangers of living down-country. As time went on, the kids settled into school and the oldest girl of 14  years became the #1 best student in all the schools, always  achieving the highest grades. She was so happy. Then, the  family started running out of money, and the father went back  down-country to go find work, but all during the past six months, the mother and children didn't hear from him!       

One day, the mother didn't have anymore flour or oil to prepare food to sell at the market and went back home at the end of the day only to find her 14 year old girl all curled up, not wanting to  look at her little brother and sisters because she knew that there was no more food in the house, and their mother hadn't come home with any food either! She was losing hope.

The next day, yesterday, the mother found her daughter had died, and the Doctors say that in shock, she just had given up hope. Doctors couldn't find anything wrong with her. Her heart just gave out from the worries of life!