Church Builds New Toilet Facilities for Orphanage in Kinshasa DR Congo

On May 3, 2023 Patrick Mawongo, President of the DR Congo Kinshasa-West Mission, presented the keys of new toilet facilities to Father Hugo Rios-Diaz, director of the Maman Koko Orphanage in Mont-Ngafula, Kinshasa, DR Congo. The idea for this donation arose from a service project that President Mawongo did there in December 2021.

The works included a new building with 10 toilets and two showers, and two 5,000-liter freshwater tanks. The project cost $32,000 USD and took about 5 weeks to complete.

Orphanage director Father Hugo Rios-Diaz is assisted by scores of volunteers who care for some 500 orphans at his center, ranging from newborn to early teens. Many orphans suffer from serious birth defects. The orphanage is co-located with the Kimbondo Pediatric Hospital, led by Dr. Jean Mikobi.

Didier Mutombo, Director for Welfare and Self-reliance Services for the western portion of the Africa Central Area, said at the handover ceremony, “my heart is touched by what I have seen here.”

President Mawongo said, “Christ’s teachings are based on love for others.” He quoted Matthew 25:40, which states, “Verily I say unto you, inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me.”

This is one of many humanitarian projects that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints carries out in DR Congo and around the world. Members of the Church show their love for Jesus Christ and their fellow man by contributing to humanitarian projects without regard to religion, race, or nationality.