Members of Three Stakes Participate in Light the World Service Projects in Mbuji-Mayi DR Congo 

On December 23, 2023, members of the Kabusanga Democratic Republic of the Congo Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints celebrated the Light the World program by following Jesus Christ’s example of charity. The Higher Technical Medical Institute (ISTM) of Luputa benefited from a very significant donation of office supplies as well as a set of 40 new plastic chairs.

Kabusanga Stake president Dona Bukasa Yamba presided over this activity. He taught that “sacrifice and charity is the pure love of Christ.”

This donation will help the faculty of ISTM - Luputa continue to provide scientific training to students in well-equipped classrooms and auditoriums. This gift was received with gratitude by the director of the institute, Patrick Ngoyi Mpoyi, and his academic secretary Martin Kadiata.

On December 23, 2023, the Luputa Stake also celebrated the Light the World program by donating food and non-food items to seniors in the city, regardless of their religious affiliation. These donations included measures of corn, bed sheets, soap, and medicines for fever and flu.

Luputa Stake leaders selected these donations after consulting with community leaders to identify the most pressing needs. The handover ceremony was attended by the territorial administrator of Luilu Kazadi Manda and the deputy administrator Mandios Ilunga.

The Ngandajika Stake, under the leadership of stake president Matthieu Tshibumbu Ilunga, conducted their Light the World activities in two phases. First, by supporting 15 underfunded schools in the city of Ngandajika by supplying them with chalk and writing utensils to improve the educational experience of the children. Second, by donating food and non-food items to the 105 elderly persons, many of them widows.

The first phase provided writing materials to improve the students’ learning in 15 schools. On December 11, 2023, Church members donated to these schools a large number of boxes of chalk and pens. All the school leaders were touched by this act of generosity. They appreciated these contributions and expressed their hopes for a continuation of acts of voluntary service to benefit the people of Ngandajika.

During the second phase, Church leaders identified 105 elderly people, especially widows, who needed basic food and non-food items. This service activity took place on December 23, 2023 and was presided by the stake president, who explained why the Church participates in humanitarian service and the Light the World program.

After receiving these food donations from the Church, the recipients expressed great joy because they have been suffering from a food crisis for 5 months due to widespread flooding. Despite their food shortages, they expressed a desire to share what they had received, no matter how small, with those who are even less fortunate.

These are just a few examples of the many Light the World service projects that took place across DR Congo in December 2023.