Imani, Espoir, & Love Ministries
DILAMBWE
Beginnings
Upon coming to faith in Jesus Christ, through a relationship with Kennedy, Chief David Kakunde Kasongo, out of love for his people, donated a piece of land to be used for a school.
Desperate to improve the lives of his people and share the good news of the gospel with them, he rallied the community.
The village, nearly 100% illiterate at the time, was thrilled to pool resources and, over the course of several years, come together to build the first ever accessible school in the area.
Through sporadic donations, and an unshakable determination to see a better future for their children, the community, brick by brick laid the foundation for a school.
A labor of love, this humble structure began with thatch roofing, dirt floors, & no doors.
Once again, through small donations, the thatch was replaced with metal, doors added, & student notebooks provided.
Yet, while success was great, there were still many trials yet to come. Teacher turn over and consistent student attendance was a real problem. The desire was there, but positions were largely volunteer, and needing to feed their own families, the school saw many students and teachers come and go.
Still, through the grace of God, the school grew. Teachers and students both, remained, growing evermore committed to building access to education, and with it opportunities never before available in this region.
Though we cannot always be there physically, letters from students in the U.S., help these kids to know that they are not alone. God has placed people everywhere that care for them, and are fighting on their behalf.
As God stirred hope in the hearts of both us and them, it became clear that we were going to need to expand and improve - the school had grown to over 600 students.
With very little, we watched in amazement as God created opportunities for HUGE change: more rooms, real desks, new chalk boards, notebooks, and so much more than anything we could have done on our own.
And the greatest outcome of this shiny new school, was a desire in the people to know the Jesus that pushed people like Kennedy to whatever was needed to reach them. The next thing we knew, we were watching the walls go up on the first church in this little village.
With all the love and care, that only a devotion to the Lord can bring, the church was built, and God, in ways only He could bring about, brought His word to His people.
With a hunger for the Word of God, the congregation requested bibles that they could not yet read. Resources were pooled and funds sent to purchase Bibles for everyone who wanted one. Though they could not read the Word for themselves, tears were in abundance as the people received what they knew deep down to be sacred.
Students began teaching their parents what they learned in school, and before long, the members of Patmos Congregation in Kakanda were opening God's Word for themselves four times a week in their very own church.
A whole new generation, and many more to come, now know the love and grace of Jesus - a hope far greater than any school building can bring.
"And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10