What is your idea of the future? Is it 1 year, 3 years, 5 years, or 10 years from now? You will probably say it depends on the particular situation. For instance, I heard a new mother lament about a future school for her 2 year of old child. She had to make a decision on the pre-school and get the child put on a waiting list.
In a rural Congolese village like Bulape, I will bet you that most of these mothers are not worried about their child’s future elementary school. They are probably worried about having money to pay their hospital bill. She may be worried about having enough money left to buy food for her family until she is able to go back to the fields. Or she may be worried if the child is going to live long enough to be give a name. All these things are very short term or what we would be consider as today’s problems. She has enough life and death things to worry about today. Tomorrow is too far away.
In the Congo, the child mortality rate and maternal mortality rate are among the highest in the world. One out of five newborns do not live to their fifth birthday. Also, one out of every 1,000 live births, the mother dies. These are the facts of life that forces Congolese mothers to worry about today, or next month.
You can help these mothers and children with your prayers and through your financial support of our health programs.
"So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own. Today’s trouble is enough for today. Matthew 6:34"
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