I'm in England now!

I every one! I'm in Birmingham, England since last Saturday evening. Coming from Lusaka, Zambia most members of my Zambian Team, We have landed at London - Heathrow. The rest of my Team continued their trip to Canada the next day. I am staying in England until June 14th before I continue for Dublin, Ireland; from there I'll go back to Africa for a month. How exciting!!

Zambia trip is over!

I would like to thank God and each every one of you that help in the realisation of this trip. Two months ago this trip was a dream today it's a lied experience and a testimony. I have never been blessed all my life before as I am with the Zambian experience. From Mongu to Lukona and Livingstone, I have learned a lot. I have earned how fortunate we are in the West having the material wealth but how unfortunate we are lacking with the spiritual riches. We have been working and involved in teachings and life skills education with the Scripture Union for almost four weeks. Working in hospitals and schools, from village to village, we taught the people how to live their live effectively and be productive. We taught the young school students the value of self- esteem, family and life preservation. We have reminded them as an obligation and a responsibility at the same same time that they must protect their lives against HIV/AIDS.

At Lukona Village, people gave their lives to Christ after three nights of teaching. We use sketches, music and the Word of God to teach about AIDS Prevention and Life skills education. Nevertheless, by living Mongu and Lukona, we had a sens of an unfinished mission. The need is so much and the workers are very few. Some of us are planning to go back their sometime next year to start a Library project. We are planning to build a library in Mongu: more will be said in the future about it. For now just enjoy browsing through the pictures of our Zambian Trip and may God speaks to you through them. I have added new and more pictures to the album please click here to access them:http://picasaweb.google.com/Manianga/MissionToZambia2007

Here are the Pictures!

Hi Guys!
I hope everything is just fine with every one of you that is reading this blog. Thank you very much for coming back to read and see the pictures of what I have been doing in Zambia and before. Like I have promise last week that I will post some of the pictures of what we have been doing in Zambia so far. Well I kept my promise and I did it you can click to this link address if you want to see the pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/Manianga/MissionToZambia2007 Basically, we have been working with APPLE (AIDS Prevention Plus Life skills Education) Ministry for the last two weeks. I have been preaching and teaching the Word to high school students in two different school. We have to teach them the value of life, their promise and purpose in God and most importantly the self- esteem concepts based on the Word of God. HIV/AIDS is a very big issue here. People are dying at the rate you cannot imagine. Just yesterday, one of our Zambian Team facilitators has lost his uncle due to the disease. The subject is very taboo that they must do everything that people do no find out that he died of HIV. They have to say something like he died of TB. If people come to know that the person died of HIV the family becomes isolated. No one would like to talk to them or greet them by hands fearing that they too are infected of AIDS. People are dying but no one is disclosing the real cause behind their sickness which is HIV/AIDS. The hide it behind other names of diseases.

10 Days in Zambia already!

Hi every ones. I am very excited you must forgive me if you notice it. I just wish I could be able to post my pictures and show you in images what I have been doing and involved into. So many things have happen since the last time I have updated this blog and many things are still happening. I will do whatever it takes (and I mean it!) to post the pictures for you.

God has been so faithful to all of us and we are very grateful to Him to allow us serve Him in ways we have never considered before. When we have arrived here in Mongu last week we did not know what to expect. But as the things began to unfold we began to see the greatness of God and His provision for the poor of Mongu. With the team, we past three days in Katongo village with the sick, orphans and refugees mostly from Angola. Poverty and despair were every where. Poorly clothed kids were following us literally everywhere and all the time. Those of my team members who are whites saw themselves surrounded by dozens of curious and unschooled children who chantted "MOKWUA!, MOKWUA!!". That is how they call white man here. It is not an insult but it is a word for white man in their language, the Lozi language. Immediately we began to practice ourLozi, the few words that we learned from our Mission mentor. You may not believe it but people were happy to see us and just to have us stay with them. In the midst of poverty and despair we found songs of praise, sincere worship and dances of joy for the Lord. Most of us we broke in tears seeing the joy of the people who had almost nothing. Their houses where made of grasses from the top to the bottom and they did not complain. Their woman were full of dignity and greeted us with a lot of respect and esteem. The elders came out, greeted us and told us how they appreciate our visit and our coming to talk to their youth about HIV/AIDS and Life skills. That was what we did also there. for the three days we stayed in that village.

Yesterday, we went to visit the local hospital. We have volunteered doing manual labour in the hospital taking sick to X-Ray or Ultrasound for and back. We have started by praying and sharing the word of God to the sick. There were a lot of cases of stomach pain and chest pain, TB, AIDS, etc. But God was so wonderful.

I will stop here for now to continue next time as I promise with pictures. Till then May God bless you all that are reading this blog all over the world. This experience has changed me completely. I am a new man, I'm born again. I saw people delivered from demonic possession after we prayed for them; I saw people with stomach disease having water expelled from their stomach after we have prayed for them. I saw people giving their lives to Christ after hearing the Gospel. I spoke to High school student about their promise in God and why they must preserve their lives (Ps.119:50). I saw poor people doing things that we in North America we will not dare to try without making sure that we have all the resources and funds in place. That has transformed me and my way of seeing God promise and provision. If one thing is sure of this trip: is that it has wiped out all my excuses to start doing the things that God has ask me to do for Him and for His people.

May you all rest blessed in His peace wherever you are, knowing that His promise preserves our lives (Ps.119:50)

I'm alive and well in Zambia!

Heh Guys!
Sorry for this long time of silence. I did not mean it. I was caught into the Zambia trip preperations. At least we made, with the last member who arrived this morning. We all made it travelling from Toronto through London, England then Lusaka, Zambia. We left Toronto last Sunday arround 9.30 pm. We arrive at Heatrow airport at 9.30 am. We spend 8 hours in London. I took profit of that opportunity to visit some friends that are living in London and that I met long long time. It was a great moment of reunion, ah! I was very happy to see those faces again after five long years in Canada.

I remember that I have promise you updates onthis trip and behind. Don't worry, I'll do it. I only wish I can be able to show you some interesting Zambiam pictures I took. I am using a cyber Café and they do not have the equipments for posting pictures. Once I find a place that have one I will post you pictures and their stories. But for now please content yourself with words (letters or texts) only :)

Zambia is a great experience and a story to live. I will write more in days to come. We are living tomorrow for Mongu, a village in the Wester Province. They said we can find internet café in the surrounding town there. Please, just hold your breath for now.

Ouugh!!!!!!!!

Eheheh!!!

Today was the last day of School for this semester. Hah!, I had two exams today Philo and Politics but I'm happy than it's over. No more school until September, eh! Now it's time for adventure! Speaking of adventure, I have already started to think of the great experience that is awaiting for us in Zambia this summer. I'm going to spend a month with my wonderful team. They are all great and I know that God is going to use us to bless and to be blessed also.


This is my Zambia team. It's a blessing to be part of such a great and wonderful team willing to go where they have never been before just to help other people.

Don't worry, I'll keep you updated just stay in touch.

Web Album (Honduras Trip photos)

It seems like many people are unable to find our Honduras Trip's photos album online. If so please click on the following picture to access the album:

MED- Honduras 2007

Cliquez sur la photo ci-dessus pour pouvoir acceder a l'album photo de notre voyage en Honduras, Amerique Central.

Competition in being somebody else than yourself!

The way to failure is full of men and women that listen to people who tell them they cannot make it, it is impossible!.

There is a lot of competition around in being somebody else than just yourself. The first competitor is the person or the title you want to emulate. Don’t try to be somebody else or any title so you will not have to compete with them. In being yourself you are just the champion that nobody can ever defeat. Nobody can compete with you in being you, even after you are gone. No time, or century or millennium, not even scientific progress or even your own clone can ever rival or surpass you by being you.

I’m sick and tied of trying to be somebody else all my life: I desist. Then I find it very easy and natural to be myself. And I wonder, guess what I find out that nobody can ever defeat or contend with me in what I call: just being myself.
Just be the best you can be at the maximum self you can ever be.
Everyone has a universal record that no one else can ever defeat in this sport of self being.

L’homme est l’artisan principal de sa réussite ou de son échec. Il ne peut dorénavant blâmer que lui-même.

Let us just be men. It’s a waste of time and energy trying to become something else than man. We can call ourselves developed, advanced, progressed, modernized, qualified or civilized but after a long time of wisdom that requires time for understanding we will rediscover it again at the end of the road that no matter how far we are gone, we just need to be men and men only. That attachment to our humanity is what is of special in us human beings. Lose that desire you lose your humanity.

Summer Mission Trip

I just wanted to drop a word of what I will be doing during summer. I will be travelling arround the globe, precisely between Europe and Africa. From May to the end of July, I will be going arround preaching and teaching the Word, conducting business seminars and business clinics in Africa.

First, I'm travelling from Canada as part of the University College student service team that will be going to Zambia, Africa for several weeks in May. Partnering with the mission SIM and Scripture Union, we will be working alongside the Zambian volunteers for the APPLE (AIDS Prevention Plus Life Education) project. We will go into the schools in the Western Province to teach Bible and Christian sexual values. On the weekends we will serve the local churches and their youth groups in ministry. There will also be opportunities for outreach in a community school for orphans, VBS programs, and ministry through music and sports.

I am excited about the experience that lies ahead, both for ministry to others and for personal growth as I seek to communicate Christ cross-culturally. We recognize that our service needs to be supported in prayer and so would first ask you to consider joining our team in this regard. I will supply you with a schedule and prayer needs before I leave, and will share with you the blessings of what God accomplishes through us on our return. It would be great to have you minister with us through your prayers for the people of Zambia.

We also have financial needs to cover the airfare, inoculations, room and board, health insurance and ministry costs of this trip. Each team member needs to raise approximately $4000, and this amount must be on hand by the end of April. Please consider being a part of this mission team in this regard. If God leads you to participate with financial support, make your cheques payable to Tyndale University College and Seminary and note ‘Zambia Trip’ and my name on the memo line. All donations for the student mission team are tax deductible and will be receipted accordingly. Note that receipts are usually sent out at year-end, but can be issued immediately, upon request.

Thanks in advance for your prayers and financial support. May God richly bless you as you partner with us in this outreach.

Second, after Zambia I'm not coming back directly to Canada. I'll be spending two weeks in London, U.K. ministering the Word before I go to Dublin, Ireland ministering for another two weeks. Then taking a friend from Dublin, together we will go back to Africa. I will be conducting Bible teaching seminars and Business seminars for two weeks before I travel again to Luanda, Angola. In Luanda, in addition of Bible seminars, I will be also conducting business clinic wherever I intend to help people who are struggling with small businesses. Using my University's business training skills and my knowledge of the local socio-economic environment, I plan to offer my service and expertise to those who cannot afford it freely. Both in DR Congo and in Angola preparations are taking places already for these events. I will be having a very busy schedule this summer but I'll do my best from time to time to keep you posted through this blog. I will be back to Canada only by the end of July 2007.

Tank you for listening, eh!

The Formula of Success!

Do you know what it takes to succeed in life? How do you define success in life? How will you know that you have made it and achieved something? This picture taken in the Republic Democratic of Congo tells you how a Chinese cell phone Company defines success to the locals. If you didn't get it, it says: a suit + a watch + a car (Mercedes Benz) + ? (a cell phone of course)= A successful man. Eh guys, I did not know that most of you have already achieved success in life. Then why are you still striving in life, eh? What do you think that board is telling the poor man passing under it? What is he thinking, pushing his cart and reading the formula of success. Hah, I believe is more depressed now than ever!

Most firms are doing overseas what they cannot do domestically. Their marketing approach is sometime without ethic or morality. For example in Africa one can wonder at the level of poverty the local populations are living in. But at the same time one will be amazed knowing how some firms are making great profits in the expenses of these peoples. The telecommunication firms, for instance, are giving a message that let understand to the local populations that without owning a cell phone an individual is not on page, is left behind, a kind of a cast away. They make it appear that without a cell phone an individual is not a complete person and lacks a certain privileged status in the society that a cell phone grants. As a result people will do everything to buy and maintain a cell phone while starving and lacking clothing. The message is manipulative and gives a false impression that material possessions grant certain high status in the society and the community.

The Merchants of Miracles!

Max Weber (1864-1920) cautioned that in time of economic crisis, citizens in a society where happiness was equated with possessions would be quick to support charismatic leaders who promised wide-ranging and easy solution to their plight. I have discovered this very, very sad video of how fantoosh preachers, abusing of their status, are using, abusing and misusing people's ignorance to enrich themselves. By means of superstitions and people's naivety, they have succeeded to give themselves the image of miracle walkers. In a society where poverty is so extreme that people would cling onto any that promise them either a quick miraculous solution or a way to escape. This video, unfortunately, is only in French but if you watch it you can have an idea of what is going on.

Marchands de miracles
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À Kinshasa, plongée dans l'univers ahurissant des églises de guérison, où la violence des cultes reflète celle de la misère, où le discours tragi-comique des télévangélistes répond à la naïveté désespérée des fidèles.

The video is quite disturbing so the exploitation of the poor, especially by the people they trust the most.

Winter is over!

Last month I went to Niagara Falls you know, just sightseeing!

Everything was so cold and the Falls has almost frozen but we were few visitors arround.

Micro- Entreprise Development Class - Honduras 2007 Trip

Last February I and five other members of my Micro-Entreprise Development (MED) Class including our teacher, we went on a trip to Central America in Honduras for a week where we were able to see Micro-Enterprise Development projects first hand. We traveled with Opportunity International, who in the last eleven years has created more then 3.5 million jobs.
The first step in our trip was in Tegucigalpa, Honduras’s capital city. This city, like many others in Latin America, exhibits the stark contrasts between the few wealthy upper class, and the majority of the impoverished, daily struggling to survive. There we observed how all of the aspects of MED work together as we have visited those who have benefited from the micro-enterprise and micro-finance experience. We have stayed for ten days and travelled to the country side, to Santa Fe where we helped the local community to install pipe water that they have been expecting for 13 years. The water system works completely by gravity caring water from mountains and hills to these families homes using gravity to boost pressure. You can see our trip pictures by clicking here (Cliquez içi pour voir nos photos de voyage a Honduras). We have also made medical delivery to Dr. Enid's medical centre on account of Health Partners International Canada. You can also see pictures of deliveries on the web album.

I am alive and doing well!

When I came to this Country five years ago, I did not know exactly what to expect and what to do. I only had the sense of direction toward what I would like to guide my life and what I would like it to be like at the end of the day. Life has not been easy at all, coming from Africa, all my previous educational background and experience were deemed irrelevant to the great "Canadian experience". Therefore, I needed to go back to school to upgrade my education. Since, I did not have any money to sustain myself and support my family that stayed back in Africa, I have accepted a general labour work in a factory West of Toronto for over two years before I quit for Tyndale University College where I am at my third year of B.A. in Business Administration. Living my job for school was not easy at all in every respect. People called me crazy, an adventurer or a risk taker but I did not pay attention to their comment because I was the only one who new what exactly I wanted to see my life transformed to. Many of my country men and friends that came together with me to Canada were satisfied of their situation, striving in life, under paid and sweating in these factories with no hope of alternative future. I have made a decision to change the course of my life and I do not regret it at all. In the contrary I am so glad that I made it. Because of that, I have to do everything that I can and cannot to succeed in life starting with my university education. For five years I did not rest a single day. Facing the vision I have set to myself, and view my age and family responsibilities I would not relax for a moment any time soon. If I rest today, I will have to face an impossible task tomorrow. Therefore, I work hard today to relax later, I study today to enjoy tomorrow. The future is bright and hopeful in spite of what is going on in our world today, there is still a place for hope. And some of us know that!