Needs @ Jonathan's House

Today we have some updates and prayer requests from Jonathan's House in Central African Republic. The first is the most recent update and shares their most urgent needs and prayers. (A link to see this update with photos is at the end of the section.) The second is from Bob Bixby, Jonathan's House president, and shares the why of the ministry.

Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. (Romans 12:15)

It has been a difficult season at Jonathan's House with the passing of one of our most faithful team members, Papa Guy. This man came to Jonathan's House in 2017 and was our maintenance man, our encourager, our wise confidant, and Papa to our older boys. 

Papa Guy was doing what he normally did--serving. He was helping a widow hang solar panels on her home when he fell off the ladder. While he had no serious external injuries, our medical team noted that his hemoglobin continued to decrease. He was rushed to the hospital in Bangui, three-and-a-half hours away. In a land like Central Africa, entering the hospital is a very dangerous proposition. While we waited, we hoped and prayed that God would spare him. But in God's wisdom and grace, He chose to heal Papa Guy into Heaven instead.

Our community has been devastated by the loss. Even the Muslim community came out to mourn the passing of this man of God. He was a friend to all and made a huge impact for the Kingdom. 

Despite our grief, we have seen God working. Our president, Bob Bixby, was visiting when Guy passed. He was able to comfort and guide our team. In addition, Bob was able to preach at his funeral, which lasted several hours. This was a great opportunity to share the truth of the Gospel to the community-at-large! 

We are still reeling from this unexpected loss, and the children have been devastated at the passing of their beloved papa. Along with the natural sorrow that comes from losing someone so beloved, we are also battling the superstitions of the Central African culture that says every death is a result of witchcraft. We are addressing this false idea with our children and striving to teach our neighbors as well that death does not mean there is no hope.

Vehicle Fund Update

We are excited to inform you that we have raised enough funds to purchase a new truck! This vehicle is much needed, as the roads in CAR create quite a bit of wear and tear. Recently, we drove our current truck to rescue a baby several hours away. At one point, the truck was stuck in the mud for over six hours. But that's life in Central Africa, which is why it's so important that we have multiple vehicles that can handle the rough terrain. Stalled vehicles can mean the difference between life and death here. 

We are still waiting for the government paperwork granting us tax exemption status. When we purchased our current truck in 2023, it meant the difference of thousands of dollars. Please pray for the paperwork to come through for us!

We are excited to add this 4x4 truck to our ministry and trust that the Lord will provide both the ambulance and the minibus in His perfect timing. Please pray with us for the Lord's provision.  Vehicle donations can be made here.

We Need Your Support

After much prayer and deliberation, we recently announced a temporary closure of our medical clinic in CAR, which desperately needs restructuring of systems and refurbishing of the building. This decision has devastated the community around us. Our medical clinic is well-known as a place of hope and healing for many. We will continue offering maternity services and meeting the medical needs of the orphans in our care. We are determined that this is a temporary shutdown, and we anticipate restructuring and reopening as soon as we possibly can.

To see this update with the pictures click here.

Jonathan's House President's Mid-Year Report :

Friends,

This is a first for me as President/CEO of Jonathan’s House Central Africa. I get to send you a mid-year letter in the dog days of summer and tell you what God is doing in the Central African Republic!

And I need to tell you: the faces of these children are burned into my heart. In a make-me-smile way!

Donna often sends pictures from the ground, and I find myself waking up in the morning with those images in my mind. They motivate me. They energize me out of bed! They remind me why this work matters so much. They are amazing little humans who may become tomorrow’s leaders!

I think of sweet little Deborah, with her beautiful toddler face, who though she is among 65 children, sweetly and unassumingly lives her little life unawares that, in a different setting, she’d be the one-and-only princess of a mommy and daddy—the singular focal point of doting grandparents investing time and money for her flourishing. I think of the little boy I have nicknamed “Harold” because he carries himself like a tiny—yet imposing—king. I think of Dorcas, the motherly toddler who already seems to have a nurturing spirit. I think of Elodie, now 15 years old, tall, beautiful, athletic, and full of life, even though she saw her mother and father massacred when she was young. Today, she wants to become a midwife when she finishes school. I think of the boys now in nursing school, doing excellent work and earning strong grades. These are young men who were once so vulnerable, lonely, and unsure of their future. Now they are preparing to serve others. This is our glorious why! That is what love does. Through the mouth of babies, literal and figurative, God is building a community of praise and silencing his foes (Psalm 8:2).

And I think of you! YOU are why we can throw ourselves into this glorious why!

At Jonathan’s House, we are watching love open doors that trauma tried to close with the united effort of an army of supporters from all over the world who pray and give to help us.

The children we (and by “we” I mean you and I) serve are beautiful, intelligent, full of personality, and full of God-given potential. But outside of what God is allowing us to do together, many of them would have very little opportunity to flourish. That is what makes your partnership so important.

The work on the ground is phenomenal. Samuel and Donna, along with Priscilla (missionary along with Donna), and a hardworking staff of more than 110 people, are carrying an enormous load with faithfulness and courage. And the numbers are both fun and almost hard to believe:

• Three hundred! Nearly 300 diapers are changed every day!

• Seventy! Laundry for around 70 people is washed entirely by hand.

• Thirty-five! About 35 babies and toddlers are bathed twice a day.

• Ten! We have 10 three-year-olds right now!

• Five hundred! During the school year, approximately 500 children are educated, fed, and given a multivitamin.

• Forty! Up to 40 babies are born in our maternity ward each month.

• One hundred forty! 140 bottles a day are served to hungry little mouths!

Discipleship is happening every single day. Peanuts, coffee, and vegetables are being planted. Goats are being raised to help feed the children. New business ideas are being explored. And all of this is happening in sweltering heat, high humidity, and with no air conditioning.

And here’s another number: TWO! Right now, thanks to recent repairs, we have two working vehicles, but neither is solidly reliable any longer.  Here's the exciting news: we are so, so, so close to securing the next new vehicle because of your generous giving. Thank you. Truly, thank you. That vehicle is not just a convenience. It means transportation for children, staff, supplies, medical needs, and daily operations. This is a vital need!

As we move into the second half of the year, we are focused on two major priorities:

First, we are working to strengthen and improve our child sponsorship program. We want to communicate better, serve our sponsors better, and give more people a meaningful way to connect with the children and the mission of Jonathan’s House.

Second, we are praying and working toward a much stronger monthly giving base. Our dream is to see the general fund covered by dependable monthly support. That is an aggressive goal, but it is a necessary one. Monthly support allows us to plan wisely, respond quickly, pay staff faithfully, feed children consistently, and keep the mission moving forward without constantly wondering what the next month will bring.

So I want to ask you directly: in addition to what you already give, would you prayerfully consider becoming a monthly supporter of Jonathan’s House Central Africa?

Whether the amount is large or small, monthly giving creates stability. It gives strength to the work. It helps us say "yes" to the daily needs of children who depend on us.

Love is powerful. It changes people internally. It even changes them externally. We have seen traumatized infants, writhing and twisting in terrors we could not explain, slowly transformed by constant, gentle, prayerful love. We have seen children begin to smile again. We have seen young people begin to dream again. We have seen the Father’s love do what only the Father’s love can do.

Romans 5 tells us that God pours His love into our hearts through the Holy Spirit. That is the love we want these children to know. That is the love we want our staff to embody. That is the love we want Jonathan’s House to amplify in the heart of Africa.

And in these dog days of summer, I want you to know this too: we love you. We are grateful for you. We do not take your prayers, your giving, your encouragement, or your trust lightly.

Thank you for standing with us.

With deep gratitude,

Bob  Bixby

President & CEO

Jonathan's House Central Africa

(408) 667-8731 (text or call)

https://www.jonathanshouse.org 

“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭27‬ ‭ESV