Covenant News

Covenant Team Arrives Safely in Congo

KINSHASA, CONGO (March 19, 2003) - A seven-member team representing the Evangelical Covenant Church arrived safely in Kinshasa after their scheduled flight to Bangui was cancelled following a weekend coup by rebel forces loyal to former army chief Francois Bozize.

Members of the group include Bob Thornbloom, Roger and Eileen Thorpe, Jody LeVahn, Gordon Carlson and Tom Christy and his daughter, Cory. Their objective is to assess overall living conditions, in particular the condition of Covenant medical facilities and health care in areas ravaged by war over the years, as well as continue repairs to the hydroelectric dam and follow up on other development projects.

The group was in Paris awaiting a Saturday night flight to Bangui when the violence erupted and the original flight was cancelled. "After a lot of emails and phone calls, we were able to get their tickets changed to Kinshasa," said Janet Thornbloom, Bob's wife. "I got a call from Bob once they arrived - everyone arrived in good health and were glad to be in Congo." The group was scheduled to travel to the northern area of Congo this morning and is scheduled to return to the United States on April 2.

Additional information on the weekend military conflict is contained in an earlier news story elsewhere in this Covenant news report.

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