September is planting time in Congo.Over the dry season, fields have been burned, tilled and are ready for planting.With the first rains, the peanuts would have been planted.After the peanuts are planted, it is time to plant manioc, which is the staple in the diet of the Congolese people.

• Continue to pray for a good peanut harvest in December. Last year the peanut production was down due to problems caused by blight.Pray that the blight will not have the impact this year.
• Ed and Tanzuzi have been distributing manioc cuttings that are mosaic resistant.Pray that they will be planted in a timely manner and cared for.Manioc harvest from these cuttings is a year away.
• The Mission Partnership Team work project (water tank repair) is completed.There was a plan to use an old pump to help with irrigation.That pump can not be repaired.Ed has placed an order for a new pump for Lusekele.Pray that Wayne Niles will be able to find a good quality pump in a timely manner that can do the job.

Presidential elections are scheduled for October 29.When results were announced for the August primary elections there was unrest and military activity by the two candidates who won the primary.Now there is a great deal of concern for the period when results of the presidential election are announced (probably the end of November).Congolese leaders are encouraging the missionaries to leave the country during that time.Missionaries are struggling with that decision.There are issues to balance; safety of themselves and their Congolese colleagues, messages sent about the gospel and the future of the work, knowing what God really wants and a myriad of other considerations.

• Pray for Ed and Miriam that they will know if they should leave or not.Currently they plan to stay at Lusekele. Ed and Miriam still need visas transferred to their passports and the passports returned.
• Pray for the safety, well being and moral of Congolese who have no option.Pray that reason will prevail on the part of the two candidates.
• Ed says: Pray for the church here: that it can be a place of direction, refuge, hope, order, respect, love and compassion in the face of all dangers.