Josue Manda 1986 - 2010

I find it very hard to write this blog entry as I can hardly believe it is true. Last Sunday, Josue Manda, one of the volunteers at Centre Kimbilio tragically died in a swimming accident. He had gone for a picnic and swim with a group of friends to a flooded quarry close to Kipushi. His body was recovered from the lake earlier Monday and the funeral took place yesterday afternoon at St Marks Anglican Church on Chaussé de Kasenga, Lubumbashi. Josue was a valued member of the Kimbilio Team.
Since he returned from studying in Zambia last year I have really enjoyed having him around. He was enthusiastic, full of initiative, committed, honest and fun!
It was a chance meeting with Josue in 2006 that was influential in the Kimbilio Project coming to life. While I was waiting in Lubumbashi for a plane to Kisenge following the elections in 2006 I tried to track down CMS mission partners Eric and Sandra Read, CMS mission partners that some mutual friends in the UK had told me were living in Lubumbashi. Arriving at their house I met Josue who was working for them at the time. Eric and Sandra were in Zambia but I got chatting to Josue who told me about the high level of need for support for street kids in Lubumbashi. He explained that a project his brother has started in Lubumbashi had had to close due to lack of funding. It was this, alongside a similar conversation I had had with another friend in Kinshasa the previous week that led me considering my future plans.
I was really impressed with the way he related to everyone around him including the children and young people at the centre. He always had a smile and never a bad word to say about anyone.
My thoughts are very much with his family, friends and the Kimbilio family. We will all miss him so very much.