Zacharie and Helene

In the small, central DRC city of Mbuji Mayi, Helene and Zachary are some of our favorite people.  Zachary serves as a branch president and Helene is in the Relief Society.  The smile on her face is a permanent fixture -- she is constantly smiling. 

Helene and Zachary were political refugees.  Zachary had a thriving veterinary practice, Helene, a nurse, had a clinic.  They had all the trappings of success, cars, a nice house.  They lost everything and had to return to the area where their ancestors had lived, learning to speak a different native language and starting with nothing.  They have raised their four children and slowly built up their businesses again.  Although Helene would love to have a clinic, she gives part of her income to pay for ten orphans to go to school.  Zachary and Helene have been instrumental in bringing neo-natale resuscitation to the area.  Zachary set up the original meetings for the Kinshasa trainer, Dr. Ngoy and continues to champion the training -- and Helene has become a trainer, to work with other clinicians who deliver babies.