Mazengwa's Story
Mazengwa was just nine years old when a small wound appeared on her hand—one that would change the course of her life.
Mazengwa Zola’s name means “love”—but for much of her life, she felt anything but loved.
She was just nine years old when a small wound appeared on her hand. At first, it seemed like nothing. But as days turned to weeks, the infection spread, moving from her arm to her leg. The pain worsened, and daily life became harder.
She didn’t know it then, but she had Buruli ulcer, a flesh-eating disease that would leave her scarred—physically and emotionally—for decades.
By the time Mazengwa reached our Christian partner, IME Kimpese Hospital, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, her wounds were so severe that her bones were exposed. Doctors had to remove dead tissue and perform a skin graft to save her leg.
The surgery helped, but it couldn’t undo the years of suffering. With fragile skin that could tear easily, hard labor was impossible. She could no longer farm like others in her village. She struggled to survive, selling small goods in her community and relying on her siblings for support.
“I can't do hard work as other ladies do. I just sell small things to the people around me.”
Her body had healed, but her heart still longed for something more.
Mazengwa was no longer in constant pain, but the scars of isolation remained. That’s when Hope Rises International’s Church Partnership Initiative stepped in. Local pastors and faith leaders walked alongside her, teaching her how to care for her wounds, providing emotional and spiritual support, and reminding her that she wasn’t alone.
Then, in 2019—28 years after her first wound appeared—Mazengwa met Jesus.
For the first time, she felt truly seen. She gave her life to Christ and was baptized.
“God lives with me daily. This is a big advantage. I feel peace, peaceful because of Jesus being in my life.”
Mazengwa’s journey isn’t over. She still dreams of expanding her small business, and gaining the financial stability she needs to provide for herself and her son. And soon, thanks to generous supporters, she will receive the surgery she needs to regain movement in her hand.
Her future is uncertain, but she holds onto one truth:
“All my future is in God’s hands.”
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Mazengwa’s story is a powerful reminder that true healing is more than physical—it’s emotional, spiritual, and deeply personal.
At Hope Rises International, we walk alongside the suffering, just as Jesus did, bringing healing, dignity, and the hope of the Gospel to those who need it most.
Will you be part of this work?
Hope Starts With Healing
Right now, men, women, and children are suffering—isolated by disease, alone in their pain, and without hope. But together, we can change that.
From delivering critical medicines and supplies to equipping pastors with training and resources to care for their communities, we are reaching even the most marginalized people with the healing and hope they most desperately need. With your support today, Hope Rises!
