The BBC reports a new Ebola outbreak in the Western Kasai. This is the area we visited in September. Please take a moment to pray for the Congolese. It is God's grace that sustains life.
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
More News on Congo
Please take a moment as you read this to pray for the Congolese. We recieved news that the wife of a leader in the Congo church died this past week. There are few details, but please pray for him as he grieves.
If you take the time to read through any of these articles, please use that time as an opportunity to commit those matters to God. God is bigger than Africa, and he goes deeper than the issues do.
from The Economist
Lessons from Africa: Laughter and Music
The Future of Aid: A Scramble in Africa
Africa's Economy: Trying to Weather the Storm
Congo: Don't Let it Happen All Over Again
from Fox News
U.N. Calls for Congo Cease-Fire to Help 100,000 Refugees Receive Assistance
If you take the time to read through any of these articles, please use that time as an opportunity to commit those matters to God. God is bigger than Africa, and he goes deeper than the issues do.
from The Economist
Lessons from Africa: Laughter and Music
The Future of Aid: A Scramble in Africa
Africa's Economy: Trying to Weather the Storm
Congo: Don't Let it Happen All Over Again
from Fox News
U.N. Calls for Congo Cease-Fire to Help 100,000 Refugees Receive Assistance
Thursday, October 30, 2008
Pray for Goma, Congo
Reuters: Congo's Goma calm but nervous after ceasefire
Houston Chronicle: Congo rebel general says he wants talks
Belfast Telegraph: UN ‘stretched’ as Congo rebels march on Goma
Update
Yahoo: Congolese rebels open 'humanitarian corridors'
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
In the News Recently
The Economist has regular coverage on DR Congo about a variety of issues. Here's a rundown of recent articles in their publication.
Elephants in Congo. "2,900 elephants roamed Virunga when Congo became independent in 1960, 400 in 2006, and fewer than 200 today."
Congo and Rwanda continue to flirt with war along their volatile border.
"There is Hope" for sub-Saharan Africa, including DR Congo, according to one article. Another article takes a more in-depth look at the complexities of government, resources, and financial investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
It reinforces something I learned while visiting Congo: "Money doesn't solve problems. People solve problems." From the article: "...despite—or perhaps because of—Nigeria’s massive oil wealth, several of the country’s civil institutions, together with human rights and the rule of law, have all withered in the past few years. " In broad terms, as I understand it, this is called "Dutch disease," a term I heard used in Congo and coined by this publication back in 1977.
This article closes by discussing "good-news countries" like Ghana, which found oil on the coast in 2007. And they seem to be seeking wise counsel. Yet, there is another kind of wisdom and another kind of good news that must permeate the hearts of Africa's leaders and people before we can agree "there is hope."
Elephants in Congo. "2,900 elephants roamed Virunga when Congo became independent in 1960, 400 in 2006, and fewer than 200 today."
Congo and Rwanda continue to flirt with war along their volatile border.
"There is Hope" for sub-Saharan Africa, including DR Congo, according to one article. Another article takes a more in-depth look at the complexities of government, resources, and financial investment in sub-Saharan Africa.
It reinforces something I learned while visiting Congo: "Money doesn't solve problems. People solve problems." From the article: "...despite—or perhaps because of—Nigeria’s massive oil wealth, several of the country’s civil institutions, together with human rights and the rule of law, have all withered in the past few years. " In broad terms, as I understand it, this is called "Dutch disease," a term I heard used in Congo and coined by this publication back in 1977.
This article closes by discussing "good-news countries" like Ghana, which found oil on the coast in 2007. And they seem to be seeking wise counsel. Yet, there is another kind of wisdom and another kind of good news that must permeate the hearts of Africa's leaders and people before we can agree "there is hope."
Saturday, October 11, 2008
Going to Church in Congo
Leonard arranged for us a taxi to take us to his church. Leonard is an old man here in Congo, although I doubt he is more than 60. The median age in Congo is 16. Children flocked like sheep wherever we went. So here, a man like Leonard, has lived a long, hard life. He saw Congo when it was still under the Belgian hand. He remembers the days before revolt and civil war. He is among the few who remembers a Congo that was not so forlorn.
Despite witnessing the decades of decline and decay, Leonard has the smile of a comfortable couch, looks upon you with a long gaze and sparkling dark eyes, and holds your hand long after you’re done shaking his. Like other elder men I met in Congo, Leonard carried in his arms a tattered, hardcover notebook as though it were a small child. Inside it, he made notes, kept appointments, and wrote addresses that he would review later.
We bounced down a dirt street lined with painted, cinderblock walls. Doorways broke up their contiguity. In front of the walls, ran concrete gutters. The taxi dropped us off in front of a wall that read “Centre Evangelique Nebo.” I crossed the trash-dammed gutter on a bridge made from a car door. Through the opening in the wall, we found ourselves at the corner of the church sanctuary. The far wall, along the right side of the room, was also cinder block. It was the only complete wall. Along the left side hung something like large bed sheets. They were mismatched. One was colorful red, yellow, and blue. On it, was a print pattern with the words “Qui est Jesus?” and “Who is Jesus?” along with other phrases and languages. The words faced the dirt alley that ran between the church and the house next door. I imagined this was a sort of evangelism.
Inside, there were wood benches mostly, but we were sat in the second and third rows, in mismatched plastic, patio chairs. The pastor and other church leaders greeted us with handshakes. As they shook our hands they touched their forearms with their opposite hands, a gesture of respect. I took my seat in a baby blue armchair. The floor was dirt. I studied the ants climbing up and down the wall near a beam supporting the tin roof overhead. The sunlight slipped between the top of the wall and the roof.
I thought about the sanctuary of my church back home. It is a new building, and I had heard it once described as a “fully controlled sound and light environment.” Here, muffler-less cars grumbled past in the street behind us. Drums and cymbals carried across the street from what I presumed to be another church. The bed sheets looked like sails as the air pressure vacillated in and out of this space.
We were a little early—on time by U.S. standards. The singers were just arriving. A few women sat across the aisle with the children. There were maybe 10 adults in this sanctuary when we arrived. One pastor stood in the pulpit. He rested his elbows on the high pulput, almost at shoulder height for the man. He placed his hands on his head, half covering his face. His face was expressionless which I mistook for exhaustion.
A young man, about 20, milled about behind a keyboard situated on the concrete stage at the front of the sanctuary. Then, his voice rang out low and clear with a descending melody: “A Yahweh, A Yahweh Kumumba.” Like bagpipes begun with a drone, then followed by a flood of sound, the rest of the congregation—the 10 adults there—joined in. The young man strolled over to a standing wooden drum, and he began a rhythm. The rest was a capella. Their volume rivaled the sound system at my church.
Much of the music was a call and response. The congregation sang a chorus while one leader or another would sing out a solo over it.
I joined in with this chorus, clueless as to what I was singing. I struggled as I sang, though, to bend my spirit into a posture of worship. I needed to engage with it meaningfully before it could become real worship. I needed to understand what I was saying before my heart, or my head, or my mouth—something—could affirm it all. Yet, how often I sing words I know and still hardly mean. I sing those words because I know how to say them. But that “something” inside me doesn’t make the connection with them before they slip past my lips. I am not worshipping then any more than I am mimicking this African language. With all the tongues of men and of angels, I am but a clanging cymbal.
I glanced down the row to Leonard, sitting next to my dad. He was flipping pages through his notebook, studying old notes and scribbling new ones. As the worship wore on, more people trickled in, including many teens and some young adults sitting in the back, until there were 40-50 people in the sanctuary. A man in his 40s slipped into the row in front of us with his Bible and a notebook of his own. His tie was humorously short, falling to the middle of his chest.
The format was quite similar to a church service in the U.S.: worship, announcements, prayer, preaching, worship. Everything was in the local language of Lingala or in French, so I followed very little. The pastor had been standing in the pulpit with his hands covering his face this whole time. He said a few things and then paused, and I heard the chatter of many voices behind me. I bowed my head. It sounded like the voices of the entire congregation, praying aloud. From behind me, my uncle, who knows a bit more of the language than I, grabbed my shoulder and whispered, “I think they’re praying for us.” I was glad that God was not limited by language like I was. I listened to the chatter until it died out, the last voice took a few moments to finish. Then silence.
The man with the short tie stood up and took the pulpit. His chosen texts for the day were Numbers 27:1-9, John 9:1-3, and Hebrews 4:16. They were read from a Bible translated in the local language. I listened but did not understand. I read the passages from my English Bible and tried to grasp their connection.
I wonder how the spread of the Gospel would have been different were it not for the Tower of Babel. Latin would not have been the language of high liturgy, meaningless for the commoner. The arguments about translation would have had a whole different face. Even with one language, it may have evolved over time like Old, Middle, and modern English. Yet the Bible has been inherently translatable from nearly the beginning. Even most of the words of Jesus were not recorded in the language he spoke. It was written in Greek, but he spoke Aramaic. Already in the recording of those red letters, his words were translated, and interpreted de facto.
When the service ended, the chairs and benches were stacked. The sparse musical equipment was packed and hauled away. I was talking with a young man about my age, Jeremie, when I was handed a bottle of Coke. And as I held it, my server popped the lid off. We, each of us guests, were treated to this luxury, and I felt guilty being treated with a Congo pleasure that is not so rare in the U.S.
Despite witnessing the decades of decline and decay, Leonard has the smile of a comfortable couch, looks upon you with a long gaze and sparkling dark eyes, and holds your hand long after you’re done shaking his. Like other elder men I met in Congo, Leonard carried in his arms a tattered, hardcover notebook as though it were a small child. Inside it, he made notes, kept appointments, and wrote addresses that he would review later.
We bounced down a dirt street lined with painted, cinderblock walls. Doorways broke up their contiguity. In front of the walls, ran concrete gutters. The taxi dropped us off in front of a wall that read “Centre Evangelique Nebo.” I crossed the trash-dammed gutter on a bridge made from a car door. Through the opening in the wall, we found ourselves at the corner of the church sanctuary. The far wall, along the right side of the room, was also cinder block. It was the only complete wall. Along the left side hung something like large bed sheets. They were mismatched. One was colorful red, yellow, and blue. On it, was a print pattern with the words “Qui est Jesus?” and “Who is Jesus?” along with other phrases and languages. The words faced the dirt alley that ran between the church and the house next door. I imagined this was a sort of evangelism.
Inside, there were wood benches mostly, but we were sat in the second and third rows, in mismatched plastic, patio chairs. The pastor and other church leaders greeted us with handshakes. As they shook our hands they touched their forearms with their opposite hands, a gesture of respect. I took my seat in a baby blue armchair. The floor was dirt. I studied the ants climbing up and down the wall near a beam supporting the tin roof overhead. The sunlight slipped between the top of the wall and the roof.
I thought about the sanctuary of my church back home. It is a new building, and I had heard it once described as a “fully controlled sound and light environment.” Here, muffler-less cars grumbled past in the street behind us. Drums and cymbals carried across the street from what I presumed to be another church. The bed sheets looked like sails as the air pressure vacillated in and out of this space.
We were a little early—on time by U.S. standards. The singers were just arriving. A few women sat across the aisle with the children. There were maybe 10 adults in this sanctuary when we arrived. One pastor stood in the pulpit. He rested his elbows on the high pulput, almost at shoulder height for the man. He placed his hands on his head, half covering his face. His face was expressionless which I mistook for exhaustion.
A young man, about 20, milled about behind a keyboard situated on the concrete stage at the front of the sanctuary. Then, his voice rang out low and clear with a descending melody: “A Yahweh, A Yahweh Kumumba.” Like bagpipes begun with a drone, then followed by a flood of sound, the rest of the congregation—the 10 adults there—joined in. The young man strolled over to a standing wooden drum, and he began a rhythm. The rest was a capella. Their volume rivaled the sound system at my church.
Much of the music was a call and response. The congregation sang a chorus while one leader or another would sing out a solo over it.
I joined in with this chorus, clueless as to what I was singing. I struggled as I sang, though, to bend my spirit into a posture of worship. I needed to engage with it meaningfully before it could become real worship. I needed to understand what I was saying before my heart, or my head, or my mouth—something—could affirm it all. Yet, how often I sing words I know and still hardly mean. I sing those words because I know how to say them. But that “something” inside me doesn’t make the connection with them before they slip past my lips. I am not worshipping then any more than I am mimicking this African language. With all the tongues of men and of angels, I am but a clanging cymbal.
I glanced down the row to Leonard, sitting next to my dad. He was flipping pages through his notebook, studying old notes and scribbling new ones. As the worship wore on, more people trickled in, including many teens and some young adults sitting in the back, until there were 40-50 people in the sanctuary. A man in his 40s slipped into the row in front of us with his Bible and a notebook of his own. His tie was humorously short, falling to the middle of his chest.
The format was quite similar to a church service in the U.S.: worship, announcements, prayer, preaching, worship. Everything was in the local language of Lingala or in French, so I followed very little. The pastor had been standing in the pulpit with his hands covering his face this whole time. He said a few things and then paused, and I heard the chatter of many voices behind me. I bowed my head. It sounded like the voices of the entire congregation, praying aloud. From behind me, my uncle, who knows a bit more of the language than I, grabbed my shoulder and whispered, “I think they’re praying for us.” I was glad that God was not limited by language like I was. I listened to the chatter until it died out, the last voice took a few moments to finish. Then silence.
The man with the short tie stood up and took the pulpit. His chosen texts for the day were Numbers 27:1-9, John 9:1-3, and Hebrews 4:16. They were read from a Bible translated in the local language. I listened but did not understand. I read the passages from my English Bible and tried to grasp their connection.
I wonder how the spread of the Gospel would have been different were it not for the Tower of Babel. Latin would not have been the language of high liturgy, meaningless for the commoner. The arguments about translation would have had a whole different face. Even with one language, it may have evolved over time like Old, Middle, and modern English. Yet the Bible has been inherently translatable from nearly the beginning. Even most of the words of Jesus were not recorded in the language he spoke. It was written in Greek, but he spoke Aramaic. Already in the recording of those red letters, his words were translated, and interpreted de facto.
When the service ended, the chairs and benches were stacked. The sparse musical equipment was packed and hauled away. I was talking with a young man about my age, Jeremie, when I was handed a bottle of Coke. And as I held it, my server popped the lid off. We, each of us guests, were treated to this luxury, and I felt guilty being treated with a Congo pleasure that is not so rare in the U.S.
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Arriving in Congo for the First Time
Debarking the plane at the airport in Kinshasa spilled us onto the tarmac. The sun was hot here, just south of the equator. The concrete was brown with oil and grease. I wondered if it was sticking to the bottom of my sandals. We followed the other passengers toward a building marked “Aeroport de Ndjili.” We formed two lines at the doors. Uniformed officer were reviewing passports and yellow cards. Unlike the States, diseases like malaria, yellow fever, and typhoid are realistic dangers. We had to show that we had taken precautions. They handed our papers back and stepped aside to allow us up the three steps into the building. Inside out of the sun, we stood in a second line in front of what looked like an old-fashioned theater box office, wooden with a plate of glass and a slot for papers (and cash, if it came to that). Behind it were the immigration officers. At that point, the first set of officers seemed to have no clear purpose, quite unnecessary in fact.
My dad’s first piece of advice to me before we left the States was “Be ready to flex and punt.” In Congo, standards and protocol are ad hoc. Authorities are ad hoc. Roads are ad hoc. Plans are ad hoc. Meals are ad hoc. In that sense, Congo was a bit like college. Actually, a bit like being a bachelor too.
The immigration officer questioned me in French, and I muddled through as best I could. “Stupid American” can be quite useful when used appropriately. Traveling through the country in a week’s time required showing my passport to four or five more authorities. Each time I simply shrugged when they interrogated me en Francais. Not wanting to hassle with my stupidity, they signed the papers and let me on my way. It was for the best.
Before I knew it, two Africans were directing us past the baggage claim. I’d been informed ahead of time that we would need them in order to get our luggage without much hassle. Men stand around soliciting ad hoc employment from arriving travelers. For a fee. No uniforms. No organization. No corporate structure. No management. Each is his own employer.
They led us around to a door. Locked. They turned and appealed to the apparent gatekeeper nearby—the current “authority.” At the same moment, a third African appeared holding a piece of notebook paper. My last name was scribbled on it in large letters. That was enough validation for us. This was our prearranged contact. We simply hadn’t known that. When Pascal showed up, our two interceptors knew they were out of business. But they wouldn’t give up without making Pascal’s job more difficult. They harassed him for the next hour while we retrieved our luggage. They shouted and gestured, burned and sweated.
The baggage claim would’ve been a pretty sedate place—that is, like most baggage claims—without these vultures. I wondered, Who in the world decided one day, “I think I’ll go to the airport today and help people do something they could manage to do themselves but I’ll charge them exorbitant fees to let me do it for them”? Whoever he was, he’d created a monster. This was the first business venture I saw in Congo.
After our first run-in with the police, we drove from the airport to our hostel. I got my first glimpses of Congo’s capital city, Kinshasa. There was trash everywhere. It was like living downwind from a landfill. I also saw a second business venture: public transit, ad hoc. While carpooling may be trendy transport in the U.S., it is a way of life in Congo. Nonetheless, the congestion and pollution in Kinshasa were stifling. Much more than suburban Chicago. Volkswagen Buses from 40 years ago and foreign subcompacts serve as much of the city’s public transportation. I estimated in one VW Bus to be carrying 18 passengers in four rows behind the driver. In the back of every Nissan, there were at least 3 passengers. Only once did I see a vehicle with only one person in it, a few with two, most with five, six, or thirty. I doubt that’s an exaggeration.
A day later we walked to a nearby market. There, I saw a traffic jam. Subcompacts were backed up for half a block. The drivers stood next to their driver’s side doors shouting at one another. At the front of the jam, two or three drivers seemed to be arguing with one another over what must’ve been a fender bender. I stood watching the exchange. I was surprised at the vitality of it. Every car in Kinshasa had its fair share of scrapes and dents.
“That’s a taxi rendezvous point,” one of my companions said, pointing at the traffic snarl. “This is a hub. The drivers pick people up and bring them here. Then the passengers switch to cars heading toward their destinations.”
I looked again. The chaos took on a new dimension. It was a taxi hub. Instead of arguing drivers, I saw a manager directing passengers and coordinating cars and drivers. People were constantly shuffling and moving, climbing into and exiting cars. Mass confusion was actually a highly developed and somewhat efficient taxi system. (Again, ad hoc.)
There are few sidewalks in Kinshasa. The city is lucky just to have paved streets. Kinshasa is probably the only place in the whole country to have them. For this reason, foot traffic and vendors clutter the streets and dart in and out of traffic. The mechanics shop is wherever the truck, bus, or car breaks down. And that may be the inside lane. Cars whiz past beeping exhausted horns at endangered pedestrians while mechanics fix flats, troubleshoot engine problems, and fill empty oil pans and radiators. Neither the oil nor the water will last long in those engines. They will either burn off or drip out over the next few days. Then, they will be refilled. Every driver is a mechanic, finding and fixing whatever the current problem is. The Congo probably has more mechanics than it has running vehicles.
My dad’s first piece of advice to me before we left the States was “Be ready to flex and punt.” In Congo, standards and protocol are ad hoc. Authorities are ad hoc. Roads are ad hoc. Plans are ad hoc. Meals are ad hoc. In that sense, Congo was a bit like college. Actually, a bit like being a bachelor too.
The immigration officer questioned me in French, and I muddled through as best I could. “Stupid American” can be quite useful when used appropriately. Traveling through the country in a week’s time required showing my passport to four or five more authorities. Each time I simply shrugged when they interrogated me en Francais. Not wanting to hassle with my stupidity, they signed the papers and let me on my way. It was for the best.
Before I knew it, two Africans were directing us past the baggage claim. I’d been informed ahead of time that we would need them in order to get our luggage without much hassle. Men stand around soliciting ad hoc employment from arriving travelers. For a fee. No uniforms. No organization. No corporate structure. No management. Each is his own employer.
They led us around to a door. Locked. They turned and appealed to the apparent gatekeeper nearby—the current “authority.” At the same moment, a third African appeared holding a piece of notebook paper. My last name was scribbled on it in large letters. That was enough validation for us. This was our prearranged contact. We simply hadn’t known that. When Pascal showed up, our two interceptors knew they were out of business. But they wouldn’t give up without making Pascal’s job more difficult. They harassed him for the next hour while we retrieved our luggage. They shouted and gestured, burned and sweated.
The baggage claim would’ve been a pretty sedate place—that is, like most baggage claims—without these vultures. I wondered, Who in the world decided one day, “I think I’ll go to the airport today and help people do something they could manage to do themselves but I’ll charge them exorbitant fees to let me do it for them”? Whoever he was, he’d created a monster. This was the first business venture I saw in Congo.
After our first run-in with the police, we drove from the airport to our hostel. I got my first glimpses of Congo’s capital city, Kinshasa. There was trash everywhere. It was like living downwind from a landfill. I also saw a second business venture: public transit, ad hoc. While carpooling may be trendy transport in the U.S., it is a way of life in Congo. Nonetheless, the congestion and pollution in Kinshasa were stifling. Much more than suburban Chicago. Volkswagen Buses from 40 years ago and foreign subcompacts serve as much of the city’s public transportation. I estimated in one VW Bus to be carrying 18 passengers in four rows behind the driver. In the back of every Nissan, there were at least 3 passengers. Only once did I see a vehicle with only one person in it, a few with two, most with five, six, or thirty. I doubt that’s an exaggeration.
A day later we walked to a nearby market. There, I saw a traffic jam. Subcompacts were backed up for half a block. The drivers stood next to their driver’s side doors shouting at one another. At the front of the jam, two or three drivers seemed to be arguing with one another over what must’ve been a fender bender. I stood watching the exchange. I was surprised at the vitality of it. Every car in Kinshasa had its fair share of scrapes and dents.
“That’s a taxi rendezvous point,” one of my companions said, pointing at the traffic snarl. “This is a hub. The drivers pick people up and bring them here. Then the passengers switch to cars heading toward their destinations.”
I looked again. The chaos took on a new dimension. It was a taxi hub. Instead of arguing drivers, I saw a manager directing passengers and coordinating cars and drivers. People were constantly shuffling and moving, climbing into and exiting cars. Mass confusion was actually a highly developed and somewhat efficient taxi system. (Again, ad hoc.)
There are few sidewalks in Kinshasa. The city is lucky just to have paved streets. Kinshasa is probably the only place in the whole country to have them. For this reason, foot traffic and vendors clutter the streets and dart in and out of traffic. The mechanics shop is wherever the truck, bus, or car breaks down. And that may be the inside lane. Cars whiz past beeping exhausted horns at endangered pedestrians while mechanics fix flats, troubleshoot engine problems, and fill empty oil pans and radiators. Neither the oil nor the water will last long in those engines. They will either burn off or drip out over the next few days. Then, they will be refilled. Every driver is a mechanic, finding and fixing whatever the current problem is. The Congo probably has more mechanics than it has running vehicles.
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Return from DRC
Our group returned to the United States on Monday the 22nd of September. Today is our second day back and we are continuing to assimilate back physically, mentally and culturally.
The demand of the work schedule has a way of driving that assimilation.
We come back with an array of thoughts that need to be sorted and sifted through. Many need to be captured before they are lost. I will post some of those thoughts for the purpose of record and for the benefit of those interested in this blog.
The demand of the work schedule has a way of driving that assimilation.
We come back with an array of thoughts that need to be sorted and sifted through. Many need to be captured before they are lost. I will post some of those thoughts for the purpose of record and for the benefit of those interested in this blog.
Sunday, September 7, 2008
Congo Trip 2008 - Itinerary
The group includes Stan Graber, Brad Graber, Adam Graber and David Rocke. We will meet up with Dr. John Martin in Kinshasa and travel together to Ndjoka Punda and on to Tshikapa where John Martin will remain following our departure for the States.
Thursday September 11, 2008, 9:15 p.m. flight from Chicago O'Hare to Washington Dulles Airport.
Friday September 12, 2008, 10:05 a.m. flight to Addis Ababa Ethiopia via Rome Italy.
Saturday September 13, 2008, 12:50 p.m. arrive in Kinshasa-Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sunday & Monday September 14 & 15, 2008 in Kinshasa, activities will include attending church, laptop computer setup for the hospital at Ndjoka Punda, purchase of autoclave for the hospital, trip to a local hardware store and purchase of phone minutes.
Tuesday September 16, 2008 MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) flight to Ndjoka Punda via a Cessna 9 passenger plane.
Wednesday September 17, 2008, Ndjoka Punda
Thursday September 18, 2008, MAF flight
Friday September 19,2008, Tshikapa, anticipate a trip to the Lubilu Forest where the sawmill operation is.
Saturday September 20, 2008, MAF flight back to Kinshasa (which will be too soon for several African mish kids!)
Sunday September 21, 2008, 1:40 p.m. depart for the United States
Monday September 22, 2008, 1:27 p.m. arrive at Chicago O'Hare and go our separate ways.
Thursday September 11, 2008, 9:15 p.m. flight from Chicago O'Hare to Washington Dulles Airport.
Friday September 12, 2008, 10:05 a.m. flight to Addis Ababa Ethiopia via Rome Italy.
Saturday September 13, 2008, 12:50 p.m. arrive in Kinshasa-Democratic Republic of Congo.
Sunday & Monday September 14 & 15, 2008 in Kinshasa, activities will include attending church, laptop computer setup for the hospital at Ndjoka Punda, purchase of autoclave for the hospital, trip to a local hardware store and purchase of phone minutes.
Tuesday September 16, 2008 MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) flight to Ndjoka Punda via a Cessna 9 passenger plane.
Wednesday September 17, 2008, Ndjoka Punda
Thursday September 18, 2008, MAF flight
Friday September 19,2008, Tshikapa, anticipate a trip to the Lubilu Forest where the sawmill operation is.
Saturday September 20, 2008, MAF flight back to Kinshasa (which will be too soon for several African mish kids!)
Sunday September 21, 2008, 1:40 p.m. depart for the United States
Monday September 22, 2008, 1:27 p.m. arrive at Chicago O'Hare and go our separate ways.
Saturday, September 6, 2008
First Annual Ndjoka Punda Youth Camp
The first annual Youth Camp organized by Dr. David Ishingu, resident medical doctor for the Ndjoka Punda hospital, was held April 16-22, 2007.
675 youth attended the conference. Dr. David invited 10 speakers, both pastors and doctors, to participate.
His vision is a "rebirth of our community at every level." He began by establishing a large intercession group made up of 18 youth.
Dr. David has reported that on the last day of the second annual Youth Camp around 1400 youth were present. Many were led to commitment to Christ, or renewal of their commitment.
Continue to pray for Dr. David and the Ndjoka Punda community. In his words, "please pray for us because we are being threatened by the Enemy."
675 youth attended the conference. Dr. David invited 10 speakers, both pastors and doctors, to participate.
His vision is a "rebirth of our community at every level." He began by establishing a large intercession group made up of 18 youth.
Dr. David has reported that on the last day of the second annual Youth Camp around 1400 youth were present. Many were led to commitment to Christ, or renewal of their commitment.
Continue to pray for Dr. David and the Ndjoka Punda community. In his words, "please pray for us because we are being threatened by the Enemy."
Sunday, August 31, 2008
Congo Trip 2008
July 14, 2008
Ndjoka Punda-Providing hope for the next generation
To family and friends,
Last fall, my brother Stan and I returned to our childhood home: Congo. We traveled to the Congolese communities where our parents served as missionaries. From 1950 to 1964, our parents served helping to build and expand the witness of the church in Congo. Since then, the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen an entire generation grow up under a dictatorial fist and is living in the aftermath of a 10-year civil war in which five million people lost their lives. For us, traveling back was more than just a walk down memory lane. We quickly came to the unsettling realization that Congo over the last 40 years had taken significant steps backward in time.
I commute five miles to work every day in a climate-controlled car, hardly noticing the few potholes that bite at my wheels. It’s a ten-minute drive. In the Congo, the idea of potholes does not exist. Instead, we traversed dirt paths in an old Toyota SUV, an equivalent two-hour trip from Des Moines to Kansas City took us ten hours in Congo.
I recently sliced my finger open at home in my garage. The two-inch gash required ten stitches and two hours in the emergency room, just minutes from our home. When we visited the hospital in Ndjoka Punda, Dr. David Ishunga, a medical doctor passionate about meeting the physical and spiritual needs, told us that it was the only hospital within 50-60 miles. People walk 2-3 days for medical care, including childbirth.
I’m recharging my laptop’s battery as I write this letter. It’s as simple as plugging it in at arm’s length. However, in the Congo, Dr. David told us that the injured and ill could only be treated by the light of day. If patients arrived at dusk in need of emergency treatment, Dr. David was powerless to do anything until the sun came up the following day.
I have a new Blackberry, supplied by my employer, so I can call or e-mail anyone from anywhere in the U.S. at anytime, day or night. However, Dr. David has no computer access in Ndjoka Punda. Instead, every 45 days, he travels a day to write and respond to e-mails—making it a three-month reply time for any communication.
We returned to our comfortable lives here in the states committed to help improve theirs. We had seen a hospital with no electricity and only basic medicines. We saw classrooms without roofs, students without textbooks, a sawmill without reliable means of getting lumber to market, and a brick-making effort in need of the most basic man-powered tools. Travel, medical care, electricity, and long-distance communication are basic amenities for us, but they require immense amounts of effort every day in Congo.
Thanks to many of you, our family and friends we have begun to address some basic needs such as a generator for the hospital, a brick press for making bricks, carpentry and masonry tools to assist with maintenance and construction efforts. These improvements are not changing the world. They are changing individual lives. Today we are asking for your help again as we plan to take on more in September, when we return. There, we will follow up on these strategic initiatives and assess future projects with the hospital, educational needs and improving means of communication.
These basic efforts require time, money and prayer. We (Stan Graber, Brad Graber, Adam Graber and David Rocke) are asking for your heart, your prayers, and your investment in our strategic effort to come alongside the body of Christ in Congo and provide hope for the next generation.
Travel to Congo is very expensive and very risky. We are asking you to venture out and take some risk with us by way of your prayers and money. Each of us need $3,000 for international travel and $1,000 for in-country travel. In addition to these expenses, we hope to commit $3,000 toward a laptop computer with solar charging capability and a autoclave sterilization unit to replace a 60 plus year old unit that is being operated over an open fire.
To give to this effort send your checks payable to AIMM and designate it as the Graber Initiative. Feel free to earmark it for travel or strategic initiatives. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely and to the praise of His Glory,
Ndjoka Punda-Providing hope for the next generation
To family and friends,
Last fall, my brother Stan and I returned to our childhood home: Congo. We traveled to the Congolese communities where our parents served as missionaries. From 1950 to 1964, our parents served helping to build and expand the witness of the church in Congo. Since then, the Democratic Republic of Congo has seen an entire generation grow up under a dictatorial fist and is living in the aftermath of a 10-year civil war in which five million people lost their lives. For us, traveling back was more than just a walk down memory lane. We quickly came to the unsettling realization that Congo over the last 40 years had taken significant steps backward in time.
I commute five miles to work every day in a climate-controlled car, hardly noticing the few potholes that bite at my wheels. It’s a ten-minute drive. In the Congo, the idea of potholes does not exist. Instead, we traversed dirt paths in an old Toyota SUV, an equivalent two-hour trip from Des Moines to Kansas City took us ten hours in Congo.
I recently sliced my finger open at home in my garage. The two-inch gash required ten stitches and two hours in the emergency room, just minutes from our home. When we visited the hospital in Ndjoka Punda, Dr. David Ishunga, a medical doctor passionate about meeting the physical and spiritual needs, told us that it was the only hospital within 50-60 miles. People walk 2-3 days for medical care, including childbirth.
I’m recharging my laptop’s battery as I write this letter. It’s as simple as plugging it in at arm’s length. However, in the Congo, Dr. David told us that the injured and ill could only be treated by the light of day. If patients arrived at dusk in need of emergency treatment, Dr. David was powerless to do anything until the sun came up the following day.
I have a new Blackberry, supplied by my employer, so I can call or e-mail anyone from anywhere in the U.S. at anytime, day or night. However, Dr. David has no computer access in Ndjoka Punda. Instead, every 45 days, he travels a day to write and respond to e-mails—making it a three-month reply time for any communication.
We returned to our comfortable lives here in the states committed to help improve theirs. We had seen a hospital with no electricity and only basic medicines. We saw classrooms without roofs, students without textbooks, a sawmill without reliable means of getting lumber to market, and a brick-making effort in need of the most basic man-powered tools. Travel, medical care, electricity, and long-distance communication are basic amenities for us, but they require immense amounts of effort every day in Congo.
Thanks to many of you, our family and friends we have begun to address some basic needs such as a generator for the hospital, a brick press for making bricks, carpentry and masonry tools to assist with maintenance and construction efforts. These improvements are not changing the world. They are changing individual lives. Today we are asking for your help again as we plan to take on more in September, when we return. There, we will follow up on these strategic initiatives and assess future projects with the hospital, educational needs and improving means of communication.
These basic efforts require time, money and prayer. We (Stan Graber, Brad Graber, Adam Graber and David Rocke) are asking for your heart, your prayers, and your investment in our strategic effort to come alongside the body of Christ in Congo and provide hope for the next generation.
Travel to Congo is very expensive and very risky. We are asking you to venture out and take some risk with us by way of your prayers and money. Each of us need $3,000 for international travel and $1,000 for in-country travel. In addition to these expenses, we hope to commit $3,000 toward a laptop computer with solar charging capability and a autoclave sterilization unit to replace a 60 plus year old unit that is being operated over an open fire.
To give to this effort send your checks payable to AIMM and designate it as the Graber Initiative. Feel free to earmark it for travel or strategic initiatives. Your prayers and support are greatly appreciated.
Sincerely and to the praise of His Glory,
Brad, Stan, Adam & Dave
Mail checks designated as Graber Initiative to:
Africa Inter-Mennonite Mission
P.O. Box 744, Goshen, IN 46527
Congo Trip 2007
Congo Trip – October 2007
Observations, Assessments, Reflections and Brainstorming Ideas
Introduction:
Together with my wife Sharon, my brother Stan, and his wife Bonnie, I traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was a personal journey, but an exploratory one as well. It was personal because Congo was home for my brother and me as we spent our formative growing-up years at Ndjoka-Punda. We were returning after a 43-year absence.
Our trip was exploratory in that we are seeking God’s direction regarding future involvement and ministry in Congo. The question we find ourselves asking is, “Is God leading us or this just an emotional desire driven by our love of Congo and our childhood experiences?”.
Our trip included travels to Kinshasa, Mbuji Mayi, Tshikapa and Ndjoka-Punda. We began our time in Congo in Kinshasa with two days of meetings held at MPH, Methodist-Presbyterian Hostel.
We went to observe, listen, and learn. This was accomplished through the people we met, conversations we had, places we visited, and the things we saw and experienced. We made our plans, but God directed our steps (Proverbs 16:9). This does not make us experts by any means. Rather it reinforces the novices that we are. It has peaked our interest and challenged our thinking and begs the question, “What now?”. What is my responsibility with what I have received, seen, experienced and learned?” We know it has not been without purpose. We continue to sort out and seek God’s further direction and plan. What follows is a part of that process. In summary this was all a divine appointment engineered by God.
Observations:
We attended a two-day Partnership Council meeting. This meeting included representation from three Mennonite Church bodies present in Congo, the Mennonite Church, Mennonite Brethren Church and the Evangelical Mennonite Church. This included the presidents for each of the church bodies and various lay representatives from what was termed the Forum.
I was impressed with the three leaders and their leadership within the three church bodies. I was impressed with their commitment and desire to serve God and their desire to work together towards a common goal, kingdom work. They understand their history, their current situations and current challenges and needs. They each have a vision of what they want to accomplish. They are organized, addressing and tackling the various issues and challenges that they face.
The challenges and needs include:
More trained pastors; there are more churches than trained pastors -- a 2 to 1 or greater ratio.
Future leaders
Income generating opportunities
Legal issues, addressing property boundaries and regaining lost properties
Evangelism
Discipleship
Mission efforts, sending and support
Financial resources
Pastors leaving rural areas and migrating to the cities and larger populated areas
Training needed for technical and industrial arts
Keeping the youth engaged in the life of the church
Addressing and lowering ethnic and tribal barriers and conflicts
Micro-finance availability and encouragement in entrepreneurial efforts
Mentality of dependence vs. initiative
Ministry related resources; vehicles, computers, generators
Our travels to the communities surrounding Mbuji Mayi, Tshikapa and Ndjoka-Punda were humbling, enlightening and sobering. We met people with the joy of the Lord despite their experience of physical poverty.
The presence of God and the spirit of the Lord were very evident. Visible and verbal dependence upon God for each day’s activities and outcomes was evident. Asking God for safety before getting into a vehicle to travel and thanking God upon arrival was routine everywhere we went.
We saw the evidence of poverty as well as the effects of poverty. The evidence was experienced in working with people in positions of authority. Systems and processes were dysfunctional and corrupt. Personal interest outweighed the larger community interest. The effects were such things as chaos, corruption, hunger, lack of infrastructure, lack of governance, material poverty, lack of services, etc.
Assessments:
We witnessed poverty first hand on several levels within Congo.
On a larger scale, poverty is not a lack of material things but a lack of healthy relationships. Poverty fundamentally is the result of broken relationships. These broken relationships include spiritual, personal, family, business and government. The ultimate broken relationship is the issue. Therefore the work of the church is the fundamental starting point to addressing the issue of poverty. A changed heart as the result of a personal relationship with God through the saving work of Jesus Christ is crucial in repairing all other relationships. But one must then work towards restoring proper working relationships in all other areas fundamental to a healthy community and society.
The fundamental needs for the believers in Congo are in the following areas:
Church
Medical
Education
Economic Community Development
Government
The church and church-related ministries on the whole are doing very well in comparison to the other areas. The church is vibrant, understanding their calling and mission. They are focused on missions, evangelism, church planting and discipleship. The church is organized and has its own engine and is driving forward.
The others areas of support are present in varying degrees, but we did not see any formal organized effort, particular engine, or driving force that was mandated to propel these areas forward. There are leaders in some of these areas but no central, organized and synergistic approach and effort to actively address the needs in each respective area. There is no organization, responsibility or accountability within the larger framework. If they exist, we did not sense that they were functioning and viable. If they exist they are weak in presence and visibility.
We see a need to organize on several levels within each church body using lay leaders at the national, provincial, and local levels. There should be a mandate given, needs assessment made, goals set and a plan put together and implemented to achieve the overarching mandate.
Reflection:
We came home with two distinct messages for the American believer and church.
We depend on everything but God…we are materially rich.
Our excessive materialism denies us the need (the privilege) to depend upon God. Philippians 4:6 encourages us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Personally, I realized that I depend on my bank account, my job, my material resources, technology, education, self help books etc. everything but God to supply my daily needs and give me peace and happiness.
The two short weeks I was in Congo I was forced to depend solely upon God. Everything that I routinely depend upon was stripped away. I did not have access to any of it and God met me at every point of need and I experienced the peace of God in the midst of chaos and poverty.
Materialism is adversely affecting our relationship with God…we are spiritually poor.
In Mark 4:18 & 19 Christ explains the parable of the sower and has this to say; “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Our wealth, worries of everyday life and desire for more is stealing from us our spiritual vitality and leaving us spiritually poor which ultimately over time will lead us into poverty in every sense of the word.
Brainstorming ideas:
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a life time.” This proverb is very insightful and appropriate in application to many areas of life. But to fully realize the end goal we must add two more elements beyond teaching one how to fish. We must provide a fishing pole, hook, bait, spinners etc. and equal access to the pond.
The Congolese are very resourceful. Many have access to a basic education, but they lack the necessary resources and equal access to the pond in order to genuinely make a difference and impact their immediate surroundings. We take them to the pond, demonstrate how, but stop short of making the resources available and helping to ensure them access to the pond.
The following are some ideas to consider:
Initiate a think tank with both American and Congolese representation utilizing lay leaders from a cross section of disciplines to create solutions-based dialogue.
Focus on providing tools, resources and equal access to the pond
Approach the World Bank in Congo (BECCO) regarding medical and water supply needs in the communities.
Increase awareness within the American churches
Encourage American churches to adopt a community for a 3-5 year period. (Graber family has already decided to adopt Ndjoka-Punda)
Develop strategic partnerships with faith-based organizations that specialize in specific areas of need.
In summary:
My lens is that of a business man with a view and interest toward economic community development. This report is not intended to be exhaustive and complete but rather a general reflection of my initial observations and thoughts.
It is not intended to require a formal response or a plan of action. I leave that up to God. My desire is to be open and ready to obey.
On a personal note I want to thank Rod Janzen, AIMM, and Pastor Komuesa for the effort put forth to assist us with our plans. This proved to be invaluable. We could not have made such a trip without their help.
Meeting Tim Froese, Tim and Suzanne Lind, Daniel Geiser, Hyppolyto Tshimanga, and Daniel and Martine Nussbaumer was a privilege. All were of like heart and mind for the Congolese and the Mennonite Church in Congo.
Traveling with Steve Johnson and James Krabill bordered on dangerous! However, they played a key role in helping us acclimate to the culture and environment and what lie ahead of us when we went our separate ways.
We never ceased to be amazed at the people we met that knew and remembered our parents. We made new friends that have been added to our prayer list. We know this is not our last trip to Congo.
Observations, Assessments, Reflections and Brainstorming Ideas
Introduction:
Together with my wife Sharon, my brother Stan, and his wife Bonnie, I traveled to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This was a personal journey, but an exploratory one as well. It was personal because Congo was home for my brother and me as we spent our formative growing-up years at Ndjoka-Punda. We were returning after a 43-year absence.
Our trip was exploratory in that we are seeking God’s direction regarding future involvement and ministry in Congo. The question we find ourselves asking is, “Is God leading us or this just an emotional desire driven by our love of Congo and our childhood experiences?”.
Our trip included travels to Kinshasa, Mbuji Mayi, Tshikapa and Ndjoka-Punda. We began our time in Congo in Kinshasa with two days of meetings held at MPH, Methodist-Presbyterian Hostel.
We went to observe, listen, and learn. This was accomplished through the people we met, conversations we had, places we visited, and the things we saw and experienced. We made our plans, but God directed our steps (Proverbs 16:9). This does not make us experts by any means. Rather it reinforces the novices that we are. It has peaked our interest and challenged our thinking and begs the question, “What now?”. What is my responsibility with what I have received, seen, experienced and learned?” We know it has not been without purpose. We continue to sort out and seek God’s further direction and plan. What follows is a part of that process. In summary this was all a divine appointment engineered by God.
Observations:
We attended a two-day Partnership Council meeting. This meeting included representation from three Mennonite Church bodies present in Congo, the Mennonite Church, Mennonite Brethren Church and the Evangelical Mennonite Church. This included the presidents for each of the church bodies and various lay representatives from what was termed the Forum.
I was impressed with the three leaders and their leadership within the three church bodies. I was impressed with their commitment and desire to serve God and their desire to work together towards a common goal, kingdom work. They understand their history, their current situations and current challenges and needs. They each have a vision of what they want to accomplish. They are organized, addressing and tackling the various issues and challenges that they face.
The challenges and needs include:
More trained pastors; there are more churches than trained pastors -- a 2 to 1 or greater ratio.
Future leaders
Income generating opportunities
Legal issues, addressing property boundaries and regaining lost properties
Evangelism
Discipleship
Mission efforts, sending and support
Financial resources
Pastors leaving rural areas and migrating to the cities and larger populated areas
Training needed for technical and industrial arts
Keeping the youth engaged in the life of the church
Addressing and lowering ethnic and tribal barriers and conflicts
Micro-finance availability and encouragement in entrepreneurial efforts
Mentality of dependence vs. initiative
Ministry related resources; vehicles, computers, generators
Our travels to the communities surrounding Mbuji Mayi, Tshikapa and Ndjoka-Punda were humbling, enlightening and sobering. We met people with the joy of the Lord despite their experience of physical poverty.
The presence of God and the spirit of the Lord were very evident. Visible and verbal dependence upon God for each day’s activities and outcomes was evident. Asking God for safety before getting into a vehicle to travel and thanking God upon arrival was routine everywhere we went.
We saw the evidence of poverty as well as the effects of poverty. The evidence was experienced in working with people in positions of authority. Systems and processes were dysfunctional and corrupt. Personal interest outweighed the larger community interest. The effects were such things as chaos, corruption, hunger, lack of infrastructure, lack of governance, material poverty, lack of services, etc.
Assessments:
We witnessed poverty first hand on several levels within Congo.
On a larger scale, poverty is not a lack of material things but a lack of healthy relationships. Poverty fundamentally is the result of broken relationships. These broken relationships include spiritual, personal, family, business and government. The ultimate broken relationship is the issue. Therefore the work of the church is the fundamental starting point to addressing the issue of poverty. A changed heart as the result of a personal relationship with God through the saving work of Jesus Christ is crucial in repairing all other relationships. But one must then work towards restoring proper working relationships in all other areas fundamental to a healthy community and society.
The fundamental needs for the believers in Congo are in the following areas:
Church
Medical
Education
Economic Community Development
Government
The church and church-related ministries on the whole are doing very well in comparison to the other areas. The church is vibrant, understanding their calling and mission. They are focused on missions, evangelism, church planting and discipleship. The church is organized and has its own engine and is driving forward.
The others areas of support are present in varying degrees, but we did not see any formal organized effort, particular engine, or driving force that was mandated to propel these areas forward. There are leaders in some of these areas but no central, organized and synergistic approach and effort to actively address the needs in each respective area. There is no organization, responsibility or accountability within the larger framework. If they exist, we did not sense that they were functioning and viable. If they exist they are weak in presence and visibility.
We see a need to organize on several levels within each church body using lay leaders at the national, provincial, and local levels. There should be a mandate given, needs assessment made, goals set and a plan put together and implemented to achieve the overarching mandate.
Reflection:
We came home with two distinct messages for the American believer and church.
We depend on everything but God…we are materially rich.
Our excessive materialism denies us the need (the privilege) to depend upon God. Philippians 4:6 encourages us to “not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Personally, I realized that I depend on my bank account, my job, my material resources, technology, education, self help books etc. everything but God to supply my daily needs and give me peace and happiness.
The two short weeks I was in Congo I was forced to depend solely upon God. Everything that I routinely depend upon was stripped away. I did not have access to any of it and God met me at every point of need and I experienced the peace of God in the midst of chaos and poverty.
Materialism is adversely affecting our relationship with God…we are spiritually poor.
In Mark 4:18 & 19 Christ explains the parable of the sower and has this to say; “Still others, like seed sown among thorns, hear the word; but the worries of this life, the deceitfulness of wealth and the desires for other things come in and choke the word, making it unfruitful.” Our wealth, worries of everyday life and desire for more is stealing from us our spiritual vitality and leaving us spiritually poor which ultimately over time will lead us into poverty in every sense of the word.
Brainstorming ideas:
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day, teach a man how to fish and you feed him for a life time.” This proverb is very insightful and appropriate in application to many areas of life. But to fully realize the end goal we must add two more elements beyond teaching one how to fish. We must provide a fishing pole, hook, bait, spinners etc. and equal access to the pond.
The Congolese are very resourceful. Many have access to a basic education, but they lack the necessary resources and equal access to the pond in order to genuinely make a difference and impact their immediate surroundings. We take them to the pond, demonstrate how, but stop short of making the resources available and helping to ensure them access to the pond.
The following are some ideas to consider:
Initiate a think tank with both American and Congolese representation utilizing lay leaders from a cross section of disciplines to create solutions-based dialogue.
Focus on providing tools, resources and equal access to the pond
Approach the World Bank in Congo (BECCO) regarding medical and water supply needs in the communities.
Increase awareness within the American churches
Encourage American churches to adopt a community for a 3-5 year period. (Graber family has already decided to adopt Ndjoka-Punda)
Develop strategic partnerships with faith-based organizations that specialize in specific areas of need.
In summary:
My lens is that of a business man with a view and interest toward economic community development. This report is not intended to be exhaustive and complete but rather a general reflection of my initial observations and thoughts.
It is not intended to require a formal response or a plan of action. I leave that up to God. My desire is to be open and ready to obey.
On a personal note I want to thank Rod Janzen, AIMM, and Pastor Komuesa for the effort put forth to assist us with our plans. This proved to be invaluable. We could not have made such a trip without their help.
Meeting Tim Froese, Tim and Suzanne Lind, Daniel Geiser, Hyppolyto Tshimanga, and Daniel and Martine Nussbaumer was a privilege. All were of like heart and mind for the Congolese and the Mennonite Church in Congo.
Traveling with Steve Johnson and James Krabill bordered on dangerous! However, they played a key role in helping us acclimate to the culture and environment and what lie ahead of us when we went our separate ways.
We never ceased to be amazed at the people we met that knew and remembered our parents. We made new friends that have been added to our prayer list. We know this is not our last trip to Congo.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)