Tuesday, February 14, 2006
Greetings from Congo,
Last Friday Nick, Diane, and Andy went to town with Papa Chota and George, our driver. It was really quite a trip, the purpose of which was to purchase some fabric for a new safari suit for Nick. This area of down town is somewhat like the market except instead of so many street vendors we have crowds of pedestrians busily going about their business. The same hodge-podge of fabric products ranging from very poor quality from China, India, etc. to the finest tropical wool blends from England. The only problem is that they are not labeled as to fiber content and the shop owners typically don't know either. So we were on our own as far as the selection and value. Fortunately for Nick, Diane is accomplished at sewing and knows fabric blends pretty well. All together we spent several hours going from shop to shop while at the same time trying to stay together and not get our pockets picked.
On Saturday Nick and Andy went with Papa Pinzi and several others to visit a village about 200 km from Kinshasa. The people there live in the most primitive conditions; mud and straw houses with dirt floors, no electricity or indoor plumbing. We saw no means of drinking water and no latrine facilities. Perhaps they have both but we couldn't see any evidence of it. We met with the chief of the village. He was a man about 35 or so with a cloth wrapped around his waist like a skirt and a knit cap with a feather in it. He controls a vast amount of land, perhaps ten miles square, most of which is not being used for anything. About two years ago he became a Christian and burned all his witch doctor stuff and renounced the traditional ways of his people. He became a member of Chrisco church and a pastor was sent to his village to pastor the new church there. He gave the church 10 hectres of land (about 24 acres) and is hoping for some development which will benefit his village. He has offered up to 500 Hectors (1200 acres or so) to be purchased by Chrisco at the rate of $50.00 per hectre, in hopes of development coming to his village. Our hearts are full as we meditate on how a little investment and know-how would greatly improve the quality of life for these people. Please continue to pray for at least two good tractors with implements. We also really need the means to build roads into this area. We canft just cut a path because the low areas become a quagmire during the rainy season. If we had not been in a 4-wheel drive vehicle we would have never made it to the village.
While in Kenya Carol and Papa Samuel visited the home of Kick-Start, a ministry that has developed technology to empower the Africans to improve their standard of living. They have pioneered small businesses, which could be done in any village to raise enough money for a family to eat regularly, have a home, school for the kids, and some medical care. We are praying for guidance as to the best way to bring this program to the poor people of Congo. We will fill you in when we return to the USA.
Starting Sunday Nick has been teaching a three day seminar on "inheriting the promises" at the Chrisco church in Metete. The people there are wonderful!! They have received us warmly and follow the teachings with enthusiasm.
At the service on Sunday there was a couple which had just been married the day before. He was a member at Matete and she was from another city in the eastern part of Congo. As a gesture to her, the couple was placed in front of the church with the associate pastor and his wife. All the women of the church, bearing gifts, began to dance to the beat of typical Congolese worship music. As they danced they formed a long line in the back of the church. Little by little they began to work their way up the isle toward the couple, dancing, smiling, savoring every minute of the experience. As they showered the couple with practical gifts for their new home together, they kissed them on both cheeks (Congolese custom for close friends). Then the couple began to dance together while the whole church cheered. This experience was so gentle and loving we were really struck by it. Once again we were able to see the gentle, sweet, spirit that rests in DRC, this in spite of the generations of oppression, poverty, disease, and war.
Papa Samuel, Mama High Faith, and Carol are expected to return from Kenya within the next hour or so. The ladies here in the house have been busily hurrying about making the house ready for them. We are excited about their return as well. Andy and Nick have prepared a "to do" list as soon as someone who speaks English is back in the house.
The first container is expected to be available in Kinshasa at the compound of the customs officials tomorrow and we all hope to be on hand when it is opened. Everyone is so excited about it they can hardly contain themselves. The building at Oshwe is ready to receive the beds,
Storage here at Papa's house is ready to receive the boxes, and the medical staff is ready to set-up for the opening, which will probably be in March before we leave for home. The Congolese have really been working, looking forward to this day.
Thursday we expect to travel to Congo Brazzaville, the country just across the river. Chrisco has many churches there in several provinces. We expect to be gone for about a week and will be speaking in a different church each day. Probably we will not have a chance to write another update until we get back. After our return we expect to be traveling again, perhaps to many cities within driving distance of Kinshasa.
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Yesterday Carol and Papa Samuel returned from Kenya. High Faith did not return, stating that it was not time yet for her to be away from her sons. More on this later.
While Carol was in Kenya Buddy called her with wonderful news. Wake Med called House of Joy and offered an x-ray machine; you know | the big one in the radiology department at the hospital. It is working perfectly | they were just making some changes in the hospital and didnft need it anymore. The folks in Congo are jubilant. God is seeing that the hospital He is using you to build in Congo will be the best equipped one in the country. Please continue praying for a complete laboratory for doing blood work, urinalysis, tissue analysis, etc. After we return to the US we will publish a complete list of equipment, which is lacking as well as components of equipment we have already shipped which are missing.
We are praising God because we know for sure that He will finish everything He has started. He is not only the first but He is also the last. He is the beginning and the end, the alpha and the omega. His word never returns to Him empty without accomplishing everything for which He sent it. What a thrill it is to see the events unfold, one by one, as He builds His kingdom here in Congo.
Tomorrow we will leave for Congo Brazzaville. We have made all visa arrangements and are looking forward to about 7 days there.
We will write more later.
Nzambe apomboli bino mingi (May God richly bless you all)
Nick, Diane, and Andy