Monday, March 6, 2006
Greetings from Congo,
Well it's been quite a while since we last wrote to you, so here goes. We returned to DRC on Friday afternoon and had a quick two days to prepare to travel again. We sent the last update then and rushed around doing personal things. By Sunday the van was still not out of customs so we were having to improvise; this because we had planned to use the van on our next trip to BaCongo (that's south of Kinshasa). Our first two stops were planned to be at Inkisi and at Bonsa Ngugu. We decided to take two vehicles on Sunday and visit these two towns and then return to Kinshasa and wait for the van. This trip was very interesting. It took all day but was worth every minute. We have been surprised to see just how mountainous this part of Africa is. The mountains and valleys are beautiful scattered with palm trees and other vegetation. We have learned that there are three types of landscape: savanna, bush-country, and forest. None of these terms has anything to do with the topography. That is to say that savanna can be either flat or hilly. Likewise with the other two.
We had services at the Chrisco churches in both of the towns mentioned above. The people were like Chrisco churches have been everywhere we have been. They received us with great enthusiasm and much cheering, clapping, and what I will describe as whooping. Whooping is the sound we used to make when we were children playing cowboys and Indians. You know, you put your hand over your mouth and move it back and forth as you yelp. Well that is a typical sound here, especially from the women in the congregation. They use it to show approval, excitement, or as applause.
By the time we returned to Kinshasa Nick was sick with a fever and exhaustion. It seems that while we were in Pointe Noire he contracted malaria, even though he had been taking preventative medication. The doctor here gave him some medication to take and in a day or so he was functioning at about 80%. On Tuesday we put Andy on the plane to return home. At that time both he and Diane were tested for malaria and both had gtrace amountsh of the bacteria in their blood. They were given the same medication as Nick. We are anxious to hear how Andy is doing.
On the next Monday we set off for Matadi by air. The plane was a small turbo prop which holds twelve or fifteen passengers. The flight was only about one hour and we landed at a clay strip, the only airport in Matadi. Our accommodations at Matadi were wonderful. The guest house is owned by a large company who operated a fuel depot on the river congo. There were three bedrooms with air conditioners and comfortable beds. The pastor's wives were busy cooking and seeing that our every need was met. Everyone was wonderful. The Chrisco church here is fairly large, perhaps 400 or so. They turned out in mass at each meeting with much dancing, cheering, whooping, and they received each message with joy.
Tuesday, March 7, 2006
Shortly after the week in matadi was underway Nick and Diane both began feeling poorly. Finally they went to the doctor there who checked their blood and confirmed that Nick's malaria was at the same level as it had been five days earlier in Kinshasa and Diane's blood level was even worse. So he gave them a very strong medication, which begins with an injection and then continues with tablets for several days. By this writing (Tuesday March 7) they are both better and are expected to speak at the meeting tonight on Boma. Carol and Papa Samuel are both fine.
On Sunday we made the trip to Boma, which is south of Matadi and just across the river from Mwanda on the Atlantic ocean. Many pastors from different churches in the area waited next to the road in a small town about 3 miles from Boma for 3 1/2 hours in the sun so they could greet us and escort us into town. When our driver spotted them he stopped the car and bid us get out to pass down the receiving line. What a sacrifice for these men of God to make just to honor Papa Samuel and us. Each morning for the past two days we have met with pastors and leaders from area churches and Papa Samuel has been teaching them. During the evenings the rest of the team has taken turns bringing messages to the Chrisco church in Boma.
The accommodations in Boma are equal to those in Matadi. We are staying in a guest house owned by one of the companies with operations here at this port city. All the wives of pastors, elders and deacons are scurrying about from early morning to late at night looking out for our every need. They are so gracious and hospitable and are willing to make any sacrifice to serve us. It makes us almost feel guilty to be the recipient of such lavish treatment.
Wednesday, March 8, 2006
On Monday night Carol brought a message about the need for restoration of relationships, our relationship with God, with those close to us, and with those outside the family. It was really good and was well received.
Last night Diane and Nick both spoke at the meeting and were well received. Diane brought an exhortation that in order for change to come to Congo some changes must first come on the heart level. She used an example of a man who started a business cleaning buildings and now has 19 employees and many clients. But before he enjoyed success he had to get out of the gdaily survivalh mentality and recognize the opportunity which was before him.
Nick then continued with Carol's topic of restoration of relationships. He taught on forgiveness and repentance. Many responded to the message and came forward for prayer.
This morning Nick, Diane, Carol, and Papa Chota went on a short tour of the City of Boma. We learned that the word Boma was what the Belgians called this place based on a native word meaning Boa. This is because this area had many Boa Constrictors and was noted for this type of snake.
We also visited the home of the first European to bring an automobile to Africa. His name was Fisher and he brought an 1895 LaSalle and a Mercedes of about the same vintage. His house is located on a hill overlooking the Congo River. The site is the most picturesque one we have seen in all our travels here. The view is breathtaking. Before leaving that site we noticed a Baobab tree which we were told was several hundred years old. This tree must be at least 15 ft in diameter. Nick took a picture of Carol standing in front of it.
Later we visited what is said to be the first home of Stanley, the man who came to this part of Africa looking for Livingston. (Sorry, but I don't remember the first names of these men of God). What is most interesting about his house is that it was made in the trunk of a Baobab tree. This tree had grown in a most peculiar way in that its center was hollow with the tree trunk growing all around. This tree is said to be more than 700 years old. We were told that an opening about 12 or 15 ft above the ground was the entrance Stanley used. In his day the opening was near ground level. Another entrance was cut into the center of the tree so we could go inside and imagine how Stanley must have lived. This tree has to be at least 20 ft in diameter with the inside open area about 14 ft across. We will try and bring back pictures. We have to depend on Carol for these pictures because Nick & Diane's camera has no more memory and the cable to unload the pictures is still in Kinshasa.
Friday, March 10, 2006
This morning we visited the local Christian radio station. It is on a tall hill overlooking the city of Boma. Like most buildings in Congo it is still under construction. In spite of it's incompleteness it reflects care and workmanship uncharacteristic of this country. Eventually it will be a wonderful facility. Each of us took ten minutes to speak on the radio. First Diane the prophet, then Nick the teacher, then Carol the intercessor. When we returned to the guest house all the ladies who have been working so hard to serve us greeted us and told us by (by sign language) that they had followed us on the radio. Later while Diane was resting Nick and Carol assembled all these wonderful ladies and prayed for them. As Carol truly says, there is no way we can repay these ladies for their sacrifice on our behalf. Truly God must do it. We pray that it will be so.
Tonight we will attend the Full Gospel Businessmen's Fellowship where Papa Samuel has been teaching for the past few nights. Then tomorrow we will be returning to Kinshasa to prepare for our trip back to the US.
Sunday, March 12, 2006
Yesterday Diane and Papa Chota flew home to Kinshasa from Boma while the rest of the team came by car. About half way home Nick, Carol, and Papa Samuel stopped at Inkisi to get a coke. While we were taking a break, we were approached by the journalist, who had interviewed us on TV in Kinshasa during our 2004 trip. He had his cameraman with him and wanted to film an interview right there in the cafe. So we took abut 20 minutes or so to answer his questions. He wanted to follow up on the 2002 prophecy with information about the items which were being fulfilled. Carol ended the interview with a very anointed prayer. When we got to Kinshasa we were very tired and ready for bed. Soon after retiring the power went off and were had trouble sleeping most of the night because of the loss of air conditioning.
This morning Diane and Nick spoke at Chrisco Mongita. Diane was the speaker at the first service while Nick took the second. Both were well received. Tomorrow Nick, Diane and Carol will address Vision Bible College for about two hours. After that all our time will be taken up getting ready to come home. We hope to make it to the cyber cafe to get this e-mail update out.
We will see you very soon, God willing.
Blessings
Nick, Diane, and Carol