African Journey

Home Safe

2005-10-17T10:05:00.000-07:00

To quote a new friend from Malawi, David Chigamba, "From east to west, home is best." I think he captured it well and I can testify to it's truth as I am now home safe with my great wife and unborn child who's the size of a peanut, family, friends, and our great church. Thank you all so much for tuning in to this web log while I was away. I hope it was inspiring to some and as fun for you as it was for me.

If you would like access to the pictures I have posted online, please send me an email to chrisp@pcomonline.org and I will have them sent to you. I will leave this blog up for another week or so and then it will be deleted. This will be the last post. Aww, so sad. For the PCOM High Schoolers, I'll create a new one in the weeks to come just for you because you're so special! I'll keep you posted.

Peace.

Nairobi, Kenya

2005-10-12T23:25:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I spent the afternoon with a friend, Steven Mbogo who works as the Team Leader for AE in Kenya. So, I had the opportunity to visit some of the projects they’re working on in the slums of Nairobi. I was riding in the car with Steven and William (a staff member) and we were cruising around Nairobi, joking and having a good time together. And then we entered the slum and my heart sank into my stomach and the laughing came to a close. Even William said, "Chris, you look devastated." He was right. 300,000 people live in this incredibly small community that takes the definition of poverty to a level I thought didn’t exist. All of their houses are made of sheet metal, and some of the houses are 10’x10’ with five family members living there. There are no toilets. So, the residents would use their “front porch” as a toilet and then dispose the pollution paper in a trench in front of their homes. The pictures you see above are taken from the car, one looking down the road at a row of houses, and the other is of a man standing on his front porch. AE dug the trenches for the community because when it rains, the place gets destroyed since there are no roads. You can see the trench alongside the road and used toilet paper in the trench and on the street. By now, AE has built a number of community toilets on several streets and their vision is to provide toilets in all the slums in Nairobi. This is one of hundreds of slums. You can imagine the diseases that exist in such a community.

I was able to upload many photos from the entire trip onto www.snapfish.com if you would like to view them. However, I didn’t write a description of each photo so you most likely will not know what each photo represents.

We're Pregnant!!

2005-10-11T11:42:00.000-07:00

I better get a lot of comments on this one! It's true.

I begin my journey home in the near future, and I'll spend one day in Nairobi checking out some of the work AE is doing in the slums there. I will be at the Celebration Service on Sunday!! And I am sooo ready to celebrate!!

Please pray for traveling mercies.

Peace.

What Would You Do?

2005-10-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, following the worship service of the church I attended, a girl named Funu approached me for advice and prayer. Funu has a skin disease, where she has lost pigmentation all over her hands, portions of her legs and other areas of her body. She was very broken and desperate for healing. Her boss at work told her that her problem is two-fold: for one, her disease is a result of sin in her life. If she had enough faith then she would be healed. Two, her church, the boss claims, isn’t a strong enough church since they aren’t able to heal her. Funu’s boss proceeded to tell her that she’s going to the wrong church and that she must go to her (the boss’s) church, where they are very successful at healing people. And, if she doesn’t go to the boss’s church, and she doesn’t find healing, then she will be fired from her job, and unable to support her family. She is a young, single mother who has attended this church since she was a baby. This community of faith is her family and they pray for healing for her often. Funu told me all of this after the worship service.

Without telling my response, I’m curious to know how some of you might respond, from a theological perspective. This is actually the type of question I would be instructed to write papers on for Ray Anderson’s “Systematic Theology” courses. What does God think about Funu’s situation? Is it her fault because she doesn’t have enough faith? Is God punishing her? Should she listen to her boss and give up her job? How would you advise her? You might even want to write out your response in a journal or prayer letter. I think this would be a valuable exercise for any Christian, as we all have (or will) come across friends or family members who will need us to be the voice of God in their lives. I welcome your thoughts. Please remember Funu in your prayers.

It was so wonderful to hear comments from more friends! Major, I look forward to sharing stories and pictures with you. Thank you so much for all your prayers and support. Maybe we can plan a trip for our church together?? Lunch would be wonderful!! Silverson, thanks for taking care of the pcomers for me and I can't wait to get back to everyone either. I miss all of you greatly! Courtney, I'm so glad you're interested in the blog. In fact, I have already planned to create a blog for the high school group. Although, it will be much more creative with pictures and book/movie/music reviews, etc. I will include reviews on my teachings, devotions, and questions. So I will terminate this blog when I get home and then create the new one for all of you and let you know. Em, I really enjoy hearing from you and I'm so glad technology has provided us the opportunit

About Madagascar

2005-10-08T11:39:00.000-07:00

The mission is coming to a close tomorrow, and I am quite exhausted after preaching a total of sixteen messages since last Sunday. My guess is that there has been a total of seven hundred or so gatherings where AE staff have preached this week. I’m astonished to see how hungry these people are to hear the Word. I preached at a church service this morning that began at 9am. I left the service at 11am while it was still going. Another member from our team went to preach at the same church directly after me at 11:30. Then, I came back to preach there once again at 3:00pm and the same service was still going. I was finished by 5:00 and the service still had not ended. This Baptist Church had a service today that began at 8:00am and finished at sometime around 6:00pm. There were five different worship bands, a worship-through-dance group, three sermons, and a testimony all in one day. Unbelievable.

I have a new friend, David Chigamba from Malawi, whose on the AE staff and is in charge of writing the reports about the trip to all the AE staff, family, friends, and supporters. So I thought I would include below a portion of his first report regarding Madagascar and its people (I also helped him creat a blog for his reports. Check it out. www.aecomms.blogspot.com):

“What a joy again to write to you from the Island not exactly of Patmos but Madagascar. Yes! The long awaited mission has arrived. It has arrived in this far off Island to the south west of the Indian Ocean. Indeed to this special land visited and inhabited by people from all four corners, far and wide since the earliest times by the descendants of Semitic and Asian traders. Oh Madagascar, what a beautiful Island you are with your city placed strategically on a hill. Loved and chosen by God with 16 million people and 1,4 to 1,6 million people in the capital city of Antananarivo. Others say the island is almost one and a half times the size of California.

Beloved friends, I know you may be asking, why Antananarivo? I thought you guys were there last May/June? Yes you’re right we were here last May/June. But remember that was a mission to the leadership. It was about those who are influential in decision making in different sectors of life. But this time it is for everyone. We realize that the gospel is for everyone and so we will go to where we will find the people (stratified evangelism) - in working places, in homes, in churches, in market places and open places.

Madagascar needs the gospel just like the rest of the world needs it. If you read through the little booklet that we were given in the Aircraft called the “Madagascar Passport,” you will be baffled to read what the editor had to say on the customs and traditions of the Malagasy people. I guess it will be good if I quote some of it:

“…. There is first of all the circumcision ceremony of small boys practiced during the winter months: It is carried out individually by the families and is not a subject of great popular ceremonies.
….then there is the “fijoroana” starting with the organization of a gathering of the entire population of a village. During the meeting, incantations are addressed to Zanahary, the creator of the feet and hands and to his intermediaries among men who are the spirits of the ancestors to ask them for their blessings and their protection.
…..in addition to these two widely practiced traditions there is that of the exhumation of the dead common on the central areas of the mainland. The bodies are exhumed and wrapped in fresh shrouds. In Sainte Marie, the bones are unearthed, cleaned and then placed in small boxes. All this takes place against a background of the consumption of sizable quantities of betsabetsa (country spirits) and drink offerings. The reason for this ceremony, which takes place three to seven years after the death of a person, is to request the blessings of the ancestors and of God.
…Lastly, there is the “tromba” or the ceremony of the possession of the living by the spirits of the crowned ancestors of the former Sakalava kings from the west and the north of the mainland. During these trances these spellbound people transmit the royal messages from the dead to the living.”

I know you are asking is this true David? My friends, it is very true, in fact these are just some of the things that these people in this beloved Island are bound with. The funny part of it is that even most of the guys who are considered to be educated and are staying here in the city are so much into the worship of the dead. Talking to one of the pastors, he told me that one of the tragedy’s of Madagascar is that people are still blind and are so much into ancestral worship. He added that this has contributed so much to their poverty because most people would work very hard only to give the proceeds to the dead. He said to many people the dead are a higher priority and more important and honored than the living!”—By David Chigamba

Day Twenty

2005-10-05T23:38:00.000-07:00

These friends from African Enterprise don’t take their preaching lightly. The program consists of some fifty to seventy gatherings per day: at churches, at schools, in the marketplace, on street corners, in stadiums, all over the city. Michael Cassidy was preaching on the street yesterday and hundreds of people were gathering around him to hear his message. Fascinating! Thousands of people are coming to Christ and this method of evangelism seems to work well here. I would just ask your prayers that the churches in the community will be able to handle the follow-up. I’ve preached seven times so far at high schools and universities since Monday. I usually just share a bit of my journey and talk about Jesus: abiding in him, walking with him, staying attached to him, living in the Kingdom of God…Bart Tarman style. I figure, if I only have an hour with a group of 500 people who I’ll never see again, the best thing I can do is talk about Jesus, whether they’ve been following him their whole life or they’ve never met him before. I’ve found that the Malagassy people have been thrilled to hear about Jesus.

Of the seven gatherings I’ve preached so far, tonight was my favorite. I went to Antananarivo University and only fifteen people showed up. I was refreshed because I knew I would get some interaction from a small group. They had the place set up with rows of chairs and a big platform for me to speak from with a microphone, and I walked in and thought, “Not a chance am I standing up there with a mic.” So I had everyone sit in a circle and I scrapped my notes and sat with them and shared my life journey from childhood up until now…the good and the bad, and the peaks and valleys of my faith. I shared a few thoughts about Jesus and a couple of passages and then I opened it up for questions and stories from their lives. They’re all college students, of course, so they’ve gone through difficulties by now and they’ve been asking the tough questions about faith and life. I told them that I didn’t come all the way to Madagascar to speak at crowds of people and then flee, but that I wanted to hear their hearts, their questions, their struggles, and their stories. I told them that I’d love to help answer any questions (or maybe leave them with more questions to think about), but that I also came to learn from their stories because I believe that they have something to teach me. So we had a brilliant conversation and they are so intelligent and they ask great questions, and we sat in a rundown building in the university, and when the sun went down, someone lit a couple of candles because their was no electricity. We sat together and talked about our lives and Jesus for two and a half hours, and the few who weren’t following Christ decided they would like to begin the journey. The time was authentic, real, and most favorably, relational.

The Malagassy people are wonderful. However, I find myself so exhausted from preaching three times per day that I want to use every free minute sleeping. So, I haven’t had much of an opportunity to really absorb the culture and experience the territory, other than at the gatherings. I notice that people live in tiny, old, rundown, French-style houses and apartments, and the streets are dreadfully crowded with people and little cars. They sell meat on the street corners. The butcher wakes up at 4:00am every morning to catch his kill. He then cleans and slices up the meat and hangs it from his little box shed for sale. The meat hangs in the sun all day, until he sells it, and if he doesn’t sell it, he cooks it at the end of the day and shares it with his family (a little sketchy in my book). Maybe the leftovers go to waste, or to the people on the street…I’m not sure. He does this everyday because refrigeration is unaffordable.

The level of poverty once again is heartbreaking, and like most third world countries, the people are able to find joy elsewhere. Unlike wealthy countries, people who live in such poverty as Madagascar, are more apt to recognize their need for God, which of course, is the first step into the Kingdom. That’s why when I preach at these schools, and someone gives an “invitation” or “altar call” when I’m finished with my message, nearly every kid comes forward. Hundreds keep coming forward, right in front of me, every time. This is happening all over Antananarivo this week. Thousands of people are coming to Christ. I find it a bit overwhelming, actually, and I fear what may happen (actually, what may not happen) with all these people after we leave. We’ve partnered with all the churches and the pastors’ have been through extensive follow-up training, and there are many counselors who have specific roles in bringing these people into church families, but there are simply too many coming forward than can possibly be cared for. Even these friends from African Enterprise, who have been doing this sort of thing for years, are saying that they’ve never seen anything like this before. That’s why I so much enjoyed being with only a few tonight. Please remember these people in your prayers.

Great hearing from all of you! To answer your question, Courtney, you are correct in thinking that I was unaware of Michael's sermon. Remember, miracles are happening all the time in our world and God's presence is everywhere. Sometimes we simply must pay attention. Saur, I'm trying to put together your comments about your tattoos...I think we need to talk when I return. Em and Klaeb, thanks for your words and I can't wait to catch up on your lives. Billy, keep up the hell fire preaching. I hope you scare more people to their senses. Nancy, I've listened to the first nine hours of lectures for Church History. Awesome! I look forward to dialogue with you. Lynn, Wow! Good to hear from you and I enjoyed our time together in Kinshasa. I'm curious as to how you found this blog? It sounds like your doing some great work back at home. I hope we cross paths again. Bob, thanks for sparing me from the diarrhea story. The visual is less than pleasant. Mom, please get the tape of Jack's sermon. I would love to hear it. Devon, my love, I can't wait to be home with you! Thank you all for your words. Much Love.

Day Seventeen.

2005-10-03T04:33:00.000-07:00

(Written on 10/2/05...there is another post published on the same day below. Please read in chronological order)
This morning I was invited to accompany Michael Cassidy to a church service of 1,000 people in attendance. It was a Pentacostal church, filled with great joy and life. Michael invited me to share the pulpit with him by giving a testimony for fifteen minutes or so before he preached. I had planned on sharing my story of how I met Jesus when I was sixteen, but then for some reason as I was sitting in the pew a few minutes before going up to speak, I felt compelled to share my journey through cancer instead. I referred to my journey as a storm that I brought to Jesus in order to find shelter, and then healing. The coordination with Michael and I was totally unplanned, but he proceeded to deliver his message, titled: “Bringing Our Storms to Jesus” (Mark 4:35-5:1). My story served as an appropriate introduction for his sermon. I won’t go into the details of his message, but when he invited people to bring to Jesus whatever storm they’re in (addiction, disease, relational problems, ancestor worship, etc.), every single person in that sanctuary came forward. Not one person remained in their seat. Michael’s message was powerful, and I was honored to share the pulpit with him on what may be his final pan-African mission after some forty years of service. The plan is for Steven Lungu (who preached at our church a year ago) to be his successor. Later this evening, there was an gathering for the community, serving as an opening service for the week’s mission, with approximately 5,000 people. Michael referred to my story again in his message tonight and I was humbled. The man is amazing…it’s no wonder he is such a hero throughout Africa.

Tomorrow morning I’m preaching at a public high school in the morning, and then at a church service in the evening. The morning’s message will be “Finding Miracles in the Ordinary” (Exodus 3:1-6) and the evening’s will be “Accepting Your Belovedness” (Mark 6:30-44, Jesus Feeds the Five Thousand). The idea behind the second one is just as Jesus took (or chose) the bread, blessed it, broke it, and gave it, so have we been chosen by God as his beloved (created in his image); we’ve been blessed by Him (that is, affirmed, not because of our accomplishments, but because of who he has made us); we have been broken (the pain that we have endured in this world), and we must accept our brokenness because it is through our brokenness that we minister to others, so long as we keep the brokenness under the blessing (that is, our identity is in the blessing, never the brokenness); so that we can be given to the world for restoration. Jesus was chosen by the Father, blessed by the Father (Matthew 3:17), broken in this world (through persecution and then ultimately the cross), so that he could be given to the world. In short, we have been chosen, blessed, and broken, so that we can be given. (The Life of the Beloved; Nouwen, Henri). We’ll see what happens.

You may be receiving these blogs after the fact, and I’ll probably be posting more than one at a time because I am limited to time and opportunities for internet. So, I try to keep up on my writing in a Word document on my laptop, and then when I can get to an internet café where my computer works, I cut and paste. So, sorry for the delays and thank you for your dedication in reading these. I hear that the week will get busier and I might find myself preaching at three or four meetings per day. Please pray for rest (and sanity).

Pan-African Mission

2005-10-03T04:31:00.000-07:00

(written on 9/30/05)
I have now safely arrived to Antananarivo, Madagascar. The place is fascinating and I suggest you do some research on the history of this place because it’s very interesting. The streets are cobblestone and the architecture is 19th century French, and when I say 19th century, I mean, it doesn’t just look like 19th century, it was built in the 19th century. I think the phone in my room is from the 19th century. It’s one of those with the pulse dial that you put your finger in and crank the wheel. There’s also lots of rice patties here. Indonesian influence, mixed with French and some East African makes for an interesting combination of people and landscape. I’ve never seen anything like it. Knowing that the Esh and my parents were here together about a year ago makes it feel closer to home for me. I wonder if I’ll meet any of the same people. Esh, I can’t wait to trade stories about Tanzania when I return, too.

I’m sorry that I will be unable to post on the blog as often as I have been because the nearest internet café is about a mile away and I’m told that it struggles. Also, I believe we will be very busy this week, from morning to night. Each year African Enterprise conducts a week long mission in a particular country in Africa, working in various aspects of ministry depending on the context. So this year, it’s here and now in Antananarivo (‘Tana’). There are leaders from AE from Uganda, Rwanda, Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, DR Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa. It’s fun hanging out with all these Africans! Steven Lungu, the man who spoke at our church almost a year ago is here. He’s the one who had the powerful story of how he was on his way to rob a bank in Malawi and he was contemplating blowing up a church because he hated Christians so much, and so he walked into the church during the middle of the service and was so moved by what the pastor was saying about Jesus that he walked up to the front, laid his A.K. 47 and his bomb on the altar and gave his life to the Lord. His mother gave birth to him when she was fourteen years old. Powerful. I had dinner with him tonight and he told me to shave my soul patch. He’s a funny guy.

The man who started this organization in 1961 is Michael Cassidy. He’s pretty much a celebrity hero in Africa. Everywhere I’ve gone so far in Africa and I’ve mentioned the name African Enterprise, they ask, “Oh, do you know Michael Cassidy?” His reputation here is that he has done more for the Kingdom in Africa in the last forty years than any other person on the planet, next to maybe Nelson Mandela. That’s his reputation, anyway. They give him credit for bringing reconciliation to such places as Rwanda and Uganda (not to mention others) and he, of course, takes no credit for such things. His simple vision is that the power for change and healing lies within the church, because God uses the church to bring forth his desire for restoration, so we must work wholeheartedly at bringing the churches together in order to work at furthering God’s Kingdom on earth. There has been (and still is in some places) great division in the church, and AE is incredibly gifted at uniting and helping churches to reconcile their differences. He’s here with us this week and I enjoyed getting to know him over dinner too. He speaks very highly of Jack Loo and Bob Lehnhart and is most grateful for the support from our church.

FYI to those who have no clue what AE is, African Enterprise is an interdenominational, international Christian organization that partners with local churches and other missionary agencies to carry the message of Jesus throughout Africa by word and deed. They have local offices in many countries in Africa and also one in the United States (Monrovia, CA) and one in Belgium. AE’s operations include evangelistic ministry campaigns, social development programs, peace and reconciliation programs, and church leadership training programs. In the area of social development, programs could focus on provisions of social services such as education, health, vocational skills, shelter, meals, clothes, water, good governance, capacity building, etc. They have a strong commitment to helping impoverished communities to become self-sufficient. To learn more, check out www.africanenterprise.org. I think that’s their website. Maybe it’s .com.

While we were in Tanzania, I visited a few sites where they set up water stations in rural communities where there was previously no running water. So AE Tanzania dug a well and built a shed with a pump connected with pipes and ran electricity, so now the community can gather water, and sell water to neighboring villages to make enough money to pay for the monthly electricity bill. What a great ministry they’re doing. The level of poverty in these rural communities is quite shocking.

I also saw several pieces of land that AE purchased to build different facilities for the community. On each location, they built a temporary house to safeguard the property. One of these houses was occupied by Everest, (our driver and the AE Tanzania technician), his wife, and three kids. It’s quite a shack. There’s no electricity and no running water. They say it’s only temporary until they are able to complete the project. They’ve been living there for five years. There’s an electrical pole about 20 yards away from the house that can easily provide electricity, and in fact, Everest said he can do the wiring himself. The only thing keeping him from it is $5,000.

One of these facilities will be a multi-purpose center that will be used for multi-faceted community development and rehabilitation, particularly in the area of HIV/AIDS. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Tanzania is a serious problem, and it’s getting worse. Approximately two million people are presently infected and living with HIV. So, this particular facility will be used for one, training church leaders to provide counseling for HIV patients and awareness. At the moment, research shows that very few pastors talk about HIV/AIDS, and if they do it is only a statement or two in a long sermon. Many Christians in Tanzania believe that talking about AIDS is “worldly” and losing biblical foundation. There are church leaders who will never counsel their young people to take an HIV test before marriage because the result could hurt the church’s reputation in the community. Second, the facility will be used as a retreat center where counseling and rehabilitation will be conducted, providing clinical services, meals, relief materials, etc. Third, medical services for those who may need a small dispensary. Fourth, a database center specifically used for HIV/AIDS research and awareness in Tanzania. I was given an impressive proposal with drawings. The plot of land is probably five acres or so. Of course it’s been sitting there for five years because they don’t have the money to begin the project. Building projects in Africa are very slow, and completed in stages spaced out over long periods of time.

As I mentioned before, I am very impressed with A.E. and I look forward to watching how this week here in Madagascar unfolds. I just hope they don’t make me stand on the street corners and preach with a bullhorn. Courtney, to answer your question, preparation for this trip mainly included raising money, studying and researching the history, culture and present conditions of the countries I am visiting, writing out my objectives for the trip and how I might accomplish those objectives, seeking prayer support from the church and other friends/family, other logistical preparations, receiving international vaccinations for yellow fever, hepatitis, meningitis, typhoid, tetanus, and malaria (taken orally), and of course, prayer. I was nervous about going several days before my departure, wondering whether being away from Devon for that amount of time would be unwise, so praying together was very important for us to receive affirmation for this trip. Thanks for asking!

For the Commenters

2005-09-29T04:29:00.002-07:00

I am so grateful for those of you who have commenting on this blog. I would just like to say “hello” to each of you personally. Jon Saur—Your comments are hilarious. That last story...I'm still laughing. I needed a non-"God talk" comment without purpose to give me a good laugh. I can't wait to hear which professor that was. P.S. Please don't use the word "gay" on my blog. Rich & Miriam—It was so wonderful to hear from you. Sorry we didn’t make it to Hawaii…our loss, I guess. Thank you for your prayers. Bob—I can’t believe you would put this thing together for me and then pull out the “get out of Africa free” card. I hope you are able to live vicariously through me. Thank you so much for your guidance and mentorship, and for connecting me with Emmanuel. Russ & Janet—You two are simply amazing. I’m not surprised to hear that you are feeling called to return to “the bode”. I am praying for guidance and direction as you continue to pursue that. You are wonderful mentors in our lives and Devon and I are so thankful for you. Gillian—My new other ‘lil sis (next to Tiff). Thank you for the idea of creating a blog. It was a great idea. I appreciate your encouragement. Mom & Dad—I can always count on reading a comment from you. Thank you for your support, encouragement, and prayers. Love you lots. Tiff—My firstborn ‘lil sis. I know you’re taking care of my beautiful bride. Thank you so much. And, well done with the Kodak commercial scene on the beach!! Clark—Interim High School Director. Thanks for taking leadership with our young disciples. Aren’t they awesome?!! We have the best youth group in the world! By the way, I don’t see how you get Robert Gulay thoughts from the word “blog”. Oh well. Miss you, brother. Jessy O—Thanks for teaching at PCOM for me. Your words have been an encouragement for us in the past. I hear you’re planning a trip out here with high schoolers. Let’s talk over a steaming hot grande cup of Starby’s. Aw, that sounds so good right now. Jessy Lund—Dude, thanks for popping in and saying “hi”. I can’t wait for the next teaching at Chabad. Give Rabbi Marcus my regards and tell him I bought a prayer shawl! I appreciate your encouragement. Courtney Howe—My one faithful PCOM high school commenter. Thank you so much for your prayers and encouraging words. The last post about the food was mainly for you! Wakeling—Great to hear from you, brother. I’m glad word got out to the Havurah brothers. Say “hi” to them for me. Wood—I hear the wives are hanging out while we’re both gone. That’s what I like to hear!! I wish you were here, my friend. Hey, I sent you a text message. Did you get it? And most importantly, my beautiful bride—As great as this trip is, it would be a thousand times better if you were here. We must not find ourselves 20 years down the road without having done anything like this together. I miss you sooo much!! And I love you. Obvi. If I have forgotten anyone, my apologies.

And for those who have been just reading—Thanks for tuning in to my exhaustingly long postings. I love you all and miss you very much. My time out here is so fruitful and I love every bit of it. However, when you’re on the other side of the world, a day seems like a thousands years. So it seems like I’ve been away for a very long time. And I know in Orange County, days fly like the wind and it may seem like I just left. Some of you might not even realize I’m gone. That’s funny. Anyway, it means a lot to me. So, thank you.

I am on my way to do a live interview on a Christian radio station here about Youth Ministry in America. Apparently, it's a new idea out here and they're about to put on a large youth conference for the first time. It should be fun. I'll give you the report later. Tomorrow I leave for Madagascar for twelve days. There will be lots of preaching, evangelising, etc. Please pray for safe travel and solid rest. Also, I'm told that the motel we're staying at doesn't have internet. Hopefully, I will find one near by. Until next time...

A Word of Encouragement

2005-09-28T10:46:00.000-07:00

Today is Wednesday, my third day in Tanzania. I am staying at the Sophia House Hotel, which is a step up from the hostel in Kinshasa. Located in downtown Dar Es Salaam, I am able to spend time walking the streets, mingling with the locals and absorbing the culture. It reminds me of my time in Cairo, six years ago. The people are friendly and much less aggressive than the Congolese. The hagglers actually take “no” for an answer.

Today I had the privilege of visiting with and speaking to a group of 50-60 widows. When I was invited to give them "a word of encouragement", apart from feeling inadequate, I asked Enoch (the mission director for AE Tanzania, and a new friend) how much time he wanted me to speak for. His response was, “Don’t worry, you’ll have plenty of time. They will be with you for two and a half hours.” I thought to myself, “That’s exactly what I was worried about.” So I ended up speaking to them for about an hour and a half, and we had some time sharing prayer requests. Their stories were heart-breaking. They were all women, and most of them have lost their husbands to AIDS, which means that many of them are HIV positive. Most of them also have kids and they are very poor. After the deaths of their husbands, the majority of them were left with nothing and no ability to survive on their own. In this culture, men are the bread winners and women are usually uneducated and inexperienced. Of course, that’s not always the case. There are a select few who advance, like Grace for example, who is the Team Leader for AE Tanzania. She has a Master’s Degree from Wheaton College in Illinois.

Anyway, I was sitting in Grace’s office this morning, thinking, “What in the world do I have to offer a group of 50-60 African women, who are widows, most of whom are suffering and have been neglected by the church, and only speak Kiswahili? Why should they believe anything I have to say? I feel totally inadequate.” So I looked at Grace’s bookshelf and noticed a book that was written by a professor of mine from Fuller Seminary, titled, "Theological Foundations for Ministry", by Dr. Ray Anderson. So I capitalized on the opportunity to breeze through the writings of my theological hero, and within one minute, I came across this quote: “We are worthy of being believed only as we are aware of our unworthiness.” Thank you, Ray, your encouragement gave me exactly what I needed. The response from these women was wonderful and encouraging. I spoke on Malachi 4:2, "But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings”, and connected that with some other passages and thoughts, and some personal stories, etc. It was a blessing for me.

And, I was blown away listening to their beautiful voices as they sung African hymns with great volume and passion together. Their voices were amazing! And they’ve never sung together before…they just showed up, a bunch of widows, and belted out these mind-boggling melodies…I just can’t believe it! It was an encouraging time for everyone.

Tanzania is wonderful and there are definitely opportunities for mission trips here. Those can be discussed later. African Enterprise is doing incredible ministry work here. I am so impressed. I will save those pages for another posting. A quick word about the food: there isn’t really anything exotic here that I’ve found, except for mangos. Most of the time, I eat chicken or beef with either rice of fries. By the way, instead of serving ketchup with the fries, they serve mayonnaise. So for the first week, I ate fries with mayonnaise for two meals per day. You can imagine what that might do to one’s mid-section. There are a few interesting items that I tried, and probably won’t try again. One is called fufu, which is like a tasteless type of cornmeal, and is served in very large portions because it is easy to come by, very cheap, and it fills you up! Because of the level of poverty, foods like fufu are a necessity to prevent one from starving. (Gas prices in Dar Es Salaam are more than $4 per gallon, and the average daily income is less than $1). The other type of common food I tried is called manioc. I like to think of it as manna, because they sound the same and probably taste the same too. Manioc is some sort of a root from some plant. It tastes like…hmm…a root, I guess. That’s all I really know about that. Lots of bananas though. Emmanuel is a big fan of bananas. He eats like six per meal.

Thank you thank you thank you all sooo much for commenting. I can’t tell you enough how much I appreciate it all your thoughts, jokes, and encouraging words. I’m sorry I can’t respond to them individually. The internet connection is just horrible. It’s a dial-up that just doesn’t work most of the time, and when it does work, it takes an extremely long time to load each page. I have to bring a book with me every time I post a blog, just to keep myself from staring at an hour glass for 10 minutes at a time. It’s like “Office Space”, when Peter’s trying to cut out of work a few minutes early on Friday in order to avoid Lumberg. Okay, bye

Au Revoir Kinshasa.

2005-09-26T04:00:00.000-07:00

I am currently writing this on the airplane on the way from Kinshasa, DR Congo, to Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, with a connecting flight in Nairobi, Kenya. The flight was 2 hours late, which means that we may miss our connecting flight to Dar and we’ll have to stay the night in Nairobi in order to catch the next flight out tomorrow morning. No problem for me. I’m having a wonderful time with Emmanuel and David. The three of us are constantly telling jokes and laughing together. These African guys are really funny, and they have light-hearted spirits. I feel very comfortable with them and we have all agreed that there is a unique bond between us. They appreciate my western sense of humor. I don’t feel like an outsider…except when they’re speaking Swahili. Hakunamatata.

Our last day in the Congo was an ideal one for ending the trip. In the morning, we went to a prayer breakfast for dignitaries and politicians, and of course, the Vice President was there again. We had the privilege of being invited to spend an hour with him afterwards, in his private office in Kinshasa. This gathering included Emmanuel and the three others from African Enterprise, our interpreter/my new friend, Luke, myself and the VP. I am so impressed with the heart of this man. He displays a gentle spirit with great humility, a love and respect for people, a sincere desire for the good of his country, and a great love for God. I told him that my community at home will be encouraged to know that the Vice President of DR Congo is a godly man who seeks to bring the love of Christ into his country. He was encouraged by my presence at the conference and thanked me for caring about his country enough to visit. He also asked me to pray for peace in the Congo, and also specifically for him and his responsibilities. I assured him that there will be people on the other side of the globe praying for him. He also invited me to come to another prayer breakfast that he is hosting on November 11. I don’t think that’s in the cards for me, but hopefully I will remember to pray for him on that day. I was honored to meet him.

Mr. Vice President (I can’t remember his name right now) was so grateful for AE’s involvement in the country, and especially for the work that Emmanuel has been doing and will continue to do. AE’s ministry of reconciliation in the Congo is on the launch pad, and the relationship that Emmanuel made with him this week was an enormous step that will provide various opportunities. The VP’s vast responsibilities include being in charge of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Human Rights, the Ministry of Police, the Ministry of Women’s Affairs…the list goes on and on. Because of Emmanuel’s new relationship with Mr. VP, African Enterprise has access to bring the message of reconciliation and peace to different political levels in the country, including the military and police (at the invitation and request of Mr. VP), which is quite a feat given the corruption and violence caused by these corrupt authorities.

By the way, if anyone happened to pray for Robert (the one who went into the burning house to save the 2 year old boy and was arrested), thank you. We were able to share this story with Mr. VP as an illustration for the corruption in the justice system. He took Robert’s name and seemed to indicate that he would see to it that Robert is not punished. Nothin’ like going to the top to help a brotha out.

The conference was a great success and quite an experience for me, of course. The Christians in Congo are some of the warmest and most passionate people I’ve met (aside from a few at the top of the hierarchy). They stand by each other’s side and they’re so grateful to be connected with Christians from across the globe. I also learned that there are currently 150,000 Congolese refugees living in neighboring countries (a result of the war) who will be returning to Congo in the next days and weeks to come. They have been living there for years. We were unable to visit any of the rural areas in or near the Congo becasue they are only accessible by air. As a result of the war, there have been four mega-deaths in the Congo (Luke tells me that 1 million deaths equals 1 mega-death), compared to 1 mega-death in Rwanda. Shocking.

In the afternoon, Luke took David (youth pastor from Tanzania) and I on a “tour” of the city. I tried to do some more filming, but Luke continued to warn me. I had such a longing to film because I feared that my inability with words would fail to express the anguish and despair. I’m not sure if a video camera would do justice either. The difficulty of traveling alone is not being able to share the experience with anyone from my community.

I shook a woman’s hand who had half of her fingers chopped off. A fight broke out across the street while we were sitting in traffic. 95% of the buildings are abandoned and half-destroyed. Thousands of people exist in a 10-mile radius. I saw kids sleeping on the streets. I saw that most people live in 10’x10’ aluminum shacks covered with graffiti. I could smell the stench of burning trash from inside the car, so I looked to my left, out the window, and I watched about fifty people scraping through a burning pile of trash the size of three football fields, looking for something they could either eat, use, or sell. The women carried their babies on their backs. One man was carrying a live chicken for slaughter. Six full goats were dead and on display for sale on the side of the road. Four men were urinating on the side of the road, each at different points. I listened to the non-stop sounds of car horns, voices yelling, and truck engines roaring.

The Congo River was actually a magnificent site. It must have been three miles wide and it serves as the boarder between the Democratic Republic of Congo and Congo (two different countries). The current is strong with high rapids. We stopped and each drank a coke together as we watched naked children bathing in the river close to shore, and stared across the river at Brazzaville. The Congo River is one of the largest rivers in the world and it’s fascinating.

My heart breaks for the Congo. In no way did I find myself wanting to escape the sight, smell or people of Kinshasa (maybe the taste of the food). I believe that God sees the people of Kinshasa with such compassion and sympathy. I believe that his heart breaks as he not only witnesses, but experiences the suffering, misery and fear in the lives of these people. And I say that he experiences it because he’s not removed, but his presence is found there. He is God, incarnate. May the Congolese find peace, harmony and wholeness someday soon. May God’s dream for the Congo come to fruition and may dignity be restored.

A City of Ruins

2005-09-23T07:43:00.000-07:00

A few thoughts and experiences for the day (by the way, there's another post that was published the same day as this one right below, so please read that one too if you haven't already)...

I had the privilege of preaching this morning at another pastors’ conference in Kinshasa. I received good feedback and it was a great opportunity for me. Luke was my interpreter. I was only nervous for the first minute or so until the electricity went out, the room went dark and I couldn’t see the looks on their faces. Congolese people are darker than the night and they don’t smile or make any expression until the talk is over. I knew this going into it, so I wasn't psyched out by their grim looks. Once the talk is over, they’re extremely warm and affirming. So, I’m sweating as I speak to an all-black audience, in the dark without being able to read my notes or Bible, and I’m by far the youngest in the room as well. It was very hot once the electricity went out and the fans shut off. I preached a message of grace and hope, and one can’t really go wrong with that.

Over lunch, I had a conversation with my friend, Robert, a pastor in the area (who actually spent some time studying at Fuller Seminary), an interpreter, and a very kind man who shared a difficult experience that took place this week. Robert was at the conference early in the week, but then didn’t show up for the last two days and no one knew why. Today he was able to meet us, and he explained that on Tuesday night, he saw a small house on fire as he was walking along the street. He went in to see if anyone was inside and he found a two year old boy, alone. He went to rescue the boy and made it out alright, but the boy had lost his life by the time he reached the front door. The boy was left alone as both his mother and father left the house in different directions to run errands. Apparently, a candle was lit so the boy could see (because the house has no electricity), and it seemed to have fallen over and set the place on fire. When Robert made it outside, he yelled for help, and the authorities came and arrested him. Fortunately, he was able to temporarily pay them off, but now it appears as if he may be going to some sort of a trial for being an accomplice. The parents are nowhere to be found. So Robert risks his life to save another, that of a two year old, the boy dies in his arms, and he gets arrested. If you remember, please pray for Robert in the Congo.

As we were leaving, I was fascinated by the area of the city we were in. Totally jam-packed with people, buildings left in ruins, streets of dirt, garbage everywhere, I began filming from the inside of the car, trying my best to be discreet. My friend Luke warned me to put the camera away at once, saying that the area is a “hot spot” and that if people were to see me filming, they might rush the car, jump on top of it, break the windows, attack us and take all our stuff. They would come in a pack of ten or so. I asked him if it were simply for the purpose of robbery, and he said for one, they would be correcting us for filming them, and then they'd loot the car out of the basic need for survival. So I put the camera away. Luke will be taking me into the city tomorrow and showing me around Kinshasa a bit more. I’m really looking forward to it because it’s fascinating and it gets a little stuffy going straight from the barricaded hostel to the conference and back. Bless his heart, Emmanuel’s trying to keep me out of harm’s way. But I came all the way out here…I want to see the city!!

I’m sorry I’ve been unable to attach pictures. I wish you could be able to see the faces of the people I’m telling these stories about. When I’m able to, I’ll be sure to do that. I will also try to post pictures on one of those internet picture-sharing sites. I’ll let you all know if I can make it happen. Thank you again for all your prayers and comments. I’m doing very well adjusting to the culture and the food. I feel very comfortable and healthy. More stories to come…

Miracle or Mud?

2005-09-22T23:02:00.000-07:00

I’m actually writing this the day before it will be posted (hopefully only one day), and I haven’t been able to check email or post on my blog for the last couple of days because of internet problems. So much for “this place has full internet capabilities!” Lesson number one: the Congo doesn’t have full capabilities of anything. Actually, the water’s out right now too and has been for the greater portion of the day. And the electricity continues to turn on and off as time goes by, but all that stuff is what makes this adventure fun for me.

The conference concluded today and seemed to end well. The vice president was there again today and gave a powerful speech at the end. Apparently, he blew everyone away, and he seems to display a sincere love for God and the importance of living out the teachings of Jesus. I didn’t really get to hear this one because my interpreter was elsewhere…mentally, not physically. I also spent some wonderful quality time with my new friend, Luke. He allowed me to interview him on videotape and he ended up speaking for almost 30 minutes, sharing his story and some of his experiences with the wars, poverty, etc. I’m so excited to edit the video. Luke is 24 years old, a seminary student, and an interpreter for income. His mom died of some terrible diarrhea disease when he was seven and his dad has been unemployed for 6 years. He has a younger brother attending a private high school, who also speaks both French and English. Luke is extremely intelligent and has a very strong passion for serving God and a dream for coming to America to work as a mission pastor. His knowledge of America is greater than mine. He already has many friends in America, mostly in Kingsburg, CA, and he’s working on getting his visa. Several years ago his house was looted by government soldiers, and Luke, his father, and his brother were all tied up and harassed while they completely stripped the inside of his house, taking everything. As a result, Luke has taken the responsibility of providing for his family and he’s committed to continue putting his brother all the way through college while finishing his own seminary degree. His entire family lives off roughly $500 per year, and their extreme poverty makes it difficult for him to fulfill his dream to come to America. Today, Luke bought me a coke. If I were to refuse, I may have insulted him. His dignity is worth the struggle. Luke is trying to raise $1,200 to go to South Africa, which is a necessary step to attain his visa to America, and then in 2 years he would like have enough money raised to come to America, at least to visit, connect with friends, and pursue long-term opportunities. I think we could help make his dream come true if we put our minds and hearts together. Every single one of you would love this kid to death! He has an amazing heart and a brilliant mind. I’ve found a deeper connection with him than anyone else I’ve met so far. Saturday, he is going to take me around the city and show me where the homeless children live and all the buildings that have been looted and now remain in ruins.

Tomorrow I am going to another half-day pastors’ conference and I’ve been asked to speak for a short while. Actually, Emmanuel asked me to “give a greeting”, which in Africa, means a 30-minute talk, including what God has been teaching me, along with a scripture passage, an introduction on my life, etc. They love to hear from foreigners and they love hearing the Word preached to them. So I’m thinking about sharing some thoughts about the parting of the Red Sea. There is an ancient rabbinic legend that claims that for two of the Israelites, the greatest miracle that ever happened was no miracle. Rueven and Shimon complained all the way across the sea about how muddy the ground was, like a beach at low tide. “This is disgusting”, said Rueven, “there’s mud everywhere.” “Yeah, I’ve got muck up to my ankles,” complained Shimon. Together they agreed that crossing the red sea in the mud that they made bricks with while in Egypt, was no better than being in slavery. For them there was no miracle, only mud. Their eyes were closed. Even though they walked right through it, they might as well have been asleep ('Jewish Spirituality: A Brief Introduction for Christians', Rabbi Kushner). Big idea: people see what they’re looking for and what they understand, not necessarily what lies in front of them. Christianity invites us to wake up and look around at the mysterious and miraculous happening all the time. When we wake up and see the sun shining, when we taste food and are nourished, when we learn something wise from a friend; God is present and actively involved all around us…even in the Congo. I’m learning to see miracles and the presence of God even in the darkest and most tragic places. In the midst of their poverty and suffering, it must be the tiny miracles that happen everyday that these people cling onto for a ray of hope. I’ll let you know how it goes. Hopefully at the end of my talk, no one will say, “Kill Whitey!!”…and then stone me. And hopefully they won't worship me either.

I hope to write again before I take off for Dar Es Saalam, Tanzania, on Sunday. I really appreciate all your comments and I’m sorry that I’m unable to respond to them individually. The problem is that it takes about 20 minutes to load each new web page, and thus, it would just take to long. But they really mean a lot to me and I laugh and learn and feel connected as I read them. So, please, keep it up! God bless you all!

Day Four

2005-09-20T09:26:00.000-07:00

The Pastors' Conference for Reconciliation, Peace and Good Governance began yesterday which apparently, turned into an extremely big deal for DRC. The Vice President of the country showed up and along with him came the media. For some rediculous reason, I was given a prominant seat at the table (against my will) and I was on the front page of the newspaper and on the evening news. I have no business being on their news or even at the head table (I should have sat in the back) but because I'm white and from America, to them, I must be valuable to the conference. Just like the VP, my presence somehow gives the conference some validity. It makes me feel sick because I'm aware that it's a result of colonization. Anyway, also attending this conference are the Vice President of the Senate (who's also the Bishop for the Church of Christ), the Bishop for the Catholic Church, the Bishop for the Orthodox Church, 70 plus pastors and denomination presidents from all over the Congo. There's even a muslim priest, which everyone thinks is quite interesting...but anything for peace! There was great tension at first because of the division in the church, people were fighting for certain positions at the table trying to claim authority and power and avoid the row of seats on the outside of the table (all the while I'm sitting there at the table with my heart screaming, "here, take my seat!"). After the first few speakers (including Emmanuel and the affirmation of the Vice President), hearts warmed up to each other and unity formed as they all found commond ground and a common purpose: peace and reconciliation throughout the Congo. One PhD student who is working as a translator told me that this conference is a gigantic step for the country, and that they've been trying to put this together for eight years. The problem was, these key leaders were never able to all come together because they all live in different parts of the country and the cost for each person to fly in is too much. They are clinging to fragile peace and this conference has brought great hope.

However, for me (and I'm going to be brutally honest here), the actual conference part for me is incredibly boring. It's very clear that they don't come from an entertainment culture, and I think it's obvious to some of them that I do. One person gets up to speak, he gives an hour devotion and a thirty-minute prayer (mind you, it's all in French--but there is a translator sitting next to me, translating), then the next person gets up and speaks for an hour and a half straight, followed by 4 questions, and then an hour response to those questions, and then the next speaker gets up and the same thing happens again. Then, there is a five-minute break After the break, another speaker comes up and does the same thing for two-plus hours, then we have a thirty minute lunch, and then more speakers until the end of the day. This takes place from 8am to 7pm. They just talk like that, straight, all day long, and everyone's engaged the entire time while I'm sitting there talking to myself, thinking about a number of different things (while squirming in my chair every thirty seconds). These are some of my thoughts and questions: For one, "this is more miserable than the eighteen-hour plane ride"; two, "When can I catch the next flight to anywhere but here?"; three, "Am I the only one who's painfully trying not to nod off in the middle of the Vice President's speech?"; four, "Would they be offended if I just started reading my Bible?"...okay, that's enough. What I came to realize is that the reason why that is so difficult for me to sit through is because in America, whenever I get bored, I can just change the channel! I'm constantly moving on to the next thing: the next commercial, the next episode of 24, the next website, the next event, the next phone call, the next speaker, the next book, even the next part of the liturgy. As a result, my attention span is almost as short as Jackson's (our chocolate lab puppy). For more information on this, read Neil Postman's "Amusing Ourselves to Death" or talk to Klaeb!! Anyway, that's not the way things roll here.

However, I have enjoyed meeting and getting to know some of the pastors and other folks here at the conference. Emmanuel's translator, Luke, is from this area of the Congo and he's 24 years old and almost finished with seminary. He has some friends from Fresno (of all places) and he's amazed with America. I told him it's nicer here than in Fresno. But he has a heart for America and his desire is to bring young people from America here to the Congo to show them around and help to open their eyes and see how the Congo has suffered over the years. He would like to take them into certain parts of Kinshasa and show them the street kids and other people who have been greatly affected by the wars. He said they will be blown away by witnessing what they could never imagine. I told him that I'd like to go later in the week when the conference is over (thinking...can I skip the conference and go there instead??). So, that may be a possibility for me later in the week, provided that we can recruit the appropriate means of security and transportation. There may be an opportunity for us at PCOM to come back here for a short trip. I hooked up with the new international pastor here in Kinshasa who's from Laguna Niguel Pres. His name is Wayne and he knows Pastor Jack very well. He was sent here by the PC (USA), he'll be here pastoring foreigners for a few years, and is currently hosting a group of 50 or so people from California (some of whom are teenagers) who are staying here at the Presbyterian Methodist hostile for a week.

Anyway, the conference meets at a high school, so I got to see a bunch of teenagers going back and forth to class. Yesterday, school wasn't in session because there was a problem with the public transportation system and most people couldn't find rides. Also, primary school is currently closed because the teachers are on strike because the government only pays them $10 per month. Those teachers have made aggressive threats to the private school teachers to join them, so no kids anywhere in Kinshasa are going to school. It's tragic.

The meal of choice today for lunch was manioc, fufu, and some interesting looking fish cooked with the skeleton. Yum. But, I sleep well at night and the showers are warm. Plus, I didn't have to wear my suit today. Yesterday, however, along with listening to the eight-hour speakers, I got to do so while sitting in a muggy, 85 degree white-walled room while wearing a full suit, tie, and coat the entire time. I would almost rather be in a Japenese prisoner camp. Actually, that's not true.

I really enjoyed all of your comments so far: Devon, Mom and Dad, Bob, Saur, Klaeb, Gillian, Russ and Janet. I found myself laughing and greatly refreshed. I need to feel connected because it's pretty tough not being able to experience this with any of my close friends. So thank you, I miss you all, and I look forward to sharing more with you and hearing how you are all doing. I'm having trouble uploading pictures through this connection, so I might not be able to do that for awhile. Guess you'll just have to read my babbling.

Lots of love.

The Heart of Darkness

2005-09-18T09:56:00.000-07:00

I have now safely entered the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), the mysterious and intoxicating country that Joseph Condrad aptly described as ‘The Heart of Darkness.’ As I exited off the plane, I immediately found myself bombarded with hagglers, somehow escaping the welcome invitation from my new-found colleagues with African Enterprise, who apparently were awaiting my arrival with a sign and a portal into the VIP lounge in the airport. I was able to make it through the customs, vaccination, and baggage check at the dark airport in Kinshasa and found myself somewhat nervous as I simultaneously attempted to fend off hagglers and figure out where I was going and how I would get in touch with the people I was supposed to meet. My heart broke for one little boy who was missing half a limb. I was a bit afraid for one, because language spoken here is French, for two, I had no idea where I was going, and for three, it’s very dark and desolate here, and I don’t just mean geographically. The Congolese have suffered and endured civil war for many years. One can see the darkness and despair in their eyes and facial expressions. With great relief, Emmanuel, David (his associate from Tanzania who is also a youth pastor) and Hubert (AE Director of Congo) found me on the sidewalk and escorted me to the VIP lounge apologetically, believing that their efforts to extend a warm welcome were unfruitful. On the contrary, I was more than grateful that they found me when they did, and in fact, I rather enjoyed the experience. I was also scolded by Hubert for giving a few bucks to gentleman who followed me through customs. I was told to ask him first, before giving any money away. Oops…my first gringo mistake!

Sitting next to me on the plane were two Congolese, Nacha Lutu and her daughter, Grace (picture above). We couldn’t communicate very well because they spoke French. But she noticed me reading the Gospel of Mark and proceeded to share her four favorite scripture passages with me (apparently, she is a Christian): Psalm 13, Psalm 17, Psalm 40, and Jeremiah 11:18-20. I highly recommend that you look them up because they are very despairing passages, probably reflecting her heart and suffering from the war. Those passages seem foreign to me because of my luxurious upbringing, but to her, they may be a source of hope and refuge.

I have my own room (picture above) at the Kinshasa Presbyterian Methodist Hostile (something you don’t see everyday in America…Presbyterian Methodist…awesome!), which is much different than the Intercontinental Five Star Hotel in Johannesburg. As run down as it is, the food is good, the community bathroom and showers down the hall aren’t all that bad, there is a light, a fan, and electrical outlets in my room (a luxury in these parts), and full internet capabilities down the hall. I was pleasantly surprised and am grateful to be able to communicate regularly via the internet during my one week stay here.

I learned a few fascinating facts about the DRC over lunch. For one, DRC is a very large country, mostly rain forest, and the only way to get from one major area to another is by air, because there are enormous rivers, unending forests, and no roads. So, there are many people in certain areas who still believe that Mbutu (a dictator who ruled the country until 1997) is still in power. There are also many parts of the country that have never been reached or even seen, implying that there may be tribal people living in certain places who have no idea that there is a civilized world not too far from them. There are also vast amounts of resources: cobalt (which is found in cell phones) and diamonds. These resources are greatly responsible for the wars DRC has endured. This country, as Emmanuel says, is the richest in Africa and one of the richest in the world, yet ironically, is one of the darkest and poorest.

Tomorrow begins the Pastors’ Conference for Reconciliation, Peace and Good Governance, where pastors from all over the country will join together to take initiatives in bringing peace and hope to the people, through the teachings of Jesus, to this unstable country. Being here is exhilarating!

Johannesburg. Ndaba Mazabane.

2005-09-17T10:18:00.000-07:00

After a total of 26 hours of travel time, I have finally reached Africa. However, I am not yet at my final destination for what may be considered the first portion of ministry. I am in Johannesburg, South Africa for one night and tomorrow I depart for Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo to meet with Emmanuel Kopwe from African Enterprise (who I will be journeying with for the rest of the trip). My good friend and trip advisor, Bob Lehnhart, gave me a few tips for the journey. One of those tips is to always carry 3x5 note cards (Bob even provided those for me) with a pen in my front shirt pocket because, he said, “You will constantly be meeting fascinating people and you’ll want to write down their names and contact information in order to build relationships.” Well, I’ve met my first friend, Ndaba Mazabane, who sat next to me for the 18 hour flight from New York to Johannesburg. Ndaba is the President of the Association of Evangelicals of Africa (and formerly worked for “Focus on the Family”) , and he was in D.C. and New York for a week, gathering clergy from mainline denominations along with members of the U.N., to meet with the purpose of partnering together as advocates for the poor, brainstorming and creating strategies to end poverty. He’s from Durbin, South Africa. It’s pretty awesome that he’s the first person I’ve met, before I even reached Africa. We had a wonderful conversation. I miss you all dearly and I’m afraid my separation anxiety from Devon and my community will only get harder as time goes on. It’s only day one! Please pray that I won’t feel alone, but connected through the bond of Christ with Emmanuel and the other friends I will make here in Africa. Until next time…

Day Before

2005-09-15T14:49:00.000-07:00

So I'm leaving tomorrow for five weeks. I created this blog solely for the purpose of documenting my journey through East Africa, so that I can share with you some of my experiences along the way, and also to request your prayers. Even though I'm going it alone, I want my community of friends and family to be with me. I hope that you'll enjoy sharing the experience with me through a different angle. By the way, I'm pretty nervous. I'll be thinking about all of you and missing you very much. Please pray for safe travels and a growing experience. Until Africa...