Last day thoughts

I haven't really wanted to blog. There are so many thoughts, feelings, and things that I just didn't want to write about it for fear of diminishing any of them. Despite the torture of traveling on a bus for 3 days across Africa, I actually think it was good because it was a slow progression back into the Western world. Rwanda to Uganda to Kenya to London to Los Angeles. The journey has only begun.

Ha. I remember when I first got here. I thought everything was NOT Western, even in Nairobi. I thought they were wanna-be's. Now, I think they are very Western.

Let's go back...Goma. Oh man, I miss Goma. All those rocks, all that dust, all those colorful patterns that the men and women wear. I miss saying Jambo, Jambo sana, Habari, Mzuri. (In Kenya, Jambo is only used for white people, but in Congo, everyone says it.) I miss the team. I miss the pastor and his family. I even miss the kids following us down every street for miles asking for a bisqui. I miss the grimy fingers holding my hands at the IDP camps. I miss the big eyes looking up at me and then the hand coming up to cover the smile. I miss the songs being sung as we arrive. I miss laughing at the massive miscommunication that would happen on a daily basis, even among team members. I miss coming home after the dirtiest, longest day ever to find that the water is not on and we must sit in our grim. I miss our houseboy, Aserma yelling, "Apana!" (No!) at us for pluging in the hot water heater, even though we are the ones who pay for the fuel for basically the whole block. I miss even those long days when we couldn't eat lunch because we were with people who had no food. I miss not being allowed of the house at night because everyone was convinced it was too dangerous. I miss it all.

I know that God is working and doing amazing things in Congo. I want to go back and share in the harvest. It is a rich time to work in Congo. The people are about to rise up and bring the change that their country needs; they just need the encouragement to believe that the Kingdom is at hand and that God wants to use them. Not because they are special, but because He is amazing.

He is amazing, isn't He? That's exactly what I've been learning this trip. Crazy that I would learn about his goodness admist starvation, injustice, malnutrition, maleducation, dirt, poverty, and religiosity.

But He has been giving revelation about His love in incredible amounts. I am so thankful for His love, for it enables us to love and know Him more, it enables us to be honest about who we are, about who He is, and about what reality is. It is because of Him that we can even desire more of Him. It is because of Him that we can truly love each other, which in turn will make Him more known among the nations. It is His love that will solve the problems of the nations. It is Him. He is the Savior for Goma, for Congo, for Africa, for the world. I guess that perhaps sounds a little cheesy, but it's true.

So, I don't know to what to say. I am more in love with Jesus because of this whole experience. I am more rooted in his love and more aware of my own identity. I can't wait to come again to Africa. I can't wait to bring change to their education system. I can't wait to love.

I am thankful for his enduring goodness, faithfulness, and love.

The home stretch

I finally figured out how to post again! There were several days when I was unable to figure out how to get a new post on here, but here we go.

This is my last week, as I leave Goma on Saturday. I will travel to Kigali, Rwanda, then go to Kampala, Uganda, and finally, I will take the long busride from Kampala to Nairobi. Once my bus travels are over, I will board the plane and fly to London, then home to Los Angeles. What a experience that will be! I have mixed emotions. On one hand I am excited to go home and have the life I'm used to, but on the other hand I am sad because there is still so much to do here in Congo.

We will do a youth conference starting today. Excitement and anticipation are our main emotions. Please keep praying for us. Pray that God comes in this conference. We will be teachign about identity in Christ, Father heart, accessing kingdom, and them being the revival and change that Congo needs by letting God use them.

I have been processing the IDP camp thing and haven't been able to write much about it, but will write more as time goes on. Life is getting to be normal here though. We are getting better about planning our meals to make sure we have the necessary food. We are able to venture out more without the pastor, but not too far. The girls even started the fire for dinner yesterday - it did take us an hour just to get it lit, but we did it!

Some of the plans and thoughts: we want to buy a huge bag of charcoal for the widows to sell. This is something they asked for, and it will bring mercy and justice to their lives. They will sell the charcoal (which is something everyone uses because that is how they cook), then with the extra they will be able to buy another bag and will be able to buy food and pay school fees for their children. We are just making the initial investment for them. We also want to do something for the women and children who are suffering from malnutrition at the IDP camp, but we are still praying to figure out what they might look like.

Lots of love.

I only have 14 minutes and 0 seconds left to use the internet, so I better type quickly.

Guess what?! Two days ago we went to the IDP, Internally displaced persons, camp (aka refugee camp) and walked around talking with the refugees. They told us to come back on Tuesday to meet with the malnurtion center and patients. A few horrors of the camp: tents made of sticks so close together that you can hardly fit between them, people cook on their charoal stoves inside a space that is smaller than most bathrooms in America! (I don't know who lets them cook inside a stick tent, but that is clearly a bad idea and they often catch fire.) The women told us they only get rice and beans, and are constantly hungry. Basically, these people have been sitting in this camp for about three years doing absolutely nothing. Can you imagine? We can't even sit still in our homes without a television on for two hours! Well, we did go back on Tuesday, and that was the time and place or Hillary Clinton's arrival. Some UN guy made us leave though, even in a crowd of thousands, he thought that we would be a security problem. What? A bunch of punks? I guess we pose a threat, eh? Keep the prayers coming because we need them as we are bringing serious light into a dark land.

8 minutes and 5 seconds left now.
We are still meeting with several women's groups, and in fact that's where we are headed after this. The other day when meeting with the widows, God did heal several of them from back pain and neck pain. That was amazing, and we are still praising Jesus. Keep that in your prayers too, please.

Waiting for an opening in our schedule, we are eager to go to the child soldier rehabiliation camps. We need strategy though for how to proceed with all the projects. We don't want to just be some white faces that come for a short while, then leave them with nothing. Many Congolese are angry with white people because they come, exploit, and do nothing to actually help or solve the many issues of hunger, poverty, violence, or hopelessness.

Overall, we are blessed, we even had free electricity (meaning we didn't have to run the generator) last night. Oh, we also found a restuarant were we had chicken and french fries. Oh, how He loves us! How He loves us so.

By the way, Josh posted a video on facebook. It's fun. You should watch it.

Jambo from Congo

Setting the stage: dust and ash everywhere, including in the air. people balancing everything on their heads. so many motorbikes i keep thinking there is a motorbike parade. children galore. people wearing brilliant patterned clothing. The house uses a generator to give us electricity after 7pm. The water goes on and off. Today no water yet, but I'm sure we will have water at some point today.

As you know, I was unsure what to expect exactly, but so far, I think Congo is safe enough and wonderful. The people are fun, loving, and seem easy going. We have met with some pastors, some doctors, widows, and youth. The widows have been my favorite for a few reasons: one, they sang to us as we entered the room; two, as soon as we were there I had to restrain my tears because the love of our Father was so strong. They are obviously his favorites too! (Next to me, of course!) =) Three, they looked at our hands and the first question they asked was if we ever worked in the field. Their hands were mangled and calloused, but their hearts were open and hungry. I enjoyed the youth too. However, visiting the malnutrition center was difficult for apparent reasons of seeing people suffering and quite sick. The hospital is able to feed and heal the babies, but the mothers who bring their children don't get fed, nor do they have money to pay for food. The injustice is sickening. Pray for strategy and justice please!

The thing about Congo is that there feels like no rest because of the warfare. At pretty much every moment we are interceding. There are so many hungry, so many sick, so many hurt, so much trauma. Jesus is enough, and He is always good; we just want to bring that into their hearts, minds, and bodies. Please keep praying every moment you can for this land and these people. I can tell the Jesus has so much for the Congolese; we need breakthrough. Also, any messages you send whether via responding to comments or posting on facebook or emailing really help to encourage us and lift our spirits. Keep in mind that you cannot over love us while we are here! =)

Next week we will try to visit the child soldier rehabilitation centers and the IDP, internally displaced persons, camps. I'm certain these will be draining and difficult to see, but we have a heart to love these people specifically.

I'm not sure what else to tell you. What questions do you have? What would you like to hear about or know? Oh, I did want to mention that the pastor who is caring for us, Danny Mboto, has told us many horrific stories about the Interhamwe and how war has affected people. He has heard and seen people killed, but rest easy because that occurred a few years ago. Therefore, while we are safe now, these images continue to haunt the people and instill fear. We want to bring the perfect love of God here, as we know that perfect love casts out all fear.

Please continue to also pray for our health. =)
Remember, every time you respond to the post, it makes five people smile. yeah for sending love!

Almost there

Apparently we have internet today and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to update you all.

We crossed the border yesterday from Uganda to Rwanda. We thought the bus ride would only be 7 hours total, but at about hour 5 we weren't even at the border yet. This bus ride was completely full and we were in the very last seat. My stomach was feeling bubbly, so I was looking forward to the border. When we reached it, I ran to the bathroom. After standing in a line for an hour and using the bathroom again, we finally were cleared to enter. However, my stomach was still stirring. Back on the bus, I realized I needed to sit at a window seat. Quickly the seat behind me closed their window and I barfed! Nasty! To make matters worse, some of the throw up got in Josh's eye! OMG! How embarrassing!

That's the only update. Thanks for reading. Haha.

Okay, I'll leave you with a positive thought: Rwanda is beautiful.

From Team Awesome to Team Sexy Anointed People

1 month done. 1 month to go.

Team Awesome was the name of our foursome to Mombasa. I think it's pretty obvious why we were named that. =)

Aren't the pictures amazing that I posted? A few from the beaches and one from a street view in Mombasa. I think we put some more pictures on facebook, but Cassandra Basnett has them posted, if you want to become her friend. =)

Team Sexy Anointed People is the name of our fivesome headed to Congo. Again, obvious.

We are currently in Kampala, Uganda. I can sense a huge difference already between Kenya and Uganda. Kenya is quite religious feeling and everyone stares at you when you are white; however, here no one stares and everyone seems laid back and quite friendly. Tomorrow we head on another all day bus ride to Kigali, Rwanda. Then Monday we take our final bus to Goma, Congo.

I don't think we will have the internet very much, so keep praying.

What I know to expect: no restaurants, no banks, no goodies, expensive everything (cause it's a war zone), electricity is questionable, water on a daily basis is questionable. Also, I should expect friendly, passionate, fashionable people, hard, horrible stories.

What I would love you to pray against: hopelessness and traumatic experiences of the Congolese.

What I would love for you to pray for: open hearts and doors, radical revival, creative miracles, ability to process the things we hear and see in a healthy way, team chemistry, outpouring of love and creative ideas, strategies of the best ways to minister to people, and anything else God lays on your heart.

I miss everyone and will write again when I can. Love you.