Blogs from Congo Democratic Republic, Africa - page 7

Part Two -pictures

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » West » Kinshasa June 12th 2010

Sim's chapel

PTJ

Here are some photos of today at Sim's Chapel, Symphony of the Arts, Stuart's home in 1967 in Kinshasa.... read more

CE singing like he did in church as a boy

Listening to Stories

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » West » Kinshasa June 12th 2010

Soul sisters

PTJ

I had the opportunity to meet with 9 Women Pastor's serving here in Kinshasa. We met over the course of three hours and shared about our call to ministry, the joys and challenges of being a Pastor, scriptures and or Bible stories which have encouraged us along the way. Of course there was much laughter and some tears as well ! I was so encouraged by their persistance and faith. We went to a dinner last night which was held in honor of our family, another missionary who is visiting and a new couple who has come to serve here in Congo. Mom took a bunch of fried caterpillars thinking it was a healthy veggie, it was fun listening to her when she figured it out. Today we visited the home to which I returned from ... read more

Kinshasa chaos

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » West » Kinshasa June 11th 2010

Welcome the Stuarts

Congo54

Friday, June 11, 2010 Kinshasa, DRC This is my first blog entry from the DRC. We arrived Monday night from Brussels with a stop in Douala, Cameroon. 3/4 of the flight unloaded in Douala so we had an empty flight to Kinshasa. I moved to an empty window seat to watch our liftoff from Douala. It is on the Atlantic at the mouth of a large river. It appeared there had been some recent flooding. We cleared immigration at N'Djili relatively easily. We learned later from a missionary here immigration at the airport has improved greatly recently with fewer arbitrary and officious stops provided you have the necessary visa and yellow fever vaccination documents. Yellow fever is the only thing the nurse checked. We were met at the airport by two people who helped carry our ... read more

Fer Bois- Iron Wood

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » West » Kinshasa June 10th 2010

My new friend Pastor Kasavuvu

PTJ

Today was an amazing day. I realized how special this experience is as when I leave my home away from home each day, I have no idea what is in store for me!! We traveled to the Eastern side of Kinshasa and visited the Fer Bois church, they have a woman associate who I'm observing while I'm here. Tomorrow I'll have a meeting with her at CBCO (Congo Baptist Community). I had no idea that her church was planning a service to Welcome our family. When we arrived we could hear music and the choir was unbelievable. My heart truly was singing and the tears flowed. Each of us greeted the congregation and I gave the Benediction. We had lunch together afterwards. As we got in the Van to leave I told my brother this was ... read more

Dave Vs the Volcano - days 14-15

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » East » Goma June 9th 2010

Welcome to the park, with bullet holes

David on tour

I was up bright and early, despite having a hangover, not the best prep for what was in store! I left my big pack at the Auberge and set off with my day back to catch a boda-boda, to the border I had to wait a bit for my visa as the man with the stamp wasn't there. Once I had this I was walking off to get another boda-boda when I heard someone hissing at me (they don't whistle here), I knew this was trouble so I quickened my step but the guy started running and grabbed my arm. I looked round with a "Oh, you meant me expression" and he asked for my yellow fever certificate. I immediately knew I was doomed - I had left my form in my big pack - doh. ... read more

Where would one start?

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » West » Kinshasa June 9th 2010

At the dress making shop

PTJ

Day 2 in Kinshasa has come to an end, this is usually about the time we lose power. My fingers are crossed I can get this blog posted !! Such mixed emotions with the beautiful people here and being witness to some of the hardships. I'm staying at the Methodist-Presbyterian Hostel in Kinshasa, it is right across the street from the American school of Kinshasa where my brother Charlie and sister Jeanne attended back in the mid-sixties. I actually have AC in my room and my own bathroom. Of course if the power goes out the AC doesn't work out too well! You can see by the photos what we've been doing each day. If you happen to experience traffic on your way to work in America, until you've been to Kinshasa you have no idea ... read more

We are in CONGO!!

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » West » Kinshasa June 7th 2010

PTJ

This will be short, but we have arrived at the Presbyterian-Methodist Hostel in Kinshasa. It is overwhelming, but we are so thankful for a safe trip, without problems. No pictures today, so stay tuned!!... read more

Dirt Roads and Tall Grass

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » South » Likasi May 2nd 2010

Dirt Roads

greasy weasel

Just a clarification from my last entry’s title ... “This Must Be Just Like Living in Paradise (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)” ... it’s a song that we listen to almost every morning in the office. It doesn’t mean that I actually “don’t wanna go home” although I do have mixed emotions on the subject. With that aside ... here we go... It’s been 2 weeks since we returned from the reunion in Zambia and landed back in the DRC running. Erick got malaria while we were in Zambia and was extremely sick for a week after ... a week that we were hosting a visitor and friend to Hands, Bernard from Germany. Overall the visit was a huge success but after getting very little sleep during the reunion I was not ready to “host” ... read more

This Must Be Just Like Living in Paradise! (And I Don’t Wanna Go Home)

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » South » Likasi April 5th 2010

greasy weasel

Early this year Ken Mwanza and I made the trip from Luanshya, Zambia to Likasi, DRC. On a map the distance between these 2 locations looks like nothing but a nice Sunday drive through central Africa ... however ... in reality it could easily be a 2 day journey. A combination of terrible roads and bureaucratic garbage (so common to the Congo) make this expedition an interesting one. It’s been 3 months since we entered the country and we’ve become accustomed to the Congolese way of life and ... have even started to enjoy it. On Tuesday, April the 13th we will leave this country we’ve struggled to become fond of and will enter back into Zambia for a 4 day conference. Excitement is building as the reunion with long lost friends and family grows closer ... read more

Leontine

Africa » Congo Democratic Republic » South » Likasi March 22nd 2010

greasy weasel

Wednesday was a tough day ... Erick, James, and Lynn met with Esperance to discuss our future connection with them. This had been an issue long before I arrived in the DRC ... it had been a constant power struggle with the leaders of Esperance ... and because we discovered they were stealing money they’d been backed into a corner and we found something else ... there had been zero home visits in the 4 communities here in Likasi and the feeding points had been almost useless. We then “took over” Toyota and made sure the feeding point was being run correctly and home visits started happening. In December Erick took me to the community of Shituru to see Leontine for the first time ... I couldn’t even say anything. No child should have to go ... read more

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