We left Saturday morning, March 1, very early, to catch a flight to Kigali, Rwanda. We stayed at JP's farm, which his sister Barraka is turning into a retreat for ministry people. She also has established a counseling office there. Many at EVFree have met her. Here are a couple of pictures on the farm:
We had lunch on Saturday with JP's parents and family:
On Sunday, March 2, we left around 10 AM to pick up Phil Smith, Country Director for Rwanda, and Sammy Mah, President of World Relief. We then traveled via car for 5 hours to the border of Rwanda and DRCongo. This is Sammy, Phil, and me, with JP taking the picture while we take a brief stop in a very scenic spot along the way.
Crossed over into Congo and was in the city of Goma for two days. Incredible ministry going on there; it is the most poverty stricken and overall devestated place I of all places I've been. Between the major volcano (can't think of the name) that erupted in 2002, sending lava right through the middle of town, and the Congolese Rebels in the mountains on the other side, the place is devastated. But World Relief is there ministering to thousands through the local churches. The most UNKNOWN story of Goma and surrounding area are the IDPs...over 1,000,000, and growing, because of the rebel militia in the very near areas. There are refugee camps of 200,000 and up. And this has received NO attention, and contrast to the Kenya IDP crisis in many ways.
More on that next time. I'll have to tell you about coming face to face with 3 rebel army guys in an unexpected place...not a calm moment in my life!
We left Goma on Tuesday morning at 6:30 AM to catch a boat for a 2.5 hour boat ride to cross Lake Kivu; we docked at the other end of the lake, but still in Congo;
this is a shot after just making a quick stop along the way:
No, that is not us in our boat; it is fishermen!
We visited a branch office of WR that manages a micro-finance operation...and doing great! We only spent 20 minutes there and were on to cross the border back into Rwanda to visit with a network of pastors where the earthquake of 2-4-08 killed 40+ people. It struck at 9:30 AM, when the churches were full. 4 were destroyed, many hurt, and the ones that were killed were mostly in one congregation. We prayed with them, listened to their stories, and heard that WR was the first and ONLY NGO to respond with help.
We then drove proably an hour and eventually crossed the border into Burundi. Only 30 minutes into Burundi we stopped and visited an HIV Aids office of WR, and met with the leaders and listened to their report on the operation. Unbelievable work; they are slowly but surely getting the church to embrace the responsibility of being trained to teach on prevention and assisting with medical aid.
We arrived in Bujumbura, Burundi, the capital city. Totally different world than Congo. Beautiful, almost resort like by most comparisons. We met with the staff leaders of WR-Burundi, and later had dinner at the hotel we stayed at. That is where you begin to see below the surface...great asthetics, poor basic functions, such as hot water, etc. But not a problem...anything was better than Goma, Congo.
On Wed, March 5 we spent most of the day driving south along a very scenic lake whose name is too long to remember, let alone spell. It was a 2.5 hour drive...safari like at times...to arrive at Nyanza Lac, Burundi. WR has a major field office there that is helping resettle Burundi IDPs from the last war as they are returning home. WR has equipped and provided over 3,000 houses in partnership with Habitat for Humanity. Another 1,090 are being built in 2008. Don't get too excited; these houses are the size of our typical living rooms; but there are good houses, especially compared to the grass/mud huts they are replacing.
We also visited a small village where WR has started a goat program to provide milk and an income to provide the basics...food.
Next we stopped at a medical clinic which WR built (not sure where the funds came from). it was in a beautiful location, high on a hill, overlooking the lake ([cannot see the end of the lake on either direction, but can see the mountains of Congo in the far distance across the lake). The medical center will be officially opened in May y the President of Burundi. (it includes an outdoor incinerator, and morgue!)
We got back to Bujumbura around 6, got some dinner, and checked back into the hotel we spent the night in Tuesday night....long story, but finally got to bed around 11PM.
It is now Thursday morning, JP is in a training session with his country director and staff leaders here, and we will leave at 11AM. We fly from Bujumbura, Burundi, to Kigali, Rwanda, and then on to Nairobi, Kenya, hopefully arriving at 4PM today. I will repack at JP's where I left my large suitcase, and then go to Java House in Nairobi where the senior staff wants to wish me farewell. My flight to London leaves at 11:20, so i need to be there by 9:20. PRay for all of this!
Sorry no pictures....just can't get it done right now.
Again, I am so blessed to have been able to do this trip. While I believe God used me to make some small contributions here and there, it was I that was mostly blessed, and in ways I never anticipated. Trust me, I can't wait to get back on American soil, and will never complain again when things don't go according to plan. Well, I know that is not realistic, but I'm praying there will be a profound impact on my few of things for a long time.
Can't wait to see you all, including my shortly to be borned 7th grandchild, due the 11th....don't be early Carrie and Jason!!
Love to you all.
Dan
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