Finding refreshment

We recently returned from a short trip to Kenya. The primary reason for visiting Kenya was to attend a wonderfully stimulating conference on Manuscript Bible Study—but I will let Bob describe more about that in our next newsletter! Since we were “in the neighborhood”, we decided to visit our friends and fellow missionaries, the Klingforths, in Nakuru.

Travis and Lydia thoroughly blessed us with their hospitality, indulging us in some of the “luxuries” that we don’t have in Congo. We had a memorable adventure with them at the Thompson falls, where it started raining when we had reached the bottom of the falls, so we had a muddy trek back to the top.

We were given the privilege of watching their two boys Sunday afternoon, so we got to do some rare activities for us, like reading kids’ books, building with Legos, and playing catch with the dogs.

We enjoyed several long conversations about life and relationships in Africa. It was so helpful to share and learn from peers in a similar context, who understand the challenges of poverty that the people around us struggle with. Nakuru and Kananga are similar-sized cities, but VERY different in character, primarily because of the lack of infrastructure (electricity, roads, etc.) in Congo. As a special treat, they took us out to a nice restaurant with exotic food (like lasagna, pad-thai, and sushi!). We had cheesecake for dessert—who knew you could find cheesecake in Africa??

At the restaurant – Bob holding his Cappucino

We got to meet some of their Kenyan colleagues, and visit a home Bible study in a poor neighborhood– a wonderfully encouraging experience! We also had our first ride on the “boda-boda” (bicycle taxis) in Kenya…even in a bit of rain!

Our last evening in Nakuru, Lydia made a “Thanksgiving dinner” – chicken (subbing for turkey) green beans, stuffing, and even pumpkin pie! Our taste buds had been thoroughly satisfied by the time we returned home to Kananga.

After our Thanksgiving dinner, we all watched a fun movie together that had all of us laughing to the point of tears…and we were still recalling scenes from the movie and laughing a few days later. Tuesday morning, we took the bus back to Nairobi to get ready to catch our plane back to Congo. We felt like it had been longer than just 10 days – we had experienced so much and been pampered far beyond what we deserved.

Posing with Kenyans in traditional dress – Bob, Lydia, Silas, Kristi

Visitors to Kananga

My (Kristi’s) parents came to visit us recently in Kananga. We were excited to introduce them to our friends and ministry here, and see things afresh through their eyes. It was fun to meet people on the street and introduce them, “This is Tatu Jim and Mamu Sherri.” Then we would tell the person they were my parents, and the look of surprise and delight was instant “Your parents! Come to visit you?” And they would have to shake hands all over again with renewed vigor.

God answered many prayers for their visit. One gift was that we were all able to stay in our apartment together. The largest tribes in Kasai have a strong taboo against a mother-in-law staying in the same house with her son-in-law. After discussing this with several people, we felt that out of respect for the culture it would be best if we stayed down the street at a guest house while my parents stayed in our apartment. The week before they arrived though, we discussed the issue with a couple of CPC church leaders. They said that we should definitely feel all freedom to stay together in our apartment, and that everyone would understand the differences in culture. So, with this recommendation and authorization, we scrambled to get our guest room ready with a mattress, mosquito net, and curtains. We were all grateful for the freedom and understanding given us by our Congolese friends!

Jim and Sherri were introduced to life and culture in Congo in more ways than expected. We drove with them to Tshikaji to show them around the IMCK hospital. Unfortunately the brakes on the Land Cruiser locked up just as we were approaching the guest house. A mechanic happened to be right there, watching as we tried to figure out what was wrong. He was incredibly helpful in unlocking the brakes and communicating the situation with our mechanic in Kananga. The determined solution was to release the brakes and drive back to Kananga without brakes, where our mechanic could replace the needed parts. As we set out the following morning, Bob turned to my dad and said “OK Jim, we need you to pray a muscular prayer for this trip!”. We drove slow and took an alternate route to avoid the hills and crowded section of Kananga. We missed a turn, and God provided some women to alert us that we were on an impassable road and where the correct road was. Bob was a valiant driver given the challenge, and we all got to experience the flexibility, courage, and perseverance needed when you make travel plans in Congo!

We were so grateful that Mom and Dad made the long trip to Kananga. It was a huge encouragement to us and also to our colleagues and friends. Anyone else want to come for a visit? :)

Trekking down into the valley to visit Tatu Henri

Interacting with an English class for high-school girls

Worshipping at the parish we attend, Kananga 1

MPH, the Methodist Presbyterian Hostel

 

It is a well-known hub to many travellers in and through Kinshasa, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and francophone Africa. It sits in the Ngaliema Commune of Kinshasa, perhaps encompassing 4-5 acres of quiet and peace, an oasis in a turbulent sea of urban freneticism which would make the average New Yorker’s head spin.

MPH feels like a veritable crossroads of the world.  Here you can find missionaries in-transit seeking respite, short-termers visiting from afar, African church leaders coming together, American families adopting Congolese children, and the children of former missionaries coming back to visit places dear to their heart.  Over breakfast, lunch or dinner, you are bound to spend more time than planned in spontaneous, stimulating conversation. You are bound to learn something from someone.  MPH is wonderfully managed and cared for by an American couple, Cindy and Clay Dunn.

lovely, outdoor grounds

Kristi and I recently made a trip to Nairobi, Kenya.  Travelling through Kinshasa we stayed at MPH as we have in the past.  We enjoyed the peaceful grounds, caught up on some emails, and enjoyed meeting and visiting with various people.  We saw Paul Law and met his wife Marti.  They serve with the Methodist Church of Congo and live in Lodja, a port city in the upper reaches of East Kasai.  Paul’s father was a pilot who was tragically killed during the Simba Revolution of the 1960’s.  Paul has lived in Congo for most of his life and fluently speaks French, Tshiluba and Tshitatela.  Paul likes to tease your mind with some question which only he seems to have the answer to.  Taylor Burton-Edwards, the Liturgical Officer for the United Methodist Church (UMC), has come to meet with Congolese church leaders.  Over breakfast one morning he and I have a prolonged conversation which includes:  the history of Methodism in the United States and Britain, how creeds and confessions inform worship and liturgy, the helpful writing ministry of Methodist bishop Will Willimon, and what it means to be a “global church.” 

Over dinner the following evening we have dinner with Jim Byh.  Jim and his family served as Assemblies of God missionaries in West Africa and Eritrea for 18 years.  Now they live in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Jim serves as the francophone Africa representative for One Hope, a ministry which seeks to bring the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to children.  Jim introduces us to some of their teaching materials which might be useful for our ministry in central Congo.  Lastly there is Tim and Kathy Rice.  They are active members of a PCA church in St. Louis which has a profound ministry to inner-city children and single Moms.  Their pastor is Congolese, and Tim and Kathy are considering long-term mission service in Congo.

Kristi and I board our plane Friday morning feeling refreshed and reinvigorated.  We are thankful for MPH.  While our goal is to live as close to the Congolese people as possible, MPH is a nice break and a good place to meet fellow “sojourners” on similar journeys. 


For your perusal, below are a few more pictures of MPH:

  
Dining Hall area, from second level

Spacious grounds for walking, prayer and meditation

Garden

Library

Bob with MPH staff member Mulumba Louie Quatorze, who is from Kananga
(where we live) and wants to learn English

Generous Outpouring

On Pentecost Sunday, churches in Kananga have a tradition of giving a special offering of gifts to their pastors. On this Sunday, the pastors also exchange pulpits, so that each pastor is preaching in a church other than his normal parish. It is a wonderful way of encouraging the pastors, and it is a significant effort that the congregations exert to pull it off.

In the parish where we worship, designated leaders started raising awareness about this event and collecting funds a month ago. A few people in each neighborhood visited the homes of members to collect their contribution. In a church in the city of Kananga, the total offering on a Sunday is typically less than $20, and a pastor receives about 40% of that as salary. In smaller churches and those in rural areas, the offering is much less. So, this designated day of giving gifts to the pastor is a huge encouragement to them in the midst of the challenges of living on a very small salary.

Each of the neighborhood small groups in the parish pool their resources of money, flour, charcoal, clothing, or other items to share with the pastor’s family. During the service, there is a designated time when the gifts are presented (although the pastor is not present because he is visiting another parish). It is impressive to see the women dance down the aisle with these huge loads on their heads!

So many of the church members are struggling to feed their families and make ends meet. Yet, we continue to be impressed at the generosity and hospitality that is often shown in spite of that need. May God help us to imitate the generosity and sacrifice of these Christians in Kananga!

A collection of the gifts given at our parish. The pastor lives about 5 km
from the church and does not have a vehicle—we are not sure how he got it home!

Diakaja

Psalms 23:4 (NIV)
⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

At 9am every Saturday morning, between twenty and thirty women and men gather at Tatu Charles’ home in Nganza Commune.  They began gathering together in 2007.  They are different ages, but most are women.  They do different types of work, but many of them farm.  They worship in different churches.  Despite these differences, they all share one thing in common.  Each member of this group has HIV/AIDS.  They originally began meeting to remind each other to take their anti-retroviral drugs.  They also began coming together for mutual encouragement.  People living with AIDS are often misunderstood.  Many people in Congo believe that persons with AIDS practice witchcraft.  Those afflicted with AIDS often live in shame, unwilling to expose their sickness.  Yet this group is different.  They do not live in shame.  They are open about their malady.  They want others to know that AIDS exists, and that it kills.  They reach out to others who are living in darkness and fear.  This group of courageous women and men have given their group a name - “Diakaja,” which means the act of transforming something bad into something good. 

Pastor Albert Kabue Muela finished his doctoral studies last year in Kinshasa.  He returned to Kananga early this year.  He began inquiring to discover if any groups of HIV/AIDS patients were meeting regularly.  Through a former classmate from seminary, he was introduced to Diakaja.  Pastor Kabue expressed his interest in meeting with them and doing a Bible study.  Having heard Pastor Kabue preach on the radio, members of Diakaja were happy to welcome him into their fold.  Pastor Kabue, usually paying his own way, travels by ‘moto taxi’ every Saturday morning to be with this group of AIDS patients.  With warmth, humor, humility and love, he leads them through a Bible study.  Each member actively participates in the study and feels affirmed.

Three weeks ago I had the privilege of joining Pastor Kabue to visit Diakaja.  I met Kabue at his home, and after a short motorcycle ride, we arrived.  We sat together with Diakaja members in a large circle under a tree.  Tatu Charles, President of Diakaja, described how the meeting would commence and gave a few announcements.  Each person introduced themselves.  Pastor Kabue was then asked to pray and lead us in the study.  That morning we studied Psalm 23.  Pastor Kabue read slowly through the psalm twice.  Then he or I would read one or two verses at a time, allowing members of the group to ask questions and provide comments.   Pastor Kabue facilitated the study with grace and patience.  He gave wonderful insights to supplement what was shared by group members. 

Pastor Kabue leads us through Psalm 23

The passage came to life for group members as we reflected on the role of a shepherd caring for his sheep, and how God tenderly and watchfully cares for us, His children.  The group’s reflection of verse four stands out in my memory.  Verse four reads, “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff comfort me.”  After reading these verses, Charles said “This verse is for us.  As AIDS patients we are walking through the valley of the shadow of death.  We don’t know when death will come, but it is ever present for us.”  Everyone in the group resonated with Charles’ comment.  Later they shared the many challenges they face:  work despite physical weakness, paying school fees for their children, and paying for drugs to repress sickness.  Despite these challenges, members of Diakaja exuded a quiet confidence that God is with them as they travel through this valley. 

Psalm 23 reminds us all that God is indeed with us, even through the darkest valley.  May God bless the Diakaja group, and Pastor Kabue as he seeks to encourage and comfort those afflicted by HIV/AIDS.

Bob with members of Diakaja