After my exciting experience of 5 days without electricity that ended Wednesday the same problem of course reappeared on Saturday, not wanting to relive the experience I decided to buy a generator which makes life so much easier. Even now I am typing because of the generator. I am beginning to understand some of the valid reasons why people here can never be on time to anything. For myself some times I am supposed to do something at 3PM but at 2:50 the water comes and the thing is if I don’t stay and fill my containers with water it may be another week until the water comes again. There is no schedule so you never know which time the water will come. Not only that but the water tab services many families so you also have to wait in line for who knows how long just to get your containers filled. It makes things very difficult to prepare for. Anyway now that I have a generator I can prepare at least the electricity parts of my life.
On Sunday we played football with the youth from church and had by far our biggest turn out ever. There were 25 people. In fact several of the people I have never seen at church before but their parents attend. I am excited about the possibilities that could arise from this. There is a big youth event this Saturday at the church here and I really hope it goes well. I’m not sure how everything will work out but hopefully God will use it as the beginning of getting our youth on fire for Him. I am the speaker so also be praying that I have wisdom and anointing to say things that touch the hearts of the youth.
I talked with the pastor on Sunday and he told me he has been seeking the Lord about planting a new church in Likasi. Everything isn’t planned yet but he wants me to be apart of it which I’m really excited about. He has also asked me to begin leading the block meeting in Shituru. I sense that the devil has such a stronghold over that area of town. I am really seeking the Lord for the best way to minister to the people there.
I tried to get my furniture once again and this time asked for the coffee table that is finished. I was able to take it but decided to take it the Congolese way so I put it on top of my head and walked about a kilometer to my house. It was heavy and my head hurt for days. Everyone got a good laugh out of it.
I tried to find rat poison because I’ve had some trouble with them but all I found was glue to trap the rats. I asked my neighbor about it and she said it’s because they eat them. She asked me to please give her any I catch. I did eventually find poison and was able to take care of my problem the American way.
Another thing about Congolese is they are very free about where they pee. I’m all for peeing outside but not in the city. The men pee on the side of shops right in the heart of the city. They pee on walled fences of people’s houses. All of this I found strange but it didn’t bother me until people began to pee on my house. There is one side of my house where the septic tank is and there is a wall around 3 quarters of it so I guess it makes for a nice private place to relieve oneself. And of course peeing on the ground just wouldn’t do so they pee on the wall and I’m stuck listening to and smelling their urine. I would ask them to stop but I haven’t learned how to ask someone to not pee on my house in Swahili yet. I guess I’ll have to learn.
Next week I am supposed to begin doing house to house visiting like I did before. I am really excited about that. I haven’t heard any more about being able to visit some new places. I’m hoping after I get things in order with my visa I’ll have that opportunity. Please be praying for my visa situation. The hang up is just people taking their time. I think it is going to end up costing me even more money but I just don’t know how to motivate or convince people to do things quickly. It’s frustrating because before I left I discussed all of these things and I followed their instructions but when I got back things changed. The language barrier makes for plenty of miscommunication.
Recently I’ve been hearing some of the people from the churches I work with explain that God doesn’t heal any more. They are always praying for healing and so I asked them about it and they explained that God can use doctors and He can heal headaches and things like that but He can’t heal a lame person or a blind person or cancer. It makes my heart sad to hear them absolutely convinced of this. Also there is a lot of resentment from the old denominations and the Pentecostals in this area. They have heard many of the Pentecostals give false prophecies and now they are completely against prophesy. It has been a challenge to have the wisdom to talk to them about it especially with the language barrier. Please pray for me to have wisdom.
Thanks for your prayers. God continues to open doors and I am excited about what is happening over here. Each day is filled with challenges so I appreciate your prayers more than I can explain!
27 August 2008
23 August 2008
5 Straight Days No Electricity
It has been an interesting time. Because there has been no electricity I have been unable to update my blog so I will now attempt to explain the events of these last few days. The electricity went out Friday night and never came back on. The next day I was informed that there was an electrical problem but someone will come to repair it. That someone never bothered coming until Wednesday. Over those 5 days I became a pro at making fire and cooking over it. So although it was beyond frustrating it did prove helpful. There were so many things I really needed to do that required electricity. Finally, on Monday I went to a church member’s house and was able to use her electricity to get some things done.
Monday was such a bad day, everything went wrong from the biggest things to the smallest things and I felt so frustrated. Then I went to a small group meeting in Shituru, the mining area of town, and got so humbled. I met with a group of women who are all stuck with crazy drunk husbands and feel so trapped and hopeless. All I could do afterwards was beg God to change my heart and make me frustrated about how the devil is stealing, killing, and destroying the people of Congo instead of being frustrated about not having electricity.
On Tuesday I was able to go to another small group meeting in Pande the rich area of town and what a contrast. Everyone lives in big houses and wears nice clothes and seems to have it all together. I thank God that He has opened the doors for me to minister to both the rich and poor in Congo.
I also started teaching English to young adults. I’m helping a friend earn money and the plan is to teach him some financial planning because whatever money he may have today he won’t have tomorrow. It is also an opportunity to reach these young people for Jesus and I am hoping to use the class to recruit for a weekly Bible study. Please pray that I have wisdom in this new area. Those of you who know me know I’m not in any way a teacher nor enjoy teaching.
I have been trying to get my visa to stay here for 2 years but everything is going wrong once again. Please pray for me. I know I will be able to get it but the problem now has become the timing. If I can’t get everything I need by next week I will have to pay more money for another temporary visa so please pray that doesn’t happen. No matter how many times I say hurry, quickly, today, right now Congolese take there time.
Like trying to get my furniture, no matter what I try they won’t work any faster. The man promised me and put in writing he would have everything made in 2 weeks but of course he didn’t. The worst part is he would tell me I promise it’ll be ready in the afternoon every single day. Maybe next week.
My birthday was wonderful. I was able to preach at the church for the midweek service. Best of all after 5 days the electricity returned! What great birthday presents from Jesus.
The excitement of the week was brought down by disturbing news I received on Tuesday. The President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, passed away after suffering from a severe stroke. He probably wasn’t the best president in the world, but he was the best Zambia has ever had. In Zambia when a president dies the country must hold elections within 90 days to choose a new president. In these circumstances anything could happen. Please keep Zambia in your prayers.
And thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers! Everyday is filled with challenges and I need God’s grace. Daily, I meet with people in difficult situations who need a touch from God. I desperately need God’s wisdom and power to help the people here. I have met with the youth leaders and we are planning some events so please pray they go well and young people get a revelation of Jesus. I was reading some of Charles Finney’s Systematic Theology book and came across these words which have become my prayer “We need to have Christ so revealed as to so completely ravish and engross our affections, that we would sooner die at once than sin against Him.”
Monday was such a bad day, everything went wrong from the biggest things to the smallest things and I felt so frustrated. Then I went to a small group meeting in Shituru, the mining area of town, and got so humbled. I met with a group of women who are all stuck with crazy drunk husbands and feel so trapped and hopeless. All I could do afterwards was beg God to change my heart and make me frustrated about how the devil is stealing, killing, and destroying the people of Congo instead of being frustrated about not having electricity.
On Tuesday I was able to go to another small group meeting in Pande the rich area of town and what a contrast. Everyone lives in big houses and wears nice clothes and seems to have it all together. I thank God that He has opened the doors for me to minister to both the rich and poor in Congo.
I also started teaching English to young adults. I’m helping a friend earn money and the plan is to teach him some financial planning because whatever money he may have today he won’t have tomorrow. It is also an opportunity to reach these young people for Jesus and I am hoping to use the class to recruit for a weekly Bible study. Please pray that I have wisdom in this new area. Those of you who know me know I’m not in any way a teacher nor enjoy teaching.
I have been trying to get my visa to stay here for 2 years but everything is going wrong once again. Please pray for me. I know I will be able to get it but the problem now has become the timing. If I can’t get everything I need by next week I will have to pay more money for another temporary visa so please pray that doesn’t happen. No matter how many times I say hurry, quickly, today, right now Congolese take there time.
Like trying to get my furniture, no matter what I try they won’t work any faster. The man promised me and put in writing he would have everything made in 2 weeks but of course he didn’t. The worst part is he would tell me I promise it’ll be ready in the afternoon every single day. Maybe next week.
My birthday was wonderful. I was able to preach at the church for the midweek service. Best of all after 5 days the electricity returned! What great birthday presents from Jesus.
The excitement of the week was brought down by disturbing news I received on Tuesday. The President of Zambia, Levy Mwanawasa, passed away after suffering from a severe stroke. He probably wasn’t the best president in the world, but he was the best Zambia has ever had. In Zambia when a president dies the country must hold elections within 90 days to choose a new president. In these circumstances anything could happen. Please keep Zambia in your prayers.
And thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers! Everyday is filled with challenges and I need God’s grace. Daily, I meet with people in difficult situations who need a touch from God. I desperately need God’s wisdom and power to help the people here. I have met with the youth leaders and we are planning some events so please pray they go well and young people get a revelation of Jesus. I was reading some of Charles Finney’s Systematic Theology book and came across these words which have become my prayer “We need to have Christ so revealed as to so completely ravish and engross our affections, that we would sooner die at once than sin against Him.”
11 August 2008
National Conference
Well I spent my first few days in Likasi trying to get my house fixed up. I still have some more windows to clean and floors to scrub but its coming.
It has been wonderful to be back and see everyone. I was especially looking forward to seeing Baba Banza and his wife. They speak some English and were always at the church serving in some capacity. I was shocked to see they weren’t at church on Sunday and when I inquired was further shocked to discover he has brain cancer and isn’t expected to make it. He is currently in Lubumbashi but is trying to arrange to see some specialists in the capital city of Kinshasa. I’m begging please pray for this family. They have young children and are just the best people you could ever meet. They love Jesus so much and are so serious about the things of God. Please believe for a miracle on their behalf. God’s arm is not too short to save.
In addition to keeping this family in my prayers I prayed for the National Conference. It was so wonderful to meet the people. There were 4 pastors who had traveled 120 miles on their bicycles just to attend the conference. Their dedication is unbelievable. Everyone is asking me to visit their churches and villages. Please pray that I am able to go to thee places. I will have to arrange transportation (there are often no roads in Congo) as well as interpretation. I was sad that no one came to the conference from Kasai province but happy when the church leadership mentioned the need to go there and their desire for me to go as well. Really the only way to get there is a 2 day train ride. Kasai Province has really been on my heart so please pray I have the opportunity to visit soon.
I was also please to meet several of the young people from Lubumbashi churches who served at the conference in various capacities. They were wonderful in helping me to get back into the habit of using Swahili and French. I met with the youth leaders from around the area and am excited to work with them and get some things started. It breaks my heart that nearly everyday I meet people in their 20’s who have given up on church. Where will this country be if the next generation turns their backs on God? I believe we need some new strategies and the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me. Please pray for these new projects.
I am supposed to begin house to house evangelism again this week. Please pray for that ministry as well. The Conference really helped my brain to use French and Swahili but I really need help from the Holy Spirit to minister in them. Thanks so much for your prayers God is moving!
It has been wonderful to be back and see everyone. I was especially looking forward to seeing Baba Banza and his wife. They speak some English and were always at the church serving in some capacity. I was shocked to see they weren’t at church on Sunday and when I inquired was further shocked to discover he has brain cancer and isn’t expected to make it. He is currently in Lubumbashi but is trying to arrange to see some specialists in the capital city of Kinshasa. I’m begging please pray for this family. They have young children and are just the best people you could ever meet. They love Jesus so much and are so serious about the things of God. Please believe for a miracle on their behalf. God’s arm is not too short to save.
In addition to keeping this family in my prayers I prayed for the National Conference. It was so wonderful to meet the people. There were 4 pastors who had traveled 120 miles on their bicycles just to attend the conference. Their dedication is unbelievable. Everyone is asking me to visit their churches and villages. Please pray that I am able to go to thee places. I will have to arrange transportation (there are often no roads in Congo) as well as interpretation. I was sad that no one came to the conference from Kasai province but happy when the church leadership mentioned the need to go there and their desire for me to go as well. Really the only way to get there is a 2 day train ride. Kasai Province has really been on my heart so please pray I have the opportunity to visit soon.
I was also please to meet several of the young people from Lubumbashi churches who served at the conference in various capacities. They were wonderful in helping me to get back into the habit of using Swahili and French. I met with the youth leaders from around the area and am excited to work with them and get some things started. It breaks my heart that nearly everyday I meet people in their 20’s who have given up on church. Where will this country be if the next generation turns their backs on God? I believe we need some new strategies and the Holy Spirit has been speaking to me. Please pray for these new projects.
I am supposed to begin house to house evangelism again this week. Please pray for that ministry as well. The Conference really helped my brain to use French and Swahili but I really need help from the Holy Spirit to minister in them. Thanks so much for your prayers God is moving!
02 August 2008
The Journey
As I look back on these past days I can do nothing but praise God. On Saturday I had come to grips with the fact that I was not leaving the next day to go to Congo. I traveled to Jembo to attend the graduation ceremony of one of my very good friends. I met the Mazeza family there and explained the problem I had been having getting my letter of invitation. Evariste informed me that it wasn’t a problem because he could write the letter for me. After a few phone calls several of the missing pieces for my trip to work out fell into place. I was excited but a little stressed by having to be ready to leave in a matter of hours. This being Africa the graduation started late and lasted longer than expected. I had to leave at 4 to make it home before dark and sadly I missed the amazing Zambian food I had been looking forward to during all the boring hours of the graduation.
I arrived home to find there was no electricity. Normally that is pretty normal and doesn’t bother me too much but today I had so many things I wanted to do that all required electricity. I was also hungry and hungry for Zambian food since I hadn’t eaten anything all day. Then Eugin came by the house and after we talked for a few minutes asked if I was coming. I didn’t know what he was talking about and then he explained the birthday party from that morning was continuing for those who missed it right then. I was blessed because it not only satisfied my hunger and desire to eat Zambian food but also gave me an opportunity to saw good bye to a lot of my friends. I was sad that I hadn’t had the chance to say good bye to my pastor in Zambia because he was out of town.
I rushed to get everything in order to leave only to wait for hours at the bus stop because every bus was full. I finally caught a bus and made it to Lusaka. I had been trying for weeks to get a hold of a certain guest house in Lusaka but was never able to. I ended up staying at another place which turned out to be perfect because it was within walking distance to the bus station and the Congolese Embassy which saved me a lot of money in taxi fees. I was blessed to find the Mazezas had already been to the embassy and talked with the people there.
Early the next morning we went to the embassy and no one was there. An hour late some of the employees came in and we quickly had the receipt for my visa and were told at 2PM my visa would be ready. After that we bought our bus tickets for the next day then I rushed to the other side of town to go to the bank. I went to the same bank I’ve been to so many times located in a nice area of town where I expected to have a few hours to get a lot of last minute things accomplished and enjoy some of the luxuries of life in Zambia.
That definitely didn’t happen since the banks machine was broken and they recommended I try another branch. It turned out to be a bad day for the machines in banks because I went to 4 before I was able to get money. In the mean time I wasted plenty of time and money on taxis. Finally I went to the big bank where I stood in line for an hour but thankfully I was not only able to get money but also walk around the area and find all the things I was hoping to do at the first place.
Then I went to the embassy to collect my visa and they said I should come back at 4. At 4 we found the whole place locked up for the day. I was frustrated and worried because not having my visa would mean loosing the bus tickets and a great deal of extra expenses. We all prayed and then Evariste said he had met the boss who lives behind the embassy. We went to see him and explained our situation and he told us to come back at 8PM and we could get the visa. He allowed us to wait in his home until 10:30 when the visa was finally ready. I cannot even begin to explain to you what a miracle that is. First of all people from the embassies don’t tend to work late. Secondly, this was the firs Congolese government official I’ve met who actually wanted to be helpful. Thirdly, in Congo people invent these kinds of situations just to demand bribes. I was anticipating the give me $100 and I’ll get you a visa. For me to get my visa at 10:30 at night was such a miracle.
We left at 5:30AM to catch our bus which of course didn’t leave until 8 but you never know the bus leaves when it’s full. We traveled until 3PM then caught a taxi to the border. Anything can happen at the Congo border. They can create things to charge you money for or just refuse to stamp your passport until you give them money. God blessed us and we had absolutely no problems. We caught another taxi and finally arrived in Lubumbashi at 8PM. It has been a really long day. I thank God that He has blessed me.
So I’ve been wondering why did I need to come at this exact time and today I got my answer. It wasn’t that satan was attacking my coming here but specifically the timing of it. I met with Evariste’s brother-in-law who works for the office of the president and he came back from South Africa the day I arrived and planned to leave the day after for Zambia. If I hadn’t traveled exactly on July 28 I would have missed meeting him. I needed to meet him because he has friends in the immigration office and speak great English so he took me to the office and translated everything for me so I now know exactly what is needed for me to get the visa to stay here. I can’t even begin to express to you how difficult it is to even get the information necessary to get something leak this done. Additionally, because he has connections he says I will be able to get it no problems and in less than a month. I thank God for how he has provided this connection.
I arrived in Likasi to a heroes welcome. My house is great. There is so much security here I feel like I’m in prison but I’ve never felt safer in my life. When they were painting my house they decided to add color and now my house is a variety or pink (yes a whole pink room just for me), red, purple, green, yellow, black, and white. Oh course there was no electricity for my first day and a half here but at least there has been water in the afternoons. I’ll try to post pictures of my house soon
The National Conference begins on August 6 and I am really looking forward to that. It will give me an opportunity to meet church leaders from all over the country. I knew immediately that I was in Congo, the crazy driving, obnoxious honking, eating leaves and weeds, driving on the wrong side of the road, not to mention not being able to communicate but I’m back and I’m here to stay.
I arrived home to find there was no electricity. Normally that is pretty normal and doesn’t bother me too much but today I had so many things I wanted to do that all required electricity. I was also hungry and hungry for Zambian food since I hadn’t eaten anything all day. Then Eugin came by the house and after we talked for a few minutes asked if I was coming. I didn’t know what he was talking about and then he explained the birthday party from that morning was continuing for those who missed it right then. I was blessed because it not only satisfied my hunger and desire to eat Zambian food but also gave me an opportunity to saw good bye to a lot of my friends. I was sad that I hadn’t had the chance to say good bye to my pastor in Zambia because he was out of town.
I rushed to get everything in order to leave only to wait for hours at the bus stop because every bus was full. I finally caught a bus and made it to Lusaka. I had been trying for weeks to get a hold of a certain guest house in Lusaka but was never able to. I ended up staying at another place which turned out to be perfect because it was within walking distance to the bus station and the Congolese Embassy which saved me a lot of money in taxi fees. I was blessed to find the Mazezas had already been to the embassy and talked with the people there.
Early the next morning we went to the embassy and no one was there. An hour late some of the employees came in and we quickly had the receipt for my visa and were told at 2PM my visa would be ready. After that we bought our bus tickets for the next day then I rushed to the other side of town to go to the bank. I went to the same bank I’ve been to so many times located in a nice area of town where I expected to have a few hours to get a lot of last minute things accomplished and enjoy some of the luxuries of life in Zambia.
That definitely didn’t happen since the banks machine was broken and they recommended I try another branch. It turned out to be a bad day for the machines in banks because I went to 4 before I was able to get money. In the mean time I wasted plenty of time and money on taxis. Finally I went to the big bank where I stood in line for an hour but thankfully I was not only able to get money but also walk around the area and find all the things I was hoping to do at the first place.
Then I went to the embassy to collect my visa and they said I should come back at 4. At 4 we found the whole place locked up for the day. I was frustrated and worried because not having my visa would mean loosing the bus tickets and a great deal of extra expenses. We all prayed and then Evariste said he had met the boss who lives behind the embassy. We went to see him and explained our situation and he told us to come back at 8PM and we could get the visa. He allowed us to wait in his home until 10:30 when the visa was finally ready. I cannot even begin to explain to you what a miracle that is. First of all people from the embassies don’t tend to work late. Secondly, this was the firs Congolese government official I’ve met who actually wanted to be helpful. Thirdly, in Congo people invent these kinds of situations just to demand bribes. I was anticipating the give me $100 and I’ll get you a visa. For me to get my visa at 10:30 at night was such a miracle.
We left at 5:30AM to catch our bus which of course didn’t leave until 8 but you never know the bus leaves when it’s full. We traveled until 3PM then caught a taxi to the border. Anything can happen at the Congo border. They can create things to charge you money for or just refuse to stamp your passport until you give them money. God blessed us and we had absolutely no problems. We caught another taxi and finally arrived in Lubumbashi at 8PM. It has been a really long day. I thank God that He has blessed me.
So I’ve been wondering why did I need to come at this exact time and today I got my answer. It wasn’t that satan was attacking my coming here but specifically the timing of it. I met with Evariste’s brother-in-law who works for the office of the president and he came back from South Africa the day I arrived and planned to leave the day after for Zambia. If I hadn’t traveled exactly on July 28 I would have missed meeting him. I needed to meet him because he has friends in the immigration office and speak great English so he took me to the office and translated everything for me so I now know exactly what is needed for me to get the visa to stay here. I can’t even begin to express to you how difficult it is to even get the information necessary to get something leak this done. Additionally, because he has connections he says I will be able to get it no problems and in less than a month. I thank God for how he has provided this connection.
I arrived in Likasi to a heroes welcome. My house is great. There is so much security here I feel like I’m in prison but I’ve never felt safer in my life. When they were painting my house they decided to add color and now my house is a variety or pink (yes a whole pink room just for me), red, purple, green, yellow, black, and white. Oh course there was no electricity for my first day and a half here but at least there has been water in the afternoons. I’ll try to post pictures of my house soon
The National Conference begins on August 6 and I am really looking forward to that. It will give me an opportunity to meet church leaders from all over the country. I knew immediately that I was in Congo, the crazy driving, obnoxious honking, eating leaves and weeds, driving on the wrong side of the road, not to mention not being able to communicate but I’m back and I’m here to stay.
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