Surprised by Hope Blog: July 2013

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Kizombo Sr. and Leslie Reunited

At Rwanda Exit

Perched precariously atop my head, like so many African women do, I moved with my giant duffle. After getting the green light to leave Rwanda, I dumped that heavy bag on a desk sitting randomly in the “yard.” As I waited and watched for Kizombo Jr. and Pr Mike to pass through this checkpoint, a familiar voice greeted me…Rev. Kizombo Kalambula Sr.

Under the Mango Tree

I clung to this man whom I always loved so much. My heart was burdened that I’d never properly appreciated or respected him. At the time we were in school together, my heart toward missions was hard…I just didn’t understand and I really didn’t want to. So many things I didn’t understand then. But knowing what I know now about East African culture, I have a vastly different appreciation and respect for older African men…particularly this one who stands firm in Scripture.

In Class Together

Together again, this man treated me with such care and respect. I love him as my own father. Being a part of his ministry, if even for this short time, reminded me of all that he’d described so many years ago. I pray that our time together would never come to an end.

Conflict in Congo

Take a look at BBCs profile on the country’s long history of conflict. Don’t forget to click the tabs at the top of the page. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13283212

And look at some current information about fighting there and how that fighting impacts Uganda. http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20130712-702938.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

The upper right corner shows the boarder between Uganda and Congo.
I will be ministering in Bukavu and Kitindi, the southern end of Lake Kivu.
Conflict is taking place at the northern end in Goma, this is where thousands of refugees are fleeing to Uganda.

Democratic Republic of Congo

The CIAs World Factbook contains a plethora of information about countries all over the world. I find this tool particularly useful when learning about a new country in comparison to the United States. In conjunction with the other countries in which Surprised by Hope has had some activity, here is what I found.

	United States	Uganda	Kenya	DR Congo
Area	9,8m sq km (3)	241,038 sq km (81)	580,367 sq km (49)	2.3m sq km (11)
Population	316.7m	34.7m (36)	44m (31)	75.5m (10)
Religions	Protestant 51.3%, Roman Catholic 23.9%, Mormon 1.7%	Roman Catholic 41.9%, Protestant 42%	Christian 82.5% (Protestant 47.4%, Catholic 23.3%, other 11.8%), Muslim 11.1%, Traditionalists 1.6%	Roman Catholic 50%, Protestant 20%, Kimbanguist 10%
Median Age	37	15	19	18
Life Expectancy	79	54	63	56
Health Exp	18% GDP	9%	4.8%	7.9%
Water (improved)	100%	72% though not drinkable	59% though not drinkable	45% though not drinkable
HIV/AIDS	0.6% (62)	6.5% (8)	6.3% (11)	NA
Obesity	33%	4.3%	4.2%	1.7%
Education Exp	5.4% GDP	3.3% (134)	6.7%	2.5%
Literacy	99%	66%	87%	67%
Unemployment	8%	NA	40%	NA
Poverty	15%	25%	50%	71%

As expected, Uganda, Kenya, and Congo differ significantly in the various statistics when compared to the United States. However, when compared to one another, only a few elements are distinctly different.

1. 45% of the population in Congo have access to improved water systems (though not drinkable), as compared to 59% in Kenya and 72% in Uganda.

2. 71% of the population lives under respective poverty lines, as compared to 50% in Kenya and 25% in Uganda.

3. 1.7% of the population is considered obese, as compared to 4.2% in Kenya and 4.2% in Uganda (the US obesity rate is 33%).

As I prepare for my journey, it’s helpful to understand these differences and to prepare for what those differences will mean in teaching topics such as asset-based development. For example, lack of infrastructure may lead to the need to develop a closed economy, an economy that does not depend on delivery to a town center via roads that don’t exist.

Oh, please pray that God would help us all have the wisdom to answer their cries.

Surprised by Hope in Congo

Rev. Kizombo Kalumbula Sr. was one of four members in my Cornerstone University Masters program learning team. This Congolese man never failed to share his experience related to our topic of study from the perspective of his home country. I remember learning about issues of justice, healthcare, and education from him. I also remember a time when he quietly left the room to take a phone call. When he returned he told the class that his son called to say that he loved his father and that he might not make it through the night because the fighting was just outside the doorway. It was then that I realized how little I really understood the world outside my doorstep.

A few short years ago I happened across a third member of that same learning team. After filling in the gaps about our lives since last meeting, including the part about ministry, he mentioned that he is now connected to Kizombo Sr.’s ministry and that he is working with Kizombo Jr. in doing so. Soon enough we all met at The Omelet Shoppe (oh how I miss the German apple pancake). Kizombo Jr. pastors Tabernacle Community Church in Grand Rapids and that church supports International Berean Ministries in Congo.

We’ve all felt some kind of connection between our ministry activities, but various roadblocks kept us from meeting on this vast continent. However, Kizombo Jr. and I both had the sense that the time is now. And of course God showed up and made schedules and finances available to make this journey. Together we’ll deliver ministry, prayer, teaching, and love.

So, why am I going to Congo? I’m going to serve God alongside an old friend and a new friend.

Voice of Women Uganda

The power distance between men and women in East Africa is exceptional…and women understand that they are not to question the authority of men…or pretty much anyone. As an example, I might ask the women if meeting at 2:00 is a good time for them and they will most certainly say “yes”…then arrive at 4:00 because they were occupied at 2:00. It would not be culturally appropriate for these women to say “no” to someone they viewed as having more authority (but for some reason it’s perfectly acceptable to not fulfill your commitment.)

Back Row: Sam, Immaculate, Millie, Ham
Front Row: Meldah, Livingstone

As another example, a woman knew that her husband was sleeping with other women and suspected that he had HIV/AIDS. She feared confronting her husband and asking for a test because of the power distance factor in this culture. He could and would easily beat her for such a demand. Further, this woman cannot refuse her husband if he makes sexual advances…again because of the power distance. Ultimately, this woman (one among millions) will contract HIV/AIDS and die because of the power distance in this culture.

Voice of Women Uganda seeks to close the gap in the area of power distance. They’re not seeking to equalize or overtake men, they’re simply wishing to help women realize their voice as it pertains to issues of reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, education, and economic development. And alongside that voice, they strive to help men understand the value of partnership with their wives and the importance of their voice.

I’m honored to spend time in organizational development with Voice of Women Uganda and am thankful for the eye opening examples these leaders so readily share.

Directions to Leslie's House

Hi Elizabeth and Emily, I heard you were looking for my house on Google. The last time I checked it wasn’t there. But I’ll try to show you on a map where you can find me when you come visit J

Google Entebbe Uganda as a Google map and then follow the road North or up. That road is called Entebbe Road and it’s one of about three main roads in Uganda. You’ll see Rosebud plantation as one of the key markers on the map a few inches up and to the right from Entebbe Road. As you zoom in to Rosebud, the above map shows the smaller roads. The corner or “stage” at which you’ll turn to the right is my road. Non-main roads here don’t have any names instead they have markers. For example, there are two signs at my road corner – Kennedy Primary School and Little Bears Kindergarten. So my corner or my “stage” is known as Kennedy stage. Until you become familiar with the markers sometimes it’s hard to find the right one…especially at night.

When I take a taxi, the main form of public transportation is a 14 passenger Toyota minivan or a “taxi,” and get close to my corner I say “Kennedy stage” or I say “massau” and the driver knows where to stop. Once I get off at the stage I can either walk about 1 kilometer (about .67 miles) to my house or take a boda-boda (a small motorcycle driver will drive me home). Usually I have heavy bags of food from the market or it’s dark and less safe so I take a boda-boda to my house. All the boda-boda drivers – usually men in their 20s – know me and where I live so they’re like little brothers to me. They watch out for me and help me when I need it.

Walk down the hill in the slippery-when-wet dusty road toward Rosebud and turn right at the end, then turn left immediately after that. The road you see on this map is not my road, it’s more of a big road so it’s on the map. My road is too small to show up and it’s before that road as you proceed to my house. But you can see the arrow where my house is. You’ll see my house really easily when you turn the corner because there’s lots of open green space in front of me. I live next door to a Hajj, a Muslim man with multiple wives, and he has a very big house for one of his families. Also, my house is painted the color of the red clay earth. Most people paint their houses bright colors – lime green, neon orange. So mine looks funny to everyone around here.

I have a big veranda or porch on the front and side of the house where the neighborhood kids come to “shade” or color in the coloring books you all sent me. We blow bubbles, play games, and read the Bible you sent too. Most of these children come from Muslim families so I’m always happy when they’re learning about how much Jesus loves them. A few days ago we all shared a watermelon but I made the kids go in the grass to eat that because I knew they’d make a huge sticky mess and I didn’t want all the ants to come for a visit.

Now you know how to find my house. When will you come visit me?

Iganga Testimonies

And the people came...

Children filled the seats in this wall-less Praise and Worship Church of All Nations. I worried a bit until about an hour after we started a procession of people arrived. Keeping true Uganda time (i.e., LATE), they all came, and they came in droves. Pastor Gerald is learning how to mobilize the community and he is learning well. Over 50 people filled this little church during our second visit.

Banana juice is one of the byproducts of our first workshop together. One man created something new from our Business Concept workshop, something not currently found in the local market, and indicated he was doing quite well in selling the product, thus creating a new revenue stream.

Tailoring is nothing new in Uganda, but the tailor testified that her newfound sense of creativity rejuvenated through the Art and Science of Thinking workshop attracted more customers than ever before.

"Graduates"

Basket making is another common handcraft in Uganda, but this woman simply indicated that until she’d taken a serious inventory of her skills/assets, applied in our Asset-based Development workshop, she’d not thought of using that skill to earn money for her family.

Market shops are common in Uganda, they have all kinds of different products. One old woman simply said that she was “prospering like never before” because of the time of prayer and her new learning while participating in these workshops.

Leadership Team

So thankful for what God is doing in the lives of these people and their community. They truly understand the principle of Divine-human cooperation.