Routine Can Be Good

Michael always has some question about how to grow and develop this small home full of children and the school he’s using to educate them and their neighbors. I love being a source of wisdom for him to whatever small degree is possible. But mostly I love arriving in the compound and having more than a dozen children run at me with open arms. They’ve come to know our routine – Bible story, shading, games,...

Read more »

Shared Hope Prayer Walk

Our prayer time together began at the school where we prayed against the attacks of Satan, disorganized his plans, and scattered his minions never to return in Jesus’ name. Of course when you use the name of Jesus against such spirits they have nothing to do but obey. Have you ever thought about that? This knowledge has always given me strength. When I pray against the enemy in the name of Jesus...

Read more »

Light Academy Primary School Attacks

Nearing the end of school Term #2, I was invited to join Light Academy Primary School for prayer. I learned that the students and teachers were on a two-day fast in prayer over attacks from the enemy. They spent those two days worshipping, praying, studying Scripture, and fasting. What a wonderful time of corporate fasting to include the Primary 7 students alongside school leaders. As a result...

Read more »

My Man Bag

Why do I carry my bag across my shoulder? So it doesn’t get stolen off my shoulder or out of my hands. But yuck!!! How much more unattractive could this bulky thing be. Kudos to LeSportsac for making a bag for men that actually makes a woman look and feel ugly. As for cleaning, well…the dust in East Africa requires an almost daily cleaning and this tightly woven nylon fabric resists that dust...

Read more »

A Dolly for Sarah from Judy

Given all that’d happened with my gross ouwie, and Simone’s constant care, it became perfectly obvious that he would be the recipient of the last Congo dolly (well…his daughter). This dolly was sponsored by my maama, the dolly maker. Maamas are charged with caring for their children and because she wasn’t here Simone stood in her place. I like to think I was beyond need of care but two things prevented...

Read more »

Gross Ouwie

The people of Congo like to say the bite came from Uganda. The Ugandans…Congo. Whatever the case, the bite became infected. I’m not saying this is what happened but…all the stuck truck situations often resulted in sitting on the ground in the dirt waiting to be unstuck and…well…that couldn’t have helped the situation. I felt the lump grow and become tender under the skin and eventually that growth...

Read more »

The Dreaded Journey (Day 3)

Morning didn’t come soon enough, as a mosquito nibbled my elbow raw during the night, and once again we were off. At 5:30 in the morning we had a mere 72 kilometers (44 miles) to cover. About half way into that journey we stopped for a view of the rice fields offered by our somewhat elevated position. The stop, though, was necessitated by some hardware falling off the truck such that the gas tank...

Read more »

The Dreaded Journey (Day 2)

Only one thing could derail our return journey, so we thought, and that would be rain. And what was that pounding I heard? Yep, it rained that night…it rained HARD. Thankfully the early morning part of our journey was mostly on sand so the rain didn’t affect us the way we thought it might. But our second day of travel turned out to be no less hazardous than the first. The very first obstacle,...

Read more »

The Dreaded Journey (Day 1)

Fearful and confident. Those are the emotions we all shared as we prepared for our upcoming return journey from Kitindi to Bukavu. Our driver assured us that now that he knew the road he could avoid the various problems we had on the way in. I’m not sure how that logic works, but we all had hope of reaching Bukavu in the one day it should take. Wait, what is that noise? Oh, it’s only the now broken...

Read more »

A Dolly for Little Kizombo from Beth's Sister

Content to employ any nearby thing as a toy, this happy toddler spent his days chattering and playing alongside his mother. Maama was busy with the many other women who prepared food for and cleaned up after the seminar participants and helpers. Usually children sit quietly while their mother works, and look on in preparation for their own responsibilities as they grow, but this child was energetic...

Read more »

Servants' Hearts

A throng of ladies worked tirelessly for a week to cater to our every need (students and facilitators). When I think of how much water we must have gone through and how far and heavy it would be to bring even one jerry can up that hill…oh my! I thank God for these women who serve God and people with grateful hearts. ...

Read more »

Year 1 Training Program

This gaggle of ministry leaders gathered, traveled, and delivered the first seminar series at the Christian Leadership Center in Kitindi. Our time was short, though, incredibly short. We all had so much information we wanted to pour into these eager participants. Even the students, though exhausted by the time we were done, hungered for more. Pastor Mike taught about having Christ-like character...

Read more »

Bi-vocational Training Center

Old Structure The sound of hammers could be heard in the background as the roofing timbers were secured into their places. The bi-vocational training center construction is preparing the way for this school where pastors will receive teaching about both Christian leadership and technical skills. Village churches in Congo, like village churches Uganda and Kenya, seldom produce enough money to support...

Read more »

A Dolly for Demu from Rebecca

Tiny voices called “bi-yeeee” from just outside the fence. Although they received a reply multiple times, they continued to call out perhaps hoping for an invitation. For all that curiosity, the children seemed to hesitate to come too near though after some time they closed the gap at least a little. I found a tiny one riding on his sister’s back and felt prompted to offer this precious one a boy...

Read more »

Daily Children's Worship

English is NOT the first or second language in Congo and so these rambunctious children simply stood and stared. Lord, what can I do with these kids to honor you? Sing…of course. Each day the children came to see what entertaining feat the muzungu would perform and each day they were rewarded with two English children’s songs. Songs with motions are most fun and memorable and so If You’re Happy and...

Read more »

19 Dashiki Shirts from Lamont CRC

Music rang out from the wooden stick structure called Berean Church of Kitindi, one of several churches planted by Kizombo Sr. The worship leader carefully selected known songs with specific focus – worship, praise, thanksgiving, forgiveness, etc. – as well as led spontaneously created songs that told stories of our visit. The drum and shaker thingy were all that accompanied the beautiful voices....

Read more »

Kitindi Prayer Walk

Gathered at the church, children and adults alike, we prayed and sang together before departing for our prayer walk journey. Our prayer focus was to be peace in this war-torn country. Children of various shapes and sizes dared hold my hand only for a moment, then to be replaced by yet another. These Congolese children hesitate a great deal more than the children of Uganda, perhaps as a result of...

Read more »