Finishing Well

This morning we received news that a good friend of our up in Isiro (NE Congo) passed away. Pastor Waule was the former General Superintendent of the AG for Northern Congo. We first met him when we were there in the 1980's.

During our time in Isiro in the 1990's Waule lived in a house that was outside of town, tucked away in the midst of trees and very tall elephant grass. There was a little trail hidden in the grass that eventually lead from his house to ours. As things became more dangerous (with the war beginning) our "safety plan" for our 3 kids was that if something bad began in the area of our house, one of our workers would sneak the kids away and take them to Waule's house, via this trail. Should we not be able to get away, Waule promised that he would get our children, somehow, to missionaries in Nairobi - that's how much we loved and trusted him.

He must have been in his 70's when he passed away, which is a good, long life for this part of the world. He lived all of those year in Northern Congo - I can't imagine all that he has seen and endured. But he never lost his quick smile and ability to laugh. He always valued relationships and he never lost his faith or hope in Christ. He went from a lifetime of living in difficult, dangerous, dysfuctional northern Congo to a mansion in heaven - I can't imagine! He is a man who finished well - and his was a race that was not defined by ease or recognition.

So today we we are sad at our loss, but we rejoice with all of heaven as they welcome a true and faithful warrior for Christ!!

One in Ten Million

It's an amazing thing to live in a city of over 10 million people and to not be "anonymous." The fact that 1) we are Caucasian, 2) we drive all over in a truck that is clearly marked "Assemblies of God", and 3) Pat preaches all over the city, means that many people know who we are. The traffic police, street kids, street vendors....they all know our truck and it's amazing how many have heard Pat preach.

There are days when I crave anonymity........I want to BLEND. I want to pay the price for bananas that everyone else pays......not an automatically elevated price because of the color of my face or the fact that I drive a truck. I want to drive down the road and not be stopped by the police simply because they think that I will panic and pay a bribe (I don't!!).

But I have to admit....on many days I enjoy being "known." To live in a foreign land, to be just "one in over 10 million", to be far away from close friends and family can be a very lonely feeling. But to walk down the street and have people call out my name....("Madame Suzanne" or "Missionary" or "Assemblies of God") can make me feel.....at home, despite the fact that it is very far away from my home and very, very different.

It also reminds me that I am not anonymous to God and that no matter where I am, He sees me and calls my name......and he calls to the street kids, the market mamas, and the handicapped people who have to drag themselves along the ground. In a world with billions of people God sees, and calls to, each one of us.

It's an amazing thing to live in a city of over 10 million people and to not be "anonymous." The fact that 1) we are Caucasian, 2) we drive all over in a truck that is clearly marked "Assemblies of God", and 3) Pat preaches all over the city, means that many people know who we are. The traffic police, street kids, street vendors....they all know our truck and it's amazing how many have heard Pat preach.

There are days when I crave anonymity........I want to BLEND. I want to pay the price for bananas that everyone else pays......not an automatically elevated price because of the color of my face or the fact that I drive a truck. I want to drive down the road and not be stopped by the police simply because they think that I will panic and pay a bribe (I don't!!).

But I have to admit....on many days I enjoy being "known." To live in a foreign land, to be just "one in over 10 million", to be far away from close friends and family can be a very lonely feeling. But to walk down the street and have people call out my name....("Madame Suzanne" or "Missionary" or "Assemblies of God") can make me feel.....at home, despite the fact that it is very far away from my home and very, very different.

It also reminds me that I am not anonymous to God and that no matter where I am, He sees me and calls my name......and he calls to the street kids, the market mamas, and the handicapped people who have to drag themselves along the ground. In a world with billions of people God sees, and calls to, each one of us.

Change

I apologize for my long silence. There's probably only about 3 people out there who read this blog (one of them being Pat!), but at any rate, it is our attempt to keep in touch and I feel like I'm failing miserably!!
These past couple of months have been ones of great change for our family. Ben graduated from high school - how dare he!! We have had a great time watching him grow, mature, and begin the change from a high school senior to independent college kid.
It's a time of huge changes - for him and for us. We found ourselves withdrawing a bit as we processed the whole "letting go" thing - which takes on huge proportions when there's an ocean and half a continent between you! We have experienced so many emotions; sadness, joy, excitement, pride, loneliness......but I have to say that the underlying thought/feeling is just a gratefulness to God, we have given Him our kids and He has never failed us! We now know that His faithfulness will continue to show itself to Ben; and to the 4 of us here as we miss him!
I promised that I would not "cut and bleed" about this on facebook, which seems like such a public forum. But I figured a few paragraphs in this simple blog wouldn't hurt. It allows me to vent at any rate!
Thanks for your patience!

These past couple of months I've had quite a few invitations to speak at various churches around the city, mainly during the Tuesday morning women's meetings. I love speaking at women's meetings. Anyone who has spent time in Africa knows that women are truly the backbone of this continent, despite their often diminished societal role. I am always amazed by African women - their strength (both physical and emotional), their hardiness, their perseverance, and their often amazing spiritual commitment.

I was just recently told of the results of a study (done by one of the larger aid organizations here); 80% of the "households" here in Kinshasa are dependent upon women and young girls - meaning that 80% of the homes here are run and financially supported by the activities of the women; be it adult women or even young girls.

As I have traveled around the city, going to various churches I can believe it! Everywhere you look there are little tables set up, selling random items: tomato paste, sardines, locally made soap, bread.........and almost always run by a small girl. The markets are alive with women buying and selling.

Going to these churches has opened my eyes to several things. First of all Kinshasa is HUGE!!! I knew it was big - the population numbers that you hear range from 8 - 16 million inhabitants......you can turn off a main road here and drive into the depths of the city forever. Vast areas of crowded, extremely substandard housing in filthy, sanitation lacking areas. But the women press on. They come to these meetings, they are joyful, they worship God, they look for answers.

When I'm asked to come I am always asked to speak on a health related topic. The women are so motivated. They crowd around the front of the church and take notes the entire time. There is always a question and answer period at the end that eventually has to be cut off, or I'd never get to leave. Seeing the motivation of the women and the living conditions that they struggle to improve has touched me tremendously. I have begun talking to some leaders in the churches here, suggesting a special women's task force. A group of influential church women who could get together and pray and discuss health related issues that they see their people facing. The idea being that as they talk and discuss, we'll prioritize what they think are the main issues and develop a strategy of education and response, lead by these women.

Pray for me as I work with these women leaders on public health issues. The Assemblies of God of Congo has several hundred churches in this city - mobilizing them in an education and response campaign has the capacity to touch tens of thousands of lives.

Who We Mourn

Michael Jackson........I realize that he was a "cultural icon" and that he did, at one time, have an impact on popular music. It's also always sad to lose a loved one, so I would never try to minimize that. But I just don't quite get the worldwide reaction to his death. We live in a part of the world where people die and experience intense suffering daily. Just this morning news has come out of the North that 45,000 people have been chased from their homes due to the continuing terrorist activities of the Lords Resistance Army (http://www.radiookapi.net/) - 45,000 people!!! No food, nowhere to sleep, young children, pregnant women, old men.........women and young girls raped on a daily basis........innocent people. But instead the world is focused on the death of one man, whose last decade of life was marked by freakish changes in physical appearance, incredibly bizarre behavior, drug addiction, and sexual allegations.......

I think it's sad that Michael Jackson died.......I always think it's sad when someone's life begins to decompensate, especially in front of the entire world. I think it's sad when someone's life spins out of control and they are unable to reign it back in.........loss is not easy, no matter how weird, dysfunctional, or self-destructive someone has been. But today, I choose to mourn for the 45,000 people in Northern Congo.......and the thousands and thousands of others who have not made the news, but who do not eat everyday, whose children can't go to school......for the thousands of women and young girls here who have been raped and mutilated, for the young boys who have been kidnapped and forced into rebel military activity. I'm glad that God's love and concern extend to all - the rich and the poor, the celebrities and the "invisibles".........but today I mourn the "invisibles".

MK Transisions....

Wow, time goes by fast........it doesn't seem that long ago that we were on our way to then "Zaire", via Kenya, to begin our first term as career missionaries. Ben was about to celebrate his 4th birthday, Abby was 16 months old, and I was 5 months pregnant with Emily. As Ben was a bit older than Abby, we had talked to him a lot about AFRICA. I remember when our plane landed at the Jomo Kenyatta airport in Nairobi. It was 4am and we were exhausted from international travel and significant delays......but suddenly Ben was wide eyed and excited. We stepped out of the plane and stood at the top of the stairs in a cool Kenya breeze and said "Ben, welcome to Africa!!" He embraced the MK life immediately. Ben was a child who loved the outdoors. He learned multiple languages and could sing various Christian songs in all of them. He was an expert at lizard hunting and became quite proficient with a slingshot. He played with neighborhood kids and learned how to build little trucks out of pieces of wood and woven straw. He fell in love with soccer and played it in dirty roads for hours.....barefoot of course. As he grew he learned about other religions; animism, Hindu, Islam......and he learned how to share Christ with people of those religions.

This Sunday Ben leaves Africa to start college at Evangel University in Springfield, MO. This morning, as we were packing up things in his room I asked him "how's it been.....being an MK? Are you going to write any books about it?" He said "I love it mom.......I wouldn't change a thing.....and if I write any books it would only be good stuff."

We're so proud of Ben......of all our kids. They've gone through multiple international moves, new schools (Ben had 7 school changes from kindergarten till now), evacuations, losing all possessions, more moves, civil unrest, meeting new friends, saying good-bye to good friends, and yet more moves. God is so very good and faithful that through all of this they still love their MK life.

We will miss Ben terribly and I have tears in my eyes as I write this.....but we are also so very proud of him and excited to see what God has in store for him.

Another Interesting Car Moment.....

This past Sunday, like many Sundays, Pat preached in a local Congolese church. It was a large church with several thousand members. There were 2 services that went from 8am till 2pm. Since Pentecost Sunday is this coming Sunday he was asked to preach on the Holy Spirit. A total of over 200 people came forward for prayer with many being filled with the Holy Spirit. It was an incredible 6 hours of church! God is good! Afterwards Pat was invited to the pastor's house for lunch. While he was making a left hand turn a taxi bus that was behind him suddenly tried to pass (even though Pat had his blinker on).......While trying to avoid our truck the bus glanced off of the drivers side door and went into a ditch.

Then the fun started!! Praise God no one was hurt, but boy did it ever draw a crowd, especially when everyone saw that it was a white guy who had been hit. Pastor Nsembe got out and began working on crowd control. Pat had to lock all the doors of the truck (it wasn't necessary to lock the drivers side door as it now could not open) and tried to stay low. Quite a few of the church people and locals who knew Pastor Nsembe well came and were able to get things settled down. The taxi driver finally admitted that it was his fault (with some aggressive help from the growing crowd).... But it was still necessary to spend many hours at the police station doing interviews and filling out reports. Fortunately Pat knew most of the policemen in the little bureau as he drives past many of them almost every day on his way to the bible school. He has given several of them rides to places and provided them with bibles - It's all about relationship!!

At the end of it all, Pat and Pastor Nsembe began to talk to the taxi driver about Christ. He was a young man who was afraid of his boss, the actual owner of the taxi bus. He got down on his knees in the little police station and asked for prayer for salvation.

Pat was gone for a total of 13 hours! He went from preaching in a large church - to praying for those who came forward - to having an accident - to being threatened by an unruly crowd - to hours in a police station - to praying for the man who hit him. We are amazed by God's presence in our lives here. From the obvious ministry situations to the bizarre twists and turns that life here can take, we are constantly aware of His hand on our lives and of His desire that ALL would know HIM.

Justice

Many times people want to know what a typical day is like for us here in Kinshasa. It's often hard to say - we don't have an "exact" routine that we repeat everyday, but today I had an interesting experience that is really quite typical for many people living here, so I thought I'd write about it.

I went downtown for a "quick trip" (famous last words) to buy a few groceries. As in many parts of Africa, I had to park on the street and arranged to pay someone to "guard" my vehicle.....meaning that you're paying them to NOT slash your tires or steal anything. Whatever, I've lived in Africa long enough, this is just part of the landscape and I don't really even think twice about it anymore.

However this time when I came out of the store someone had put a tire lock on my tires so that I couldn't leave. There was no rhyme or reason for them to do this......I was not parked "illegally", etc. but the bottom line was that I had to pay $50 to have the lock removed. There were several people around - men that make a living repairing shoes on the street, selling belts, etc. They were all on my side and I had quite a little support group. Our vehicles say very clearly "Assembly of God" (only in French), so they knew I was a "Mama Pastor" and were very incensed that this happened to a missionary.

However, as is often the case, reason didn't prevail. The little gang of men with the lock keys came and went, often leaving me for 30" at a time to ponder my fate, with the hope that I would then whip out $50. Honestly, I was about to do it.....I am not at all in favor of bribes, but when you live in places like this, there are just times when you are between a rock and a hard place....I couldn't give up our Speed The Light vehicle for $50! Even though I had done nothing wrong, it was looking like I would not be able to save the vehicle if I didn't pay and frankly, my Toyota Land Cruiser is worth the $50!!

I had called our missionary colleagues at one point, just to see if they had any thoughts on the matter - this was the first they had heard of this particular scam, so they were a bit baffled too. But they are friends with a man who is quite high up in the police department here. A few minutes later they called me to say that he was sending a representative to help me. I stood outside for about 15" when a very important looking man in a uniform showed up. To make a long story short.......after much talking (on everyone else's part, not on mine!) and a fair amount of yelling from the huge crowd that had formed around us (fortunately this crowd was mainly on "Mama Pastor's" side) my car was released and I did not have to pay a thing!

Though this time I got off free and felt somewhat of a sense of justice.......I realize that things like this happen very often to the Congolese. And if you don't have someone in a higher place to call upon, you become another victim of another scam. It's easy to get very caught up in the "principle of the matter" and the "sense of justice, or injustice". But the bottom line is that we live in an unjust world. Though I'm all for as much justice as I can find while I'm here, it's a good reminder to me that we serve a just God. Jesus is our advocate - though it sure was nice to have a representative of a "bigger man" come and help me out, I realize that my ultimate help is from Christ and he is the ultimate "big man."

I'm trying my best to be a blogger....and I will continue to work at it. But my reality is that I'm not that into my computer (gasp!)......I'd much rather be "out there" interacting and moving. Too much computer time drains me. But sometimes "out there" is draining also. I'm posting a link from CNN about some of the realities of Congo. It's a bit "raw" and rather graphic, but that's what life here is like.....raw and graphic. Please keep praying for Congo!

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/africa/05/18/ensler.congo/index.html

Life....and Death in Congo

Last week Pat went to a funeral here in Kinshasa. The 26 year old daughter of the bible school director was in a car accident in the fall. Since then she has had lingering injuries including kidney failure. The family has, bit by bit, sold most of their possessions to try and pay for her escalating medical needs. She passed away last week....young, engaged to be married, and most likely having died from something that could have been treated, if she'd been somewhere with better medical care.

Death here is very raw. The most stark contrasts are at the cemetery. Even during the actual burial, there is money to be made. Standing out in the hot, hot sun hawkers mingled through the grieving crowd offering to sell water and bananas. Because of the escalating problem with grave robbers, men are available, for hire, to immediately put a cement slab over the newly buried casket. Sometimes in an effort to mark a grave you will see a small pair of flip-flop sandels........Pat said at least 10 other funerals were happening at the same time.

Life in Africa is not easy........death is not sanitized. We are so thankful for the hope we have in Christ.....death has no victory for Christians.

A child soldier's homecoming

Last year I told the story of our friend whose child was taken as a child soldier, shortly after we evacuated from Isiro in the 1990's. Akyande was the academic dean of the bible school that Pat directed, in Isiro. Right after we evacuated military troops came through Isiro and Akyande's 10 year old son was taken. Years later (around 2007) Akyande was visiting a town in the East when he heard "Papa, Papa"......there was his long lost son!! Though his son didn't return home with him at that time, he has since come back to the family. We asked our friend how it was, having a former child soldier in the home. The family is thrilled to have him back, but there are adjustments to the personality and coping skills that the son adopted as he "grew up" in the military. He's trying to finish up high school, but is obviously several years younger than those in his class, which has been hard on him. His dad describes him as "hard and argumentative."

We praise God for bringing the family back together again. Despite the difficulties, they are together, they're living as a family, the son is trying to get an education, and he is actively involved in church life.

Please pray for this family. When you read what child soldiers go through and how difficult it can be to deprogram and rehabilitate, one can understand how hard it must be for the boy and his family.

The rest of the story......12 years after evacuating.

As rebel troops and rioting government soldiers fought one another in Eastern and Northern Congo, the fall of 1996, we had many anxious moments. We were living in the town of Isiro, with our 3 small chidlren. We were finally told that we needed to leave or our safety could not be ensured. We evacuated from Isiro, Zaire (now DRC), on December 1, 1996. It was such an emotional time - I remember it like yesterday. We said good-bye to friends, paid workers several months wages, and walked through our mission home, wondering if we'd ever see it again. We were evaucated by MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) planes and due to space and weight limitations, we had pretty strict luggage limits. For our family of 5 we were given 3 suitcases. So that day in 1996, when I walked through my house one last time, I knew that I could very well be losing everything I owned.....and I did. We took out what we thought we needed - important asthma meds for Ben, a few precious books and toys for the kids, and some clothes. A week later our house was looted and all that was left was stolen.

Flash forward 12 years......Pat just went to Kisangani, Northern DRC. He was able to reconnect with many former friends and bible school students that he had not seen since we had left 12 years ago. One former student - now a pastor - approached him. He said that after our home was looted a few of our students went through it, seeing if there was anything to be salvaged. Torn books and papers littered the floor. As he kicked around some papers a photograph caught his eye. He picked it up and thought "this is something Pastor would want." For 12 years he kept that photo in mint condition, even as he himself had to flee future rebel groups that came through. He gave the photo to Pat last week. It was of Emily's baby dedication. When she was one year old we were out in Nairobi for a retreat with other Central and East African missionaries - family to us! The retreat speaker was then General Secretary of the AG Pastor George Woods. He gladly agreed to do Emily's dedication, as our good friend and Area Director, Billy Burr looked on. I can't tell you the emotions I felt as I looked at that photo today. What a gift!!! That after 12 years, the Lord allows for us to have a little bit of the important past back in our lives. He is constantly showing me that He is intimately involved in every aspect of our lives, even in what I would consider the "little, unimportant things".

News from the North

Pat called today. He officiated a big wedding over the weekend and saw lots of old friends and old bible school students - who are now pastors. What great reunions he's had!! And what amazing stories they have to tell. Even now the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) from Uganda is terrorizing the Northern part of Congo. One of our former bible school students is a pastor in the area where the LRA has their base of operations. He told Pat that a month ago they fled on foot to escape the rebels. They traveled through the forest for 3 weeks and reached Isiro (where we used to live). Thousands of people are being displaced. Please pray for this critical situation. Because Northern Congo is so remote there is not a lot of news getting out and it is very hard to get supplies in.

Pat has heard so many testimonies of God's protection and faithfulness during all the fighting. I'm anxious for him to come home - once I have pictures I'll tell more of the stories.

Today Pat went to Kisangani, in Northern Congo. Please pray for him as he will be ministering to pastors and holding a seminar there for one week. The Lord's Resistance Army is really on the rampage in this part of the country. I am not worried about him specifically in Kisangani - there is a very large UN contingency there and I don't think they would dare go there - but he will be ministering to people who have been very affected by this violence.

In the meantime I finished up my transformational development course today. We finished by studying HIV/AIDS and what the church can do in this area. Almost all the students (who are either already pastors or are lay leaders in their churches) admitted to feeling overwhelmed and under educated by HIV/AIDS, but by the end of the class they all expressed a desire to begin HIV education and ministry. I've received many invitations to various churches to help them start ministries in this area. It's been an encouraging 2 weeks!!

This week and next week I am teaching every day at the bible school here in Kinshasa. I'm teaching a course called "The Church and Development." My focus in the course is "Transformational Development." Transformational Development is basically looking at the ministry of Jesus and how he focused on touching, healing, and redeeming every part of man and encouraging our pastors to do the same - to tell the Good News in word and in deed. We have talked about the term "development" being more than just structures of "modernization", but that true development, from a Christian perspective, means that we are completely transformed - in our spirits, in our relationships, and in our physical life and how we lead it. We have had great discussions on the importance of the church here in Africa and the church's prominence in their communities. With this visibility they are perfectly positioned to help touch the tangible issues that their communities face, as they simultaneously present the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Next week we'll look at the issue of HIV/AIDS. We'll apply the strategies and methods that we've learned to developing a local church based HIV ministry.

Getting Started

Well, I have decided to join the ranks of bloggers. After years of trying to do a web site I have realized that.....well, that I can't. Giving me a web site and the whole Macromedia suite of software is like giving a 5 year old the keys to a Jaguar and telling her to have fun! I desire to do it, but I'm not techie enough, I don't have the patience to spend a lot of time in front of the computer, and I'm too cheap to hire someone to do it (I also wash and re-use ziploc baggies and feel guilty when I throw away used aluminum foil!). So here we go......

Please Pray!!

Please be praying for NE Congo. A different rebel group called the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) is terrorizing this part of the country. NE Congo is where we lived in the 1990's and we have many churches and many friends in this area. The LRA is targeting villages and towns, even at times specifically targeting church meetings. Please pray for the protection of the people in this region, for wisdom and guidance for our churches, and that the LRA would be stopped.

Welcome

This is the new blog site for the Hurst family in Africa. Updates coming soon!