Mom's last day in Congo

Well, I saw mommy to the airport last night. I’m assuming she’s well on her way home. It was nice to part knowing that it would only be 2 months before I see her at home again. It’s been strange being alone now though. I was used to having her with me almost 24/7 for 3 weeks! But I am already enjoying some solitary time to pray…I miss Jesus when I’m with other people too much!

Mom’s last day turned out great. In the morning we got her bags all checked in with Air France. It was seriously the most efficient thing I’ve ever seen happen at Maya Maya Airport! We came back and I stressed over finishing my taxes (anyone else think the American gov’t is crazy for expecting its citizens to accomplish such a feat?!!). Then we had a great lunch with my colleagues, the Winters family.

Afterwards I got a call from my friend Byas saying his wife had a baby girl and we could come see them at the hospital! We went, taking along a typical gift of bottles of filtered water, and marveled at the simplicity, cramped conditions, and lack of sanitation at the hospital (actually, I didn’t think it was too bad, but I haven’t seen an American hospital for a couple of years). Byas’ wife was looking good but we found out she’d had the baby just that morning! They don’t waste any time getting visitors over there! The baby was precious and sleeping and looking healthy. Praise the Lord!

We came home and my friend William showed up with his cousin who is visiting from Nkayi (where I happen to be flying to tomorrow). We had a good visit and it was nice ‘cause my mom had thought she wouldn’t get to see my friends again. My Cameroonian friend Marcelle who is a missionary with Intervarsity came over too and brought a very generous gift for my mom! It was a dress and a set of jewelry. So precious. This girl has very little money. People here are just so generous and non-materialistic. I hope they are rubbing off on me!

In the evening Louz came just in time to join us for dinner. He brought my mom an outfit made at the tailor! It’s made from a pagne material that has lamps on it and says “Christ is light” in Lingala. Just before we finished dinner and needed to head to the airport, another visitor came! His name is Dupaul and we’d met him on the street a few days ago. He had started explaining a mural to us in English and then mentioned that he has made a Christian CD. It was awesome because just a few hours earlier my mom literally said “I wish I could buy a Christian CD from here.” So he remembered and managed to come by the house with his CD just in time for my mom to take it back with her. Very cool.

So my mom’s trip ended very well and I think she is going home with warm memories of Congo (no pun intended) :o) Sorry no photos to show yet—my camera’s busted and my mom’s isn’t digital. She’ll send me a CD in a few weeks though.

Thoughts from Mom [and Jessica]

Things are quiet across the river. To give you a perspective on the closeness, there is only the Congo River separating Kinshasa (capital city of Democratic Republic of Congo) and Brazzaville (capital city of Republic of Congo). [Closest two capital cities in the world!] It was a sad situation. Jessica kept saying, "Why do they want to destroy their own city?" A fire burned all day yesterday because apparently the oil reserves were bombed and flames could be seen shooting skyward from a vantage point near SIL [about 4 miles from the scene].

Yesterday I did get to go into the prison here with a CMA missionary, who also lives here on the SIL compound. Got to do a couple of songs....I do love these Congolese people. [Brave woman. At this prison you get locked in with the inmates, and the guards take no responsibility for you! But she said the women welcomed them with smiles and hugs. They also went into the men's area to support the guy who was preaching. I wasn't allowed to go to the prison because I'm "too young and pretty" :o) Ha!]

Tonight Jessica and I are going to the French Cultural Center for a concert. A girl from Jessica's church is in it. Tomorrow night there's another concert in which many of Jessica's musician friends will be performing. So you see, life is not really too bad here, although we got caught in a huge windstorm while we were out today and came home with sand in our teeth & eyes (and everywhere else). But we did buy some wonderful material and took it to Jessica's tailor--who lives in a neighborhood that makes Ciudad Sandino (where Wilber lives) look like Nob Hill. She will construct an outfit that will make me look African! All right!!!! [For those who don't know, Wilber is my mom's "son" from Nicaragua. As for the outfit making her look African...we'll see :o) ]

Thank you, thank you, for your prayers. It was a scary couple of days, but it was good for this mom to see how Jessica's director stayed on top of the situation and kept a cool, but alert, head. ["Scary situation"? Yeah, Mom wasn't scared one bit. I was the nervous one!]

On Monday we will fly to Ouesso, where Jessica has heard that the homes of many were damaged or destroyed yesterday by a storm that came through. So please be in prayer for that trip. We will be returning on Friday to Brazzaville.

The sounds of Congo

My mom got in last night! Woohoo! We've had a full day. Took her to the market to get food this morning. We even rode the bus (I won't tell you about my mom falling into the lap of the guy behind her while both of us are lauging hysterically). One of my colleagues said "Way to jump in the deep end!"

One thing you notice about Congo is the sounds. We've been listening to chirping birds, a squealing monkey, dogs barking, salesmen hawking their wares...and gun fire/grenades. Like I said, we've had a full day. Welcome to Congo, Mom!

Things have suddenly taken a turn for the worse across the river in Kinshasa. We're staying up town and inside for the moment! Yeah, it's been a great first day for my mom :o)

Don't freak out, I'm sure we're safe here, but pray for the fighting to cease for the poor Kinshasans sake.