MY LAST SUNDAY IN LUBUMBASHI

The Service started at 10:00 am, but Pastor Didier had been hard at work for several hours. We were combining two churches for this service. Chairs had been moved from one church to another to accommodate the increased number of attendees. Didier drove to the church which he pastors to pick up the university aged choir—probably about 12 young people. Two busses, 7 passenger vans, were hired to bring worshippers from one church to the other. In the Congo the vans may haul 20 people normally, but in abnormal circumstance 30 may be crowded in if it is physically possible. Unfortunately I did not see the vans unload so as to be able to count the arriving group.

Annie had prepared rice, beans and fish for 200 people; the actual number went beyond this. There was over 100 children in attendance. Because of this large number the children they had to meet in a separate building.

At 9:00 I went to the church to just sit and meditate. Already the first university choir was there, soon a high school aged choir was in place. Before the morning was over two adult choirs would be participate also. Keep in mind that the plan for a worship service under Didier’s direction involves one hour of animated singing, plus one hour of preaching. To this we were going to add a communion service.

I preached and officiated at the Communion Table. The service lasted for more than three hours. Then the crowd had to be fed. The children were in the process of being fed when the adult service was over. Didier apologized to me about eating late because he knew I was hungry. While we were waiting for food he decided to move the borrowed chairs back to where they had come from. He asked me to help; moving the chairs involved about an extra hour.

When we arrived from moving the chairs, I went immediately to the church to get my food. I looked at the table and found the food containers were empty. Just before disappointment depressed me, one of the girls from the university aged choir called to me and held up a plate of rice, beans and a partial sardine which she had saved for me.

The choir was seated in a circle, some sang and some were still eating. Singing seemed to be the preferential act as those who had not emptied their plates would stop eating to sing. While I was eating and they were singing one of the young men told me that they were telling me good by by singing. I was very deeply touched by that realization. After the food was eaten and the singing was over, we all stood up and one girl came to me with a short speech. She said, “Pastor Wheatley we love you, you are gentle man.” I am sure that she was speaking for the group.

I replied,”I love you also, may I kiss you on the cheek?” She extended her cheek for my polite and loving peck. Just as soon as she got her kiss, another girl rushed up and said, “Me too.” Needless to say….

I went outside and had countless pictures taken of me with various church members. One was with a little baby boy who was probably very frightened of being held by a strange white man. Tears rolled down his cheeks , but mama still wanted me to hold him for the picture. I co-operated. In their culture to have an older Pastor hold your child is to have your child blessed. I felt like some sort of dignitary.

I headed to the guest house; the choir was following me. I have no idea what they were planning, but Pastor Didier met us and gently discouraged them from following me. I was glad that he realized how tired I was.

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The Last Leg of my Trip to D. C.

In a previous posting, I have told you of my extra day spent in Ethiopia. At 10:15 pm the plane departed from Addis Ababa for Rome where we refueled and changed the crew of the plane which took about an hour. I was seated next to a 29 year old Ethiopian graduate student who lived and studied in Kentucky. She slept most of the trip, but it seemed like every time I would fall asleep, she would accidently jab me in the ribs with her elbow. One time in my sleep, my body drifted to close to hers and I realized how badly we both probably smelled.

At about 7:30 am we arrived at the Dulles airport. Remember we had flown north to Rome and then had crossed the Atlantic by so doing we were chasing a setting sun. This makes for long days so I don’t know how many hours we actually traveled.

Clearing customs was no problem; no one was interested in opening my bag. It was just a matter of patiently waiting in line, sliding my passport through an electronic reader and a friendly greeting. Before long I was in a taxi headed to my daughter’s home. On arrival I found a hidden key and headed straight for a shower and a shave. I was soon calling home and Sharon wanted to know if I took a long shower. Actually I could not take a long shower without feeling guilty over it. I am still living with the realization of how much I have and how little some people have.

On Being Re-Americanized.

I drank milk for the first time in more than three weeks. I drove a car. I am in Starbucks drinking coffee, I had a bagel with creamed cheese. Wow! I did not realize how culturally deprived I felt until I got re-exposed to the wealth of America. Soon I am going to go Costco to develop some pictures which I will take to Hannah’s school. I hope to be able to share them with her class and maybe another class where I know the teacher. I will fly home on Monday.

I FORGOT TO MENTION THAT I ATE WORMS AT ONE MEAL WHILE IN THE DRC.

BLOGGING AT 37,000 FEET (On Monday 10-3-2011)

As I write this I am on the Ethiopian Air flight from Lubumbashi to  Addis Ababa via Lilongwe, Malawi.  I think it is a little more than four hour trip to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.  

Last night I did most of my packing.  Much of the personal things which I brought were left behind:  long sleeved shirts, Vaseline Hand Lotion, my last MRE, and part of my heart.  This morning I was up about 6:15. Quickly finished packing, for breakfast I had two slice of bread, Laughing Cow Cheese, and an apple.  I found some iced tea mix which I mixed with warm water for my caffeine fix.  About 7:45 hot water was delivered to my room so I topped everything off with hot Via, but no creamer or sugar.

Everything being in place I went out to watch the morning happenings in the bush.  While in place in my usual chair in the breeze way, a little boy came pedaling along on an elderly bicycle.  On the back of his bike were two little boys, I assume that they were brothers.  I waved them over to me so I could take their pictures.   When the picture was taken the three little boys each had big smiles on their faces.  The bike was soon headed back down the road, but before it left the one who empowered  the bicycle called to me, “Papa, I love you.”

About 9:00 Pastor Didier came to get me so I could  take gifts to his wife and Mama Angelique.  He had warned them that I would be bringing gifts and taking pictures so they were beautifully dressed.  It was my great pleasure to tell them how much I appreciated their hard work taking care of the children and then to give them material for clothing which Didier had chosen. Needless to say they were thrilled. 

I had to have some good-by time: pictures and holding the orphans.  Little Matthew who adores men began to cry.  Pastor Didier said that he knew I was leaving. I had to pick him up and comfort him.  Then I transferred him to Annie’s open arms and left.  Matthew will soon be in the Layton’s  home in Shingle Springs, Ca.  He will have an adoring family.  He is so cute. 

Didier took me to the Airport and got me on the plane safely without any problems I am writing now from Ethiopia where I spent the night as my flight out was cancelled.  I had a night without mosquitos, and plenty of hot water all courtesy of Ethiopian Airlines.