SUNDAY

 

I Have Now Been Here One Full Week.

 

This is my first Sunday preaching assignment for this trip.  We are prepared to preach to and then to feed some 450 people.  This is the new norm for the church here which has more than doubled in size in the last two years.  Usually the church meets in three locations with three pastors on as given Sunday and then the church meets every third Sunday at the central location every third Sunday for Communion.  Today we meet for a combined Service.  I assume that it is because I am here as a guest.

 

The scheduled starting time was 10:00 am, but the singing started a 9:45.  Pastor Peter explained that we would start early so we would have more time to glorify God.  I did not try to keep up with the time, but I know that the singing went on for two hours or maybe more.  We had six choirs doing their best and they were nd very well appreciated as measured by the applause.  I preached for more than an hour, but keep in mind that a 20 minute sermon becomes a 60 minute sermon by the time it is translated twice once into French and then into Swahili.

 

After the Service was over then I had my picture taken so many times with so many people and in some cases holding their baby.  I thoroughly enjoyed it but was totally exhausted by the time people began to settle down with foo foo, beans and cassava greens.  The beans were flavored with fish.  We had planned on chicken but it was to expensive.

 

At the close of the Service Didier and I escaped to the guest house for our meal as we were both exhausted.  I believe that it was about 2:30 by the time we got to sit down for our meal. After that I rested but poor Didier had an errand to run and then ended up counselling with two couple who are planning forthcoming weddings. He came by to see me about 8:00 pm and was so tired that his skin tone was grey and his perpetual smile had been erased. We visited for a short time and then I urged him to go home and go to bed.   He did not need much encouragement. 

 

I went to bed and read for awhile with the aid of my flashlight.  I found out later on during the night that I have exhausted the batteries.  I hope I can find new ones today.

 

Didier’s van is in bad shape so it goes in for repairs today.  I will be dropped off for internet access while he is getting the repairs done and Annie is shopping.  Write more later.

 

 

Greetings From Lubumbashi

 

 

 

It is Sunday September one and I am on Ethiopian Airlines traveling so it seems half way around the world, actually the first leg of my flight will only be some seven thousand plus miles which will take me to Addis Abba, Ethiopia. But I am ahead of myself.

I was up and dressed by about 7 am, amazed that I had gotten a good nights sleep because usually I do sleep well before such a momentous event. My son in law took me to the airport and planned to see me off but the waiting time to get checked in and ticketed was about 90 minutes so had to go off to work.

I am traveling with four bags.  Much of the baggage relates to gifts and supplies for the orphans and the poor. It seems to me that shipping charges have been outrageous--$750.00. Does it make economic sense to send so much at such a price—probably not. But then I ask the question, does it make emotional sense?  My answer, is a resounding ‘yes’ because it is a concrete e expression of Christian love from one part of the family to another part.  I am remembering that the Apostle Paul went forth eager to remember the poor.  Like Paul I want to put a face on God’s love for the poor. So do a lot of others who sacrificed monetarily to send gifts of love to the church family in The Congo. Thank you, I cannot imagine what happiness is in that baggage.

Upon arriving on the plane, it seemed as if every baby (and there are many) was crying. Before we were aloft, they were quietened. Mothers should be declared to be an International Treasure.

We were more than an hour late getting off the tarmac, but that does not bother me as I have more than three hour to wait for my next flight in Ethiopia.  It did bother my stomach because it was around 2:00 pm by the time we were served lunch—mashed potatoes, green beans and carrots, beef and gravy, ravioli salad, bread, carrot cake and marvelous Ethiopian coffee.   Wonder why I like to fly Ethiopian Air?

 Ever notice that after lunch everyone on a plane has to make an excursion to the bathroom? On a large international flight such as this oft times the bathrooms turn into disaster areas. Went to the bathroom and on the   way out, I noted that there was soon going to a shortage of T-paper. Expedited the matter by stealing a small remnant. Ashamed no!

 

Current time is 7:10 pm, according to the video map which I am watching we are about half way or more across the Atlantic.

There is a group of 16 from a United Methodist Church in Texas on this plane headed to Ethiopia to do micro-finance--which is teaching small business--and helping in an orphanage. Hope to visit with them before the trip is over.

Monday September the 2^nd.

Arrived in Addis Ababa, we were unloaded on the tarmac and trucked into the airport.  I was exhausted on arrival as I probably did not get an hour of sleep during the flight.  Adrenalin was flowing, I was super-charged and was very nervous hoping that I would not miss my next flight which was on to Lubumbashi. 

Another four hours on the plane if I remember correctly. I would have preferred a beating.  We traveled about 3 hours and then set down in a place which started with the letter N.  We  were there for about an hour and then off for a 45 minute flight to Lubumbashi. 

Unloaded on the tarmac and then walked maybe ¼ of a mile into the airport.  Breezed through customs without a problem. Went outside looking for Didier.  But there was no Didier.  I am starting to get scared because I am trying to figure out what I would do, if he was sick or in an accident.  All of the incoming passengers have left the airport and I am in a sea of black faces.  Some of them want to help.  Questions are being asked of me.  I have no answers except to say that I am waiting for my ride.  Didier shows up all apologetic, the van is having clutch problems.  He had to get a friend to him to the airport. 

My luggage did not arrive with me.  No Cliff bars, no dried meat, no clean clothing and I have been traveling for two days.  We have gone  to the Jambo Market for bread, fruit, clean shirt and underwear.  Hopefully  things will come in on the next plane which is 2:00 pm today.  If I understand correctly a special plane will bring in the luggage. By the way that meant no Via, Starbucks instant coffe, for me this morning. 

I enjoyed a special meal of wild chicken, rice, fu fu, green beans, and  boiled potatoes with Didier and JP—the man who drove us.  JP is a Christian man who works with the Methodist here in Lubumbashi and is apparently self=employed also.  He gave me two of his company’s polo shirts.  How nice it was to get cleaned up.  Felt like I had washed off at least five pound so dirt.

Before dinner Pastor Peter came to visit, with moist eyes he told me what a blessing I had been to him two years ago.  Compliments on a sermon on Sunday are pretty much to be expected even if the person never comes back to Church.   A compliment a week later is wonderful.  But two years later….During dinner Judge Phuna—the judge who is responsible judgments for problems relating to children—phoned to welcome me to  his country and to tell me that he wanted me to come for a visit today.  Apart from the judge’s signature we would never be able to bring a child into the U. S.   I certainly feel welcomed Didier is trying to protect me until I can get some rest.  I had 7 visitors before 9:00 am.  All I have to do is open the door and go out on the breeze way. 

Hopefully I will get access to the ‘net today and you will find this on Fbook.  Please overlook errors and poor grammar, etc.

Wednesday

Yesterday afternoon we had great plans, I was going to visit the orphanage, call on Judge Phuna, our attorney wants me to come by for a visit.  I have not seen Pastor Mickey and his wife Saundra yet.  So many things to do that we planned on and what did I do?  We took Annie to town to buy food which is an everyday occurrence. Imagine if you had to buy for about 30 people daily and had no refrigeration.  While she made the necessary purchases, Didier and I hashed out some plans about getting electricity to the Mission Station.  By noon I was absolutely exhausted, so tired I could hardly keep my eyes open. I came back to the guest house, grabbed some squirrel food, a banana, drank a bottle of water and off to bed I went.

About two hours later I woke up looked out the window, saw the sun was shining and thought that I had slept all night.  I went back to sleep for about two more hours.  Then I got up went to Didier’s house, the doors were closed, thought maybe he was napping so back to the guest house.  About half an hour later he came in and told me that he had come by, seen how I was sleeping and did not want to wake me up. 

For our evening meal we had goat stew, okra, potatoes and rice.  It was all very flavorful but I find the meat a little chewy.  The sauce over the potatoes or rice is excellent. 

 

I went outside this morning as I like to watch the morning arrive: women are carrying water, children are on the way to school, etc.  But it was so very cold out that I was driven back in.  We are South of the equator so summer is arriving, by noon it will be so hot that I will not want to be outside.  Fortunately the guest house provides a break from both the heat and the cold. 

I mentioned that I  have not been in the Orphanage yet.  Plans were that I would go yesterday afternoon, apparently the workers need all morning to get the place cleaned up and ready for a visitor. I did get to peek into the Church in the morning to see the children being taught French.  They were learning body parts: eyes, ears, mouth, etc.  Stephan a Christian man who teaches in the local school was working with them.  He was enthusiastic and they were so excited as he pointed to a part and they all shouted out the name of the body part.  I have yet to have the Browns’ children pointed out to me.  Hopefully today.

Again today there is shopping for food and I hope to get my luggage as this is the fourth day in these socks.  

More later as I need to get this in the mail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Church Services Today

Sunday

• Spoke twice today  once in Sunday School  and then in the main service.

• It was in Mineral, VA which is a two hour drive from my daughter's house.

•  I was being guided by a GPS unit, but I was beginning to distrust the thing because I kept going, going and going South.

• I thought I was going to end up leaving the state, but finally arrived at the Church.

• A dear friend  is the Pastor in Mineral,  the last time I had seen him was many years ago.

• We were re-united by Facebook.

• After church I had a great visit with a couple--they are thinking about adopting a child.

• That excites me.

• I am suire that does not surprise me.

 

• Is this not what Pastor do when they are on vacation?



It Is An Overwhelming Event

The Process has Been Long and Exhausting

Tuesday

• I have prepared at least a 50 page syllabus for teaching pastors and church leaders.
• Packing has been a very demanding process. How do you prepare to live on the road for about 80 days?
• Once you figure out how much of many things you think you will need, then it has to be packed and weighed into 50 pound bags.
• How are bills to be paid and mundane things like that?
• How much money will I need and how is the safest way to carry it as it has to be in cash (one hundred dollar bill no older than 2006).
• How much food should I take and how is it to be packed? (Cliff Bars, dried meat and military Meals Ready to Eat are on my list)?

Wednesday

• I travel to three banks to take care of financial arrangements, the money can have no marks, tears or signs of aging or a hundred dollar bill may be discounted up to 30%.
• Then off to Elk Grove so I can spend the night with dear friends and be closer to the Sacramento Air Port. 

Thursday

• Up at 3:20 am, showered shaved, re-packed because more items are given to me to take to the DRC.
• About 4:00 am  we head out to the car and I discover that I do not have my cell phone. It is found and off we go.
• I have over 200 pounds of luggage for The Congo, most of it is to left there for the mission: (compassionforcongo.org)
• I would never have been able to escort all my baggage without help from my friends. Getting baggage checked in and clearing security leaves me both stressed and exhausted.
• On the plane I am seated across the aisle from a Catholic Priest--not a Father, but a Mother--note that I did not say a Roman Catholic Priest.  She came from a liberal Catholic group
• I had the most delightful time visiting with her, she attends a Methodist Church and works in a hospital as a Chaplain. 
• Flew into Chicago and was delayed about an hour--my connecting flight to DC was late.
• Ann and Hannah met me at Dulles Air Port--my how Hannah grown since I last saw her. Delightful granddaughter.

Today

• To tired  to accomplish anything this morning.
• I am in much better shape this afternoon
• Terry is busy this evening
• Ann took Hannah and me to a Viet-Namese restaurant this evening.
• I had to much good food--feel like  just going to bed and sleeping.

Saturday

• Time to post. 

Before and After Story

hough surprised, we were not unhappy.

 WeBbbee hatTBBehisThTh

                           Zephanie is on my lap in our orphanage in the Congo                                 

Here is what I wrote:

Monday, September 26, 2011

FRIDAY WAS ABOUT ZEPHANIE

I was asked to blog about a little girl aged four who is in our orphanage named Zephanie.  She came to us from the Amani Orphanage--a Catholic orphanage. That was all that I knew. The Amani Orphanage does not normally take children of less than school age as they need to have their resident children in school for part of the day.  I asked Didier about her;  he told me that when she came to them she had a terrible infestation of lice.  She was not only infested, but the lice had caused an infection.  She had sores in her scalp.  He knew nothing of her back ground. 

Friday morning Didier came to the guest house and told me that he had made an appointment with the Amani Orphanage and we were going to meet with their staff to inquire about Zephanie’s background.  We drove to the orphanage and I was introduced to the staff—the mother of the orphans and a social worker.  We soon found that they had little knowledge of this little one.  But they knew where the foster parents lived who had take care of her and brought her to their orphanage.  So off the four of us went to do our research.

Pastor Didier told me that I was going to have to have a very large heart as we drove into the area from which Zephanie came.  It was more than a small island of poverty;  it was a very large community.  There poverty hit me like a blow to the solar plexus.  Poverty has its smell,  view and emotional  touch.  I will only mention briefly the view.  My first real glimpse was of a pre-teen girl with the unmistakable distended stomach. Little boys ran around either naked or partially naked. 

We stopped in front of a living quarter to visit the foster parent(s).  The social worker went ahead of the rest of us to ascertain whether or not it was alright for us to follow.  In just a few minutes he was back waving for us to follow. We went in, I having no idea of what to expect.  We entered an unlighted room which had a smooth floor—probably cement.  It was obviously the living space; about 30 sq. was my best estimate.   The walls were brick which had been smoothed out with mud.  There were two cracks in the wall into one of the cracks was inserted the most worn out tooth brush I had ever seen.  In the other crack was a totally worn out scrub brush.  They were indeed a matching pair. 

There were five white plastic chair one of which was already occupied by a woman whom I assumed to be the foster mother of Zephanie. Soon all were filled.  Didier asked me what I wanted to know.  The first question I wanted him to ask her was how much money the state paid her for taking care of Zephanie.  He did not even bother to ask, he just told me that she got no money. 

Soon a very animated conversation ensued of which I could not participate.  Then Didier almost whispered to let me know that we were in reality talking to Zephanies’s mother.  This was an overwhelming bit of information. We soon learned that Zephanie’s father died before she was three months old.  Her mother had a complete breakdown: mentally, physically and emotionally.  While she was incapacitated, someone took  Zephanie for her protection and was delivered to the Amani Orphanage.

The community tried to nurse Zephanie’s mother back to health.  When they failed, she was taken back to the village from which she originated to be treated by the local witch doctor.  He failed.

She was returned to the community and her doctor has told her that at any time she may die.  She is incapable of caring for a child. Until we arrived she did not know that Zephanie was alive, she assumed that her little girl was dead.  Pastor Didier showed her a picture of the child.  She looked long and hungrily at the picture and her eyes filled with tears. Pastor Didier whispered she is filling her mind and her heart with the picture. 

Before we left she signed papers of abandonment of Zephanie.

Zephanie on the far left is a beautiful, sweet, charming, lovable little girl loaded with personality,  possessor of many smiles is presently our only adoptable child.  Her mother has legally abandoned her and she has been in our possession for more than three months. 

This is the After Picture:  This is 2013 and she is so beautiful

Zephanie is no longer an Orphan

Her name is Kiffanie now and she lives in Wyoming.  

She has a family including a father; he probably took the picture.   Good job Ken.

WHERE IS MY HEART?

I AM THINKING ABOUT PACKING...

But seem to not accomplish much.... Today seems to be an excellent day to procrastinate.  Petal (our Bichon   Frise dog) and I are enjoying a day of little stress.  She is asleep on my bed as I am typing.  Tomorrow I will have to pack as I will be leaving for the Bay Area on Sunday after I preach at River Pines Bible Church.  

On Sunday when I leave home I will be packed for my trip to Travis Air Force Base where I have an appointment on Tuesday with a doctor who specializes in radiation therapy to kill some unwanted cells in my body.

Hopefully the weather will be pleasant in the Bay Area on Monday because I love to walk across the Golden  Gate Bridge, eat some Chinese food, ride the Cable Cars, look at things which I cannot afford and would never buy if I could do so.

Then on Tuesday it is only about a 45 minute drive to Travis AFB for my early morning appointment  and another adventurousome day.

SOME MUSINGS

I have been reading a book about written by a man who canoed the Congo River with all its hazards.  He reminded me of something which I knew but had given little thought to.  Dr. Livingstone, the famous British explorer, trekked across Africa looking for the source of the Nile River.  In 1873 while traveling in Africa he lost his last great battle to Malaria and internal bleeding caused by dysentery. 

In my distant past while traveling in England, I had opportunity to visit his crypt in Westminster Abbey. It is not a well known how he got his body traveled across Africa on the thousand mile trip to the East Coast of Africa to be placed on a ship destined to take his remains to London.

He had two trusty attendants who carried his body across the country to place it on theship.  After breathing his last, they removed his internal organs including his heart which was buried under a tree.  His body cavity was then filled with salt and with aid of the hot African sun and continual bathing in brandy was preserved for the trip.   With his legs bent back at the knees to make the body easier to transport, off they went carrying his body to the East coast of Africa.  But before the body was placed on the ship, a note was pinned to the body saying, "You can have his body, but his heart belongs in Africa." Eleven months after his death, his body was laid to rest.  

I identify with the simple statement, "You can have his body, but his heart belongs in Africa."  I plan on being there this ssummer.

SPEED BUMPS IN THE ROAD OF LIFE

In 2006, I had a prostate-ectomy.  Following that I had a minor surgery to correct some problems related to the removal of the prostate.  The second surgery corrected the problem, but I was warned that it might have to be repeated in as short of time as two years.    

Not to long ago, I began to experience some minor problems and assumed that the second surgery was in need of being done again.  At the same time I was completing my inoculations for my trip to the DRC.  So I was  combining my trips to the doctor at the Veterans Administration as much as possible as I have to drive 90 minutes to get there.     

                                                                                                                                                   My Urology doctor had prescribed a mild tranquilizer for what he called a spastic bladder.    On Tuesday I got my last two shots, dropped into Urology to see about making an appointment with my doctor because a side effect of the tranquilizers was acid ingestion.   I assumed that the doctor would want to try another prescription.  The Urology Department scheduled me to see a doctor on Wednesday. 

The Urologist examined all of my past records and told me very firmly that I have a renewal of cancer in my body. He was very firm about this and told me that I would need radiation in the area where the prostate had been.  Since then I have talked to a social worker and the hospital at Travis Air Force Base where the radiation will be done. I have an appointment at Travis on the 26th of this month to talk to the doctor and gather information.  Assuming that everything goes as planned then I will have another appointment at this time and  the doctor will mark the area to be radiated.  

Following the second appointment I will be reporting to Travis and staying in a motel on the base for six to eight weeks Monday through Friday. I will be in the hospital for one hour each of the five days. I will be free to leave the base on weekends.  One of the questions which I needed answered is: will the radiation affect my ability to travel to the DRC? At each point I have told every medical professional that I am planning on traveling on the 15th of August to be gone for 60 days.  They have all assured me that this will be no problem. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (ESV)
 Rejoice always,
 pray without ceasing,
 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.