Loadin' up |
brother named Jonathan had his ministry base. Frère Jonathan runs a distribution relief deal. Local churches in Lubum and Kolwesi donate clothes and food to give to the poor in rural villages, widows, orphans, old folks, and handicapped.
Here’s a few
accounts of what happened. The first
village we went to was about 20 minutes’ drive outside the city. African countryside on the way there. Nothing like it. While riding in the back of Bill’s Land
Cruiser, I talked with one of Jonathan’s assistants, Patient. Patient was the first orphan that Jonathan
raised in his ministry, and now he’s finishing up his missiological studies in
preparation to be a missionary towards businesspeople in China. Yeah… young people are being trained to be missionaries
here in Africa! I am not sure how good
the training is, however, since he didn’t seem to have the most realistic view
of how evangelism would work in China, but there it is!
Maman Sonia giving some clothes to a woman in the first village |
I doubted if
they actually got saved. I don’t know
why. I don’t think it was good that I
did that.
But after
that we dropped down the clothes and food and started the distribution. The process was that they gave out tickets and
spread the word to people in the village a couple weeks beforehand, then they
come with their tickets to receive the donations. Everyone seemed pretty satisfied… even though
it didn’t seem like they needed clothes.
Bill did say that they dressed up from the last time he passed by the
village. Then we took a ton of pictures
UGH we got so tired of taking pictures and rolled out.
We followed
about the same procedure for the old folks’ home and handicapped distributions,
except the old folks gave us plenty of African-style wisdom parable stories and
we showed the handicapped people the testimony of this evangelist dude with no
arms and legs. Again, not sure of the
complete need of clothes for these people, but Jonathan has plans for farms and
technical schools to help these people get further out of poverty with
income-producing skills.
Talking to an "mzee," an elder at the old folks' home |
And then
there was the final village. It was
about an hour out of Kolwesi in a smaller city called Fugurume. This place was wow. The countryside here was picturesque
Africa. After about a 45 minute drive
through the bush, we’re welcomed into the village church with Swahili
songs. Then we and the about 60 villagers
gather underneath a big tree in the middle of the village to sing songs, hear preaching,
and receive donations.
The normal
distribution process went well for a while… but eventually the neat line turned
into a big huddle around the piles of clothes.
I noticed a lot of activity around one pile and saw Patient throwing
clothes around like it was Mardi Gras.
That triggered a mad scramble to grab whatever, and when the dust
settled there were no more clothes and no more human dignity. The same thing happened with a nearby pile of
shoes. I noticed I was standing guard
around the last pile of shoes, but soon after Sonia tapped me on the shoulder
and told me we were leaving. We took a
few more pictures, the villagers gave us some bananas, potatoes, and a chicken,
and we left. Needless to say by us, this
distribution was poorly maintained. I do
hope and pray that the Lord would continue to move through Jonathan and that
this ministry now would be guided in faithfulness and wisdom.
No matter
how the trip went or whatever happens, one of the greatest things I admire
about Congolese is how much their faith is integrated in their outward
life. Their speech is full of faith,
vision, and assurance in the grace and power of God.
Hannah holding Excellence |
Excellence
died that day.
The smallest
illnesses can take the smallest lives and make the biggest mourning. Too often Africa becomes a very cold place.
Bottom line from the whole trip is this, though. Even though things don’t always go the best and things can always be improved, God still moves, He is still moving, and He will accomplish His purposes in Congo, those things that are more that we can ever ask or imagine according to His power that works through us.
Bottom line from the whole trip is this, though. Even though things don’t always go the best and things can always be improved, God still moves, He is still moving, and He will accomplish His purposes in Congo, those things that are more that we can ever ask or imagine according to His power that works through us.
Meeting the mayor of Kolwesi |
This is how the Congolese welcome guests: Lots of food and lots of fufu. J'aime le fufu! |
The chicken and bananas the second village gave us. The village church pastor is on the right. |
Great report Zach. I'm glad you are seeing first hand the joys and sorrows of Africa. Your summary is right on - God is sovereign! The experiences you are enjoying are teaching you and will strengthen and solidify God's calling in your life.
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