Kasumbalesa

On Sunday we were able to take a small trip to the village of Kasumbalesa, which is located on the border of Zambia and the DRC about an hour and a half from Lubumbashi. We were greeted warmly at the pastor’s house and then took a 2km walk to the church.  This new village was settled several years ago outside of the town and general services such as water, electricity, and roads aren’t yet available there.  It was an easy walk in the morning, but was difficult on the walk back because of the over 100 degree heat and high humidity.  I now know why people always have a piece of cloth to wipe their faces and why men are wearing wet washcloths on their heads. But, that’s a whole different subject.

This church has been built partly with the congregation’s own funds, funds that the district has raised, and just recently the church was able to put a roof on through Alabaster funds (the Church of the Nazarene’s special offering for land and buildings.) Like most churches in the DRC, the service was mostly in Swahili, with some translation into French for our sake. After worship through singing, prayer and hearing the Word, we were able to dedicate this church building to the Lord. The people were so excited for the work the Lord is doing amongst them. They have a soccer ministry and their next goal is to build a soccer field on their church property. There are also plans to plant sweet potatoes and peanuts to help fund their ministry.

Afterwards, we were served a traditional meal of ugali, rice and beans, small pieces of chicken and linga-linga (a spinach-like vegetable). Our kids were especially excited because we got the opportunity to eat using our natural silverware (our hands).   As a true testimony to the roads in the DRC, we were also blessed with the ability to change a flat tire, our second in two weeks, on the way back to Lubumbashi.

We count ourselves fortunate to travel to different Nazarene churches and see what the Lord is doing among His people. 

Kafubu

It never ceases to amaze me how children can still make us feel like celebrities here. Every time we visit a village, the kids are running to the car singing and dancing all along the way. And, the minute you step out of the car every hand is stretched out to greet you with a handshake…some not wanting to let go.

This weekend, we spent Friday morning with our Nazarene church in Kafubu, a small village right outside of Lubumbashi. Last November, with the first rains of the rainy season, the Church building was destroyed. Since then, they have been meeting under a large Mango tree. Despite their setback, this church has remained faithful and continued on as the church, without a building. We were fortunate to see the large piece of property they are using as a farm. They are growing cabbage, corn, tomatoes, zucchini and a few green leaf vegetables eaten by many in Congo. This is great for the village, not only in supplying food for themselves, but also to sell and use as income. This church has also begun a literacy program for women. Many women have not had the opportunity to go to school. In fact, here in Lubumbashi, school is not free. You must pay to attend school. The ladies in the church were very excited to show what they had been learning. Using the chalkboard, each woman took a turn writing a new word she had learned to write, as well as her name. It’s beautiful to see their confidence and excitement. We were finally privileged to help with the feeding program they have for kids. Gavin, Crystal (an American visitor who has been ministering in South Africa, but came to see what ministries she could be a part of in Lubumbashi) and I filled up bowls with fufu, fish and linga, linga (a green leaf vegetable).

God is so good! They have begun to build a new church, with their own means and hope to begin building a school soon; giving every child the opportunity to be educated. Bonne Samaritan Church of the Nazarene, in Kafubu is carrying out the mission of the church. 

“You are the people of God; he loved you and chose you for his own. So then, you must clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Be tolerant with one another and forgive one another whenever any of you has a complaint against someone else. You must forgive one another just as the Lord has forgiven you. And to all these qualities add love, which binds all things together in perfect purity. The peace that Christ gives is to guide you in the decisions you make; for it is to this peace that God has called you together in the one body. And be thankful. Christ’s message in all its richness must live in your hearts. Teach and instruct each other with all wisdom. Sing psalms, hymns, and sacred songs; sing to God with thanksgiving in your hearts. Everything you do or say, then, should be done in the name of the Lord Jesus, as you give thanks through him to God the Father.”

Colossians 3:12-17

Being Stared At...

No matter how long we live here, I'm not sure that I (Gavin) will ever get used to how much we get stared at.  Whether I am walking through a neighborhood, driving through town, or just shopping, I (we) will usually command a lot of attention. There is almost a pause, like a hush falling over an unruly crowd, as people stop what they're doing and focus their attention upon us.  Besides the many pairs of eyes that are usually fixed upon me, I normally hear a variety of interesting things.  On any given day, I will hear most of the following:

• "Mazungu!" meaning "white person"
• "Petit" meaning "little one"
• "Chinois, hee-haw" meaning "Chinese," and I think they think hee-haw is "hello" in some language
• "Père blanc" meaning "white father"
• "Way" or "Way-way" meaning "YOU"
• Kissing sounds….oh, the constant kissing sounds…from men

It's not all bad to receive constant attention, just as it is not all good to constantly go unnoticed.  However, we are learning how to get used to life in a fishbowl.  For the most part, these things remind us that we are different, and that we need to look at the world with fresh perspective.  For instance, one of the most amazing parts about being a missionary is getting to share life with people who are so vasty different from you.  There is something special about learning to live and interact with those around you in new and exciting ways.  As a family, we often talk about how the Lord is using these experiences to deepen our faith and stretch the ways in which we see others and the world.  In John chapter 13:33-36, Jesus gives his disciples "a new command."  He says:

"A new command I give you: Love one another.  As I have loved you, so you must love one another.  By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another."

Jesus tells his followers the true mark of their new identity.  It seems a bit significant that our Lord basically gives them this command three times in a row, almost to be sure that it sinks in.  If we are to follow this command, then it applies even to those who are so different and strange to us that its hard to love them.  I hope that we are being faithful to Jesus' "new command" even when it is all weird or totally backwards to us.  I know that our brothers and sisters in Christ are trying their hardest to love us even though we are weird and backwards in their eyes.  We are reminded of our "differentness" every time we visit a church or walk through a neighborhood, but we can't forget our call to love in the midst of our disorientation.

After all, no matter how different we look, sound, or act from those around us, we know that all these things are mute in reference to what we have in common.  Namely, new life in Christ such as what the apostle Paul speaks about in the 3rd chapter of Colossians, culminating in his statement "There is no Jew or Greek..."  For the Christian Church during this time, these were radical words.  There could be no greater difference between these people, and yet Christ has made them one, just as we are one Christian Body today.