Life and Other Happenings

Church praying for our kids in Florida

Church welcoming our family in Michigan

A week ago, today, we arrived home in the Republic of Congo.  For the past six and a half weeks, we had been on Home Assignment in the U.S. and it went very well. We were able to share about Central Africa with many churches and individuals, spend time with our families and visit doctors for annual check-ups. Macy has had a heart murmur since she was born, that has always been deemed “innocent”. Our pediatrician recommended an echo-cardiogram, just to check on it since one hadn’t been done since Macy was born. We praise the Lord that although the small murmur still exists, it is something she can live with and won’t hinder her day to day living (especially living in Africa). We’re thankful for old friends we had the chance to catch up with and the new friends we’ll be keeping in touch with from this point on. And, while we’re reminded daily that our kids are just kids, we had some fun learning moments being with people so often. While meeting a family we’d be staying with in their home, the wife states that they have a cat. Connor immediately blurts out, “My mom hates cats.” While at another house, eating hot dogs and ribs for dinner, he says, “I ate hot dogs for lunch today, too, but my Mom told me not to tell you.” Our kids are kids. We’re learning as we go! 

View across Congo River to DR Congo

As we’ve arrived back in our apartment, we’re slowing getting settled in. Our complex has about 16 buildings with 10 apartments in each one. We’re beginning to realize that our lives will be very different in our new downtown home. It is surrounded by a gate with guards and has a small open area where cars cannot drive, so kids can run around and play. Every evening around 5pm, kids gather together in this area. We’ve been so thankful for this community, because already our kids have made friends. Also, we have no yard or green space to continue agricultural experiments as we used to.  Based on the success or failure of our home garden, we have been able to implement new ideas in our district gardening projects.  Here, we may be able to have some potted plants, but won’t really have much of a garden.  Church has even been a new experience for us.  For the most part, the Nazarenes in this capital city worship in French; a totally new experience for us. They start at 8:30am and get out by 10:30am, whereas church in Lubumbashi generally went from 9:30am until long after 1:00pm. This is a welcome difference in a city where the temperatures rise quickly before noon. While traffic police still pull people over and there are still potholes in the roads, traffic appears to flow more smoothly and there is a greater general respect for traffic laws. 

While there are differences in our new city, there are familiarities as well. We are still in Central Africa. People speak French and we’re working with the same District Superintendents and leaders across our Field. People are friendly and hospitable. Our job will more or less remain the same. We’re excited for the days, weeks and months ahead.  

Main road along the Congo River

City view from our apartment

Kids ready to play in the apartment courtyard