Reflections on my flight leaving Gemena

Reflections on my flight leaving Gemena




Note: I wrote this while departing Gemena on our last day of the trip. It has taken me almost two months to finalize my edits and bring myself to posting this. I did not return from the Congo “changed”. Instead I find myself “continuing in a process of change” from the impact of this journey knowing full well I am not finished.

I sit here on the plane overcome with emotion. Tears flowing freely for the precious people I might not see again in this life. I came to hear their stories. I return with a piece of their hearts. Congo is something that cannot be understood from a book, a movie, a story. One must feel the weight of the air, the sun on their skin, and the refreshing rains. Congo is experienced with all the senses. There is a unique rhythm of life that must be experienced firsthand; a richness of spirit and joy that can only be understood as you absorb it in time. What shocks the senses when arriving becomes normal at some deep level inside of you as time goes on. A new normal. A new definition for "quality of life". The important so quickly becomes so unimportant. Disbelief hits you hard at first, how could any place on our planet function in this way. Homes crafted from sticks, mud, and palm fronds, no running water, no paved roads, almost no banking institutions or centralized local government, yet cell phones, solar panels, and a functioning economy that defies simple explanation. Laughter, joy, giving, acceptance, come so easily for a people we would say have so little but on some level enjoy a freedom that escapes me.



I met a people who do not have their hand out for what I can give, but extend a hand of friendship. There was a desire to build relationship, work together healing their land and their people. I started this journey with a mental notebook of answers and western solutions that have now been set aside. What seemed logical to me prior to arriving now appears as folly; simple answers that could never fix complex problems.



I met a humble yet proud people, rich in history and some traditions that quite frankly were hard for me to accept. They love their families, yet in some instances, express it in ways that are so foreign to me. They care for their neighbors in ways that seem so unselfish, yet in the not too distant past were driven to acts of survival that I cannot comprehend.



Congo, like the river, is all about what is not obvious to the casual observer. As I glided along experiencing “surface issues” safe in the knowledge that my time here was short, it seemed like a calm river with deep currents and obstacles under the surface that could easily be avoided. As I leave I now begin to realize that the “river” is made of many currents, some that flow in unison while others surge and swirl creating dangerous undercurrents and hazards the casual might miss altogether until they are in trouble. The country, so much like the river, is complicated and beautiful with so much hidden value and potential, but can only be safely navigated by those who have spent time learning its ways. I leave with a new found appreciation for those serving here for the long run, committed to this place, with its seen and unseen challenges.



What I witnessed these last two weeks gives me hope. Leaders in the ECC (Christian church association in Congo), the CEUM (Covenant Church of Congo), and World Vision are sincere and dedicated to not only sharing Christ’s love but to lasting change in Congo that improves lives across the country. Hospitals, Universities, Schools, Health Clinics, water projects, agricultural projects, and local gardens – none of which would exist without the generosity of generations before me. Hope is evident in many forms but none more encouraging than the children. Through World Vision they are being nurtured like never before. Their future is bright as long as those of us who can make a difference continue with what we are called to do.



As I go, I see a Christian church in Congo facing unprecedented challenges. Not obvious crises that we are so good at addressing, but more subtle challenges to our mission. While material needs and daily life is nothing close to what I would call normal, the Congo I saw today exists at some level of “normalcy”. We are now challenged with things like religious influences from Islam that align with their history and past practices so well, market and job creation, and deep family traditions that limit progress and complicate social justice.



I wish I was leaving with answers, but for now all I have is a journal full of questions, more reasons to pray and trust that God is in control…



Jerry Penick

Gemena Airport – June 7, 2013

Post from La Dolce Veda (Veda Penick's Blog)

Reverend

Reverend--that's what they called him.  When he preached.  In the Congo.  To 2,321 people--Africans.  From all over, they came.  It was a quarterly church meeting, where 4 times per year they gather to worship together.  20 local congregations, 3 hours long.  Singing, praising, worshiping.

But that's not the real story.  The real story happened at the same time, on the same day, here and abroad.  A miracle.  I call it that because that is what it was.  It was something that only God could do.  When I wrote my last blog, the one about my husband and his "come to Jesus" meeting, well, little did I know that God was also speaking to my husband about sharing that same exact story to the congregations in the Congo.  When he was able to make contact with me later that same day, he told me how God had been dealing with him about sharing his "testimony".  He had been unsure, and when I asked him if he had read my blog from that morning, he said no.  I was stunned.  He hadn't yet read it.  That meant, in my mind anyway, that he should read it right way, and then pray about just what it was that God wanted him the talk about that following Sunday.

He told me later that as he read my blog, he cried.  He knew then that he needed to try to somehow share "his story" with the African people.  I told him I'd be praying, and pray I did.  For hours and hours, I prayed.  For God to give him boldness and strength, and for him to have wisdom and discernment.

I really do not think he was prepared for the turn out.  Over 2,000 people showed up.  His was to be the only sermon, he was the only speaker, the only reverend, for that is how they introduced him.  Reverend.  It embarrassed him, but he'll get over it.

He spoke for 40 minutes, thankfully there was a translator.  He said he could feel our prayers.  Those of his friends and family.  The local pastors later told him that he had spoke on key subjects that they needed to hear.  He was told that those 20 pastors will now go home and retell his story and preach on the subjects for weeks to come. His story.  The one I bet he had forgotten about.  Untill God reminded us--him and I at the same exact time--of that night so long ago.

Isn't God amazing?  If anyone had told us that night, sitting in that little church in California that one day my husband would be speaking to over 2, 000 people in Africa--well, I'm sure we would have thought they were nuts.  But, God had a plan.  He always has a plan.  It's just up to us to obey, to walk in His ways, to listen, to do and to go.  Go where He tells us to go.

My husband will have so many stories to share when he gets home.  One more week.  I miss him terribly, but you what?  I would not change one bit of what God is doing in his life (or mine) for anything.  No, I would not change one thing.

The team left for Karawa today.  In fact he just called from there.  He was so happy to find that they had installed a 1st generation cell tower.  No email available, but he could call me.  I was so happy just to hear his voice.  The team toured a hospital this morning, and when he tried to tell me about their visit, his voice broke.  He just said,please pray, pray for these people, this breaks my heart.  So, I will pray--for the people of Africa, for the team, and mostly I will pray for my husband, for he will never be the same.

I can't wait for him to share all that God is doing, he has so many things to say, so much has happened, good things.   God things.   Things that only God can do.

Written by Veda Penick (wife of Jerry Penick)

Please go to other posts by Veda by clicking on the link below:

http://ladolceveda.blogspot.com/ 

Pictures from Congo Monday June 3, 2013

Gemena

We had a great flight to Gemena! The ride was smooth on the 10 passenger plane. We flew over dense forest for the entire 4 hour flight north.  This place is amazing. It is lush and green with bright red dirt. There is beauty every where you look.

When we arrived on Friday afternoon  we were greeted by singing children and adults waving flowers and greenery. It was so joyful! 

We got settled in and were taken to the Big Sunday service (on Friday) This is a gathering of churches from all over the region. We were cheered for and waved to by 100's of people as we drove in. There was singing and dancing and shaking of many hands. We commented later that in the United States you would get this kind of greeting after accomplishing something great like winning a championship or a gold medal. Here, they greeted us that way before they even knew us.  It was done with such love and joy! 

Today, we visited CEUM schools, clinics and an orphanage. The work that these Congolese church members are doing in the community is incredible. 

We enjoyed a wonderful breakfast with Tim and Helen Smith in their home and had a Congolese feast at President Mboke's home tonight. It was an honor to sit at the table with him. He is a man that is continuing to bring peace and love to the CEUM church. 

The team is doing great! We are drinking a crazy amount of water in the sweltering heat. There has been no sickness or health issues. Praise God! 

I just can't wait to share pictures with you all! Thank you again for all your prayers! Please continue because they are felt!
Blessings,
Denee

Flory's mom and the TEAM

God is at work.  This is a picture of the team with Flory's mom.


From left to right
Jerry Penick ,Bolini... Flory's mom, Roy Hori, Willy...Flory's good friend ,  Denee Anderson


This is a photo of the team BEFORE they left.


From left to right.
Denee Anderson, Flory Buki, Diann Anderson, Jerry Penick and Roy Hori

Thursday update

Today was another incredible day!  We started today at World Vision headquarters in Kinshasa and participated in their staff devotions. Then we heard an awesome presentation about the importance of World Visions work in the Congo and how incredible the Gemena Ledia Area Development Project is.  A typical project starts with a goal of sponsoring 1,000 children and its its final stages ends up sponsoring around 4,000 children. In Gemena, we started by sponsoring 6,200 children in under a year. This has been an incredible experience for World Vision to partner with us and they are very grateful! It was neat to see how powerful this mutual connection can be!

We visited a community farm that is now a sustainable project with pigs and crops that they share with people all over that area. It is allowing these farmers to send their children to school and save money to purchase more land.

Then we visited a ADP that has been around for a few years and saw the school that World Vision built. We had lunch over looking the Congo River with the World Vision team. It was breathtaking!

When we arrived home we were able to greet Flory Buki's mom. Flory is a member at Naperville Covenant that was born and raised in Congo.  His mom was able to get her visa in Kinshasa and will be returning with us to Chicago next Friday. Praise God that all the details came together! 

Your prayers are felt.  I personally continue to feel an indescribable peace about being here. Our team is so grateful for your support!

Tomorrow we hop on our MAF flight to Gemena at 8am and spend the rest of
our time there. We will do our best to send updates when we can.

Blessings,

Denee and the Team

Relax and Enjoy the Journey

As I write I am sitting on a flight headed to Brussels and then will board a flight to Kinshasa, Congo. The journey has begun.  I have been preparing, anticipating and getting excited.  I was at peace about going to place that was unknown, unsafe and uncomfortable.  I have felt God's clear call.  Yet in that process, my humanness hit me in a way I wasn't expecting.  A few days before departure, I started to question and felt that peace was becoming more illusive.  I still could feel very excited about the mission and people awaiting in Congo and still wanted to personally experience that but Iwas getting nervous.  I prayed for God to calm my fears.

This morning the words came back to me from my devotion on the day I committed to go.  "Relax and enjoy the journey?"  They were God given words to me at a time  I needed to be reminded of them.  After pondering and praying, I felt a sense of calm come over me.  I can relax and  trust in a God who is faithful.  I am comforted by so many who have committed to pray for our team.  The  journey is not only about the physical trip there.  It is about the process of allowing God to touch and transform me.  It is about  how lives can be impacted by the hope only God can bring to the poorest people in the world.  The journey is also about the amazing things that can take place after the physical trip is completed.

Thank you God, for your reminder to me to relax and enjoy the journey.

Note:  This was written on Monday but I wasn't able to post it until now.  We arrived safely at the guest house in Kinshasa late Tuesday night after leaving on Monday morning.  We had an incredible day being shown around Kinshasa by the leaders of the CEUM, the Covenant church in Congo.  We visited a clinic, schools, a house church, had lunch in a pastor's home and even spoke at a church service where everyone person present (around 100) spoke and shook our hands.  It was an amazing day!  Thank you for your prayers, and oh yes, I am relaxing and enjoying the journey!