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!

We have arrived!

"We are safe and sound this morning in the Kinshasa Guest House after a few flight delays and one flat tire (on a van in Kinshasa )." - Jerry

"We spent the day in Kinshasa, we were lunch guest at a family's home.  We had an amazing bonding experience.  I got to hold the hand of a 2nd grade girl, that had pierced ears, just like my daughter Ava."  - Denee

"Greetings from Kinshasa! After a few hours sleep we spent all day touring Kinshasa with pastors of the CEUM covenant church. It was an amazing day with much to take in. We toured schools, a clinic, churches and much of this wild city. We ended the day at a service of church leaders where each of us spoke and personally greeted each of the 100+ people in a receiving line. Tomorrow we leave at 7 to tour World Vision." - Diann

The team also meet at the local missionary CEUM (picture below) to hear about how God is at work in DR Congo.

Thanks for everyone's prayers so far.

Leaving today

Please be praying 

for the Congo team, Denee Anderson, Diann Anderson, Roy Hori and Jerry Penick as they leave today 

for Congo.

Tomorrow begins a new chapter in my life

Tomorrow is the day… wheels up at 1:00PM.  We've had all of our vaccinations... we have our Visas, we have spent more money than we ever imagined on items that we would not need here in the US but just might need in the remote villages of Congo.  We are excited-about what God is doing in us, our church, and how we might be used to help people on the other side of the planet.

So far, this has been quite a journey and we have not set foot on a plane yet.  The first phase lasted a few weeks - the initial elation about getting to travel to the Congo and be part of the good things happening in that war ravaged country.  And then came the realities of the costs.  Cost measured in time, finances, and emotions.  Finances were the area that loomed in front of us as the most challenging. Looking back, it was the area that came together the easiest. It had been a very long time since I asked anyone for a dime, let alone for thousands of dollars.  God used this situation to bring me to a new place and learn to rely on others while trusting Him to make it all happen.   I am so thankful to the generous families who have sacrificed and given money that was probably earmarked for other needs or projects.  Once the miracles began to happen… and I mean miracles with finances, the next phase was study.  All of us on the team began to devour hours of You Tube video, books on the history of the Congo, books about working in third world countries and how to deal with what we will encounter.

And now we are here thanks to dozens and dozens of generous people from around the country who have made this trip possible. We were “commissioned” by our church today and had the opportunity to give the congregation a status update. 


This has all been a process… phases woven in and around hours and hours of prayer and contemplation.  Second guessing reasons, motivations, dangers, and anything that can be imagined about a place so foreign to our way of life, but confident about our mission.  We are ready, energized, and excited about the next two weeks… stay tuned.

To see the team's pre-trip videos follow this link to the Covenant Kid's Congo Web site:
Covchurch.org Blog

Creating Something New and Better

In five days I board a plane that will take me to the Congo and I am thrilled about it!  My worries have turned to wondering what God has in store for our team.  My fears are at a minimum because I boldly ask Him to take those away. That was NOT how I was feeling on March 1 when I agreed to go.  It's funny how God can shift your perspective so drastically but at the same time so gently.  I didn't shift from fear to excitement over night.  It happened over a couple months and by spending time with Him.  He spoke peace and trust into my heart through my time in the Bible, prayer, and even through the encouraging words of friends and family.

 I keep coming back to a devotional I read in February from Jesus Calling (based on 2 Corinthians 5:17).  Sarah Young writes, "For I am making you a new creation, with old things passing away and new things continually on the horizon.  When you cling to old ways and sameness you resist my work in you. I want you to embrace all that I am doing in your life, finding your security in me alone." This is what causes me the most excitement right now.  God is stirring my spirit, creating something new and better. That is a thrilling place to be!

And when the worry creeps in and I question if I'm really the right person for this or if I can really handle what I'm about to see I pray Hebrews 13:21, "May he equip you with all that you need for doing his will.  May he produce in you, through the power of Christ, every good thing that is pleasing to Him.  All glory to him forever and ever! Amen!"

Please remember to pray for our team, for the final details, for our travel, for our families that stay behind, and pray that God would equip our team with just what we need to do His will.

Blessings,
Denee

This is a re-post from Veda Penick's personal blog  "La Dolce Veda"  April 30, 2013

Saturday's Breakfast

It wasn't an ordinary Saturday, that's for sure. Anything but. Admittedly I was a little nervous. I get that way when I am about to meet new people. Believe it or not, I am a bit of an introvert. Stop laughing, it's the truth. I'm shy, kind of. Anyway, we had plans, a 9:00 AM breakfast with my husband, 2 other couples--involved with his Congo trip and 2 couples who were retired missionaries. I really didn't know what to expect. How old were these people anyway? Were they going to be boring, tell scary stories, talk my husband into moving to Africa? Seriously, all these questions and many more flitted through my mind as we drove into the city. That's what us locals call Chicago--those of us in the suburbs, we're cool like that.




We got there early. I am phobic about being late. Most likely because my husband is the exact opposite. He'll be late to his own funeral. Really, I promise you! So there we were 1/2 hour early, we parked the car and then saw that our friends had arrived early too. They were there to put our names in for a huge table of 10. We had time to kill while waiting for the others, so my friend thought it might be a good idea to give me a tour of Northpark University--for some reason she thinks I might be attending seminary there in the near future. The campus just happened to be right across the street from the restaurant. Interesting how that worked out! I instantly fell in love with the quaint campus, its old brick buildings and warm fuzzy atmosphere. Ugg. I did not want to like it there. No, I wanted to kind of not like it there. More on that later though. This is about the missionaries. Just remember this part about the university for later updates. We'll see, yes, we will see.



When we all had arrived we were escorted upstairs to a large table where we could all sit, get to know each other and have breakfast. First off, let me tell you, it was the cutest little Swedish restaurant, with 2 stories and also an outdoor patio. Next time I'm eating out there! There was also a Starbucks down the street. And as much as I wanted to head strait there--I knew there would be plenty of time for that later--down the road--as in, another time when I might be attending seminary. Oh brother.



We decided to split up--men on one end, women on the other. I was much more interested in hearing about the good, the bad and the ugly of visiting an African village than hearing about water treatment facilities. Hey, just being honest here. So there I was sitting at the table with 2 women from my church who had volunteered to go on this trip and 2 women who had volunteered to not only go--but to live in Africa. And not on a short term basis either. One had lived there for over 40 years, raised her children there and would go back in a heartbeat. The other had lived there for over 30 years and had arrived in Africa with a 4 week old baby in her arms, and she wanted to go back too! It was then that God began to speak to me. Quietly, oh so softly.

Midwife Kit Going to the Congo

This is a kit that the Team will be bringing to the Congo.

Ministers and Africans

This is a re-post of Veda Penick's Blog"'La Dolce Veda" and her comments about Lunch in the Congo

 

 

Monday, April 8, 2013

Ministers and Africans

What a funny title.  And yet, really there is no other title that I can use.  For this was the weekend that I became a Stephen Minister, and also the weekend that the Congo team (of which my husband is a part) had their fund raising lunch at church.

It began at 5:45 Friday evening.  As I drove to my last weekend of training for Stephen Ministries, I found myself getting a little emotional.  I wondered if after this weekend things would be different.  There are (were) 12 of us in training.  We've become rather close over these last 4 months.  We've had meals together, role played, laughed, cried, shared stories and asked questions.  We have become a team.  A team of willing followers of Christ, who are ready to listen, share and minister to those whom God brings into our lives.  We do not take this lightly.  We are a little worried that we might possibly fail the very ones that we seek to help.  However, I believe that our hearts are right before God.  And I also believe that He will use us in a mighty way.

And so, after another long day on Saturday of our last 8 1/2 hours of training, with tears in our eyes, we said our goodbyes.  Until Sunday morning that was.  However, my day did not end at 5:00 that Saturday.  No, my day was to continue on for a few more hours.  My husband needed me.  He was setting up for a huge lunch to be held the next day after church.  The entire congregation (all 200) of us were invited.  3 African families (from our church body) had volunteered to cook all the foods from their native countries, and all we (the team and their willing and very hard working spouses) had to do was set up tables and chop, chop, chop.  Late that afternoon I walked into our little church kitchen and rolled up my sleeves.  With a headache, sore feet, and an aching back I began to chop cabbage.  Some of you know me--I am a type A personality and quite the crazy person.  I am organized and fast.  I see the job/problem and I get the job done.  Chop, chop.  However, that is not the African way--as was so kindly pointed out to me.  No, their way is to visit, to talk, to slice and with every slice/chop, there is a prayer said for the person who will be eating that dish.   What?  Slice and pray?  Why, that will take hours!   My brain almost exploded.  I remained calm though--OK calm for me.  And I sliced and chopped and talked until I thought my back would break from the standing and talking and slicing and chopping--however, I learned about Africa, and their ways of doing things.  And I made new friends.   I did it.  For my husband, his team and my new African friends.  And I tried hard not to think about my food processor sitting in my pantry at home.  Really I did try.

Later that night as we sat at dinner with friends (a very late dinner I might add) we laughed at my naivety.  And the next day, I'm glad that we had had that laugh.  But, first, back to Stephen Ministries.
When I got to church Sunday morning all ready to be commissioned as a trained Stephen Minister, I noticed that I was nervous.  I began to pray that God would calm my anxiety, I wanted to really enjoy the service.  And He did calm me down, a calmness settled over me and I was fine, I didn't even cry as our pastor prayed over us.  It was a solemn and somewhat formal service.  A reminder of the seriousness of what we are about to undertake, it was wonderful.

Right after the sermon, I scooted out to help my husband with the lunch.  The tables were all set, the decorations in place, the African women were setting out the food, the men were grilling, and loads of excitement was in the air.  I wondered and prayed the entire time--how much in donations for this mission trip, this team of 3--how much would they collect today?

The lunch was fabulous--if I do say so myself.  For one thing the food smelled amazing.  I can't pronounce, let alone spell the many dishes that those 3 families prepared, but let me tell you something--they were delicious.  There was rice, beans, chicken, and goat.  Yes, I just said goat.  There was soup and salads, and all types of beautiful fruits.  At each table we set out bookmarks to remind others to pray for this team.  During lunch a video was played and afterwards the 3 team members spoke concerning their calling to the Congo.  I don't know about the others in the room, but my eyes did not remain dry.

After the lunch and after everyone went home, several of us stayed to clean up.  And do you think for one minute that those 3 families from Africa, who worked all week cooking for the Congo team left and went home?  No they did not. There they were--cleaning, washing dishes, pots and pans and making up plates of leftover food for others to take home.  They were scrubbing counters and floors and all the while--just as they do while chopping and slicing--they were talking, and visiting, and smiling.  I can't help it--I love them.  Those sweet ladies whom I now call my friends.  Thank you from the bottom of my heart.  You have taught me, though all this, how to relax and enjoy and savor friendship.

When I got home later that afternoon I sat down in my chair and cried.  I cried the bottled up tears of a new Stephen Minister.  I cried the bottled up tears of a wife whose husband is about to go on the most exciting missions trip ever.  And I thanked God for blessing us with awesome friends--who've donated time, money, skills and prayer so that my husband and I could be blessed by God.

It is only April.  And already this is the best year of my life.  I have seen God work in miraculous ways before, so this is not new to me.  However, in saying that--please understand--we've only been going to this little church of ours for about one year now.  And yet they have accepted us into their church family, into their hearts and into their lives.  We are two very grateful and thankful people.  Yes, this new Stephen Minister, and this man bound for Congo--we are overwhelmed by the goodness of our God.  Thank you for praying...

These are the 3 that did all the wonderful cooking!

African lunch

We had a lot of food!

Thank you for all your hard work!

Time to eat!

Explanation of food...

The grill masters!

Thank you to all who came!

Sharing about the Congo...

And the call on their hearts...

Stephen Ministers being commissioned.

And a prayer over our service to our God.

Re-Post of La Dolce Veda Blog April 3, 2013

My wife Veda posted this blog on her personal site (http://ladolceveda.blogspot.com) yesterday without my knowledge and after wiping away a few tears, I decided to share it with those of you who are following our Naperville Congo Team journey...

 

 

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Humbleness

My husband made a comment to me last night.  I'm going to share it here, without permission.  You know what they say--better to ask for forgiveness.  If I thought he'd be upset though, I wouldn't share it, don't worry.  So anyway, the comment--he said, I've never felt so humbled in my life.

Let me explain what is going on.  Since this little story affects the both of us, I am taking the liberty to share.  I guess I'll find out what he thinks later.  We belong to a local Covenant church, and my husband is preparing to go to the Congo with several others from our denomination.  They have had a presence in the Congo for 75 years now.  Taking and shipping over medical supplies, food goods, and  investing financially.  And now our denomination is working with World Vision--called Covenant Congo Kids.  I am very proud of my little church, we are small but mighty.  A congregation of a little over 200 and yet we support 71 children in the Congo.   We are committed financially to send money monthly until they reach the age of 18.  We send over small gifts throughout the year, and we pray for them every day.  We take this commitment very seriously.

An opportunity came up in our church a few weeks ago.  Our congregation was asked if there might be a few people who would have the heart and the passion to go with a team and visit the Congo, they would also get to meet the children that we support, and work along side other missionaries--doing, caring and giving as much as possible.  The minute the announcement was made, I knew that if there had been a show of hands, my husband's would have been the first to shoot up.  I knew, that I knew, he was going to the Congo.  I wonder now if I knew it even before he did.  When we got into our car after church I patiently waited as he gathered his thoughts.  He then faced me and said--I want to go.  God is calling me to go.  All I could do was look at him, and with tears streaming down both our faces I said--I know.

He leaves in a few short weeks.  He has been preparing like a crazy person.  He'll only be gone for 2 weeks, however, by the passion, the heart, and the intensity--one might think he was moving there for good!  He watches videos, reads books, and talks to others who've been.  He talks incessantly about his trip to anyone, and I do mean anyone who will listen.  And he cries, he tears up, and is greatly moved by anything Congo related.  I've never seen him like this before and we have been a couple for 41 years.  This my friends, is life changing.  And he hasn't even left yet.

Now for the first time in my husband's life he has had to ask for help.  Normally he's the one helping out.  Whether it be financially, good ol' hard labor, or praying for others--whatever someone has need of, he's one of the first to volunteer.  That's just how he is.  This time around though, he's not supposed to rely on himself.  He's supposed to itinerant.  You know--ask for money.  And then, he's supposed to pray and trust God that the money will come in and that his trip will be provided for through our church congregation and other donations.  I know him.  He'd rather pay for this trip on his own.  He'd rather not impose on anyone.  However, the truth is this--if we had to pay for it on our own, he wouldn't be going.  We couldn't swing it right now--the cost is too great.  And I believe that this little trip came up at just the right time.  A time when our own finances are lean, but we all know that God's finances aren't ever lean, are they?

My husband and the others wrote letters.  They are letters detailing the plans of the trip, sharing their hearts and reasons for wanting to go and then lastly asking for support--of finances and prayer.  This was a very hard thing for my husband to do--but oh, what growth!  I wish you could be here to see it with me.  As people commit to supporting his team, tears fall down his face and he is humbled by the graciousness of our God.  God is making a way for this little team, from this little church to travel to the Congo.

If you are reading this--please pray for their safety.  It is dangerous, and scary, especially for those of us who will be waiting at home, praying that they will be brought back safely to us.  Pray that they are changed, that they are humbled before their God, and that this would be the first of many more trips to the Congo.  This, I know--is my husband's heart.

Gemena Slideshow by Diann Anderson

"I Will Go"

For as long as I can remember, I have felt a pull to Congo.  I can recall as a girl having missionaries, both at church and at camp, share their pictures, stories and calling to Congo.  My heart was both captured and broken.  Throughout my life, I can trace similar threads.  All I can say is that I have had a consistent and long-standing passion for Africa - put there, I believe, by God.  My passion was rekindled and putting my faith into action was challenged as I read The Hole in Our Gospel and got involved in Covenant Kids Congo.  I pondered things I could do from the safety of my home, never imagining I would actually go to Congo.  And then.........

Through some providential circumstances, our church was given the opportunity to participate in a vision trip to Congo.  I didn't hesitate to go to the informational meetings - but I did hesitate about actually going to Congo.  The more I read, the more I sought input from others, the more hesitant I became.  Congo is a scary place.  Just read the warnings from the State Department:  instability, violence and crime, lack of infrastructure and security, corruption, unsafe transportation and living conditions and many dangerous health threats.  Logically, it seemed wise and safe to respond from afar.  But God doesn't just call us to be logical and safe.  God calls us to be obedient.  My heart and even call to Congo just couldn't be ignored.  I tried.  Although I turned in the paperwork, I still felt (and possibly hoped) that God would clearly answer my prayers for discernment by telling me I could still passionately care about Congo without going there.  Even as the rest of the team firmly committed, I hesitated.  I was offered more time to discern.  I took it, thinking I had more than a week.  Then, in the midst of a family trip to Disney World, I realized from an email with a gentle nudge, that I was off by a week.  I needed to commit.....or not.  That gentle nudge was just what I needed as my indecision had really been weighing on me.  After talking with family, I was alone with God late into the night.  I prayed.  I called out for clarity and peace.  I read my Bible.  I read my devotion for the day.  "I am leading you, step by step, through your life.  Hold my hand in trusting dependence, letting me guide you...I will show you the next step forward, and the one after that and the one after that.  Relax and enjoy the journey in my Presence (my word for the year).  Trust me to open up the way before you as you GO".  It was followed by the verse from Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should GO; I will counsel you and watch over you".

As I prayed out loud (as I often do), I heard myself audibly say "I will go".  My eyes welled with tears as I realized I was hearing God's voice and call.  Yes, I am still scared but I am also excited.  I will go, trusting God as I do.

God's Whispers

I knew the meeting for the Congo vision trip was the following week and I had already decided that I wasn't going to go.  Of course, it sounded like an amazing trip and my heart was already tied to these kids in a way I hadn't expected through the Covenant Kids Congo, but I'm a mom of 3 little ones and there was no way I was going pull off being gone for 11 days.  So the following week as I sat in the sanctuary I had that first of many quiet nudges.  I leaned over and told my husband that I think I am supposed to stay for the meeting.  And I did.

The next 4 weeks had a couple more informational meetings, the paper work was handed out and expected back by March 1 and I had a big decision to make.   My fears were whispering to me constantly...  sickness, the instability of this country, flying on planes that the State Department was telling us not to,  the conditions we will be exposed to and the small and large critters that will be sharing my living space.  These fears are all real and overwhelming to me at times. Every time I thought about the Congo I cried.  God whispered to me Psalm 91. "Those who live in the shelter of the Most High will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.  This I declare about the Lord:  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety; he is my God and I trust him."

 Those fears were not God's voice.  2 Timothy 1:7 says, “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self discipline.”  I know that God does not want me to make a decision based alone on my fears so I decided to remain in His shadow to find the confidence to say yes.  I prayed a lot, I was in scripture constantly and finally I fasted.  I was desperately seeking that loud booming voice from heaven that would tell me to stay in the safety of my home.  Instead he whispered the words "be obedient".  This trip was not about sacrificing my time, energy and safety.  This was about being obedient to His call to go to the Congo.  This is when I knew the answer was yes.  Isaiah 26:3 says, "You will keep in perfect peace, all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!  Trust in the Lord always for The Lord God is the eternal rock."

Although, the booming voice from heaven that I had hoped for would have made the decision a lot easier and maybe faster, I realize now that those whispers are one of the most beautiful aspects of our relationship with a personal Savior.  He cares enough about me to send whispers of hope, security, and love.  And I am doing my very best to show my love in return through my obedience and trust.

I wonder what my mother would think...

Some of my earliest recollections of church involve missionaries at our home for meals or short stays while they were stateside.  I remember the small gifts, simple carvings, baskets, and other exotic hand made items that immediately went on display in our living room.  I was young, impressionable, and of course enthralled by the stories of  Africa with it's dangers and daily struggles for survival. In those early years it must have been obvious that I  wanted to be a missionary but never pursued that for a variety of reasons.  Life happened, school, work, marriage, children, career and  what I later learned was the fervent prayers of a mother who prayed regularly that I would not become a missionary!  She did not want her son going to dangerous places... that was for someone else's son or daughter.

Fast forward to Fall of last year and the introduction one Sunday to "Covenant Kids Congo" and the effort to bring hope,  health and education to the poorest of the poor on this planet.  I can't describe what happened that day.  I still get chills recalling how I was overtaken with emotion and a feeling of being drawn to a cause, to the plight, to the challenge of reaching people on the other side of the planet with resources and hope for tomorrow. That day, when the opportunity to sponsor children came up, my wife and I knew exactly what we needed to do, that was the easy part of this journey. Later that day I told my wife Veda "who knows, someday I might get the chance to meet our kids, wouldn't that be a miracle".

Earlier this year that miracle began to take shape.  Our missions leader announced that a team would be going to Congo. If anyone was interested please see him after the service.  I looked at my wife and could see the questions in her eyes, she knew at that moment I would be going to Congo. The timing could not be worse for personal and career reasons. It was definitely not a safe place to go, but yet with all those questions I could see in her eyes her supportive answer because she knew that God was already preparing my heart for new challenges.

I'm still not sure where this journey leads but I do know that already I am not the same person I was six months ago and believe those changes are just beginning.  I wonder what my mother would think...