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Congo Visit

Thank you for your prayers as we were in the Congo. More information and photos will be available later in the week (Week of July 16th). We did not have regular internet access and therefore were unable to write back to this site as much as we had hoped. We arrived safely in Philadelphia on Wednesday, July 11th after taking off from the Congo airport on Tuesday evening (local time), July 10th.


July 11, 2007

We arrived safely at 3:50 p.m. in Philadelphia and look forward to sharing our stories with everyone in the coming months.

Thanks again for all of your well wishes and prayers during our trip. It is the love that we received from you that helped us along our travels to arrive safely in Kinshasa and our health while we were there, and our safe arrival back in the United States. 

July 10, 2007

We filled out necessary paperwork that we would need at the airport in the early morning and were then given time to pack and ready ourselves to leave. We went another hotel where we checked our baggage with Air France and had lunch. Some of us went to the Open Market to do a little shopping while others stayed behind to relax before our long flights home.

We left for the airport saying goodbye to Bishop and Mrs. Yemba and thanking them, once again, for their hospitality and kindness during our stay. The drive to the airport was our last glimpse of the conditions of most of those that live in and around Kinshasa. Upon arrival at the airport we said goodbye to those that had been with us, providing hospitality and addressing other needs with promised to keep in touch with each other. Security is tight at the Kinshasa airport but we were able to process through with little trouble and then we waited for our plane that would take us to Paris to arrive the next morning.

July 9, 2007

David Harper and Rev. David Heistand were able to take a tour of farmland outside of Kinshasa (four hours each way) while the rest of us were picked up by the bus Monday morning and taken to the Nutrition Center. The Center is out of town in one direction while the Orphanage is on the opposite side, again outside of the town of Kinshasa. For the first time, as we were riding to the Center, we saw the airport and where we had been driven from that first evening as we arrived. Since it was late and dark, the perspective at night is different than in the daylight.

We arrived at the Center after an exciting ride over a sand covered road where the bus we were riding in had to be shoveled once. The children were anxiously awaiting our arrival and after greetings from the chaplain and the doctor the team each took turns placing a bowl of rice and beans in front of the smallest of the children for nourishment. Once they have eaten, others will be fed but it didn't pass this writer's view that the smallest of the children were fed first.

We then toured the facility where the doctor showed us where their food and supplies are kept. We saw what they use as a kitchen and were told that a storm had blown the roof off which hasn't yet been replaced. We then saw their water pump and learned that it had broken and that they are currently using their hands and feet to manually draw the water up. It is the only well for many of those that live around the Center, not just for those at the Center. We then toured the maternity section and the small rooms that house those that are sick.

Before we left we presented the doctor and her small staff with blankets and other materials (bibs, etc. for infants) and they presented us with necklaces for the women and the spouses of the men in our group.

We then took the very long ride to the other side of Kinshasa, outside the city, to the Orphanage where the children sang for us and the Bishop greeted them as he had done at the Nutrition Center. Due to time, we didn't tour this facility but heard from the director of their needs.

We returned to the hotel briefly to prepare for the reception that Bishop Matthews hosted for Bishop Yemba and his staff. It was a very nice evening where we presented many of his key people with gifts and they, in turn, did the same to us as they had the night before.

As with Sunday, there was much reflection at the end of our evening with the Central Conference Congo members.

July 8, 2007

This morning we were picked up a little later than the rest of the days because we will be going back to the church (first day) for the Ordination Service and the ceremony to sign the Partnership Agreement. When we arrived we found out that they, indeed, were unable to conclude their business of the Annual Conference and that was scheduled to take place in the afternoon (after the morning's services).

Bishop Matthews preached during the Ordination Service. Six men and women were Ordained. Three were ordained Deacons and three were ordained Elders. They each received a Bible presented by Bishop Yemba. Bishop Matthews also participated in the ordination as did Bishop Yemba when he was here in 2006.

The Partnership Agreement was signed by both Bishops with the agreements in French. The Peninsula-Delaware Conference has a scroll that was signed by both bishops last year that will be displayed in the Dover office.

We then went outside where we conversed with the Congo conference members until lunch was served. After lunch there was a miss-communication and instead of us returning to the sessions, we were taken back to our hotel. We had no longer let the bus driver drive away when we got word that we were needed back at the sessions so we retrieved the bus and headed back.

When we arrived they were just about to start their election process for General and Central Conference delegates. As we have Jurisdictional Conferences in the United States, they have Central Conferences abroad. They wrote their nominees on pieces of paper that were collected in a bucket, taken up front and counted by hand. Then each name was read and verified by the Conference Secretary and his assistant while a second assistant tallied the results. After all the names were read, the three conferred and then gave the results to the Bishop. Bishop Yemba then read the names of those elected. There was a tie for the laity and out of four; two had to re-run for the position.

At the close of the session Bishop Yemba read off all of the pastors names of those that will have an appointment for the 2007-08 year.

At this point the delegation from the United States was thanked by different groups for coming and given gifts.

The evening was emotional and we had a lot of reflection when we left late that evening.

July 7, 2007

We had a few hours in the morning for quiet reflection and then we were off to the Conference Office for the Annual Conference. David Harper and Rev. David Heistand are working with Rev. Robbie Townsend and Rev. Don Hamilton (trip co-chairs) to try and work something out to meet with agricultural representatives while we are here. We pray that they are able to do this.

At 5pm when the session is usually concluding for the day, it was evident that they would be going longer. Most of our team left while Amy and Bishop and Mrs. Matthews stayed behind. Later we learned that they left around 7pm and the session was still in progress. It was the hope that they would finish before the day was over. Their lighting is mostly through a generator that is very loud and nightfall this time of year happens between 5:00-6:00 p.m. I guess we will learn tomorrow how they did.

July 6, 2007

All is going well for us. Today was another full day in Kinshasa. We started with morning devotions and our own Betty Gooch bringing the message. The Annual Conference then went to committee meetings and the US Team held a debriefing. We then broke up in a few meetings including Communications to discuss the equipment that was bought with the money given to the United Methodist Foundation for the Communications Center as well as their current situation with the radio station and communication throughout the 6 conferences in the Episcopal Area.

The afternoon saw us back in their Plenary Sessions where we listened to the reports that came out of the committee meetings.

Tomorrow we will be going back to their Plenary Session for the morning and we will have a free afternoon to experience some of the local culture, including open markets.

We miss all of you and please continue to keep us in your prayers as we minister to the Congo Conference and they continue to do the same for us.

Tammy

July 5, 2007

Hello from Kinshasa in the West Congo. The delegation of 15 persons arrived safely at 7pm Congo time (5 hours ahead of the Eastern Shore).

Yesterday we spent our 4th of July with the Opening ceremonies of the West Congo Annual Conference where Bishop Yemba preached. The AC was held at a local church the first day, Thursday and Friday at the Bishop's offices and Sunday back at the church for Ordination and the signing of the partnership with a document printed in French.

We are all well and enjoying the overwhelming hospitality of our brothers and sisters.

Due to limited internet access, we will not be able to update the website like we had hoped but will do our best to write something a few times during our stay. Please know we are trying to keep you informed of our trip and will do the best we can.

Please continue to keep us in your prayers. We will be here through Tuesday and are scheduled to arrive in the Philadelphia airport around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday afternoon.

Be blessed as we are being blessed here in Africa.

Tammy