"Wednesday in Bukavu, Only 2 Crises Today!"

        Roger & Tom with some of the Berean churches pastors & leaders in Bukavu, Congo.

Wednesday, August 27, 2012

      Slept til 7:30AM, then took another cold spit bath, and washed my hair cold!

     Only 2 crises today,..for Congo that qualifies as a "slow day"!!!. 

     WATER CRISIS:  no water from the 'town' for the second straight day.  While we had saved a good amount of water in our "crisis containers",  we can't go forever without water,..especially with 3 of us using what we have.  So, Tom gave us the 'rules' for water management/conservation: re-use bath water, re-use sink water,  only flush 'solids & brown water', re-use teeth brushing water,  conserve drinking water, and conserve coffee water!!!   Things aren't critical yet,..and, we can buy bottled water at a store, but it is an expensive way to go.  We would only do that if the situation hits "critical", by our standards. The word on the street is that the water will be OFF indefinitely,  they are supposedly 'fixing something'.  We had enough water for 2 days,..so we had to see how things turned out,......

     ELECTRIC CRISIS:  no electricity from the 'town' for the second straight day. Tom's battery system was still good, PTL.   If things were to get "critical", we'd have had to set up the solar panel to charge the batteries.  So far, so good,.......stay tuned.....

     The Bukavu evenings are cool,..and the mosquitoes appeared at sundown, too!.   Kathy had a small bunsen-burner type device with a citronella candle, (I think), which she lit to put on the floor under her chair in the evenings.  Fire code?????!!!!!!, what firecode?????  Thank goodness for the mosquito nets at bedtime.

     Word came of  an "African" chance,..meaning a big, FAT, MAYBE(!!),.....we could get a truck of some kind Downcountry to drive to Station Katshungu. We would love that, but 'this is Africa',..so the chances are "slim and none!"   Word also came that we'll sleep in Jansen Hall at Katanti!  Yay!   That is the house I fled from with my family in 1960.  The reason it is still there,  it was built with bricks and has a good tin roof.  While it IS still there,..it is crumbling, and has been stripped by the soldiers several times!  I can't wait to see it again!!

     An African man came by with a mini-cassette he wanted us to play for him.  Alas, we don't have any devices to do that.  Pictures were still a big problem,..and one that wasn't going to be fixed.  Remember, it is unsafe to shoot pictures in the villages & towns of Eastern Congo. I'm learning to sneak a few here and there, but must be very discreet.  

     As the day wore on, we couldn't get ahold of the African who "MAYBE" had a truck downcountry for us.  It was probably too good to be true,..and the road may be impassable to cars/trucks anyway. It is SO HARD to move between villages, cities, & towns here!  You need a passport, visa, Go Pass, and whatever else they can think of,-just to go between places.  Yikes!  And, someone always has their hand out for $$!!  If for no reason,...they'll just make one up!! Then, negotiations begin,.....

     A man, Flavien, came from an orphanage in Kaziba, outside Bukavu.  They have 60 kids,..20 are infants. These are children of the wars, AIDS, & HIV.  So sad.  Flavien speaks English & Swahili.  We discussed the Buyamba Uganda orphanage I'm a part of, & he invited Kathy & I to visit his place when we return from Downcountry.  Rich MacDonald, the missionary radio station owner, came by again.  Meanwhile, the cargo plane agent still has not brought a scale,-finally, he came by mid afternoon.

     Suzanna, SaSimon's granddaughter, came bringing Bibles, songbooks, & Bible Seminar lesson books for us to take Downcountry.  We will have a load,....

     Today we had some boiled peanuts,...GREAT!   I haven't had boiled peanuts in years & years. For lunch: Spanish rice, sardines in red sauce.  Nice change.  We also bought 2 cases of drinking/coffee water. 

     At 4pm it was time for us to go to the Pageco area of Bukavu & meet with the Balega elders of the Berean churches.  Took a taxi,-Tom, Kathy, Suzanna, & myself.  There were thousands of people just teeming around near the grounds of the Berean Center.  We met Kitoto & 25 others, who said they'd waited in vain for us YESTERDAY!   (For no reason,-...we had always planned today!).  All of them were introduced, as we were as well.  Here is what they said they need:  funding, sponsors, permanent missionaries, ideas, & help.  Meeting was about 45 min.  Tom translated as I spoke for 5-10 minutes. We had to leave before dark,  as it isn't safe too be out after dark.

     Words CANNOT express what I saw in Bukavu,......and, Lord, have mercy, this is only maybe 3/4M people!  In the capital of Congo,- Kinshasha-, there are reportedly 15M,..mostly in shanty towns & slums !!!  We saw places where my parents had worked, & met several guys who still remember my Dad/Mom.

     All of us were hot/tired upon returning to the apt.  Dinner will be leftovers: rice, sausage, avocado, pineapple, cheese, bread, peanut butter, jelly, & carrot sticks.  I had 2 helpings of PBJ, 2 rice, 2 pineapple, & carrot sticks.  I was hungry, after all the trooping around!

     Had good talks with Tom/Kathy re: Congo/Africa politics and crises.  Also, we reviewed my day's events & critiqued my responses to the Africans.  Valuable info,.....

     Fell into bed,..tired & happy.  What a God,..what a day,...what blessings!  Tomorrow we make final prep for heading inland & Downcountry,.....

Rogers

"Time in Bukavu, Congo, Africa, with Tom/Kathy Lindquist"

                              Roger and Tom with Leaders of the 18 Bereen churches in Bukavu, Congo.

August 21, 2012, Tuesday:

     Awoke at 6 AM, and went back to sleep until 7am.  Took the first of many, many spit baths,..from a basin with a wash cloth.  Bukavu water isn't working, and neither is electricity.  What else is new??  Breakfast of eggs, toast, fresh mango, & 2 cups of coffee. 

     Lots of stuff was going on for Renee, (Tom's daughter), and her baby Ella to return to the US today.  After they leave for US, I get Renee's room and bathroom.  Yay.  Basodecki, the houseboy, came at 9AM to start his day.  After lunch, Renee and Ella left for a six hour bus ride from Congo thru Rwanda to Kigali,..to catch their flight home to US. 

     Emile, the Immigration Man who is helping us with papers to allow movement in Congo, came by to pick up our passports, visa, and my letter from the 18 Bereen churches inviting me to come visit.  This is required to visit the Congo.   Our trip Downcountry to the rainforest where I grew up, looks like we can go on Friday.  We would catch a cargo flight,.....which is definitely an ADVENTURE,....& the agent actually promised we'd have SEATS!  Say it ain't so, Charlie!   Emile returned to say he had set up our passage from Bukavu downcountry, and he will accompany us to Kavumu airport outside Bukavu, this coming Friday.  Emile was helping so we won't have any problems with Passports, Visa, Go Pass, or other requirements.  Nice of him to offer.  We expect he probably wants a gift of some kind. 

     I talked to Tom for awhile re: Bereen churches and how best to help them.  Consensus is that it is very difficult, due to the chaos and danger in this country.  The African elders just "wish for the good old days", and want full time white missionaries to come back to help them.  Since that is not probable, they want someone to open a US Bureau(Office) to represent their interests, and present their needs and projects to American churches. 

     Nice, warm, partly cloudy day,..and again very smokey.  There are hills all around Bukavu,..and the streets are teeming with people walking hither and yon.  Kathy was still busy packing for our trip, and selling Renee's stuff.   Tom has many watches, eyeglasses, & radios he picks up in the USA and sells to people here in Congo.  Looked through a bunch of it with him. 

     After lunch, Suzanna and a friend came to see us.  Suzanna was born at the Station Katshungu Hospital, and her husband is a doctor.  She is SaJacques' daughter,..who worked for many years with my Dad/Mom. Suzanna moved to Bukavu from Downcountry in 2001,..after lots and lots of trouble in her area,....and running to the forest for safety.  Altho' she had buried much of her stuff in the forest,..the soldiers followed her, dug it up, and looted it.  She lost everything!  What a story she has to tell!!!!!

     Dinner didn't happen 'til 9PM, because Emile came again and stayed til 9,....this is becoming a pattern with him.  Dinner was bread, cheese, pineapple, and water. 

     More Africans came to buy furniture that was Renee's.  After looking, they made a low-ball offer.  Tom & Kathy turned it down.  They ended up only buying some bags of deodorant & candy from the US.  They are starting a store themselves. 

     This afternoon I helped Basodecki (houseboy) carry HEAVY furniture up 3 steep flights of stairs, to store at Tom's place!  Wow,..we were fortunate that 2 younger men came along and helped us with the heaviest items,...PTL.  On one of the trips I stepped squarely into an open, full, stagnant sewer!  UGH, & UGH!  Welcome to Congo!   Had to completely clean my shoes, socks, and feet.......

     Emile and the transportation agent came by to set up our flight for this Friday, going Downcountry.  They will bring a scale later in the evening, as we have to weigh every single item we take,..plus ourselves!   The planes used for these cargo flights are just BARELY  airworthy,..much less if you overload them!   We paid them $300US each, for our passage into the rainforest. 

     Finally I went to bed at about 10:00PM.  Just as I was getting ready, Songa came by to see me again.  Talked with him a few minutes,..then, excused myself to bed.   The transportation agent never showed up with the scale,...so the next day we used a bathroom scale. 

     BTW, we had a great "STORYTIME" at dinner, reliving our escapades as missionary kids Downcountry some 52 years ago.  What fun!   Slept great in my own room!

Rogers

   

"Arriving in the Congo, My Home Away From Home"

 

               Pictures: 1: Rogers with Songa, African friend who came to my 'Protocol's'                                                     apartment to greet me!
                                2: Rogers with Suzanna, in green, & her friend, also came over to greet                                           me!

20 Aug.  2012: Monday:
     This was a HUGE day for me,....the day I met my 'Protocol', Tom Lindquist, at the Congo border, and crossed over into the Congo.  Tom & his wife Kathy, had grown up with me in the  Belgian Congo as missionaries' kids, over 50 years ago.  They continue to travel from Florida to Congo to work with Berean churches,-at least 3 times a year.  I really respect their commitment!! They maintain a sort of Guest House in the border city of Bukavu.  But, I'm getting ahead of myself,.....

     I had goose bumps the size of eggs(!) as Tom & I stopped at the small, dingy Immigration Building on the Congo side of the border.  Tom knows some of them, and is fluent in Swahili, English, French, and Kilega,..so things went smoothly.  I had to 'appear' before a lady official for her to 'approve' me into Congo.  After clearing Customs on the Congo side, we walked up the hill, and took a taxi to Tom's apartment., in Bukavu, Congo.  I had traversed this road many, many times before, and frankly, not much had changed.....

     We were met by Kathy,-Tom's wife; Renee,-their daughter; Baby Ella,-Renee's daughter; and, Basodecki,-their housekeeper/cook/jack of all trades.  We climbed rickety old stairs to their apartment on the 3rd floor.   Their place had a living room, dining space, bathroom, 2 bedrooms, hallway, and a kitchen.  On the street side was an open balcony overlooking one of the busiest and noisiest streets in Bukavu.  We shared many, many good times, as we renewed old friendships, and caught up with each other's lives.  Bukavu Town has about 3/4M people,....-I say 'about' because there is no such thing as a census count, ever!  Basodecki served us eggs, coffee, juice, & toast for breakfast, while we enjoyed laughing & talking. This building was built by the Belgians, again over 50 years ago.

     One 'downer' right away:  you must be VERY careful regarding taking pictures in the Congo.  In fact, in all of Africa they do NOT want you taking pictures of airports, planes, police, government buildings, soldiers,..you get the drift!  Naturally, I was dying to take a "ton" of pictures!!  Often, visitors have been arrested, detained for 3 days in jail,-with no food nor water,-and fined $500 for "not having the proper photo permit!"   Never mind that a 'photo permit' doesn't exist in the first place,-this is just one of the many ways to extort $$ from visitors.  Anyway, I had to be very careful about pictures.  What I have I was able to sneak with my cell phone, or get permission before shooting the picture,(not always an easy thing to do).  My hosts 'protocol' preferred I just keep the camera out of sight,  having seen too much trouble from cameras.

     After breakfast, I 'snuck' two pictures of beautiful Lake Kivu.  By the way, because of the smoke here it is always hazy,...and, Lake Kivu now emits a methane gas (!), which they use for energy purposes.  As a kid I had spent countless hours swimming in Lake Kivu!!
A young African man named Songa, a grandson of someone I knew back in the day, came over to greet me, and practice his English.  I practiced my Swahili/Kilega with him.  His English was much better than my trying to remember his local dialects.  One thing I had counted on was that my African languages would return quickly to my mind.  After all, as a kid the Africans had often told me, " Roger, (Banuamazi-African name,)- you speak our language even much better than we do!!). Sadly, now at the ripe old age of 67 my recall button wasn't working,-a major personal disappointment.   The picture above of Songa and myself shows me giving him a letter from my brother, Dave, in Colorado.  We are laughing at some of the things Dave wrote in Kilega.

     Upon first arrival at Bukavu, the power and water supplies were both not working.  Tom had set up a power system to a group of car batteries in his apartment.  He also had a solar panel system to keep the batteries charged.  This enabled us to have lights, & power.  AMAZING!  We went online with Kathy's laptop so I could put more $$ into my International Phone, making it operational again!  Happy Roger!  I texted my kids in US that I was safely in Congo.  While that was taking place, the power and water supplies came back on.  Happy Roger, Tom, Kathy, Renee, and Basodecki again!

     Lunch consisted of rice, greens, beef cooked in palm oil, & soup.  TERRIFIC!  It tasted just as good as I remembered from 50 years ago!    Some Congolese came by to buy some items from Renee,-who is closing down her Bakery/Coffee Shop next door.  They ended up buying some stuff.  I couldn't understand their dialect, so instead discussed African politics with Songa.

       YIKES!!!   What a MESS this world,-and particularly this continent-, are in.   Specifically, Congo DRC should be one of the RICHEST nations on Earth,..not one of the poorest!   Yet it is perenially listed at or near the top of the poorest nations list!  Congo holds the world's largest concentrations of gold, silver, diamonds, tin, cobalt, & coltan.  Coltan is used in every cell phone and computer in the world!  In addition it is home to the second largest Tropical Rain Forset and Jungle in the world.   BUT, the ongoing conflicts, meddling. and Intrusions by Western Powers, Warlords, local Militias, Government Officials from Top to Bottom, Neighboring Nations and even the Chinese and Miiddle East lead to a thriving black market on all of these minerals.  Congo's wealth is pillaged, plundered, and outright stolen. Dishonesty, thievery, smuggling, cheating, and plain old greed are rampant across the country.  The rich get richer, and the poor are at Poverty level or barely able to survive.  So, the minerals are taken out of the Congo at much reduced prices,  or smuggled "free" across porous border crossings, into the hands of greedy governments and entrepreneurs. . Meanwhile  the Congolese miners themselves get next to nothing,- sometimes $1 UinS per week,-working  in deplorable conditions, often digging by hand.  All of this has been going on since the day in 1960 when the Congo DRC got its Independence from the Country of Belgium.  Along the way have been constant fighting, Wars in Central Africa, Genocides, attempts to break up the Congo, and Congolese Heads of State who have stolen.Billions of Congo's riches, putting them away in foreign banks, at the expense of their Congolese people!!   Volumes have been written about the Congo's years of conflicts, rapings, killings, wars, Regional African Wars, millions of dead or displaced Congolese., homelessnes, AIDS, poverty, and the myriads of reasons behind it.  That is not my intention here,- rather it is to guide you through my own years growing up in Colonial Belgian Congo, my fleeing the Congo after Independence came in 1960,  and my return to my Congolese roots 52 years later, at age 67. Frankly, I had to see for myself,..and it wasn't a pretty picture,...breaking my heart for the many, many friends I have who somehow, through faith, true grit and perseverance eke out a kind of subsistence living. The irony is this:  in spite of appalling conditions and a broken heart, many of "my people" are beautiful beyond words.  Their strong faith in God, love for one another, and plain old grit is absolutely AMAZING!!

     I was told  by Tom that the fighting between warlords, army deserters, the Hutus, the Tutsi, & who knows whom else, was only 80 kilometers away,-across Lake Kivu, in the North Kivu area of Goma. I cannot tell you what beautiful cities were Goma and Bukavu when I left in 1960!

     Late in the afternoon Kathy & Renee went to a large 'slum' area of Bukavu, called Pageco.  We were invited  to the Berean church 'Center' there. This place was in the very heart of Bukavu, at a traffic circle where it seemed all 3/4 Million city residents had gathered!!  Such yelling, honking, pushing, shoving, and shouting!  The local police, (gendarmes), were desperately trying to maintain some kind of control. Police are also on the lookout for vehicles carrying foreigners!!  Since the local Police and National army have not been paid for MONTHS, they have become very good at making up ways to harass  and extort money from especially the Foreigners!!!, but even their own locals, too.  My own thoughts went back in time to the mad dashes we had made in 1960, when fleeing the country. I must say, a bit disquieting.  At age 15, I had escaped the Congo with a healthy dislike for the way so many Congolese had attacked and turned against me, my friends, and family. Those bitter memories had taken me years to surrender into God's care.  It was with great joy that I realised in returning to this dangerous country that God was in control, and I could trust Him, all the way through! !!  Bitter thoughts and feelings were miraculously gone!  What would keep it from happening again?  Nothing, really,...but now that didn't matter anymore.

     . At the Mission center many African pastors welcomed me with a traditional Congolese ceremony.  At least 6-8 men made personal speeches, many recalling days and years of Mission work with my parents over the years.  It was a moving, heartwarming time.  After they had welcomed me, I spoke through Tom, my interpreter, about my joy to see them again.   As we wrapped up our meeting, several church leaders told of their churches needs, both financially, materially, and asking for Americans to come help them.   This is not unusual at all in Africa. In fact, I have never met anyone their who was at all bashful to 'share their needs'. In fact, much is assumed by the Africans, -so I needed to be thoughtful and careful with my response.  Thoughts from my 30 year Sales Career kicked in,.."never overpromise, never under deliver!!  Tom lead in a closing prayer and we returned by taxi to the apartment. A young African Immigration worker named Emile came by the apartment. He heard we needed help to get permits in order to go downcountry to where we all used to live.  So, he offered to help us.  Praise the Lord.  Emile stayed until almost 8PM, so we waited for d(inner, since it is rude to eat in front of them, without offering to feed them, too, and frankly we didn't have enough food.  He finally left and we ate cheese sandwiches and pineapple for dinner.  The pineapple is grown here, and is TO DIE FOR! 

     Rich MacDonald came by also,..a missionary who had worked with my parents, in various places.    We talked for a couple of hours.  Rich lives here permanently with his wife Kathy, (formerly Kathy Baylor), and owns/operates Radio Okap, a Christian Radio Station.  I had grown up with Kathy in the Congo many years ago.  Her parents were dear friends of our family.  Once again it was a good time of memories and renewing relationships.  Since Rich and Kathy run the radio station, they too had much to tell me about the situation in the Congo!

     10 PM found me pulling out a hide-a-bed sofa in the living room,..hanging a mosquito net,...and going to bed.  On the first night back in the Congo in 50+ years,..I slept GREAT!

Travelling "Alone" Across Africa: Conflict & Contrast"

                                   Travelling "Alone" Across Uganda, Rwanda, & Congo(DRC),...
                                         all 3 lands of incredible Contrasts & Conflicts!

August 19, 2012, Sunday
The pictures above show (1) a map of my journey, and, (2), the Kamembe, Rwanda 'Airport'..The building has been ransacked by sectarian, genocidaires,  and soldier's violence.  So, it is now fenced off because there's no money to repair it.  It is replaced by a small tin shack,..'older than dirt' single security scanner!, 3 soldiers with rifles, and a small 4-wheeler to carry baggage. Rwandair has 1 or 2 flights a day from Kigali,-capital of Rwanda,-to Kamembe, which is 8 kilometers from the Congo(DRC) border.  By the way,....all Africa is VERY sensitive to picture-taking,...especially at airports, police, or government facilities.  What pictures I do have in those locales I managed to quickly shoot w/cellphone camera.. One must be VERY careful,..as arrest, fines, and even jail are definite possibilities.........

Sunday, Aug. 19th 2012:
     Up early @ 5:45am to be ready to go to church at Kabalagala (Pastor Dongo's) church,..then,  to leave the group & travel on alone toward the Congo(DRC).  Actually had HOT water for a shower/shave at the good old Olympia Hotel, aka 'Hollywood Hilton'.  Yay!, an unusual blessing on our last morning here. Showers are taken by kneeling in the tub and using a hand-held shower wand.  Rained in the night, but I didn't know it til next morning.  Rain makes Kampala a MESS.  Red clay(mud), and open flowing smelly, raw sewers,.....you get the picture. Anyway, the porcelain(?) sink pedestal in our bathroom was broken & just propped up, so if you leaned on it, it would  just fall over with a crash!   Oh, AND, although the water was hooked up to the faucet, it drained to: NOWHERE!!!!  The drain had been broken for awhile,.....so, we put down towels to catch the mess on the floor.

     Good service @ Kabalagala church, as usual, with Jim Kuykendahl from our church in Dallas teaching.  I stayed through the worship segment of the second service, then, "Glory", Dongo's son, drove me to the Entebbe, Uganda airport around noon.  The drive takes about an hour. Got lunch of boiled chicken and fries, and settled down to wait for my flight.  It was Flight 206 on Rwandair to Kigali, Rwanda, and scheduled out of there around 5:15pm.  Remember, however, 'This is Africa'!, so schedules don't really mean much.  African airports have a strange 'security' system: approaching the airport property, all people must get out of cars and on foot walk thru a security scanner just placed outside in the middle of nowhere(rain or shine)!  Then, one has to clear a 'better' security scan to even enter the Airport Terminal itself(!);  finally you have to wait until approximately 3-4 hrs. before your flight in order to move from the terminal to Checkin counters, thru security;  after that, you wait until 2 hrs. before your flight to actually move through Security again and into your gate area.  This means clearing security on every one of these moves.  'Hurry up and wait' definitely applies!

     My International Phone had gone dead, because my prepaid minutes were gone.  Since this was a TERRIBLE time to be without International Phone service, I tried several times to call or text additional prepay $$ to the Global company.  Alas, no success.  The phone was'locked' since the prepaid dollars were gone!  I' had to figure out how to manage without International Phone service.

     Rwandair flight 206 came an hour late,..so what else is new?  This is Africa!!    It was a small Dash 8, Embrauer, in pretty good shape. Of the 37 seats, about 30 were full. Finally, our scheduled 5:10pm flight left Entebbe airport at 6:10.  The flight to Kigali was about 55 minutes, and time passed quickly while I was downing my peanuts & passion fruit juice given out to passengers.  I met a Christian young man from Germany, and a Youth With A Mission Team  from South Africa.  We landed and cleared Customs at Kigali International Airport without incident.  It was now dark in Central Africa.  My 'protocol' Peter, was to meet me with a taxi.  Since my phone was dead, all I could do was clear Customs, get my baggage, & then, wait for Peter.  But wait,....there was a man holding a sign saying 'Roger Green'!!!  The man was an airport porter named Thomas.  He had heard from Peter that he'd be late, so Thomas would stay with me until the taxi arrived.  Meantime, I exchanged $100US into Rwanda francs, at about 625/1.  Thomas and I waited outside the terminal, and I was thankful Thomas and Peter both spoke good English.  Rwanda's official language is French.  Since it has been over 50 yrs. since I had High School French,..I sure was happy to have English speaking guys!

     Peter took me in his taxi through 'downtown Kigali',..on a wide avenue past the Government Centers, Paul Kagame's (President) offices, Ministry of Agriculture, Ministry of Interior & Infrastructure, then, the US Embassy.  At last, we turned 50 yards off the main drag to arrive at a Guest House my host had reserved for me.  In Rwanda, as in much of Africa, the compounds surrounding buildings are enclosed in sturdy fences,..with heavy locks and a guard.  This is mainly to prevent theft.   On the other hand the guard was asleep.  I was met by the lady who owns the place,....who speaks only "little English".  Gestures will do. (The guard speaks NO English,..now where IS that High School French of mine!)?  My Swahili is not used in Rwanda at all.

     The proprietor(ess?) showed me to a downstairs room in a mud brick building.  It had a ceiling fan (YES), a double bed, and the power outlet actually worked!  There were 2 community-shared bathrooms down the hall.  All of this was 'just adequate'.  The price, however, was perfect,..only $25US,..including breakfast!  My stomach felt a little 'weird', so I took one of my trusty CIPRO pills to ward off any bad crud. Peter was scheduled to pick me up next morning at 5:00AM for a ride to the airport to make the short hop to Kamembe, near the Democratic Republic of Congo.   So,....Light's out, baby,..time to get some sleep......

     Later, a group of 6 US people came into the building and were quite loud in the living room, making it hard to sleep.  Finally, they went off to bed.  I slept fitfully, waking up every hour, concerned I might miss my morning flight,...or, Peter might not come get me,....you get the idea!  Sometime in this lifetime I need to learn to just RELAX and TRUST!

    So, my trip thru Rwanda, and to the Guest House passed really well, without incident.  God is good all the time.  I was sooo excited to be very close to the Congo,..and to realize the very NEXT day I would be IN CONGO DRC!...........I was so keyed up with excitement, I could hardly wait!

Monday, Aug. 20, 2012:
     My alarm went off at 4 am, and I pulled myself together.  After a quick wash, -hot water, shocking,-I took my stuff outside to await my ride in the pitch black African night. The gate was chained and locked, and no one was in sight.  My heart sank, but This is Africa!!  My ride soon drove up and laid on his horn outside the compound gate, waking up various chickens & dogs.  The Guard appeared from the darkness of his sleeping post, and let the car in to take me to Kigali airport, about a 15 minute ride.

     The country of Rwanda is much more concerned with building infrastructure and upgrades than are Uganda or, especially, Congo DRC.  Rwanda's major roads are wide and clean, and the country is very proud of what they have accomplished.  All of this just a few years after the devastating Genocide a few years ago!

     Once again, just as the sun arose in the East, I had to work through 5 Security Gates
and clear Customs and Passport Control to get to my gate!!!  Upon reaching the gate, I discovered there was NO food, and NO toilet in the Gate waiting area!!  My gate lounge was packed, with long lines of people.  And, still ANOTHER Security check!  And, my International Phone was still down,..so I hoped I could get it recharged upon reaching my protocol, Tom, at the Congo DRC border crossing.  Because I couldn't use my phone, I had no idea if my guy, Tom, would even be there to meet me!  Going on faith, I pressed on.

At long last, and right on Africa time,-an hour late,- we were ready to fly to Kamembe, Rwanda.  Only 10 people were on a plane with 37 seats.  Flying time was a quick 35 minutes.  En route we were served passion fruit juice and peanuts.  The plane made a HARD landing at a very primitive airport in Kamembe, just 8 kilometres from the Congo DRC border.  On approach into Kamembe I was treated to great views of Lake Kivu, Bukavu, Goma, and surrounding areas of Congo DRC. These are places I frequented as a kid, over 50 years ago!   Such emotions and great memories came rushing over me.  At the same time, there was concern for what I would find in this conflict torn country!

Kamembe airport is quite a place!  The landing strip is pitted blacktop, no runway lights or building lights, no painting, tin buildings, and no baggage claim.  There IS a primitive,-older than dirt,- Security scanner, which no one seems to know how to operate!!  One's bags are delivered on a rickety skooter - like cart.  They are just dumped onto the dirt and left there. Passengers must dig thru the pile and retrieve one's bags outdoors, personally.  The taxiway, and parking are all red dirt.  To one side stands a dilapidated , boarded up Terminal building, no longer in use.  That building had been ransacked and rendered unuseable during the last wars between competing tribes in Rwanda.  Next to it is what might be generously called a "shack", which serves as terminal.  It has a rudimentary coffee shop,- but no coffee!  At least the toilets work!  I was met by a man named Desant, a taxi driver Tom had sent to take me to the Rwanda-Congo DRC border crossing. The short drive from a high plateau to the Cyangugu border crossing at the Ruzizi river took just a few minutes. My time was spent drinking in so many good memories.  At the same time I was overwhelmed with lots of scary memories as well.  On this VERY spot, and at this VERY border crossing is where some harrowing stuff went down 52 years ago!!   My vivid memories  now brought goose bumps the size of peas on my arms!!  In 1960, my family and 28 American Missionaries fleiing for our very lives,  were finally released unharmed(!!!!) by Congolese militia and rebels, who had held us at gunpoint for 72 hair raising hours!!!  Now there is only a rickety pole across the roadway, and a very Primitive Shack for Customs and Immigration, - all on the Rwanda side of the border.  I stood in line under the Tropical sun waiting my turn. Although my driver and the Border Crossing people knew no English, I was cleared through without problems.  During that time my Protocol, Tom Lindquist, had arrived on the CongoDRC side to meet me.  How good to see Tom's smiling face!  We picked up my backpack and one medium sized bag, and walked across the Ruzizi river on a broken down bridge, teeming with people on foot. After all those years,..I was back in the Congo DRC!!!!! AMAZING!!!

Wrapping up Camp, & Heading Across Africa 'Alone'

August 16, 17, 18:
                               "Wrapping Up Camp, & Heading Across Africa, 'Alone'"
I say heading out 'alone',...in quotes,...because God was with me all the way.  God is good all the time!

Thursday, 16/08/12;  Note the format of the date,..in Africa the day of the month is always put BEFORE the month itself. 

A A A A a a a a r r r r g g g g h h h h !!!!!!!   I dropped my Tablet computer on the floor, right on its corner, UGH.  Broke the screen in 3 places,...now, of course, the Tablet is 'history', and everything in it as well.  So, now it is back to journaling the 'old' way,...by hand in a paper journal. 

Up early and off to serve breakfast at Camp.  Rained in the morn,..then turned nice weather. Have I mentioned the air here is AWFUL with smoke?  Talk about pollution!!  This makes Los Angeles look clear!!    Wow!  2 more Team members came down with the respiratory crud; Bob, Mandi, Chelsea, Lisa, & Debbie are now on the sick list. Some had to stay at the 'Heartbreak Hotel' for resting.  Our leader, Dave, went to the hospital with the sickest Team member, Mandi.  Malaria was ruled out, Praise the Lord.  Dave got prescription cough meds & nasal spray for the Team.  The nasal spray had a quick positive effect, PTL, again.

(Forgot to say word reached us that Bob's wife, Michelle,-also my oldest daughter,-had a kidney stone attack, back in Dallas.  Just when Bob and I are halfway around the world!  Why do 'things' always happen when you are 'out of town'?   Bob and the Team prayed for her recovery/safety,..and Bob decided to use my Int'l. Phone to keep in touch,...but, to keep on pressing ahead with our Mission.  Thankfully, the good doctors back in Texas got it taken care of for Michelle in about a week).

In the afternoon, our leader Dave, reset the Camp's router,..and voila! WiFi service!  Sent emails, texts, and 'Facetimed' with the USA.  Served dinner again,...then, hugged and loved on the kids,-before heading back to 'Heartbreak Hotel' for the evening.  Much quieter tonite,..so Team got better rest/sleep.  Texted home on my International Phone.

Friday, 17/08/12: 
Bob's version of the 'crud' got progressively worse all night.  No fever, but lots of coughing & snotty.  Kept me awake much of the night, since I was 'sleeping'? just 4 feet away.  He decided to tough it out and go to Camp for his teaching assignment.  That's what I'm talking 'bout!  I won't have to step in and teach his class for him!  And, this keeps his perfect record intact,..of never missing a day's work on all the Mission Trips he's taken,..which are many, including Africa and Brazil.

Mission trip moment:  our room at the Hotel Deira, Kampala, aka "Hollywood Hilton", sleeps 2, and has a bathroom against the adjoining room where 2 girls are staying.  Unexpedtedly, there was an issue.  The wall between the men's and ladies' adjoining bathrooms was only finished  about 2/3rds of the way back.!!! Thus, we could hear their bathroom "business", and they could hear ours!  Fortunately, there were no strategic mirror placements!  One really gets to know Mission Team members, up close and personal!!

We did not serve the kids breakfast today, as our leader allowed us to sleep late and let our bodies catch up. Our Bible lesson today was on "The Wordless Book".  Some of you as old as me, will remember that little Sunday School book.  For craft the students made a colored bead bracelet,  illustrating the book.  The Camp kids loved the story.

I got to know Kaluga, of the Balega tribe in Congo, now serving as a counselor for the camp kids.  He opened up quite nicely today.  That's an answer to prayer since Kaluga had started out quite sullen and reserved.

LONG DAY!!  At 8pm we started to leave for the hotel.  This being the last day of Camp, we were MOBBED by crying kids, who didn't want it to end.  They will all leave Saturday, tomorrow.  The Team had to 'run the gauntlet' to get into our van and go to hotel Deira. Crying kids were still beating on the van windows and calling our names.  We finally got to the hotel around 10pm.  Texted, and to bed.  Sick Team members getting better. Pretty quiet night, except for Bob's coughing, and Mandi doing the same next door!

Saturday, 18/08/12:
Up early again to pack things and go to Camp and serve breakfast one last time.  This was 'unscheduled' for us but the entire Team voted to go to Camp and serve the kids once more.  The power was out,-a common occurrence in Kampala,-for that matter all of Africa!! So, we served breakfast late, - boiled egg, bun bread, tea, and a banana.  The kiddos were very happy to see us again.  We sat with them, exchanging addresses, letters to sponsors in America, and email addresses.  Only a few homes have computers, but they do go to Internet Cafe's.  We finally left Camp about 10am, with people crying and hanging onto us again. As I often say, "if this doesn't break your heart, check your pulse,-you probably don't have one!"  BTW, if you do the math, our Team served 12,000+ meals in 5 days,..(2400 a day).

We drove with Pastor Dongo across Kampala.  GRIDLOCK on SATURDAY for cars/trucks trying to drive.  People everywhere, and the motorbikes, (called boda-boda) in Uganda,  - slicing and dicing through the stopped traffic.  The boda's are a good means of transportation, IF you can hang on!  Many are used as taxis,..and you will see every kind of load on them.  It was a L O N G drive , and Bob and I were cramped in the third seat, with NO legroom,..for approximately 3 hours!  Our route took us by the Ethiopian restaurant where terrorists attacked about 2 years ago!  Many people and military were killed in that attack!!  Upon arrival back to the Olympia Hotel, aka "Hollywood Hilton", we checked back in for one more night. This time we got a bigger room, but had to do battle for a ceiling fan,..which we got. Power outtages again today,......good thing we both brought battery operated backup fans.

3 members of the Team left early this morning, to go on Big GameSafari to Nairobi, Kenya, to see big game of many kinds.  Two additional members left this morning to return to Texas, as one of them is in a wedding.  So, the dispersal begins. The rest of us went to the Cafe Roma, a Kampala favorite,- an Italian restaurant for late lunch. I had fettucine, pork meat balls, carbonara, local beer, and ice cream!  Tasted WONDERFUL, after all the rice, poshu, matoke, & beans at Camp all week. Most of the Team has now recovered from the crud. They went out to International House of Talapia for dinner,..but I stayed home to rest and journal. Guest house had scrounged up some TERRIFIC coffee, which went down so smoothly. 9 Team members are still here tonight.

Had a good night,....and looking forward to heading out 'alone' across Africa.  Goal: the Democratic Republic on Congo,..where I grew up some 52+ years ago.....

Let the games begin,...

Rogers

"Hollywood Hilton" to "Heartbreak Hotel" &'Chicken Tonite!'

August 13,14,15
                        From "Hollywood Hilton" to "Heartbreak Hotel" to 'Chicken Tonite!'

When last we left our intrepid group of travelers,...(shown above are the 7 members stranded @ Amsterdam's huge airport),.....the Team had arrived in Entebbe, Uganda, and travelled to the Olympia Hotel,-affectionately dubbed the "Hollywood Hilton",-to be reunited with the other 11 members of our Team. After the reunion and 1 overnight, we enjoyed church at Pastor Dongo's Kabalagala Church, in Kansanga, Kampala, Uganda.

Immediately after church, you'll recall we all trekked about a mile to a place called 'Chicken Tonite'.  This is a Uganda version of a fried chicken fast food,..and a favorite of our Team.   (Actually, the food is quite good).

Sunday afternoon found us at God Cares Primary School, Kampala,- the Team walked the one mile to the school,- hanging out with over 700 kids who were to be bused to Seroma Christian High School across town, for the annual Summer Bible Camp & Retreat, sponsored by Pastor Dongo and my church in Texas, CrossTimbers Community Church. Somehow, we piled that major number of kids into only 4 buses!   Then, our Team drove with Pastor Dongo and one of his sons across Kampala to a different hotel much closer to the Bible Camp.  The hotel is called Hotel Deira,....but, we quickly dubbed it "Heartbreak Hotel".  By comparison to the earlier "Hollywood Hilton",...it just seemed the right name for that place!!  Upon checkin we discovered some of the 'features' of this new hotel:
        No mosquito nets, LOUD bar right at the front of hotel=noisy music/laughter ALL night, lights that don't work, only some rooms with ceiling fans, a 'million' flights of stairs, of course no A/C or WiFi, sheets that were too small for the twin beds(!),......well, you get the picture.
       One unique 'feature' stands out........each room's bathroom was right against the bathroom in the NEXT room.  HOWEVER, the wall was only a partial wall!!!!!!!So, someone in our bathroom could pretty much hear EVERYTHING from the poor soul in the next bathroom, and vice versa!!!   It IS true that on short term Mission(s) one gets to know his Team REALLY well,.....maybe like TMI!

Our Team didn't get much sleep that first night at the "Heartbreak Hotel".  Also the air quality in Kampala,-as in much of Africa,-is TERRIBLE.   Remember the saying, "smoke from a million fires"?   Anyway, a couple of our group were coming down with major upper respiratory infections, and at least one with stomach issues. 'Let the games begin!'

Monday, Tuesday, & Wednesday looked something like this:  early wakeup for voluntary devotional time under the banana trees as the sun came up;  'breakfast' of coffee, tea, bread, juice, some kind of something, & some other kind of something else,--(remember, don't ask);  off to Bible Camp to serve breakfast for the 700+attendees;  teaching Bible lesson to small groups; review for small groups;  serving lunch for the attendees;  afternoon sports-soccer & basketball, (they love to beat up on us Americans(!); bath time for the attendees; giving out items brought from USA for the attendees; serving them dinner; then, back to "Heartbreak Hotel".  Our Team served and taught at least 800 at each meal, including leaders,..so if you do the math we served 2400 meals a day!  Meals consisted of: tea, rice, beans, some kinda meat, bread, poshu:-an African gruel from manioc that I'd had many years earlier-(not at all tasty, but makes a great filler), & matoke:-boiled & mixed up bananas.  The Team ate whatever was left over,..and sometimes there weren't any leftovers.  That's when our power bars from US would carry us thru!

While the routine didn't change much day to day,....the blessings did change.  Especially the free time to hang out with different people each day is a special time.  They love to hear about us, the US, our families, see pictures, etc., etc. We renewed old friendships with kids like Koko, Mary, Dorah, Songa, Glory, and Hope, whom I'd met before during my February trip.

By Wednesday we were pretty used to the ins and outs of the "Heartbreak Hotel", and, many of the Team were getting very tired.  At least 3 more were 'down' with whatever disease the "crud" was.  Wisely, our Team leader let us sleep late the next morning, before going over to Camp.

Only Thursday, Friday, & Saturday now separate us from the end of Camp.  Time seems like it racing along a bit too fast.  At least one night we ate at The Bistro Cafe,..which we like to call "The International House of Talapia"!   Reason for that is: several Team members got the fish and it is the WHOLE THING,..head and all!  I preferred the pork,..without its' head, of course!!  BTW, you cannot always trust the menu(s).  Often whatever you think you've ordered turns out to be something not exactly like you wanted,......

I'll leave you with this thought,...the Bistro Cafe is just down the street from the Ethiopian bar/cafe/nightclub where terrorists struck a couple years ago, killing a number of people........walked by there many times.

Rogers

From Dallas to Entebbe, Uganda, 'more or less'

                            
                        From Dallas to Entebbe, Uganda,....on KLM/Delta,....'more or less'



August 9, 10, 11, 12:



     August 9, 2012 was the BIG day.  8 of our Mission Team from CrossTimbers Church in the Dallas area,  were checked in and ready for our flight.  This included our Team Leader, Dave Schmille, as well as myself and my son-in-law Bob Veach,....a big blessing in itself,-to do African Missions with Bob!   The other 10 Team members also left on the same day, however, with a different plane(s) and different itinerary(s).  Our itinerary was as follows:  DFW to Atlanta;  Atlanta to Amsterdam, Netherlands;  Amsterdam to Kigali, Rwanda;  Kigali to Entebbe, Uganda.   We planned for almost 24 hours of flying.  Our flight out of DFW was scheduled to leave around 12:15pm,..however, right off the bat that didn't happen!  Due to major storms on the US East Coast, we were delayed over 5 hours on the ground in Dallas, before getting underway.  While waiting at DFW, I dropped my new Bluetooth Wireless Headset in the latrine, UGH!  After fishing it out and cleaning/drying it,.I discovered it only worked in one ear!  Better one than none, as my phone was loaded with 150+ songs from Contemporary Christian to '60's Rock to Country, for the long hours of plane trip(s).  (Remind me to take my headset off next time I use the 'restroom'!).  I was particularly excited to get started on this return trip to Uganda, God Cares Schools, and Orphanages,..and then, to continue on to my "other homeland" the Congo, DRC!!  I could hardly sleep for the anticipation and excitement I felt.



     You guessed it, we missed our connection in Atlanta, for the flight to Amsterdam!  It looked like we might have to sleep in the Hartsfield, Atlanta, airport,-a place with which I'm all too familiar, from 30 years of flying thru Atlanta on business trips.  God intervened for us in two ways, however, so we didn't sleep in those wonderful airport chairs,-nor on the floor!  First, He gave us a caring gate agent, who wanted to do everything she could to get us going;  secondly, He had the KLM flight crew and pilots stuck in Atlanta traffic, so they were late to our plane!  Thus, we were able to get on the delayed flight to Amsterdam,  arriving at Shiphol Airport mid afternoon.  (BTW,..my wireless headset returned to normal/full duty, YAY!).

Our next leg to Kigali, Rwanda, on KLM had already left the airport.  And, all the flights to Entebbe, Uganda,...thru ANY hub,..ie: Dubai, Nairobi, Cairo, Johannesburg,  had left for the day as well.  God 'showed up' to bless us again.  KLM gave us vouchers for a nice overnight hotel, transfers, and meal vouchers.  I say it was God, because since our delay was 'weather-related', the airline is not required to 'put us up',..but they did!  So, our 'resting up' day that we had planned for after our arrival time into Uganda was spent instead in Amsterdam.  Just fine with us.




      The next day, we boarded KLM once again for the rest of our journey to Entebbe, Uganda.   Thankfully, everything went according to plan.  We also used my International phone, (purchased online from China for just $39.95US), to alert the rest of the Team and Pastor Dongo and others,  that we were a day late,-and needed transportation from Entebbe to Kampala.  Arriving at Entebbe airport after dark we quickly cleared Immigration and Customs, changed some currency into Uganda money, and then, met Pastor Dongo and his son, for the one hour drive to Kampala. What a joy to see Dongo and his family again!  By the way, the Entebbe International Airport is the same one used way back in the day when a TWA jetliner carrying Israeli athletes to the Olympics was hijacked by terrorists and forced to fly to Entebbe, Uganda.  At that airport the airplane, crew, and passengers were held hostage.  Finally, the Israelis carried out a daring commando mission to rescue the athletes and passengers.  You can read that story or see the movie, "Raid on Entebbe"!  The old terminal building and some planes are still there where you can see them from the main road, too.



     After retrieving our luggage,..which was a mountain of suitcases full of everything from clothes to shoes to pens and pencils for the Buyamba School kiddos,....we piled all our stuff and ourselves into a bus and Dongo's SUV for the hour and a half drive to our hotel in Kampala.  Some of us were sitting on baggage, and some on another person's lap. !!  After checking into the Olympia Hotel,..(we affectionately call it the Hollywood Hilton),..we got settled in, now very late Saturday/Sunday overnight.  The Olympia is, what shall we say,..'adequate'.  No hot water on many days, no electricity on many days, of course no air conditioning, no heat, no elevators, and most days no Internet.  Oh, and sometimes no glass in the windows, either!  It may or may not have mosquito nets or fans, and definitely you WILL be awakened by Muslim prayers at 4 AM every morning.  They are broadcast on loud speakers all over the city.  Waking up to those sounds is disconcerting, until one gets used to hearing it. Well, as I learned to say...TIA,..meaning 'this is Africa!'.  Oh, did I mention the food in Kampala is 'sketchy' at best?  I've been sick there more than  I want to remember.  Happy to be reunited with the rest of our Team in Kampala, the night passed without incident.  Thankfully, I slept quite well,..something I usually do NOT do on the first night anywhere, despite my lifetime of travels!

 
     Sunday, the 12th, found us all up early for a breakfast of papaya, pineapple, bread, instant coffee or instant tea, hot/boiled milk, bottled water, and some kind of eggs: (you quickly learn 'don't ask what's in there!').



     We enjoyed the church service at Kabalagala church,...led by Pastor Dongo.  The exuberance of these worshippers always gets my attention.  In the midst of relative poverty, they are a very happy people.   The service is conducted with an interpreter, in Lugandan and English.  The British legacy is that English is the national language,...however, many Ugandans, especially from the bush areas, do not know English.  After church our Team walked about a mile to a place called "Chicken Tonite".  Yep, all they serve is chicken, fast food style.  Pretty decent, actually...



      After eating lunch, we walked back to the "Hollywood Hilton", to rest and get packed again.  Our next scheduled item was to be at God Cares Primary School/Orphanage at 2pm, to help load over 700 kids onto buses to the site of the Summer Mission Bible Camp and Retreat.  With much pushing and shoving of kids, we loaded them all onto 6 buses.  Then, our Team took the last bus to a different hotel, clear across town,  much closer to where we'd be serving at the Camp.



     Stay tuned,....the fun was just beginning......