"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......

God Cares, Uganda, February, 2012

                         Febr. 2012 trip to God Cares, Uganda, Buyamba, Inc., Kampala, Uganda
This picture shows myself with a young African man, Shafique, in the bush outside of Kampala. He was willing to show me his mud/stick house, his wife, and their young baby.  It is my favorite picture of the trip, since he is Islamic, and not real outgoing with our Team.  However, he was thankful when we prayed for him and his family.









     I was able to visit God Cares Primary and High Schools, and to serve with Pastor Dongo and his wife, Florence,-who are the directors of the schools and orphanages.  What a thrill to deliver letters, Christian t-shirts, 'Live for Him' bracelets, and Christian bookmarks to the over 700 kids.  Two American manufacturers donated these items to give to the kids.  (They are Kerusso, Inc., and Universal Designs, Inc.,-whom I had worked for earlier in my sales career). Also, our Team from CA did painting on the new girl's dorm, provided by my church in Texas, Cross Timbers Community Church.  Another part of our Team provided school supplies from the Met Church, also in Texas.

Later, we spent a day visiting people in the huge slums of Kampala, getting to know them, and praying with them as well.  The trip into the slums was nothing short of amazing.  No sewage lines,..just wide open pits and ditches.  No running water, nor electricity,..no natural gas,..just shacks with only a curtain for a door covering.  What a thrill to feel like we were making a difference, one child at a time.

Still later, our Team visited Jinja, Uganda, on the shores of Lake Victoria,....the biggest fresh water lake in the world.  Jinja is also right on the Equator.  In Jinja we met over 200 ladies who make beautiful beads from discarded/used paper,-like magazines, newspapers, and such.  These ladies are "outcasts in their own land", due to the scourge of HIV and AIDS.  They are THRILLED to have what I call a 'thimble full of HOPE', simply by having a job and their ensuing feelings of self worth. Because of the goodness of a major CA shoe manufacturer,.these beads are then shipped to China-where they are attached to shoes.  The shoes are then shipped to the USA and other markets. The 'Buyamba Soles' were then made available through all Target stores in the US, on their website and in their stores.  Proceeds of all those sales went to the Clinic for the women in Uganda. What a blessing to see the ladies hard at work making the beads, for the shoes.  (To this day, you may view and purchase Buyamba Soles Shoes online, to help with this ministry in Uganda).


     At the end of the February trip, I had made up my mind to return to Uganda for the Summer 2012 Mission Youth Camp and Retreat.  In addition, I made the decision to contact old friends Tom and Kathy Lindquist, who still do Mission work in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. In fact, I had grown up with Tom and Kathy in the '50's and '60's in Congo, and wanted to revisit those places I had left as a teenager,..some 52+ years ago!  Thankfully, throughout the Summer of 2012, plans came together for me to leave Uganda alone, at the end of the Summer Camp.  I then would travel through Uganda and Rwanda, to meet Tom at the Congo border town of Bukavu.

It is very necessary to have what they call a 'protocol', ie: local person, to assist with EVERYTHING in Congo!  This is to help with Immigration, passports, Permits, Visas, something called a Go Pass, and, to accompany me on my travels for personal and safety reasons.  Congo is on the US State Dept. "watch list", which means that things are amazingly unpredictable. In fact, fighting broke out just 80 miles from my destination, only a week before my arrival!  With the full blessing and prayers of my kids, friends, and families, - the trip was made anyway.

I'd come to call my trip(s) Journey of a Lifetime: Africa Revisited.  The Summer 2012 trip back to Africa began from Dallas, Texas, with 18 members of a short term Mission Team to Uganda on August 9, 2012.

.

       AMAZING JOURNEY OF A LIFETIME; MY RETURN TO AFRICA, AFTER 52 YEARS!!!







                                                                   

      As 1950 began,  my parents, Ernest and Hallie Green, were answering God's












call upon their lives to go to Africa,- under The Berean Mission, St. Louis.  My dad went as an












Evangelist/Bible teacher, and a translator, and my mother as a Registered Nurse. My oldest brother,












Eldon, age 9, next oldest brother, David, age 7, myself, (not quite 5 years old), and our baby sister,










Patricia, - who was in Mother's arms -, were all set to go. The Belgian Congo was a colony of the










country of Belgium,..a situation that was not uncommon in the early '50's.  The country is 5 times the










size of the state of Texas, with over 200 African tribal groups and languages!!  At that time, the










Belgian government ruled over the Congo.  They built roads, developed industries of mining, rubber,








and logging, and created a system of schools and regional medical facilities. While the Regional










Centers were fairly well developed, the Interior was very Primitive, and in some cases barely








passable.  Malaria, typhoid, pneumonia, yellow fever, jaundice, hepatitis, and a thousand other








Tropical diseases were rampant, not to mention snakes, scorpions, gorilla, baboons, leopards, and








other dangerous creatures!  Witchcraft, witchdoctors, curses, tribal conflicts, polygamy, and even








killings were commonplace. Our safety was clearly in the hands of the God who had called our






family to Congo, Africa.  The missionaries' task was to bring the Gospel of God's love to the native








villagers of Equatorial Belgian Congo.   So it was that on my 5th birthday, May 31, 1945, we docked








at the port of Matadi, Belgian Congo, Africa.  Along the way we had braved storms at sea, endless








days and nights with no land in sight, and we boys had even lost several softballs, gloves, and








baseballs, 'accidently' tossed overboard!! Our family, fresh from Nebraska and the heartlands of








America, were beside ourselves with excitement, and ready to dive into the middle of this new








adventure.  After a 21 day voyage from New York City on the freighter SS Steinstradt, our family








could not have been any "Greener",-raw rookies in fact-, certainly living up to our family name!!

   


     After disembarking on the African coast there came days of driving on barely passable roads to








the capital city, of Leopoldville, (now named Kinshasha).  The Tropical sun, heat, and humidity were








noticed immediately.  Among our earthly possessions was a 1950 Ford, donated by friends in








America.  I vividly remember watching the huge crane unloading our car from the bowels of the








ship!!  Our travelling companions on the drive were a British doctor, and 5 snake hunters from








Florida.  We 12 passengers on that freighter made quite a group!  After catching our breath for a








couple of nights in Leopoldville, we booked passage on a Sabena Airlines DC-3, to the Interior








regional post of Bukavu, Congo. Upon arrival we were met by veteran missionaries, waiting to drive








us on our trip Downcountry over the infamous Route de Kimbili,...climbing mountains, skirting








cliffs, and travelling an average of perhaps 15 miles per hour!!   For a good part of the 'road', - really






a kind of overgrown path, - it was one way only,..every other day travelers could proceed only that






one direction.  Road hazards included landslides, trees down across the road, violent thunder storms,






bridges washed out, and deep holes to avoid!! Also, we dodged people walking, and animals running






across the road.  We drove the next three arduous and sometimes terrifying days to our first posting,






Katanti, Belgian Congo, Africa, set upon a hill in the middle of the jungle!  We were met with a






jubilant celebration, by the Africans and the few white missionaries at that Mission post.  What a






moment for us newbies!!








     Thus began 10 years of Mission work,-until I was 15,-among the Balega tribe, and living in the








undeveloped provinces of Maniema and of South Kivu, in the midst of one of the largest and most








dense rain forests in the world. Although I wouldn't trade the experience for anything on this Earth,








the ending was pretty 'sketchy', to say the least!!  But first, we had to adjust and learn the ways of






the Balega tribe specifically, and Africa in general!!  In so doing, we were in many ways growing up






"Congolese".  Here's how all those adventures went down,.....



































      My family and I fled the Congo in 1960, after that country had received its' independence from




the Belgians,-and riots, lootings, killings, rapings, and various atrocities made staying there unsafe.



Word had reached us that some missionaries in our region had been attacked, raped, and killed.  So,




with fearful, heavy hearts, we formed a caravan of mission cars on the way to the border at Bukavu,




South Kivu Province. After being detained for 3 days against our will, and guarded at gunpoint 24/7




by drunken members of the Congolese military, we and 28 other evacuating missionaries were finally




allowed to leave peacefully, after those grueling, terrifying days of negotiating for our safety between




the US Embassy and the Congolese.  Were we threatened at gunpoint?..Yes!  Were the women in our




group threatened?,.Yes!  Were our lives at stake?,.Yes! Were we afraid of death?,.Absolutely!.  A 




miracle occurred when one of our heavily armed guards was recognised by my father, by his Balega




tribal markings carved on his face!!   My father was moved to speak to the guard in his own dialect,




and the highly explosive tension was miraculously broken.  Speaking to the other troops, he




said,.."these are our friends, the missionaries!  They have nothing, and we should let them go!"  




After those wild, crazy, and terrifying days we were driven at break kneck speed to the Rwanda




border crossing at the river Ruzizi, and allowed to leave the country!!  Thank you Lord,..God was




with us!!  Feeling happy and relieved to escape unharmed, I had no idea what would happen some 52




years later!!









                                                                                  II

     Fast forward to the Summer of 2011.  I was now living in Texas with my wife of 45 years, Carol. 




She fought valiantly against Dementia, Strokes, and other issues, with my kids and I her Caregivers.




She was called to her Eternal Home in June of 2011.  Throughout our years I had sometimes




had a desire to return to my adopted country, the Congo,..but my wife, Carol,-having heard too many




snake, scorpion, & witch doctor tales-, was not lining up to take that trip with me!  However, one




of the last things she did tell me was that "when I'm gone to Heaven, you go back to Africa, Rog!"



     So it was, that in February, 2012, I joined a team of 8 short term missionaries from California on a




10 day trip to Kampala, Uganda, Africa.  (I had been to Kampala several times as a kid). This was the




first step in fulfilling my dream of revisiting Africa!  We were on Mission to God Cares Primary,




High School, and Orphanages in the Kampala area.  The official name in the Lugandan language is




"Buyamba",..which literally means 'to help'. This trip did everything to encourage me in the return to




Africa,..and nothing to discourage me!  God Cares, Buyamba, is capably operated by Pastor Dongo, a




man I've since come to love as a dear friend and co-worker. Over 1,600 African orphans have been




provided a safe haven in a Christian environment and school.  Many of these 'at risk' kids are




orphaned by the wars, terrorist acts, plagues, genocide, AIDS, and hunger that continue across the




Continent of Africa.  The African leader of Buyamba himself was orphaned as a child, and with his




wife cares for 16 people in their own home, in addition to running the Orphanage & schools.

    


     Since Kampala, Uganda, put me only about an 8 hour drive from the Congo, I began to plan a




second trip to Buyamba, Kampala, which would allow me to then continue on to the Congo.  That




trip was realized in August and September, 2012!  The Ugandan Africans dubbed me 'Rogers', while




my Congolese friends named me "Banuamazi".  The Congolese name literally means, "he drinks




water from the stream in the forest, but he doesn't know who or what "pooped" upstream"!

    
The story of that trip, "Journey(s) Of A Lifetime: Return To Africa" is the story of this book.