Hello, Congo.

Mbote! Nsango nini?
“Hello! How are you?” in Lingala (one of the national trade languages of Congo).

What a week it has been…and the past four days seem like four weeks in my mind. I have enjoyed so many new and lovely friends, conversations and experiences. My visa finally came on Tuesday, which allowed for my travel into Congo on Wednesday morning. I flew into Entebbe, Uganda on a “little” thirteen-windowed plane where I met up with MAF (Missions Aviation Fellowship) to fly into Bunia, DRCongo. Four of us passengers were escorted out onto the tarmac to a little 11 passenger plane…(I soon found out that there are even smaller forms of transportation)!! So, the 5 of us flew across green Uganda and over enormous Lake Albert to Bunia, DRC where “the day” finally arrived…I took my first step onto Congolese soil.
I was warmly welcomed by the Rassmusen family and many others who are living and working there in Bunia. Although I only had about 36 hours total in Bunia (due to the delayed plane schedule on Monday), I enjoyed every hour of my stay! I got to spend time with the Rassmusen’s and learn more about their lives and work in Congo. Their three kids fell in love with Roland, and Joel, their middle child, even came to a nic-name basis with “Rolly.” While I was in Bunia, I got to meet many of the ECG members as well as MAF families.

I attended a little women’s Bible study group with Kim Rassmusen, had lunch with two wonderful women who are working with ECG, and got to spend a lot of time just helping out around the house and playing with the Rassmusen kids. It was a blessing to see God’s people serving Him and loving Him. They are willing to sacrifice living close to their families and in “comfort” in order to come here, learn a new language (many in some cases!), a new culture, a new way of living, all for the glory of God’s name and that His love can be known to people in EVERY corner of the world.
I left Bunia Friday morning on another MAF plane, and this time I even got to sit in front and fly the plane for a bit!! Flying over Congo was incredible…green as far as your eye can see. The little round straw roofed homes were amazing to look at as we flew into a few different villages on our way to Isiro. At one stop, there was a little group of kids that came running out onto the grass/dirt runway to welcome us :)

Around late morning, I finally arrived in Isiro, DRCongo, where I was enthusiastically welcomed by the VanderMeer family (minus John VanderMeer, because he is still on a work project in another part of Congo right now). The VanderMeer’s have been in Isiro for about a year and a half now. They introduced me to their home and their two other “family members”…Boboto
(meaning “kindness” in Lingala) and Bebu (“Nonsense”), their German Shepherd and an African red-tailed monkey! They’re quite shy and are still getting used to me, but Boboto is warming up since I brought him some dog treats, and Bebu enjoyed the termites I gave her…hopefully they’ll warm up to me quickly!

The people I’ve met so far are so welcoming and have the most beautiful smiles and laughs. Everyone greets you as you walk through the red-clay roads surrounded by lush vegetation. The weather has been in the 30’s (celcius) and 50% humidity, which is quite the transition from Seattle in May…!!) Along with the friendly “mbote” that you hear, the kids cry out “mdala” (white-person) and wave their hands wildly at us when we walk by.

I still can’t believe I’ve only been here for a couple days; it feels like weeks! The days seem to go by so much slower here. The next 5 weeks are going to really fly though…there’s so much that I’ll get to be a part of and so much to do, see, and learn! The VanderMeer’s are so much fun! John and Marian and 4 of their 6 kids, Jonathan, Maaike, Joanna, Michelle are so full of life and love for Jesus; it’s so contagious!
They’re so sweet and welcomed me with great enthusiasm and readiness to help me jump right in to the culture here. They’ve taught me so much even in the past 2 days! I’ve already learned how to make a few different Congolese dishes and how to say a few phrases in Lingala. I’ll be learning Lingala from a family friend (as well as from all the excited and willing Congolese that I meet daily), possibly singing in a church choir with Anna (a Congolese friend of the family’s), teaching music lessons (which will hopefully produce a grand concert by the end of June!) and helping with the home-schooling in the mornings, as well as many other fun cultural activities that will give me a greater understanding of the Congolese culture here in Isiro. I am excited to learn more about the people here and how they live. I am also truly looking forward to learning more about Congo’s past and how it affects the people now that they are living in “post-war” culture and circumstances. There is some “trauma relief/healing” work going on here which has been fascinating to learn about; I’m eager to learn more. I have also learned about the music here and how it is carried in these people’s blood, their entire being breathes music. Lingala is actually a tonal language, too, which makes sense.

I’m already feeling quite at home here with the VanderMeer’s and I am so looking forward to seeing what God has planned for the next 5 weeks. I’m sure it’s going to be filled with so many wonderful experiences that I will forever have locked in my memory.

Thank you so much for praying for me and my time here. God is truly working in my heart and showing me so many things about who HE is and who He has created me to be. I am learning about transition and how to deal with making heart transitions as you move from place to place, as well as learning about “home.” I am realizing that I have made my home here on earth much too many times, and that my heart can so easily become attached to earth and my earthly possessions. But, God is reminding me of His heavenly Kingdom and the home that I have with Him, no matter where in this great, big world I am. My home IS Jesus and with Him and only He brings true joy and complete satisfaction. What a comfort that is to me, especially when I miss being “at home” with family, friends, comfortable situations, and everything that has brought me “comfort” for the past 20 years.

Community is such a beautiful and irreplaceable thing; Africans understand that so well.

Prayers:
-That I will be able to quickly catch on to this beautiful language, Lingala
-Thanksgiving for the VanderMeer’s and for all their preparation for me to be here
-Thanksgiving for my health!! I finally figured out why I was getting sick (my anti-malaria medicine), and now I know how to avoid the cause of my upset stomach! Praise Jesus, I can actually enjoy my days without constantly being aware of my painful stomach.
-For the conversations I will have, the things I will learn…that I will have an open mind and a willing heart.

Much love sent to you from Congo <3
Tokomonana! See ya!