Congo

Yesterday I (Ross) experienced what it means for a westerner to visit Africa. I woke up in the middle of the night with a rumbling in the lower half of my body. I spent the night between bedroom and bathroom and making alternative use of the water pail.

Our hosts insisted I get a visit from the doctor. They wanted to check for Malaria. They were very gracious in coming to my room (they still make house calls here!). As it turns out it was most likely something I ate. The Cipro (don’t go to Africa without it!) I’m taking has made me much better.

Today is the last day of the seminar in Beni. When I asked Dawn how she was feeling about how things have gone she has a few responses. She is very glad for hearing the stories of how these people have taken the teaching they received and used it and taught others. They have taken a small meal of bread and fish and fed many others with is.

Secondly, the stories, the interaction, the questions are an indication of how eager these people are to learn and how relevant teaching on hope and healing. I doubt there is a person in this room who is unfamiliar with trauma in a way that we in North America can hardly imagine. Perhaps, some day, this will no longer be true for Congo and Africa. For now, it is a privilege to bring our few loaves and fish with the hope that somehow they will be multiplied.

Finally, Dawn is looking forward to a bit of a lighter schedule next week. She has been teaching all day, every day, in the African heat. That she hasn’t been sick is a miracle. Thanks for your prayers everyone!

When Dawn said her schedule would be lighter next week I looked at her with a smirk and said, “You think so do you? She smiled and shrugged.