Congo 2007

A word from Gregg (finally!)

2007-07-14T07:57:00.000-04:00

It seems like ages since Russell first asked about the possibility of Bethel sending a team to encourage us in our work in Congo. The issue hindering a team from having significant ministry input has always been language. They speak over 200 of them in the country but none are English. So I thought maybe it would be possible to do something for Congolese secondary school students who have to learn English as part of their curriculum. We sketched out a preliminary scenario, presented it to the church in the DRC and the idea of an English Bible Camp was born.

From the beginning my desire had been that any team from the US see themselves as learners more than teachers. I think the question posed to Vicki as the team landed in Uganda, "What do Americans know about God?" helped everyone keep that in perspective. Amber's testimony to the Congolese at the end of the camp "We have learned so much from you" confirmed it. The body of Christ is made up of many parts and we all need and learn from each other.

It was such an encouragement to the Congolese students that you were willing to take your vacation time and raise the money needed to come out, help them with English and study the word together. They saw that not all American youth are like the ones in magazines and in the movies. You were living examples that it is possible "to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation." Your visit and testimony won't be quickly forgotten!

This brief experience in Africa will help you look at the world from a new perspective. Karen and I wonder how God will use it to direct your future. We look forward to hearing what he'll do in your lives and how you will continue to shine "as lights in the world."

Thanks for your involvement with us in Congo for God's glory.

Home Sweet Home

2007-07-13T10:14:00.001-04:00

Dear friends and family -

Thank you so much for your faithful prayers these past few weeks, months, and years leading up to our trip to Congo. We are praising God for what he has done in the hearts and lives of the team, the church, the missionaries, and the students and leaders in Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo.

After a week of English Bible Camp and several days of debriefing and decompressing in the beautiful Great Rift Valley of Uganda, the team has now returned safely to the US for wonderful reunions. We began our journey first thing on Thursday morning, and ended it nearly 24 hours later after flying through London into JFK and driving for four hours to the church parking lot.

Please continue to pray for the half of the team that stayed behind to shadow Gregg and Karen and enjoy continued fellowship with their families, and also for those who have returned that they would adjust to life in the US. We look forward to seeing many of you at the full report we make to the church on Sunday, July 29.

Bunia - A poem by Bethany

2007-07-12T03:24:00.000-04:00

Bunia

Once a small city

Prosperous, quaint and pretty

Brothers lived in love and unity.

But one day

The peace of this place fell away

And all left was war and decay.

Friend against friend

To the grave they would send

And to this bloodshed there was no end.

Under the same sun

Where brothers would run

Now is but a red machete and gun.

One is shorter, one is tall

When young, they played with the same ball

Now, in their brother's blood they fall.

Over land and grazing grounds they fought

And their own gain they sought

But slaughtered for naught.

Families separated in flight

Thousands killed every night

Their hatred grew in might.

They used their victims for witchcraft

Tortured, dismembered and decapitated them as they laughed

And openly terrorised others with their evil craft.

Five years the two tribes waged war

Until there was but widow, orphan and poor

And prosperity was no more.

This city suffered after the battle

It's population displaced and wandering like cattle

It's working hands gone, dead or fragile.

Now as you walk by

There are still orphans who cry

There are still bullet-holes and blood stains on walls even if dry.

You can still see scars and wounds

Because even though it's been many moons

Those hurts cannot be put in tombs.

But there is hope for this city even if small

Even now, hatred and revenge will into memory fall

And Bunia will surprise all.

Please do not think this war was an exceptional case

And that the rest of the world lives in roses and lace

For you will be surprised to find in your place

Hatred, discrimination, slaughter for status or race

Whether it was, or is now, or will be along this race

Do not let it leave in your society any trace.

The End is Sweeter than the Beginnng

2007-07-11T04:05:00.000-04:00

Hey Guys,
Africa has been amazing! From Bunia, Congo to Queen Elizabeth Park, Uganda.
We’ve seen some pretty sweet things. It has been s awesome to see how people love the Lord with all they have even when they’re going through some of life’s hardest trials. It’s also been a very humbling experience!

So we left Bunia on Sunday, which was hard to do because we all made great friends. Then we went to Kampala and stayed at this cute little place. Now we’re at QE Park! There are so many animals! Not a variety but a lot! (I don’t ever want to see a water buffalo again in my life!) There were so many deer type animals. I don’t know what they’re called but they all looked like deer to me. Also a lot of water buffalos. We saw Pumba and his family (warthogs). Kelly was very pleased with all of the elephants! Some were really close! The one thing that we all wanted to see didn’t come out and play! LIONS! It was very disappointing at the end of the day. But we got to spend the whole day gazing upon God’s beautiful creation, so I think we got over it!

Gazing upon His creation has been so wonderful to me personally. From the sun rises to the sun sets to the stars at night. I wish I could have captured the exact images because it’s been so beautiful and no one can explain them. The stars are so pretty and there’s so many! I saw my first planet!

Leaving Africa on Thursday is going to be very hard. We’re used to this culture it’s going to be weird to go home. I’m really looking forward to the food but I’ll miss the mystery of what I’ll be eating! It was kind of fun! Almost all of us have craved Charcoal Pit!

We’re all ready to come home but we’ll miss Africa! A little part of us is here forever!

Vicki (Team Encourager)

P.S. Happy Birthday to Mr. Foggy, Emery and Jenny!

Overlooking the Great Rift Valley

2007-07-10T04:03:00.000-04:00

HELLO EVERYONE!

This morning most of our team woke up to some new and exciting things…warm showers, brewed coffee, milk and cereal! Matoke Inn certainly has been a wonderful ½ way point. But for me..it was a GREAT morning to see old views, catch-up with old friends, and just reminisce! Just getting up in the morning walking out and seeing the AIM office reminded me of every morning coming into the office!! Then Lyn, the admin for AIM headquarters, stopped in to see me!!!! It was great to see her again and hear what God has been doing here in Uganda….plus she was trying to entice me to come back for 6 months (December-May). Russell must have paid her off to see if he can get rid of me for a while!

Then I got to see Godfrey, the caretaker for the AIM office and Matoke Inn. He has become a father again and was very excited to tell me about his brand new daughter! I also got to see my good friends Shuni and Gizmo—the AIM dogs…I LOVE THEM!

We headed out after breakfast and drove with our driver Dennis (he has been such a great tour guide for our trip to QE) to Mbarara. In Mbarara, we stopped at a restaurant and met up with Russell’s friend from high school Renee Rose and her husband Nick and their 4 children. Renee had a special treat and had us come back to the house for chocolate/peanut butter brownies and sugar cookies. Nick’s parents have traveled out to Uganda numerous times and they have built a FORT in the back of the yard that would put any of our swing sets to shame! Oh yeah..and we broke their tire swing…I guess 3 teenagers weigh more then 4 little kids…who would have thought. Renee has enticed us back by promising our boys pancakes on Wednesday…so we’ll be back I think…at least Dan and Greg will be (parents…get food ready…they have definitely NOT been eating until they are full…but no complaints!)

We then headed to the game park and went to King Fischer, our hotel. I can’t begin to describe our view…but our rooms look OVER the Rift Valley!!!! Words can’t describe! And yes…we saw elephant the first night. But I’ll leave the rest of the game park description for Vicki for tomorrow!!!

Thank you for all of your prayers…they have been felt and have been needed! We love you all and can’t wait to see you in a few days!

Love,

Kelly (steward I.W.W.P.O.T)

The Reluctant Blogger

2007-07-09T03:59:00.000-04:00

Hello from Africa! We have all been assigned days for the blog and my day has been to write something for today. So today has been a very busy day for the team. It was our last day in Bunia and our first day traveling back. We were concluding the main part of our mission while at the same time trying to find time to reflect on what we did. We are still trying to find quiet times to reflect—this has been a difficulty for the team because we have always been running from dawn till late with different ministry opportunities and/or team events and meetings. Certainly it will not be until after the trip is over that we will have time to really reflect upon everything that has been happening. But what is immediately evident is that God was in total control of the events and ministry throughout this entire week.

My one real prayer and hope is that the Word of God will be preached and presented boldly and clearly. Although I have not reflected too much on the details of how this has played out over the week, I do believe that God has enabled us and accomplished this prayer. We thank God for this opportunity to be involved in this and empowering us to be more then we otherwise would be. It has been on God’s strength this whole week has been possible, and therefore to Him goes all the glory.

God has been good to us as a team and individually. For myself, God has given me many joys and blessing, both big and small. A small example is that even from our flights to and from Bunia, God allowed me the chance to fly with the MAF pilots and to be the PIC (Pilot In Command) for almost 3 hours total. The flying aspect itself was a blessing, because we were flying over the African jungles and mountains, but the real blessing that God gave me was the fellowship with the missionary pilots. I was able to ask them questions about their own lives, about their ministries and about what God is doing with them and why they are in the field that they are. It was very insightful to me, since this is the occupation that I have been looking at for over a year. So even in the small areas of this trip, God has been blessing us. We are now going to begin our time of debriefing and fellowship, and we will pray that we will recognize God’s continued blessings as we travel to Uganda.

We appreciate your prayers and would like you to know that we are also praying for you. Hope you are all doing well and that God has been equally blessing you at home. We look forward to seeing you soon.

Your brother,

Dan (Team Chaplain)

Off On Safari

2007-07-08T13:46:00.000-04:00

Greetings to all our friends, family, and supporters...

We have arrived safely in Uganda from our week-long ministry trip to Democratic Republic of Congo, and are preparing for a long bus journey tomorrow to see African wildlife at Queen Elizabeth National Park. We will not have internet access for several days, but we will be recording our thoughts and observations to post once we get back to civilization.

Thank you so much for your prayers, your notes of encouragement, and everything else you have done to make this trip not just possible, but an incredible blessing for all. We are looking forward to seeing many of you in just a few short days.

- Russell for the team

Last Post from Bunia

2007-07-08T06:13:00.000-04:00

Make sure that you catch Amber's testimony from yesterday. It was posted late. Today's guest blogger is Joanne (aka Mama Kahawa):

Jambo Sana!

It's Sunday morning and we are preparing to attend the local church services (in Swahili), drinking our tea, taking our daily malaria meds, and listening to the Congolese children in the chapel next door sing with their whole hearts. We all are a bit sad as we think about leaving Bunia this afternoon to head to Kampala, Uganda. It's been a week full of incredible experiences. Despite the instant coffee, "interesting" foods, scarce electricity, and only cold showers (imagine living in colonial America and you've got the picture), we have known deep joy as we have adjusted to this culture and have come to love many precious people who have persevered through war and atrocities that we only imagine.

The 50+ kids in our English Bible Camp are smart! Many know the rules of English better than most of us; they appreciate the practice speaking with us. They sing beautifully with strong voices and incredible harmony. The Bible teaching has been great as Pastor Kiningani is a gifted and passionate teacher (as well as a great volleyball player). Yesterday in our small groups, the kids shared their testimonies - that was a great accomplishment as most are very reserved and don't know one another or us very well. Greg and I were blessed to hear five of our seven students share their hearts and "confess with their mouths" that Jesus is Lord of their lives.

Pastor Kiningani received your gift of a new guitar yesterday with great appreciation*. Many thanks to your generosity to him, and to us as well, for allowing us the incredible joy and privilege of being here. Please continue to pray for the hearts of the people here in Bunia. We look forward to sharing their specific stories with you we we return. May our hearts be forever changed. God bless.

- Mama Lauren (Joanne) for the team
Isaiah 55:6-11

P.S. There are swarms of little children here, who have beautiful smiles and joyful hearts in the midst of their poverty. We have felt like celebrities each day as they run to the road and wave at the "mzungos" as we pass by. How we love these precious little ones.

editorial note from Russell - Pastor Kiningani was so proud of his new guitar he brought it to church this morning and shared testimony of your generosity with the whole church.

Testimony from Amber

2007-07-07T18:02:00.000-04:00

As the day started, we are all aware that this is the last day of camp. We all want to do our best but what I found after reflecting on today and this last week was that I learned so much.

Today's topic was testimony; sharing how God has worked in your life. After the Bible teaching, we split into our discussion groups. At first, my group was quiet but after some talking and reading Scripture, the students started to share. They did not share in a way that was a 20-minute long testimony, but they were consistent in understanding God's grace in their life or listening to the conviction of the Holy Spirit.

For example, one student talked about how while her family was in their home, the militia came to tear down the door. Knowing that if the door was torn down, they would have died, the student gave glory and honor to God because the militia could not break through and they were saved. She understood that it was God's grace in her life that saved her.

Another student explained that his friend gave him two guns to protect himself from the militia. He was convicted by the Holy Spirit that only by God can he be saved and returned the guns to his friend. He had that teachable spirit that was sensitive to His convictions.

Through all these troubles, trials and tribulations, the students are still joyful, knowing that God is in control. How often am I completely content and joyful in my God when things do not go how I would prefer? It is something to think about. What an example these students have been to me and what a faithful, gracious God we have.

Girding up the loins of our tastebuds

2007-07-06T11:09:00.000-04:00

This week of camp has flown by! We can’t believe tomorrow is the last day! Please pray for us as we prepare to finish up the teaching and play some games with the kids tomorrow. A couple thoughts before Jess gives an update...

This week has been very humbling. I spoke to one student yesterday who speaks eight languages (we speak English and a few words of espanol), and the students often correct us on our grammar rules. We are so thankful that God uses even our mistakes! We have been teaching the kids some games in our small groups, like “Simon Says”, “If you’re happy and you know it,” and “I Spy”. It’s so funny to see twenty-year olds loving these games! The other day when we played “I Spy” in my group, one of the kids said he was “spying something yellow.” After exhausting all possibilities of yellow objects in the room, he told me he was talking about me! Another student was “spying something chocolate,” and a different student guessed that he was talking about his body. They keep us laughing and on our toes for sure! It’s so cool to see how passionate, appreciative, and excited all of the students are for the things we are talking about. It makes it so fun to teach! On a more serious note, these people have been such an amazing blessing to us! We have heard heart-wrenching war stories from many Congolese, and their faith and joy is almost unbelievable. Their smiles truly light up their faces, and their commitment to serve Christ after losing family members, being beaten, and even being stabbed by the militias has been a huge encouragement to us all. It has been amazing to realize how many people here are praying for us as well. Yesterday I was talking to Jonathon (a student previously mentioned by Greg who lives next to where we are staying). He was ill a few days ago, and I told him that we had been praying for him. “Well, I am praying for you too, so I guess we have been praying for each other,” he answered. Wow. And then, a lady stopped me when I was walking through the seminary and held my hand and told me so genuinely how much she had been praying for me and how she hoped that God would use this trip to work in my life and change my heart. I have no idea who she was.

We often catch ourselves speaking very slow English in accents to each other as well. One more thing it has been very surprising to see how much UN are here. We often see helicopters, trucks, tanks, and armed soldiers. I didn’t expect them to be so present.

We are all loving it here, are building many relationships, and do NOT want to leave Congo on Sunday... although we miss you all very much!

Keep Kelly’s toe in your prayers, her weak toenail is currently at a 77 degree angle from its usual position!

- Lauren for the Team

... and now some thoughts from Jess:

Hey everybody! Yesterday was a very busy day and as a result we are all very tired. We woke up around six in order to have breakfast together and then be at camp which starts at eight. The whole team agrees that we are enjoying each day of camp more and more. Yesterday’s topic was about “cups running over”.* Kelly, Amber, Brynne, and Bethany taught the English portion, and Kelly introduced her famous “Simon Says” for a fun activity and completely embarrassed Greg and Lauren. The students enjoyed that.

After camp we went to the hospital, which is run by the Sukisa Church. It was very clean but also very small. There are only twenty-seven people on the staff and one doctor. Please pray for more doctors and more space as the UN has taken over two of their newest buildings, leaving them with only one building and a tent and no electricity. They have few supplies but are committed to serving Christ in this way. After our time at the hospital, we walked home with Rachel, and short termer helping at the hospital. The Congolese family she is staying with invited us in for tea, and as it’s culturally rude to say no, we gladly accepted and stayed for a while. We then went to hear the Tujenge choir. So many of the Africans we have met have amazing voices, and they sing acapella. Dan gave a little devotion to the choir, and Uncle Gregg translated for him. On the way home, the little kids on the street started marching behind us and chanting “mzungu”. Also on the way home, Carol was walking with us, and she translated what the people on the street were saying. Some of them were so excited to have white people in their tribe (Lauren and I), because they are known as the tall tribe. We hung out with Benjamin and Jonathon for a while and had some team meetings.

Miss you guys!

- Jess for the team

*Editorial comment from Russell - "Cups Running Over" is taken from the idea in Psalm 23 ("my cup runneth over") that the regular experience of the Christian faith is one of abundant joy (as spoken about in 1 John 1).

I die to come gust.

2007-07-05T09:32:00.002-04:00

Today's guest blogger is 2-G Greg:

Jambo! Hope you all are doing well... Africa is great and God is definitely blessing us with an amazing stay here. Some pretty funny things have happened here in Bunia. A few days ago, Amber tried in her usual, outgoing, caring way to thank a native, but said the word mzungu (which means "white person") instead of asante. My guess is that this was the first Swahili word that came to mind. Any of us could have made this mistake, its just that Amber is so much more faithful in communicating with the Congolese people.

For a picture of what our ministry is like at the English Bible Camp, this is a story from our small groups. Dan told his discussion group to make a sentence using the word "gust" (meaning quick, strong wind). Most of the students understood what he meant, however one student wrote, "I die to come gust." Yes. Dan was equally confused, but after much discussion he discovered that what the student meant to say was that "Death comes quickly like a gust of wind." Profound.

We are really enjoying our time that we have to walk around and meet other people. Some new friends that we have made are Enosh and his family. We enjoy the company of Benjamin (15), Beatrice (20), and Jonathan (16, who is attending the camp). We have also met a lady named Carol (a friend of Aunt Karen) and she has been very good to us, even taking Brynne, Vicki, and Bethany to choir practice last night. All our friends have been very helpful in teaching us culture and language.

Other interesting things include cold showers (which I personally like, but isn't necessarily a favorite of all...), no showers due to no water (which is a favorite of no one!), people wanting to take pictures with me, and frequent power outages. However we have come to love all of these.

Spiritually, God has taught me so much in so many ways. I have personally learned so much from our nightly devotions about Christian love. I have also learned so much from the Congolese. They are so faithful and excited about their education. They also are very hopeful to come to America and build friendships with us.

OK, well it's time to go. Continue to pray for us and we'll see you soon. Adios!

- Greg for the team

P.S. Please pray for Moses, a student from camp. He wasn't there yesterday because his brother died. Also pray for our team's ability to communicate with the students and keep God as the center thought of all that we do and say.

P.P.S. Also pray that Dan and Kelly will refrain from passing out Tums to African teachers and calling it candy; that might smooth things out. (No pun intended.)

Editorial note from Russell - not everyone had to go without showers when the running water quit... only those using the center bathroom who refused to acknowledge the effectiveness of the bucket method. Mostly Dan and Greg.

Synthese de Travail

2007-07-04T09:38:00.000-04:00

Russell here, pinch-blogging for Lauren...
Sorry we have been out of contact now these past two days... it seems our schedule is not in sync with that of the seminary computer lab, so we have to juggle some ministry priorities in order to get word back home...

Today was the second day of English Bible Camp; we discussed the idea of brokenness (being poor in spirit as a prerequisite for revival) during our Bible lesson and I taught about present perfect and present perfect continuous tense during the English lesson. It was Congolese Independence Day when we arrived on Saturday, and now it is Independence Day back home. We started the celebration last night with warm bucket baths, and I whipped out a new shirt (it's blue) this morning, even though my old one wasn't due to be retired until tomorrow. We even had an American treat - corn on the cob - for breakfast.

Confidential to all of the parents of the team, your watoto (children) are all in good health, are all doing an amazing job, and are adapting extremely well to life in Africa. You would be very proud of all of them!

And now a page from Bethany's journal:

We have a lot of fun practicing our Swahili with the little children on the street. We make complete fools of ourselves, but they think it's great. I'm really excited to possibly have the opportunity to meet some of the people in charge of working with and caring for street children. I would love to talk to them about their ministry, struggles, and victories.

I very much enjoy learning new songs in Swahili. They are so lively and fun. Also the Congolese sound so good they do echoes, harmonies and many other amazing things that make them sound so beautiful. I'm also really looking forward to singing with a Congolese choir while they practice. That will be so fun!

I have had an amazing time so far bonding with the team. I really appreciate their support and care to include me in most things. I am so blessed to join such an amazing team! We have had rain the last few days, which makes the air fresh and cool. It's very enjoyable. Thanks for your prayers and encouragement cards.

- Bethany for the team

P.S. from Russell - I haven't gotten wind of any official proposals for marriage, but at least one member of the team has been offered a potential job.

My Name Is?

2007-07-02T04:36:00.000-04:00

Not too much has happened since the last post. (I)Lauren wanted to take a little break, so Brynne will be the guest blogger for the day!

Hey y'all! I love Africa! It is so much more than I expected. From the beauty that I saw from the plane to the excitement of main street it is wonderful! Yesterday we had a chance to interact with the people a lot, and the language barrier was fun/interesting. We met many kids as they exited from the seminary church and one girl Jaele came to meet us first. After we exhausted the traditional greetings, we stood there trying to remember something else to say and finally we thought to ask if we could take their pictures. After we took a few group shots we showed them the pictures, and they got very excited. They all smiled and laughed and wanted more. We took more pictures and then had to say goodbye. When we said "kwaheri" (goodbye) they still followed us up the steps! So we took a few more pictures, I taught them some silly faces and they had a blast seeing what they looked like!

In the afternoon, we went to an English service at on of the local churches. The service was so exciting and very sincere. I was most impressed with the singing, it was so passionate and we all sang so loud that we couldn't even hear ourselves! After some singing and Scripture reading, they opened up the service for people to share praises or requests to God. This was the most exciting part, the people who shared were so genuine and seemed so excited about God. The first man who got up shared a praise for his wife's survival from breast cancer. After praising God he led the congregation in "I will call upon the Lord." After praise the worship leader invited all guests to stand and introduce themselves and, upon seeing the amount of guests, said "we are TRULY blessed." Then they gave us all a traditional African clap greeting and blessing. Uncle Gregg gave the sermon and then service was over. We met a few people and then headed home for dinner.

This afternoon we will have the orientation for camp and will get to meet our small groups for the rest of the week. Pray for us as we do not exactly know how this will work. Right now we are also headed to the UN market to buy traditional African head scarves.

Our love to all and a quick fact: Jessy found her African husband, tall, skinny and wearing Ralph Lauren!

- Brynne for the team

Russell here again... as we are sitting in the computer lab at the seminary there was an outburst of cheering, singing, and clapping as one of the students finished their oral exams. They are quite expressive in their praise and encouragement for one another.

First Impressions

2007-07-01T05:48:00.000-04:00

Karibu! Karibu! Karibu!

We are so thankful that our plane landed safely in Uganda yesterday morning and that after a short delay, all 18 pieces of luggage arrived as well. Just before deplaning, one gentleman from Uganda asked Vicki whether we were coming as "missionaries from the United States". When she answered yes, he replied "What do Americans know about God?" It definitely was a refreshing perspective to remind us that we are coming not just to teach, but perhaps even more so to learn.

We had a sweet reunion with Aunt Karen and met Bethany (our additional team member, another AIM MK), changed into skirts and then boarded two small MAF planes for Bunia. Dan had the chance to take the controls for most of the flight (which allowed him to log an hour of flight time toward his credentials). We were taken off guard when we were greeted immediately with Swahili (Karibu means "welcome") and gorgeous sunny weather upon our arrival in Bunia.

We enjoyed our first African meal of Nile perch for lunch and have had quite an interesting time flushing the toilets and taking cold showers. But, Hakuna Matata, right? Many of us had a chance to walk through town yesterday and to meet some of Aunt Karen & Uncle Gregg's old friends. We enjoyed some time visiting with Carol (who used to care for the Lewis boys) and her three precious girls.

There are not many white people in Bunia so everyone stops and stares as we walk through -- we were the "first white people" for some kids yesterday. As Young Greg said, that was a special occasion to be a part of. Vicki amused us all when she joined in on a game some young girls were playing (she assures us it's much harder than it looks). We also had a chance to try grinding some leaves with sticks. Good stuff.

We have had multiple opportunities to use our limited knowledge of Swahili as well, as many of the students and their families at the seminary speak no English. Saint Jess led our team devotions last night on the topic of joy based on many verses in Philippians, and we went to bed early as we were all exhausted.

Today is pretty laid back - we will be doing some preparation for camp and attending an English service this afternoon. Overall, we have been blessed beyond measure already.

Some initial impression:

Very social culture
Lots of children
Close quarters
They have very little
Women have beautiful dresses
Roosters crow at all hours of the day and night

- Lauren for the team

Greetings from the Heathrow Airport

2007-06-29T08:57:00.000-04:00

God is faithful, and after a 5 1/2 hour flight we have arrived safely in London. While half of our team is enjoying "the quiet seating area", the other half of us are now drinking Starbucks (a tall cup of coffee here is about $3.50), and we're planning on spending the rest of our 10 hour layover doing devotions together and sharing our testimonies, and, of course, sleeping and eating. We will leave from London for Entebbe around 9:15 tonight (4:15 PM EST), and Lord willing arrive at 7:45ish (12:45 AM EST) tomorrow morning. We will meet up with Karen and will fly from there to Bunia. Thank you for your prayers. We miss you already.

1 Thess 5:16-18 "Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you."

- Lauren for the team

Trip Itinerary

2007-06-28T10:30:00.000-04:00

DATE	LOCATION	AGENDA
Thursday, June 28	Wilmington, DE to JFK Airport	Team family lunch, prayer, and sendoff - BA flight 182
Friday, June 29	London Heathrow Airport	Layover for 11 hours in the airport - BA flight 63
Saturday, June 30	Entebbe, Uganda to Bunia, DRC	Meet Karen & Bethany in Entebbe, fly on MAF planes to Bunia to meet Gregg
Sunday, July 1	Bunia	Visit local churches in Bunia... it's baptism day and the shortest service will probably be at the Ville church and will go from 9 AM to 2 PM
Monday, July 2	Bunia	Meet with camp leadership, have orientation for campers, introduction to "Continuous Revival" teaching by Jonas Kiningani.
Tuesday, July 3	Bunia	English Bible Camp - Day 1
Wednesday, July 4	Bunia	English Bible Camp - Day 2
Thursday, July 5	Bunia	English Bible Camp - Day 3
Friday, July 6	Bunia	English Bible Camp - Day 4
Saturday, July 7	Bunia	English Bible Camp - Testimony, Wrap-up and Sports day
Sunday, July 8	Bunia, DRC to Entebbe, Uganda	Visit churches again, then fly back to Uganda
Monday, July 9	Kampala to Mbarara	Quick trip into Kampala to change money, then long bus ride through Mbarara to game park
Tuesday, July 10	Queen Elizabeth National Park	Safari in Queen Elizabeth National Park
Wednesday, July 11	Back to Kampala	Back to Kampala to take Gregg and Karen out for a nice dinner
Thursday, July 12	Entebbe to London to JFK	BA flights 62 and 179, scheduled to arrive back at JFK at 8:45 PM
Sunday, July 29	Report to Church and Supporters	Please join us with the Russia team to hear testimony of how God displayed His sovereignty, grace, and glory through short-term missions this summer! 6:30 PM?

Afrika mimi nakupenda

2007-06-27T10:30:00.000-04:00

Africa
I came to change you but instead you changed me
And I confess I came to frame you in a photograph
But you showed me why
And you turned this heart around
And I see your smile how it can be
So much brighter than me

And your silent eyes they scream
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Africa

Africa
We smiled at you from behind the glass
And without reserve and whiter than snow
You smiled back at us
And you showed me who
And you turned this mind around
And I see your hands reach out to God
So much higher than ours

And your silent eyes they scream
Of hunger and meaning and eternal dreaming
Africa

Carry-On Requirements

2007-06-26T23:30:00.000-04:00

I regret to inform the team that due to airport security restrictions currently in place in the UK, only ONE piece of Hand Baggage will be permitted. This means that if you intend to carry a pocketbook (which should not be necessary), a camera bag, or anything else, it needs to fit inside your carry-on backpack. In addition, any liquids, gels or pastes must be held (in individual containers not exceeding 3.5 fluid ounces) in a single quart-sized clear plastic zip-top bag. Items must fit in the bag comfortably and the bag must be completely closed. At the airport security search, the plastic bag must be removed from the cabin bag and x-ray screened separately.

Additionally, it brings me great pleasure to inform you that your outfit limitations were for the suitcase only, which means you are permitted ONE additional complete outfit in your carry-on backpack. Please also make sure you leave room to shove in two (2) t-shirts that you will receive on Thursday. Although I never did find anything on BA's website indicating a weight restriction for carry-on baggage, please remember that if you pack it, you need to carry it. That reality should keep you well under any limits that might be in place.

Hope deferred makes the heart sick...

2007-06-25T09:30:00.000-04:00

...but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.
Proverbs 13:12

It has long been the desire of the team to stay together for our journey, yet we were waiting for God's timing on the birth of our third child. It gives me great joy to announce to you that God has fulfilled our desire and brought to us a wonderful baby daughter, Hope Aurora. She was born on Sunday, right about the time that the church was praying to commission the rest of the team! She weighed in at 7 pounds even, and was 20 1/2 inches long. Both mommy and baby are happy and healthy, and plan to be home on Tuesday. Daddy will leave his four precious girls in the capable hands of his mother-in-law, along with the rest of the church body, to join the team as they depart for Africa on Thursday.

Please praise God with us that his timing is always perfect!

Bridget's Bunia Blog 45

2007-06-25T04:41:00.000-04:00

There's rarely a week goes by without there being a wedding in town. Bunia weddings are a riot of colour, noise and activity.

The bride wears white, of course. White dress, white shoes, white handbag, a bouquet of white silk flowers, tiara, headdress and veil. The groom wears a dark suit. The family of the bride select a particular piece of material and all the members have an outfit sewn in that cloth. The groom’s family do likewise. As do the friends of the bride, the friends of the groom, the catering crew, the members of the choirs. It’s easy to identify the players in the game.

Bounding up and down the aisle like kangaroos is a troupe of little girls in (almost) white socked feet, white dresses and white Easter bonnets. They bound forward looking floorward in complex choreographed harmony to take handfuls of shredded paper from the baskets halfway up the aisle, and then bound back to shower the bride and groom with the paper. The attendants of the bride and groom wipe the paper from their bodies and the sweat from their brows. They are clean until the next fistful of shredded paper arrives. This is fatiguing to watch, and so must be incredibly exhausting to perform since it takes a good 40 minutes for the couple to slow-step to the front of the church. Meanwhile, another group of uniformed dancers is beginning a performance half way up the church. These are teenage girls with a more sophisticated taste in denim skirts, flimsy blouses, wigs and beauty spots or Fila hats and sunglasses.

The bride is given away by her uncle who reads out her biography, as too, does a representative of the groom’s family. These days the biographies are long, since they include primary, secondary and higher education and the current, salaried positions that both groom and bride enjoy. For Christian families, the biographies include their dates of conversion and baptism, and details of service in the church.

The essential wedding service is pretty much the same as that in an English wedding with charges and vows. However, it always takes me by surprise when the congregation shouts and claps and ululates after the vows have been exchanged. I felt sorry for the bride who was told that her ring was purchased at the local market. No Cartier 20-carat gold for her! But the point the officiant was making was that anyone could buy one like it; it was merely a symbol, not a magic accoutrement.

Several choirs bless the couple with specifically-composed songs mentioning their names and giving advice on how to live together in peace. During one of these numbers, guests are invited to present their gifts to the couple. All manner of useful household items are sashayed up the aisle and deposited in the big enamel bowl. If you purchase a wedding gift in the stores in town you can even get it gift-wrapped.

After a good two hours it’s time to leave. The dancing girls accompany the couple to the waiting car festooned with streamers of toilet paper. Hooting cars and motor bikes - carrying as many as possible - leave to drive round town and wave at the inhabitants. After the circuit, the main players go home to change and reappear an hour later for the reception and another two hours of exuberant celebration - this time with food.

Let us rejoice and be glad; let us praise his greatness! For the time has come for the wedding of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself for it. She has been given clean shining linen to wear." (The linen is the good deeds of God's people.)
Then the angel said to me, "Write this: Happy are those who have been invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb." Rev 19:7-9

Blessings,
Bridget

Down the home stretch

2007-06-23T12:45:00.000-04:00

We are gearing up to leave in just a few short days. Here are some significant milestones:

Thursday, 21 June - Bwana Asifiwe! All 10 team members now have their passports.
Friday, 22 June - Mungu ni mwaminifu! Even though we long since surpassed the team goal, we are less than $500 from having all 10 team members reach their individual support raising goals.

Sunday, 24 June - The team will be commissioned during the morning service.
Tuesday, 26 June - The team will commence final packing at 7:00 PM, followed by prayer time.
Wednesday, 27 June - The team will take its first dose of anti-malarial medication.
Thursday, 28 June

1:00 PM - The team arrives with their backpacks for lunch with their families (room 152).
2:30 PM - The entire church body is invited to join for team prayer time (room 102).
3:15 PM - Final photos, hugs, and goodbyes in the parking lot.
3:30 PM - The van rolls out of Bethel's parking lot.
10:30 PM - British Airways Flight 182 departs JFK en route to London.

Friday, 29 June - British Airways flight 63 departs for Entebbe at 9:15 PM
Saturday, 30 June - The team arrives in Uganda, then gets on two little planes destined for Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo

Continuous Revival (Testimony)

2007-06-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

Continuous Revival does not end with inner conviction, confession and cleansing. That would leave out the further step which is the missing link in our evangelical living, the very link which releases the revival in our hearts and others. Remember again that saving faith, the first act of brokenness, was a two-way faith. Remember that the costly part of that faith was not the heart-believing before God, but the mouth-confession before men. Remember that, while it cost more, it gave us more, for as we confessed before men, it was as if Jesus confessed us before God His Father in heaven, and the Spirit confessed the Savior in our hearts. The joy of the Lord became our strength; we were saved. Finally remember that the mouth-committal horizontally was the real proof of the genuineness of the heart-committal before God. Initial brokenness was roof off, walls down. But now in the daily life? Roof still off, but what about the walls? Continued brokenness in continued revival, and continued brokenness has implicit in it the continued two-way testimony. But here we want to watch carefully. The confession that matters in the Scripture, and which is most referred to, is the confession of CHRIST, rather than of sin (although there are such verses as 1 John1:9 and James 5:16 where FAULTS is in the original SINS); and it is to the constant confession of Christ that I am called. That is my duty. That is my privilege. That is the way both to get blessing and to transmit it.

Indeed, perhaps the word CONFESSION has become so misused through its use in the confessional, that it is better and clearer to use the word TESTIMONY. Testimony to Christ is our duty and privilege. Now the first testimony we make has no reserves about it. We were sinners and said so. Probably in many cases our sins were already known in our community, and the liquor addict, the gambler, the loose-liver, the proud, the self-righteous, the dishonest, gives open glory to God that he has been saved from these things through the power of the precious blood. The emphasis is not on the sin, although that may be mentioned, but on the Savior from sin. It is not a morbid self-revelation, but a glorious magnification of Christ.

Now it is that form of daily testimony which is the missing note in our present-day Christianity. We were sinners and were saved. We gloried in saying so. But we still so often “come short of the glory of God” in daily life. No longer those old, deliberate, gross sins of the fallen days, or old false attitudes of pure self-centeredness or pride; for if we are that, we are not saved. But we know too well we are still open to the assaults of Satan. The flesh still makes its appeal to us, and we respond, although our normal position in Christ is “not in the flesh, but in the Spirit” (Romans 8:9). Even those who have entered into a sanctified experience by faith, and the witness of the Spirit, as in my own case, making real in their experience such statements as in Acts 15:8-9; Galatians 2:20; Ephesians 2:6, still know constant temptation. The cases must indeed be rare where Satan does not make actual inroads by some subtle form of sin, either by unbelief, fear, worry, depression, hardness towards a brother, dislike, self-pity, pride, coldness of heart, impatience, criticism, unkind thoughts, the sharp word, jealousy, envy, partiality, hypocrisy, strife, the lust of the eye, evil or impure thoughts, sloth, selfishness, and the like.

So now, as we entered the way of salvation by a two-way brokenness, we must continue in the way in the daily walk. Something comes in which stops the flow of the Spirit. It is seen to be sin, however “small” we may like to call it (is any sin small which crucified my Lord?); it is confessed and forgiven. But brokenness is two-way. There is the testimony to give before men, as God gives the opening. Nothing need stop me giving it except that it would hurt my pride, my self-esteem. That is how I glorify God—by testifying, as occasion arises, to His fresh deliverances, the fresh experiences of the power of His cleansing blood in my life.

Some would narrow this down and say, “should we not merely put a sin right with any against whom we might have committed it, such as hard words between husband and wife, and leave it at that?” Certainly the sin must be put right with those against whom it was committed, but the testimony to God’s deliverance belongs to the whole Church. For actually no sin is committed privately. None of us lives unto ourselves. Our faces, our attitudes, our very atmosphere is poisoning or blessing all those with whom we come in contact. A quarrel between husband and wife, for instance, reaches out in its effect far beyond those two. It affects the whole household. It affects visitors in the home, workmates in the business, and above all fellow-believers in the church.

Remember it is not a question of confessing sin, but of praising for a deliverance, and giving others the chance of praising with us. Daily testimony before men in this way is an ever fresh confession of a saving Christ; but to be honest testimony, it involves some account of what the deliverance is from. It is that which puts teeth into the testimony. It is also proof of our genuine repentance and genuine brokenness, just as confession before men at conversion was the proof of the reality of my new-found faith. To be really wide open before God and man is to be ready at all times to tell of His dealings with me.

It is yet more than that—and this is of utmost importance. We remember that it was the confession of Christ before men that made Him so real to our own hearts. It did something for us, which mere heart-faith did not. Now it is just the same concerning the daily walk. The real reason why we are usually so insensitive to the “little sins of our daily walk, and why we pass them over without much concern, is just because we are not too ashamed about them, or not too repentant, or even in some cases we have given up hope of any lasting deliverance. And why so? Because, while we only wait with the roof off and deal in secret with God alone about our daily affairs, we have the convenient sense of a God of great mercy, or a Christ who died for us, of our security in Him, of an easy-going forgiveness, and so frankly we do not get too concerned about our present inconsistencies! But if we start walking in the light with others about the Lord’s daily dealings with us, telling them when the shadow of sin has darkened our path and how God has dealt with us over it, we shall suddenly find two things: one, that we have an altogether new sense of shame for sin; and two, an altogether new sense of cleansing and liberation from the sin.

We just have to face the fact that we are very human, and our human relationships are usually more vivid to us than our fellowship with God. Thus we have a far more vivid sense of shame about a sin when we tell our brethren, than when we just tell God. It is a simple fact that this openness before men does something in us. It sharpens us up concerning daily sin as never before. It is part of the secret of daily revival. It is amazing how, when walking in the light with our brethren as well as with God, we begin to come alive to attitudes, or actions, of sin in our lives which we just never noticed to be sin before, or perhaps we took for granted would always be part of our make-up.

With all this there is also the effect on others of this open testifying. We know that the way salvation is spread is by our telling the unsaved what the Lord has done for us; it does something in their hearts, quickening a desire for the same experience. So it is with testimony among God’s people. The joy and praise leaps from one heart to another when we hear what the Lord has done for another. The more direct, open, and exact the testimony, the more we rejoice.

It does yet more. It convicts. Our hearts are fashioned alike. The way the devil tempts you is almost certainly the way he tempts me. When I hear you tell of the Lord’s dealings down where you really live in your home relationships, in your business, and so on, it surely reaches me on some spot where I need the same light and deliverance. That is exactly how great revivals break out and spread.

The way is always the same. Sin is suddenly seen to be sin in some life. Someone breaks down (brokenness), and doesn’t mind who is present; he can only see himself as a sinner needing renewed cleansing. So out he comes, maybe with tears; public reconciliations are made; the conviction spreads, till dozens are doing the same thing. “Revival has visited this church,” we say with joy. So don’t you see that when there is a continuous sensitiveness to the smallest sin that stops the cups running over, when there is recognition of the sin in the light, confession, forgiveness, and the thankful public testimony to the glory of God of what the Lord has done, there is a daily revival?

Yet one more point on this heart of the matter. Many of God’s people, including the writer, know something of God’s deliverances from sin; but there is some spot still in the life which may be given the name mentioned in Hebrews 12:1, “the sin which doth so easily beset us”: and at this “weak spot” we really give up any idea that God can really, fully, and permanently deliver. It may not be some big thing, as the world calls big; perhaps it is so hidden that it is just a mere touch of sin known only to the person himself (“the garment spotted by the flesh”) but hope of full deliverance is really given up. Then we enter into this revival walk in the light step by step. We are made sensitive as never before both to the reality and the shamefulness of sin. We find that as we walk brokenly with God and one another, sins which used to beset us easily lessen in their power and falls are fewer. Then it suddenly comes to us as light that this special spot of weakness, taken for granted through the years, can be dealt with and deliverance found, if recognized as sin to be faced and hated each time it arises; the emphasis not being so much on a once-for-all crisis deliverance, but on the daily and immediate dealing with the evil thing the moment it shows itself.

Another discovery has been that the reason why besetting sin does not get dealt with is that we find a certain sweetness in the flesh; not in actual sin, of course, but on the outer edges of it, as it were. That sweetness has to be recognized as a manifestation of the flesh, and must be hated. Indeed, true repentance is hatred, and where there is hatred of sin, God’s hatred in us (Hebrews 1:9), power for deliverance is found in the blood.

In this walking with one another in the light, careful distinction must also be made between temptation and sin. We think that many earnest souls continue in bondage and under false accusation because they are looking for the impossible – deliverance from even temptation; and also because they mistake temptation for sin, and accept condemnation, and a sense of defilement when they should not do so. It also makes them confused about how far to go in open testimony and fellowship. The distinction between the two is clear. James 1:14-15 settles it for us. Temptation is continuous and will be while we are in this fallen world. Jesus was tempted in all points like as we are, and continuously— “Ye are they that have continued with me in my temptations,” Temptation is the stimulation of our natural desires (the correct meaning of LUST in verse 14) whether physical appetites or the faculties of soul or spirit. Jesus was tempted in all these three realms on the Mount of Temptation. But the sudden impulse to think this wrong thought, or say this, or do that, the attraction of the eye in an unlawful direction, the first motion of fear, worry, resentment, and so on is temptation for which we are not held responsible as willful sin. It is “when lust (desire) hath conceived, it brings forth sin.” It is when we allow the temptation to lodge in us, when we continue the wrong thought, allow the resentment to remain, keep on looking, speak the hasty word, and so on, that temptation has become sin. Obviously, therefore, if we withstand the temptation as it arises, by abiding in Christ, we should not accept condemnation, and our testimony to His praise should be to His keeping power in the evil day.

Let us also be watchful to maintain liberty in testimony. How easily we can slip back to legalism, instead of walking in the glorious liberty of the sons of God. We can endeavor to walk by rule, instead of by the gentle but free compulsions of the Spirit who leads, not drives. Thus we can get into the bondage of thinking that we are under strict compulsion to testify to the Lord’s dealings on all or on fixed occasions. Testimony of this kind can become as much a set form with one group as absence of any testimony is a set form with another! We must never allow ourselves to be driven. We are not mere human imitators, feeling compelled to say something just because our brother does, or because it is the usual thing on certain occasions. We “walk with Jesus” even in the matter of testimony. There is a divine compulsion, when we know from Him within by inner conviction that we must open our lips, and when we can draw power from Him to do so; that is quite a different thing from the drive of the law, or of imitation. Sometimes the best testimony might be to testify that God has given me nothing to say! “Stand fast, therefore, in the liberty with which Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again in the yoke of bondage.”

Equally we must avoid that subtle pressure on others to see the same as ourselves, and that subtle criticism of those who do not. Of course we want others to have any light God has given us; but it was God who GAVE it us in His own time and way. Let us, then, leave it to God to GIVE it to our brethren as He pleases. Our only job is humbly and joyfully to testify to what God shows us. It is impressive in the Gospel of John to see the rest of Jesus among fierce critics and opponents on the simple basis that people can only see and receive what God GIVES them to see. Thus, this living in revival, personally and in our community, is the freedom of the Spirit. It is not a question of forming new sects or fellowships or cliques which cause divisions in churches and give an “I am holier than thou” impression. It is just to live in revival, in the light, in brokenness, in cleansing, in testimony, just as God leads, in the home, in the church, everywhere.

Questions are sometimes asked about to whom we should testify and if there should be any reservations in our testimony. Should we, for instance, tell unsaved people of the Lord’s personal dealings with us? Perhaps a simple answer, subject always to the individual guidance of the Spirit, would be that we should always testify even to the most opposed and indifferent if we have sinned in a way which was obvious to them, such as by heated words. It is to the glory of God that we humble ourselves before them and tell them of the Lord’s gracious restoration, as we have repented.

But if our testimony is concerning things in our lives about which the Lord has dealt with us unknown to our unsaved friends, then it may be that we would keep that testimony for our brethren in Christ. As for reservations in testimony, one matter about which wisdom and restraint may be needed is those sins which have such a deep hold on all mankind and which take first place in all lists of sins in the Scriptures—uncleanness, impure thoughts, fornication, adultery. God has put a barrier between the sexes which it is His will we preserve, and therefore in mixed meetings only veiled language can be used in referring to these things. Yet at the same time, of all temptations and sins this is the one which in one form or another eats most deeply into lives. Maybe the only way in which we can go to the bottom in the light with God and one another in this respect is when men get together among themselves, and women likewise. And there certainly is a need for this.

One final word about the way revival starts. It begins by one person who sees from God what it is to walk in the light. But to walk with Jesus like this involves also walking in the light with one another, horizontally as well as vertically, and that means at least one other person with whom to walk in open fellowship. Of course, as one brother said to me, “One would naturally start walking like that with the person nearest to you—husband and wife, brother and sister, friend and friend.” In other words, revival starts with two people being revived, and starts at home!

Bridget's Bunia Blog 46

2007-06-09T09:11:00.000-04:00

No doubt the generous helping of sugar in the tea added to the animation, along with a lunch break where lunch was served, but the ISP students were genuinely excited about a two-day spiritual retreat. The singing was loud and fervent, the participation hearty, and the rapport with the speaker warm.

Robert came from Uganda for the two days to address the issues of life skills. A young, married, English-speaking African man was a good match for the ISP student body and they easily identified with him. He was well-experienced in speaking to youth, having worked with Scripture Union in Uganda before starting Life Skills Solution International. He spoke on the subjects of self-esteem, decision-making, sex and relationships, and a purpose-driven life – all of which were heartily endorsed by the students.

But one hopes that the enthusiasm for spiritual matters will prevail when a sugar-less Monday arrives and the sixth lunch-less day ensues. In fact, they’re better at dealing with these vicissitudes than I. Their prayers of thanksgiving at morning devotions bless me and challenge me in my attitude. They are tireless in their requests for help with health issues, finding money for fees, praying for grieving families and people on journeys. And they rejoice generously with classmates who praise God for providing their school fees.

Their favourite songs from the American hymn book are ‘No, never alone’, ‘’There’s not a friend like the lowly Jesus’ and ‘What a friend we have in Jesus’. Umirambe loves ‘Trust and obey’; and I see in this Catholic a greater spirituality than in many of the ‘true sons of CECA-20’. Baraka, the son of a CECA-20 pastor, knows that the reputation of ‘pastor’s kids’ is bad and has determined to be different. Madit-Rwoth loves his name because it reminds him of the fact that his parents prayed for him when as a child he almost died and God spared him. Some of the students are pretty poor at writing the correct answers to the doctrine questions but their lives show that true belief is influencing their behaviour.

How does growth occur? Jesus said we don’t know how it happens. The soil itself makes the plants grow and bear fruit; first the tender stalk appears, then the head, and finally the head full of grain. (Mk 4:26-28) So each one of us must do the work that the Lord has given to him – planting or watering – and wait for God to make the plant grow. (I Cor 3: 5-7) It happens. I saw such spiritual growth in others at a different time in another place.

I watched the magnolia tree
respond to the warmth and light of spring.
That which appeared dead put forth buds.
Out from the dull green sheaths emerged
tightly furled pink-tinged petals
In due time those flowers will
unfurl,
	expand
		blossom -
revealing all the beauty of the inner cup.

And so it is with you.

Exposed to the warmth of friendship
and the light of God's truth,
your faith has been nurtured.
Your inner spirit exposed -
gently,
	cautiously,
		imperceptibly.
One day we'll witness the revelation of the full bloom.

Blessings,
Bridget

The Official Packing List

2007-06-04T22:15:00.000-04:00

Required:

Bible, notebook, journal, pen (the kind that doesn’t leak on planes)
Passport w/yellow immunization card (turned in to the leaders)
Malaria medication (turned in to the leaders)
Hand sanitizer (unscented), 2 X 1/3 rolls of toilet paper
Personal hygiene items (e.g. deodorant, anti-bacterial soap, shampoo, what you need to get ready)
One each: wash cloth, hand towel, bath towel; decent flat twin-sized sheet (will not come home with you)
Student identification card
Writing paper or note cards for Thank-you notes; supporters list with addresses will be provided
A gift item to leave with your host home

Sunglasses, sunscreen, lip balm (SPF 15 minimum)
Insect repellant with DEET
Things to read and do on the plane (i.e. card games, books)
Camera (don’t forget extra memory/film and batteries)
Spending money (No more than $100 in new, clean, unripped, $20 or larger bills only)
Windbreaker or light jacket
“Shower” sandals

Some of you will also need:

a money belt to be worn inside your clothing (2 leaders / 2 students)
travel type hair dryer with duel wattage (1 leader / 1 student)

Clothing needs:

Enough undergarments to last one week
4-5 outfits
Gals
- dresses/skirts/jumpers mid-calf or longer
- modest blowse-type tops covering your shoulders
Guys
- khakis/jeans with no rips or worn out bits
- short-sleeve collared shirts
1-2 long-sleeve shirts/sweaters/sweatshirts
1 pair of shoes dressy enough to come to church in, sturdy enough to walk a mile in, and comfortable enough to wear every day all day for a week
1 pair of sneakers
1 pair of long “Bermuda” shorts
1 set of sleeping clothes suitable for mixed-gender setting
A modest bathing suit (GALS, no midriff / GUYS, drug-free)

Do Not PACK:

Any type of Personal Electronic Entertainment Paraphernalia
Perfume or cologne, excessive makeup, expensive jewelry
Food items other than gum or mints
Anything that would call unwarranted attention as an American, a tourist, or a wealthy person
Anything that you would not want to get lost, stolen, or damaged
Anything that is not specifically mentioned on this list

General reminders:

We will have some Congolese ladies do laundry at the seminary, but you can still wear each outfit several times while we are there.
Use a laundry marker to put your initials into any clothes that you want back after laundry.
Put everything liquid or gel into ZIP-LOC bags.
You need to pack in one large suitcase and you will be carrying team-related items.
You should pack your carryon (back-pack sized) to meet all your needs for a full two days.
What you wear from the US to Entebbe is in addition to this list, but you need to be prepared to be “in uniform” when we land in Bunia.

Contact Russell if you have any questions about anything you are packing.

Continuous Revival (Conviction, Confession, Cleansing)

2007-06-02T23:00:00.000-04:00

Here then are the three main points of Continuous Revival that we have covered so far--Walking with Jesus, Brokenness, Cups Running Over. But when cups do not run over, which is very often—then what? Only sin stops the inner witness. Then how are we to know what the sin is? The answer to that is to be found in reading on in this key chapter of 1 John 1.

Verse 3 has spoken of two-way fellowship, and verse 4 of fullness of joy. Verse 5 gives a surprise. John says he is now going to give us the inner truth about Him with whom we walk. He is ... love? No --“God is light.” If it just said “love,” that would be easy, for I might escape a too strict facing of sin by saying, “Well, anyhow He loves”—which is indeed what I have often said. But “this is the message ... God is light.” What then does that mean? Well, nothing could be more simple. The obvious main function of light is to reveal things as they are.

The Scriptures themselves say that—“…all things become visible when they are exposed by the light...” (Ephesians 5:13). Light is very silent, does not push or drive anyone, but is inescapable to any honest person. You can’t lie to light. If you hit your toe against an object in the dark, you may mistakenly say that it is a table. But when the light is turned on in the room, you can no longer continue to say that it is a table if it really is a piano. Light just gives you the lie.

God is light. Silently, inexorably He shines on and in us, revealing things just as they are in His sight. Have you ever noticed the pivotal place given, even in salvation, to our response to light? In John 3, we are distinctly told that men are not lost because of their sins, for they have already been atoned for, but they are lost for refusing the light. “This is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, but men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.” Light silently showed them exactly what they are in God’s holy sight, but they won’t take it. No, they will never “come to the light” and admit themselves to be what God says they are; but the only way any of us have been saved has been by responding to that light and saying about ourselves what God says. Thus our eternal destiny hangs on whether we love darkness or come to the light.

But even as this is true concerning the unsaved and the necessity of their “coming to the light,” it is also true in 1 John 1 of the believer and the necessity of his “walking in the light.” He also can walk in darkness (verse 6), if he wishes to do so. That is to say he can refuse to admit, concerning himself, what God says about him; he can have other and more convenient names for his sins. Worse still, he can be either a deliberate hypocrite (saying he has fellowship with Him, but really walking in the darkness), or he can be self-deceived and not recognize that he is sinning when he is saying he has no sin (verse 8).

So it gets down to this. Sin is a revelation. It is God who graciously shows us sin, even is it is He who shows us the precious blood. Sin is only seen to be SIN—against God—when He reveals it; otherwise sin may just be known as a wrong against a brother, or an anti-social act, or an inconvenience, or a disability, or some such thing. Indeed that is often the extent of the message of a “social gospel,” to be rid of sin as a hindrance to brotherhood, as an inconvenience to human progress; not as coming short of the glory of God. GOD shows us sin. We do not need to keep looking inside ourselves. This is not a life of introspection or morbid self-examination. We do not walk with sin, we walk with Jesus; but, as we walk in childlike faith and fellowship with Him step by step, moment by moment, then if the cups cease to run over, He who is light, with whom we are walking, will clearly show us what the SIN is which is hindering, what its real name is in His sight, rather than the pseudonym, the excusing title, which we might find it more convenient to call it. Let us say again, it is so simple. God does not speak in terms of general condemnation leading to despair of past or fear of future. He speaks in simple specific terms of any actual sin in the present which is hindering the inner witness of His Spirit.

What do we do then? Well, that is obvious. 1 John1:9 says, “If we confess our sins ...” The word CONFESS is the word SAY with the preposition CON or WITH added. Three times over in those verses 5-10 man has said his own say (verses 6, 8, 10); but to confess is to say with another, to say what another says. To confess is to say about my sin what God says about it. “You say that is sin, Lord; so do I.” That is confession, of course, with the desire to be rid of the sin and the actual ceasing to do the thing, or maintain the attitude, or whatever it is. Then where there is this confession, we all know there is the word of promise, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” We may say the cleansing is almost automatic, where there is the confession. That light which shines so unchangingly on the sin, shines also on the blood. “If we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

When walking in the light, we read, both sin and the precious blood are seen, the one, praise God, canceling out the other. And it is important to remember that confession of sin does not deliver by itself. It is THE BLOOD that cleanses, and we must always pass on from confession to faith and praise for THE BLOOD, believing that the blood alone is what glorifies God and delivers us. Folk often remain depressed and mournful and asking others to pray for them after confession of sin, when they ought to pass straight on by simple faith to the blood ever flowing and cleansing.

Once again, where the blood cleanses, the Spirit witnesses, and where the Spirit witnesses, the cups always run over! So we are back again where we started—walking with Jesus step by step, brokenness, cups running over. When they stop running over, it is always sin. Sin is seen as sin in the light of God. As we walk in that light, we recognize and confess our sins; the blood cleanses; the Spirit witnesses; and the cups run over again!

Memory Verses (Conviction, Confession, Cleansing)

2007-06-02T07:45:00.000-04:00

Here is the fourth set of verses to work on for our last team training meeting on Saturday, 16 June:

1 John 1:7-9
“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

1 Peter 1:18-19
“...knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.”

Bridget's Bunia Blog 44

2007-05-28T11:11:00.000-04:00

From my desk at the window of the library I could hear someone singing "She's a young thing and cannot leave her mother". How gratifying. The lyrics and melody had been absorbed and reproduced. Success. It was the latest song in the Tuesday morning folk singing repertoire.

Every Tuesday morning the resident native speaker-singer tootles on her recorder to teach folk songs to the student teachers in the hope that they in their turn will teach them to their secondary school pupils.

Much has been written in EFL literature about the value of using songs to teach English as a foreign language. Some teachers still think it's a waste of time, too difficult or inappropriate - particularly in a western classroom. But it finds a natural setting in a Congolese classroom where everyone sings unashamedly and many compose songs weekly.

So the Congolese were learning about Billy Boy seeking a wife in the pioneer days of the USA. Appropriate? I had originally used it to accompany a text on marriage when teaching the 6th year class at Institut Luru at Rethy. We had extended it to express the cultural values when wife-spotting in Congo, arriving at two verses that have survived the loss of my pre-war teaching materials:

Can she receive guests?
Yes, she can receive guests. It's the thing she does the best.

Can she dig a field?
Yes, she can dig a field and she always gets good yields.

OK, it's rather sexist to teach such a song but with a 90% male student body we survive the political incorrectness.

The 'Pioneer Unit' includes 'When I First Came to this Land' - great for rhymes and idioms; 'She'll Be Coming Round the Mountain' - for concord of tenses to express future action; 'Home on the Range' to accompany a 4th year text 'The Elephant Hunt' (Now, that's political incorrectness!).

Ideas for additions to the repertoire come from various sources. A mobile phone rings in class. Annoying. But the ring tone is one that can be exploited: 'Oh, my darling, Clementine'. A Bible Interpretation class studying the vision of Ezekiel in the Valley of Dry Bones brings 'Dem bones, dem bones,' tapping to my toes. Great for body parts vocabulary along with 'Head and Shoulders' and 'If you're Happy and You Know It'.

The canon 'I Hear Thunder' accompanies Lesson 14 'A Storm in the Country'. The spirituals 'Standing in the Need of Prayer' and 'He's Got the Whole World in his Hands' are useful for the names of family members. Wanting to teach the names of animals? 'Old MacDonald had a Farm' and 'I Know an Old Lady' are good fun.

So I introduce songs as vehicles for teaching vocabulary, phonetics, grammar, rhymes, idioms, natural language, subject matter that relates to the lesson content, and culture of English-speaking societies. It doesn't necessarily hasten to school my 5-voice quorum, but even if we start late, the students enjoy the musical hall experience. It does stretch my theology a little when the students thank the Lord for the nice experience of learning folk songs and the opportunity to praise him!

But by far the best experience was teaching a spiritual to close a 3-hour Bible class on the Pentateuch on a Friday afternoon. 'Go Down, Moses' became a slow, plaintive, black male-voice choir in 4-part harmony. It could have been the genuine article. The tune still haunts us.

"Are any among you in trouble? They should pray. Are any among you happy? They should sing praises." James 5:13

Blessings,
Bridget

Bridget

2007-05-20T20:30:00.000-04:00

English teacher at the Institut Supérieur Pédagogique in Bunia, which prepares students to teach at secondary schools run by the CECA-20, AIM's partner church in Congo. She first went to Congo when the country was still called Zaïre to work as a teacher at Rethy Academy, where all of Gregg's children were students.

She is a regular blogger whose anecdotes and insights have been posted here to get a feel for daily life in Bunia.

Continuous Revival (Cups Running Over)

2007-05-19T07:30:00.000-04:00

Remember that we have been (slowly but surely) studying our way through the concept of “continuous revival”. First we adopted the definition that REVIVAL is simply the re-viving of dead areas in our lives—bringing to the light areas in our lives where we have come face to face with sin unobserved before and bringing them to the cleansing blood. We began with the idea that rather than placing the emphasis on the ‘big’ moments of decision, that we would need to focus on our day-to-day WALK. Then we spent a great deal of time (the last two months, indeed) looking at the concept of walking in BROKENNESS, which is expressed in the heart to God and by the mouth before men.

We will now turn to the first chapter of John’s first epistle to lead us further in this walking. Verse 3 speaks at the beginning of a two-way fellowship, “so that you too may have fellowship with us,” and “indeed our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” Then it goes on in verse 4 to say that he writes to us “so that our joy may be complete.” Fullness of joy is to characterize this daily walk. Or as David said in Psalm 23, “my cup overflows,” not only full, but running over! And this brings us to our third major point. Walking with Jesus, brokenness, and now CUPS RUNNING OVER.

We all can recognize that as a beautiful description of the abiding presence of Jesus in the heart, His peace, joy and presence filling us to overflowing, with no shadow between. We can see the clear sparkling water of life welling up within and flowing over the thirsty souls around through look, and word, and deed. But here comes the point of it in this message of revival. We are to recognize that “cups running over” is the NORMAL daily experience of the believer walking with Jesus, not the abnormal or occasional, but the normal, continuous experience. But that just isn't so in the lives of practically all of us. Those cups running over get pretty muddled up; other things besides the joy of the Lord flow out of us. We are often much more conscious of emptiness, or dryness, or hardness, or disturbance, or fear, or worry than we are of the fullness of His presence and overflowing joy and peace. And now comes the point.

What stops that moment-by-moment flow? The answer is only one—Sin. But we by no means usually accept or recognize that. We have many other more convenient names for those disturbances of heart. We say it is nerves that cause us to speak impatiently—not sin. We say it is tiredness that causes us to speak the sharp word at home—not sin. We say it is the pressure of work which causes us to lose our peace, get worried, act or speak hastily—not sin. We say it is our difficult or hurtful neighbor who causes us resentment or dislike, or even hate—but not sin. Anything but sin. We go to psychiatrists or psychologists to get inner problems unravelled—tension, strain, disquiet, dispeace—but anything which causes the cups to cease running over is SIN.

What proof have we of that statement? Quite a simple one. What are “cups running over”? Of course, the Spirit witnessing to Jesus in the heart. He is our peace, joy, life, all, and it is the Spirit’s work never to cease witnessing to Him within us. What then can stop the Spirit’s witness? Can nerves, or tiredness, or pressure of circumstances, or difficult people? Paul’s cry was, “Who or what can separate me from the love of God? Can tribulation or persecution or things present or things to come? No!” he says. Only one thing separates us from Him—“your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.” Thank God, the great separation has been replaced by reunion with Him at Calvary, but still the daily incursions of sin in the heart bring about the temporary separation from the sense of His presence; we all know that. The cups do not run over.

Now this is an exceedingly important point. By far the largest number of us, including myself, have not been accustomed to regard it as some form of sin if the cups cease to run over, and that is just why they do not quickly start running over again; for where sin is seen to be sin and confessed as such, the blood is also seen to be the blood, praise God, ever cleansing from all unrighteousness; and where the blood cleanses the Spirit always witnesses—and the cups run over again. But the blood never cleanses excuses—sin called by some more polite name!

Memory Verses (Cups Running Over)

2007-05-19T07:15:00.000-04:00

Here is the third set of verses to work on for the meeting on Saturday, 02 June:

Psalm 23:1-6
“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside quiet waters.
He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name's sake.
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You have anointed my head with oil; My cup overflows.
Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.”

Isaiah 59:2
“But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, And your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear.”

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered and said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will thirst again; but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Bridget's Bunia Blog 43

2007-05-12T06:02:00.000-04:00

What is teaching?

The students seem to think it's a stage play and they are the actors. They come to the classroom stage with their carefully prepared script of a lesson plan: 'Teacher asks pupil such and such...' 'Pupil answers such and such...' But the pupils don't have a copy of the script! The students expect to execute a clear, non-interrupted presentation from the time of the curtain-rising bell to the time of the curtain-falling bell, and even if they don't receive applause at the end of their performance, they don't expect catcalls to follow their exit from the classroom. Gradually, these students are being disabused of this notion. They are learning that a teacher cannot stay distanced from the audience, and that the audience has a mind of its own.

No, teaching is more like going on a journey through a forest. You have to be at a destination by a certain time but apart from that certainty nothing is definite. You're taking some teenagers on a journey. Teenagers who are reluctant, bored, listless or - joy of joys - enthusiastic and focused. Sometimes they take you on trails where you get lost and it's time-consuming to find your way back to the main path. Sometimes they want to stop and examine the flora and fauna. Sometimes they find notices nailed to trees that they don't understand. As the journey leader, you have to keep moving them along the path to the destination while making sense of their questions and comments. But sometimes it's they who teach you things; they surprise you with their perception and knowledge; it's they who get you back from digressions.

Every Thursday morning I wake up with the lightness of knowing that I don't have to teach morning classes. All I have to do is observe four students teaching an English lesson. But at the end of every Thursday I'm wrung out from the emotional energy expended as I wince at wrong pronunciation, or cringe at strange understandings of English grammar, or agonise over an inadequately constructed lesson. It’s a stressful, painful experience observing a non-native speaker teach your mother tongue. It's an ordeal for us all but it’s the only way that the student teachers will be able to translate the theory into practice.

Three down and one to go. We have a break of an hour before the final lesson (performance? journey?) of the morning. The staff room of this school is very small and we are eight students and one supervisor. My house is a three-minute walk away. So we repair to the house for refreshments and feedback: How do you feel your lesson went? What have you learned? What did the pupils learn? What comments have the other students to make? The students are critical of the transgressions and omissions of their fellow students, but they're also kind in their encouragement of the other members of their teaching team.

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." Ephesians 4: 2

Blessings,
Bridget

Medical Requirements

2007-05-02T16:30:00.001-04:00

Required:

Yellow fever is a viral disease against which it is required all travellers to the Democratic Republic of Congo be immunized. You will need to get a shot from an authorized provider, such as Passport Health (see contact details below).
Malaria is an infectious disease which can often be prevented with personal protection measures and medications such as doxycycline. You will need to get a prescription for this from either your personal physical (less likely) or during your visit to Passport Health (more likely).

*In the event that the funds received for this trip exceed the costs incurred in course of regular ministry, you may submit your expenses for these two only for potential partial reimbursement.

Recommended:
The travel doctor will tell you all about all the diseases which you might catch, and will want you to get shots for everything on the list, including Hepatitis A and B, Typhoid, Rabies, and Cooties. This is a decision that you should make with your parents, your primary care physicians, and/or the people who pay for your health care.
*None of these extra vaccinations will be reimbursable unless the CDC deems them required for travel.

Routine:
You should be up-to-date on all your regularly scheduled vaccinations (See the schedule for adults and the schedule for children.)
*None of these vaccinations will be reimbursable in any event.

Passport Health
620 Stanton Christiana
Metroform Medical Complex - Ste 101
Newark, DE 19713
2002 Foulk Road Office Plaza
Wilmington, DE 19805
Phone: (302) 633-5782

Bridget's Bunia Blog 42

2007-04-28T06:46:00.000-04:00

In their OshKosh B'Gosh denim dungarees, little girls look so cute. But it's Osh Kosh My Gosh on seeing bigger girls in tight-fitting denim jeans. The times and fashions they are a-changing here in Congo. President Mobutu's democratisation decree in the early 1990s permitted women to wear trousers. Some did so. Living in a border town with trade routes to Kampala, Nairobi and Dubai, and Bunia being a base for MONUC personnel, the Bunia women are very au fait with world fashions. Here, many women wear trousers. Some trousers are overtly worn, others are included as part of a sari trouser-and-chemise outfit, many of which are creatively designed and sewn by local seamstresses.

The young women have no problem with wearing trousers. But the men are undecided. 'Our culture is being changed!' 'It's the influence of the West!' 'All women who wear trousers are prostitutes!' Such a hot subject and so perfect for study in many courses at ISP.

The 3rd year students discussed the issue of dress in their Christianity and Culture class. What should a Christian wear? What does the Bible say and NOT say? How should you decide what to wear in such a time of change and possibility?

The 2nd year students were challenged to exegete Deuteronomy 22:5 "...a woman must not wear men's clothing," in the Bible Interpretation class. Does this verse say that female Christian students can't wear trousers?

And since everyone has such opinions on the subject, the chapter on clothing in the book 'Talking about Values' is a great vehicle for using the language of opinion: 'I think...' 'Personally, I believe....' 'Not everyone will agree with me, but....' in the conversation class.

However, I have observed many women keeping the letter of the law but certainly not the spirit. They may be dressed in locally-sewn clothes made from locally-purchased cloth, but the quantity of the cloth does not correspond with the width of the derrière. So, all you protesting male students, it's clearly not the type of garment which is involved but the intent of the female dressed in it.

As you take time to dress your body to make it attractive, Think about what to put on to dress your spirit.

Be clothed in:
A gentle spirit,
compassion, kindness, humility, patience, love,
spiritual armour of truth, righteous, peace, faith,
a new self in Christ Jesus.

These are the fashions that never change,
the colours and styles that suit everyone,
the beauty that never fades.

Blessings,
Bridget

Team Roles

2007-04-25T18:30:00.000-04:00

The following are the roles that were agreed upon at the team retreat, updated with your job descriptions:

Communication Coordinator - Lauren: Role on the team is to update the blog and send e-mail updates from overseas in order to keep family and supporters in the states connected with what we are doing and how we are doing as a team. It’s her job to write updates for the bulletin and church newsletters, and will take the lead on any bulletin boards or other promotional pieces. Additionally she will be sending e-mails to the team reminding them about meetings, deadlines, and commitments. Finally, she works with relationship manager to write thank-you notes from the whole team.
Kitchen Coordinator - Amber: Role on the team is to help with the preparation for meals, including organizing a set-up and clean-up crew for each meal served at the seminary. Also will be encouraging the team toward greater familiarization with the Bible memory verses, and will be a key person in coordinating the musical endeavors of the team.
Prayer Coordinator - Jess: Role on the team, based on the example in Colossians 4:2-4, is to highlight the importance of prayer, remind the team of specific necessity of prayer in ministry, and keep our obligation to bathe the trip in prayer at the forefront. Without prayer our efforts will be futile, because it is God who opens doors for the word and softens the hearts of people. She will be encouraging prayer individually and as a team, informing the church body of our prayer needs, and keeping a journal of how God answers prayer and works in our team.
Team Chaplain - Dan: Role on the team is to coordinate the devotions that will be held at the daily team meetings. He will work with the team leaders to come up with a general theme for the meetings, and subdivide that theme into 12 individual topics, prepare and distribute a schedule in advance of which team member will be leading each Bible study, and help facilitate the discussion. He will also seek to provide some guidance and resources to each team member to assist them in their preparation.
Team Encourager - Vicki: Role on the team is to lift the spirits of the group and individuals through words, actions, or special projects. She will be watching closely for pain (whether physical, emotional, or spiritual) and be sensitive to needs, helping the team to encourage one another and glorify God.
Team Peacemaker - Greg: Role on the team is to promote an environment proactively striving for peace and unity. In any sort of disagreement or strife, it will be the goal of the peacemaker to point the people involved to God’s ultimate glory through the conflict, to help them realize and deal with their own contribution to the conflict, and to come alongside people as they humbly and patiently confront one another and restore the relationships impacted.
Team Photographer - Brynne: Role on the team is to document each part of the trip visually. She will need to be aware of opportunities for group photos and also to capture our work in Bunia, as well as other good general shots. She will need to be highly sensitive of when it is and when it isn’t appropriate to take pictures before taking the camera out. She will also need to make sure that she has enough memory and film before we leave, to make the pictures available for the presentation to the church, and to get digital copies to the team.

Retreat Expectations

2007-04-19T23:30:00.000-04:00

Arrive at the church early enough to pull out at 4:30 PM on Friday.
Arrange to cover the cost of 2 fast-food meals for the round-trip.
Arrive at the resort between 9 and 10 PM on Friday.
See list for what you should (and should not) bring.
Expect communication from me regarding food.

Google map of the retreat location
Website of the retreat location

We expect to depart Williamsburg at 11:30 AM on Sunday, thus arriving back to Bethel sometime after 4:30 PM, but Greg and I have also made arrangements to be absent from our home group, just in case we are significantly delayed.

Packing List:

Pack everything ONE backpack (or backpack size bag).
Bring minimal clothing. (Suggestion: one full change of clothes, plus however much underwear and other "personal" garments you need.)
Bring a bathing suit if you would like to swim (outdoor pool, not heated)
Bring personal hygiene items. (Cosmetics won't be needed, we're not trying to impress anyone, and may have neither the time nor resources for them in Bunia.)
Bring the one food item that you have been called about.
Bring your Bible and Congo Notebook
Bring your Swahili flash cards and instructional papers, cultural handout, and English language training references.
We do not need any Personal Electronic Entertainment Paraphernalia. (General rule of thumb - if it requires a plug or batteries, it is not likely to work in Bunia, nor is it probably necessary.)
We do not need any bedding or towels.

Other notes:

Backpack - in order to go to Congo, you will need to have a simple backpack that serves not only as a daypack for carrying your essentials (like TP, hand sanitizer, water, Bible, teaching materials), but also for our excursion to the game park, which is likely to be via a matatu (dinky little van) in which luggage space is limited to what you can hold in your lap and what will fit under your knees. That being said, I understand that some of you have not had time this week to search out such a bag. I do have a couple that would be suitable, and I am willing to lend them for the weekend. As an alternative, you may consider using a bag that is comparable in size to a backpack such as what I described. Not a rolling suitcase carry-on, not a dufflebag big enough for a field hockey stick, but something that will fit on your lap on under your knees.
Homework - yes, there will be a block of time in which you can work on some homework, and no, I wouldn't consider that the materials you need to complete that work should constitute a portion of the very limited luggage space you have been apportioned. We will assess the situation upon arrival at church and figure out the best way to ensure that there is space aboard for your homework supplies and textbooks.

Katho

2007-04-15T20:30:00.000-04:00

Director of ISTB, the seminary in Bunia which was organized over 40 years ago by AIM, Crossworld (then UFM), WEC, the Brethren, and WorldVenture (then CBFMS). He has a doctorate from Kwazulu Natal University in South Africa. He is a godly man and a visionary. He turned down a lucrative teaching job in South Africa when the ISTB asked him to lead the seminary even though Bunia was still in the middle of the war. Gregg says he deserves a medal.

The team will be staying in the guest house of the seminary.

Bridget's Bunia Blog 41

2007-04-14T09:34:00.000-04:00

"Hey, Jesus, come and look at this!" said the angles as they peered over the edge of heaven to see what was happening below. "Isn't that just great? Those young people are having a ball."
Jesus leaned over to get a good look at the group of young teens singing their number at the Easter service at Yambi-Yaya Church.
"That's a far better way of memorising Scripture than when we were small Jewish boys rocking ourselves to get everything in our heads. The Africans have really got a sense of rhythm. I don't think we Jewish boys could have done it in that way," said Jesus with a smile.
"Look, even that little tyke over there is having a go. He hasn't quite got the steps right, but it's impressive for one so young," laughed Angel Bright.
"I suppose they watch a lot of those music videos with the dance routines these days. The music is so loud! Isn't it a bit questionable as to incorporating those movements and gyrations into sacred music?" asked Angel Snivel.
"But it works. Listen. The words are those which Matthew and Luke wrote. We can't dispute them. And the actions are so appropriate. They're showing the cross and the open tomb...." Bright rebutted.
"That part is really effective when they sing 'The women came and were amazed' and then pause," enthused Angel Vision. "I'd give it 10 out of 10. Dix points."
"The humans seem to like it," Angel Bright remarked. "They're really applauding and hooting. A real hit."
"Well done, guys," said Jesus. "Just don't forget to Walk the Walk as well as Talk the Talk."

Blessings,
Bridget

Coffeehouse Agenda

2007-03-29T12:00:00.000-04:00

Below is the working outline for the coffeehouse agenda for Saturday, March 31.

Friday evening
5:00 - move all furniture to set up the four rooms
7:30 - order pizza, youth and Transit joint praise singing
- Transit to split off for Bible study -
9:00 - reconvene to decorate (for those who are independently mobile)
11:30 - exit

Saturday afternoon
3:00 - Bethel guys rehearse (V.A.M.)
5:00 - last minute preparations, Red Lion guys rehearse
6:00 - team members arrive, pray
6:30 - performers arrive, start coffee
7:00 - guests arrive, start buying coffee
7:15 - welcome by M.C. Dan
7:20 - praise singing (R.L. guys)
7:35 - Congo team sharing
7:45 - praise singing (R.L. guys)
7:55 - Russia team sharing
8:05 - special music (R.L. guys)
8:15 - transition by M.C. Dan
8:20 - musical performance by Bethel guys (V.A.M.)
8:45 - transition by M.C. Dan
8:50 - musical performance by Orion Moses
9:15 - transition by M.C. Dan
9:20 - musical peformance by Michael Hiskey
9:30 - transition by M.C. Dan
9:35 - musical performance by Mike Casteel
10:00 - end, cleanup

Bridget's Bunia Blog 40

2007-03-29T09:39:00.000-04:00

Friends of the Kitchen

Ostensibly, I’m cooking supper. But in reality, I’m extracting little black creatures from the food. While weevils conveniently disappear in a pot of beans, they retain a high profile in a dish of white pasta served to guests.

'A weevil', I am told by Grolier’s encyclopaedia (the MCMXCI edition I presume to still be a valid source of information) 'is a specialized beetle with an elongated head and a protruding, often curved snout that bears the mouthparts and antennae. Most weevils are less than 7mm long. More than 40,000 species of weevils constitute the family Curculionidae of the beetle order Coleoptera. Almost 2,000 species of long, slender, primitive weevils, found mostly in the tropics, make up the family Bretidae.'

I think our kitchen must be host to Calendra granaria and Calendra oryzae because those are the granary and rice specialists. But how do they come to be in the hermetically sealed pasta pack or the jar of beans or the sack of flour? Maybe it’s because 'the legless, often blind larvae frequently burrow into seeds, buds, fruits or underground roots' and stay there. The encyclopaedia entry, alas, doesn’t list the protein and vitamin content of the creatures. But given the fact that they have ingested the wheat (and the container plastic) and they disappear from view in a generous shake of black pepper, it’s probably OK to leave the weevils in the dish of pasta. Sorry, guests.

However, I’m not so well disposed to live and let live when it comes to cockroaches in spite of reading that 'roaches are actually very clean insects, even though they eat garbage. They are called the custodians of nature. They only live in houses where there are crumbs to eat or the garbage can is uncovered. They lay eggs inside the house's hollow walls.'

I wonder who had the wit and wisdom, time and patience, to discover the following information about this strange creature: 'The roach is also one of the hardiest insects on the planet, capable of living for a month without food and remaining alive headless for up to a week. It can also hold its breath for 45 minutes and has the ability to slow down its heart rate. Cockroaches also have a very high resistance to radiation. The cockroach has super regeneration powers that allow it to regrow lost limbs. They also will never die if they get proper amounts of food and plenty of sunlight and water. This is the only species on planet Earth that is known to have these powers.' !!! (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cockroach)

So now we know. Crunch! No regenerated limbs allowed here!

What I do find enchanting are the geckos. Whether a few centimetres of translucence straight from the hatcheries or the bolder, knobbly ones, they are friendly little fellows who pop up when you open a drawer or scuttle away when you put on a light, scurrying up, down or across the wall. Watchers from another world hurrying away to share their observations with a vast colony of creatures in some invisible location.

Blessings,
Bridget

[I’m at a loss to find a verse of Scripture to fit this commentary on life here!]

Djadri

2007-03-18T20:30:00.000-04:00

In CECA’s Christian Education department. After the war he started taking in street kids and ended up with so many he had to start a little ministry out of it. He’s been teaching at the Christian Education school which wasn’t able to start this year because the building being used for it was appropriated illegally by the Bunia court.

Bridget's Bunia Blog 39

2007-03-17T07:09:00.000-04:00

There was Jesus saving a wedding celebration from falling flat - in full accord with the Jewish belief that God enabled them to grow crops and produce wine to make them happy (Psalm 104:14-15) - and a Congolese colleague can only comment, "Jesus made it very difficult for us when his first miracle was to change water to wine." So what is one to think about this issue of Jesus, his disciples and alcohol? But given the proof of the local home-brewed alcohol here, it's probably wise to steer clear of the
principle of 'moderation in all things' and push for teetotalism. Sadoki ought to know......

"Where did you get all those things - meat, fish, clothes and everything? Did you steal them? Have they given you a pay rise?" Sadoki's wife had never seen so much brought home at the end of a month. This was the first time ever that Sadoki had completed a month of work without spending all his salary on booze. No wonder his wife was so incredulous. This fact spoke volumes as to the changes that had taken place in the life of her husband.

Tears came to Sadoki's eyes as he recalled his past life and thought of wasted time, wasted opportunity, wasted money. But a smile lit up his face as he explained his 'siku ya uhuru' - his day of liberation - and how God had touched his life.

Raised by an alcoholic father and drinking mother, Sadoki really hadn't had much of a chance and he was drinking by the age of 12. A hardened drinker by the age of 23, he was able to down 12 bottles of commercially-produced beer or the whole pot of kaikbo - the vicious local concoction distilled from manioc and maize.

Cigarettes and drugs were added to the destructive habits. His friends were fellow boozers. His wife was his 'rafiki ya pombe' - a drinking friend - although not to the same extent. Drinking - during drunken moments that is - was fun. But little by little there was a nagging question: What will I do to leave drink?

Then in 1993, Sadoki was attracted by the music coming from the football stadium. Some people from South Africa were preaching about a 'Jesus Alive'; that there was life and peace in him. Curious, Sadoki went along to listen. What was this life that they were talking about? What did it all mean? The second, third and fourth evenings found Sadoki at the meetings. And when people 'with needs' were invited to be prayed for, Sadoki was right there; he knew keenly his need of help in his life. To his amazement, all desire to drink left him when he was prayed for.

Friends came to tempt him "Come, share a glass with us." "No, I've left off drinking. I'm going to follow Jesus." His wife was watching him. Was this a genuine change? Would it last? She'd had to bear the shame of going to her parents for handouts when her husband had drunk the money. But she wasn't disappointed in what had happened to him. This was Sadoki's 'Siku ya Uhuru' - his Day of Freedom.

So it’s hard for Sadoki to understand why his testimony has no effect on a drinking colleague. Why won’t he heed Sadoki’s warning or follow his example?

While we rejoice that Sadoki, wife and family walk happily into the sunset blessed with liberation from alcohol, unhappily that’s not the total picture. For many people, including Christians, alcohol is a real curse. It turns educated, useful people into unreliable members of a community who can’t be depended upon to arrive for work, handle public money responsibly or be able to care for their families. How does this happen? For some Christians, it begins with entry into the world of politics and the need to socialise. Others find the comfort of the bottle when a wife is sick or dies. How do people find a thirst to be free from the grip of alcohol? That I don't know. I feel as bewildered as the disciples: "Who, then, can be saved?" they asked. Jesus looked straight at them and answered, "This is impossible for human beings, but for God everything is possible." Mat 19:25-26

Blessings,
Bridget

Memory Verses (Brokenness)

2007-03-14T23:00:00.000-04:00

Here is the second set of verses that we should have been working on for the meeting on Saturday, 17 March:

Psalm 51:17
“The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”
John 12:41-43
“These things Isaiah said because he saw His glory, and he spoke of Him. Nevertheless many even of the rulers believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they were not confessing Him, for fear that they would be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the approval of men rather than the approval of God.”
1 Peter 5:5-7
“…All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for GOD IS OPPOSED TO THE PROUD, BUT GIVES GRACE TO THE HUMBLE. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time.”

Continuous Revival (Brokenness)

2007-03-14T22:30:00.000-04:00

The next point is BROKENNESS. A picturesque word, a key word, indeed THE key word, in continuous revival. It is not a word that comes a great deal in Scripture, though more than we think, if we examine a concordance; but it comes enough to show that it is a picturesque, as well as true, way of describing the sinner’s only and constant relationship to his Savior.

We first learn that salvation is only possible for lost men through a BROKEN Savior:

“This is my body which is BROKEN for you;”
“Reproach hath BROKEN my heart.” In Gethsemane He had a broken will, and on Calvary a broken fellowship even with His Father; for the One who is our Substitute and who was made sin for us had to take upon Himself the nature of man, and had to be broken at Calvary in his place.

But man also has to be “broken.”

He sees his sinful condition before God, as he realizes the coming judgment and wrath, and as he is pointed to the slain Lamb, he has to “break” at the foot of the Cross.
The proud, self-justifying, self-reliant, self-seeking self has to come just as a lost, undone sinner, whose only hope is a justifying Savior.
David said it, when at the supreme moment of his own total brokenness, in Psalm 51, the Spirit caused him to comment, “The sacrifices of God are a BROKEN spirit, a BROKEN and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.”

Here we come to a crucial point concerning the way of brokenness, as indeed concerning all relationships of the Christian life. It is the most crucial point in this whole way of continuous revival; the point, as we shall see later, that has to be re-learned by modern Christians surrounded by all their respectability. It is this. All Christian relationships are two-way, not one-way. They are horizontal as well as vertical. That is to say, we are a two-way people. We are not just isolated units living in a vertical relationship with an isolated God; we are members of a human family also with whom we live in horizontal relationships, and our obligations are two-way all the time.

We cannot, for instance, say that we have become righteous before God through faith in Christ, yet continue unrighteous among men. The Bible says that would be living a lie.
Equally we cannot say we love God and hate our brother, for the Bible says, “He that loves not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?” This comes out particularly in 1 John, where the two-way fellowship is mentioned in 1:3, two-way righteousness in the 3:7, and a two-way love in 4:20.

1:3 “…what we have seen and heard we proclaim to you also, so that you too may have fellowship with us; and indeed our fellowship is with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”
3:7 “Little children, make sure no one deceives you; the one who practices righteousness is righteous, just as He is righteous.”
4:20 “If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.”

But now this is true of the way of brokenness—that is, of repentance and faith. “The word of faith,” we read in Romans 10:8-10, is a two-way, with the heart towards God and with the mouth before man. Indeed it takes it further and says that to experience in our hearts and lives the full benefit of our faith, we MUST express it both ways, for “with the heart man believes unto righteousness,” that is to say, the heart-believer is accounted righteous before God; but it is “with the mouth” that “confession is made unto salvation,” that is to say, we realize in our experience the joyful fact that we are saved. Confession before man does something in our hearts that heart-faith alone never does.

There are many sincere believers, in churches where they are not taught to witness before men or to expect assurance of salvation, who truly trust in the mercies of God through Christ, yet do not even know for sure in their hearts that they are saved, and have none of the joy of the Lord, because there is no mouth confession. But when we do the much more costly thing of telling men that Christ has become our Savior, something happens in our own hearts. We are saved and know we are saved! Any soul-winner also knows that if a seeker were to say, “Yes, I’ll accept Christ in secret, but don’t let anybody know,” we would say to him, “Brother, that’s not a genuine faith or brokenness. If you really mean business and are really committed as a lost sinner to the mercies of your Savior, the proof is that you are committed before men as well as God. If you don’t confess before men, we may well doubt the genuineness of your faith and the reality of your salvation.”

So saving faith, the attitude of brokenness, is a two-way activity, towards God and man, as are righteousness and love and indeed all the relationships of Christian living. Indeed, we can put it this way. We can liken a man to a house. It has a roof and walls. So also man in his fallen state has a roof on top of his sins between him and God; and he also has walls up, between him and his neighbor. But at salvation, when broken at the Cross, not only does the roof come off through faith in Christ, but the walls fall down flat, and the man’s true condition as a sinner saved by grace is confessed before all men.

But the trouble soon begins again after conversion, and here lies the basic hindrance to continued revival. Continued revival is continued brokenness, but brokenness is two-way, and that means walls kept down as well as roof off. But man’s most deep rooted and subtle sin is the subtle sin of pride: self-esteem and self-respect. Though hardly realizing it, while we are careful to keep the roof off between ourselves and God through repentance and faith, we soon let those walls of respectability creep up again between ourselves and our brethren. We don’t mind our brethren knowing about successes in our Christian living; they can know if we win a soul, if we lead a class, if we get a prayer answered, if we get good things from the Scriptures, because we too get a little reflected credit out of those things. But where we fail, in those many, many areas of our daily lives—that is a different question! If God has to deal with us over our impatience or temper in the home, over dishonesty in our business, over coldness or other sins, by no means do we easily bear testimony to our brethren of God’s faithful and gracious dealings in such areas of failure. Why not? Just because of pride, self-esteem, although we might often more conveniently call it being shy or reserved!

Biblical Examples:
The fact is we love the praise of men as well as of God, and that is exactly what the Scriptures say stops the flow of confession before men (John 12:42-43). But let us note that the key to the reality of the whole of the Scriptures is the openness of the men of the Bible. We know of God’s most intimate dealings with them, their sins and failures every bit as much as their successes. How do we know the details of Abraham’s false step with Hagar, of Jacob’s tricks with Isaac and Esau, of Moses’ private act of disobedience concerning speaking to the rock? Of Elijah’s flight and God’s secret rebuke, of the inner history of Jonah? How did the disciples know the inside story of Jesus’ temptations to record for us? Only because they were all open before their contemporaries. They lived in the light with each other as with God. All through history men have turned in their fears and sorrows and doubts to the Psalms. Why? Because they are the heart experiences of men in fear, and doubt, and guilt, and soul-hunger, describing how they had felt and how God had met them. Why was David’s repentance acceptable to God, and yet Saul’s, for a much less apparently carnal sin of failing to slaughter all the Amalekites, unacceptable? The reason is plain. Both kings, when faced respectively by the accusing finger of the prophets Nathan and Samuel, admitted their guilt before God, and said, “I have sinned”
(1 Samuel 15:24 and 2 Samuel 12:13); but Saul’s repentance was demonstrated to be insincere because he desired that his sin be hidden from the people (1 Samuel 15:30), whereas the proof of David’s utter brokenness was that he told the whole world in Psalm 51 what a sinner he was and that his only hope was in God’s mercy.

Openness before man is the genuine proof of sincerity before God, even as righteousness before man, and love to man are the genuine proofs of righteousness before God, and love to God. Note also that hiding the truth about ourselves before men, pretending to be better than we really are, is the supreme sin which Jesus drove home to the Pharisees, the sin of hypocrisy, and was the direct cause of their crucifying Him. It was not the open harlot or publican, but the religious men who pretended to be holy, and covered their inner condition, who drove Jesus to the cross rather than have the truth about themselves exposed any more. Note also that the first sin judged in the early church was the sin of hiddenness before men, Ananias and Sapphira pretending before their brethren that they were making a bigger surrender than they really were.

And finally note that in every dealing of the believer with God recorded in the Scriptures, every step taken in the walk of faith, the Scripture shows that that transaction of inner faith had to be expressed in the spoken word, the faith had to be confessed before men; it was the clinching act which sealed the faith and committed the believers. See it in the lives of all men of faith from Abraham right through to the apostles; what they had believed in their heart, they declared with the mouth as something God had said to them and which would assuredly come to pass.

So far then we have learned these two lessons: that continuous revival is the simple daily walking with Jesus, and also walking in a brokenness two-way which is expressed in the heart to God and by the mouth before men. We will see later, in practical detail, how this works out more fully in the daily life.

Memory Verses (The Walk)

2007-03-13T08:13:00.001-04:00

Here are the first three verses that we were to have been working on before the last meeting. Let's make an effort to get caught up this week!

Psalm 86:11
“Teach me Your way, O LORD; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name.”
1 John 1:7
“But if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”
Galatians 5:16, 22-23
“…walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh… the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.”

Continuous Revival (The Walk)

2007-03-11T08:30:00.000-04:00

Now to go into the matter point by point… First of all, we need to have a wholly new emphasis on the WALK of the Christian.

In our evangelical and rightful zeal to bring sinners to the point of the new birth, and to lead the saints on to baptism, to growing in holiness, etc., we have often made too much of the ‘big’ moments of decision and too little of the day-to-day WALK. But the Scriptures leave us in no doubt of their emphasis. In almost every Epistle the Holy Spirit leads us on past the ‘big decisions’ and into the way of being with Christ, that is our WALK with Him.

Scripture proofs of THE WALK:

In Romans we are taught the way of justification and sanctification from Chapter 1 through 7, then in 8 it says, “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who WALK not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
In Galatians there is the battle of justification by faith as against works, and the Paul says, “This I say then, WALK in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lusts of the flesh.” And later, “If we live (have come alive) in the Spirit, let us also WALK in the Spirit.”
In Ephesians he introduces us into our glorious union with the ascended Christ, and then says, “I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye WALK worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called;” and later, “WALK not as other Gentiles walk,” “WALK in love ... WALK as children of light ...WALK circumspectly.”
In Colossians he says, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so WALK in Him,”
In Thessalonians he rejoices in the saving power of the gospel in the lives of the young converts, and then says, “As ye have received of us how you ought to WALK and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.”
Finally, to mention only one more, John in his epistle takes us to the very heights when he says we are to “WALK as He walked,” for “as He is, so are we in the world;” indeed John does not even discuss how to be born again or how to abide in Christ, but, taking these for granted, now talks about the walk and life which is the outcome. (See also 2 John and 3 John).

Now to walk is a step-by-step activity. Given the main destination, all that matters is the next step. Christian living is concerned, therefore, just with the implications of the present moment, not with past or future. But we tend to live in the past and thus to avoid the keen edge of the challenge of the immediate moment. Thus, as things arise in our hearts and lives which are not consistent with our Christian testimony, we say, or imply, “Well, I know these things are not right, but anyhow I have been born again, I have been cleansed in His blood, I have received eternal life, Christ lives in me.” Thus I circle around the raw facts of my immediate condition by leaning back on my past decisions. We make too much of the past decisions, but too little of the present walk.

Yes, thank God we are born again, and have received other impartations of grace, but now let us forget those, as it were; let us remember that all we are asked to do is to “WALK WITH JESUS,” and that means simple concentration on things as they are with me just this moment, then the next, then the next, and so on.

There is something else also that much affects our Christian experience when we get confused between looking back to decisions and just living moment by moment. One of Satan’s favorite weapons is false condemnation. He loves to make us look back at our past failures, or into the future at our probably equal failures (so he says), and then puts us into a tail-spin of despair or depression. “Look at your pride, coldness, sensuality, worldliness, fruitlessness. You say you were born again or sanctified, but look at yourself! And if you have been that in the past, believe me, you will be exactly the same in the future!” In other words, Satan likes to talk in long-term generalities, based indeed on an element of truth, but built up into a huge lie; for God does not look on His children in a general sense as proud, cold, fruitless, and so on. He sees them in Christ, being conformed to the image of His Son. The difference between Satan’s condemnations and God’s convictions is that where Satan uses generalities pointing back to the past or forward to the future, God sees past and future in Christ and just deals with the present, and deals specifically. We WALK moment by moment, step by step with Him, the past under the blood, the future in His keeping.

We are in Jesus and He in us. Now then, if our walk it this moment is clouded with the rising up of some motion of sin in us, then God just points to that. “There,” He says, “look at that, just that. Just get that right under the blood and then walk again with Me” So simple, so free from these condemnations from the past (or excuses through leaning back on the past decisions), and from those fears for the future.

So now we have the first point in continuous revival. We “walk with Jesus.” We are concerned only with the step by step life. We live in the present; “Today, today, today,” as it says five times in Hebrews 3. We do not excuse the present by leaning back on
past spiritual decisions, nor do we get under false condemnation or fear through looking back at the past or forward into the future.

Have you applied?

2007-03-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

Passports can take up to eight weeks between application and receipt. Expedited deliveries (about two weeks) may be requested at additional cost. Some post offices (including the new one on at the WSFS Financial Center on Delaware Avenue in Wilmington) are opening up on Sunday, March 11 ONLY for passport services. If you have not applied for your passport yet, you might consider this opportunity to check that off your list. Also, I have received this question in an email and thought I would answer it here for others as well... the countries you are planning to visit include Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, and England.

These are the items needed for a passport application:

Provide a completed application for a passport - Postal officials note that offices accepting passport do stock the necessary forms. Passport applications are also found online at the Postal Service site, or the State Department’s web site.

Present Proof of U.S. Citizenship - In many cases, applicants fill this requirement by supplying a certified birth certificate with a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal. Others may need to obtain a consular report of birth abroad or a naturalization certificate. A previous US passport in altered or damaged condition may not be accepted.

Present Proof of Identity - You may prove your identity with a photo ID, including a previous U.S. passport, a Naturalization Certificate, a valid Driver's license, a city, state or federal Government ID or Military ID issued to military personnel and their dependents.

Supply Two Passport Photos, in compliance with state department requirements. Passport photos will be available on site for $12 on Sunday, February 11.

Pay the Applicable Fee. Applicants pay the application processing fee to the "U.S. Department of State" with a check or money order only. For applicants age 16 and over, the application processing fee is $67 and applicants under 16 pay $52. The execution fee is a separate payment of $30 per application to the facility where you apply. The execution fee can be paid with cash, check, money order, debit or credit card.

Continuous Revival (Introduction)

2007-03-04T08:00:00.000-05:00

At some point, every Christian needs to discover the way of continuous revival—the subject of our Bible lessons for the English Bible Camp we are planning for July 3-7 in Bunia. The idea of continuous revival is based on a statement made by Jesus Himself in John 4:14… “whoever drinks of the water that I will give him shall never thirst; but the water that I will give him will become in him a well of water springing up to eternal life.”

Continuous revival is a message from God that simply and thoroughly reaches down to where ordinary folks live, and is found to be the secret of victorious living. What follows is an adaptation of a booklet by Norman P. Grubb, describing his experiences in Central Africa in the middle of the last century, influenced by additional teaching from a sermon delivered at last year's Together for the Gospel conference entitled "Watch Your Life" by C.J. Mahaney.

First, we need to understand what we mean by “revival.” When we come down to it in simplest form, it means the re-viving of dead areas in our lives—bringing to the light areas in our lives where we have come face to face with sin unobserved before and bringing them to the cleansing blood.

The transforming truth of that definition of revival shakes us out of the misconception that revival can only come in great soul-shaking outpourings of the Spirit. Thank God for such when they do come; they have been the great and precious hurricanes of the Spirit in the history of the Church. However, as Christians we can fall into defeatism and almost hopelessness by thinking that we can do nothing about revival except pray, often rather unbelievingly, and wait until the heavens tear open and God comes down. It is critical to see that “revival” in its truest sense is an everyday affair right down within the reach of everyday folk to be experienced in our hearts, homes and churches, and in our fields of service.

When revival does burst forth in greater and more public ways, thank God; but meanwhile we can see to it that we are being ourselves constantly revived persons, which of course also means that others are getting revived in our own circles. By this means God can have channels of revival by the thousands in all the churches of the world!

What we are attempting to describe this week is not just the passing on of a mere theory, but what has come by seeing continuous revival in action among communities; by experiencing the same working of the Spirit in our own lives; by examining and grasping in some measure the Scriptural basis of this continuous revival, and finally by seeing God move in revival in many others through the presentation of this message and testimony. Our belief in continuous revival should be a matter of seeing it, learning it, experiencing it and transmitting it.

The truth is that revival is really the Reviver in action, and He came two thousand years ago at Pentecost. Revival, therefore, is not so much a vertical outpouring from heaven, for the Reviver is already here in His temple. The Holy Spirit truly dwells in the bodies of the redeemed. Therefore, revival is more a horizontal out-moving of the Reviver through these temples into the world. It is a horizontal, rather than a vertical movement, and the importance of this fact will be seen later.

Congo/Russia Coffee House

2007-03-01T22:00:00.000-05:00

We are so excited about the coffee house we’re planning for March 31 as a fundraiser for this summer’s Congo and Russia missions teams, but in order to pull this thing off, we’re definitely going to need all of your involvement.

So, what can you do to help? First of all, pray. We want to give this night totally over to God and we want it to be all for God’s glory, and we know that He will use it. Pray that His will will be done, that He will bring the people He wants to be there, that all the details will be worked out well, and that all throughout the process our focus will be on Him. Second, talk it up. We’ll be working on different forms of publicity, but ultimately what will bring people is relationships. So tell your friends and anyone else you think would enjoy some sweet music and a cup of coffee (that’s pretty much everyone. . .) and be excited about it! Third, be there yourself. We really want you all to be there. . .and we don’t accept excuses so set aside the date now:). . .and then Lastly, help out with any areas that you’d like to be involved in. . .there’s going to be some decorating, set-up, clean-up, baking, coffee-making, grocery shopping, and display making involved and we need your help! But more to come on this later. . .

Alright so below is some general info about our ideas for the night—it is all subject to change, and we would love to hear your ideas and suggestions as well.

Where’s it going to be?
The Youth Room

Set-up: ok, so we’re thinking we’ll really have to clear the room out and then there will be a chill area with all the random rugs and floor cushions, and then an area with tables, and coffee/food tables in the choir room. Two back rooms will be open as well.

What’s the entertainment going to look like?

Music: Some guys from the Red Lion worship team along with some others will be playing a variety of music from hymns to praise music to Christian cover songs . . .and possibly some music from our yg guys?
Dan says he’s cool with being mc
Team summaries: We would like to have one person from each missions team give a quick three minute-ish summary of what the team plans to do on their trip, so if you would like to be this person, let us know

Most importantly, what’s the deal for food?

COFFEE of course
Hopefully Paneras and Einsteins left-overs. Also there will be a sign-up sheet in the foyer this Sunday for ppl in the church to bake stuff
We were thinking it would be cool to have some African or Russian food that people can try too
Soda, so we can have the cans :)

How is it a fundraiser?

The plan is to charge a $2 admission fee
Also, coffee and snacks will be sold

What about decorations?

We would like to make it as African and Russian as we can. . .and we realize these are not very similar looks so we don’t know exactly what it will look like yet. . .
Team displays:
Now, along the wall we’re thinking we’ll do displays about the teams. So, one wall will be Congo team and one will be Russia. . .some ideas we had were a “meet the team” section, trip info, support cards, giant posters of the continents and where exactly we’re going w/ fun facts. . .

Who’s going to be there?

Well, we’re “gearing” the event towards 13-23ish year olds. . . .so that’s who we’re trying to bring in. But, everybody is welcome, and we hope that the whole church body will try to be there.

Fundraising Events

2007-02-28T18:30:00.000-05:00

Please add the following dates to your calendar, and begin to think about your role in the planning and execution of these events:

Saturday, March 17

8:30 AM Kitchen Prep & Initial Setup
11:30 AM Final Setup
12 noon Meatball Luncheon

Saturday, March 31

?? Sometime during the day ?? Setup
6:00 PM Prayer & Final Setup
7:00 PM Coffeehouse in Youth Room

Sunday, April 29

?? Sometime on Saturday ?? Setup
6:00 PM International Dinner
8:00 PM Gathering

Saturday, May 12

?? Sometime Friday evening ?? Organizing & Pricing
?? Game/Movie night after ??
6:30 AM Set Up
7:30 AM Rummage Sale on the Mission House Lawn

Losha

2007-02-11T20:30:00.000-05:00

Superintendent of all CECA-20 secondary schools. About 10 years ago his son-in-law died so his daughter moved back with him along with her two sons. Two years ago a daughter died and he has taken responsibility for her three children. He and his wife now find themselves with 5 small children after having already raised 6 to adulthood.

He will be coordinating all the efforts at the administrative level for the English Bible Camp.

Meeting Reminder for Saturday, February 10, 2007

2007-02-07T09:26:00.000-05:00

Tentative Meeting Schedule for this Saturday's Meeting (2/10/07)

8:30-9:00 AM	Team Leaders Meeting (Rest of the team can start to assemble)
9:00-10:00 AM	Joint Travel and Support Team meeting
10:00-11:00 AM	Outreach/Evangelism exercise (Travel team will participate for one hour, Support team is encouraged to participate until noon
11 AM - 1 PM	Travel team meeting (bring $$ for lunch)

So the tentative plan is for the meeting to be finished by 1pm. Looking for what is due this meeting? Check it out under the "Proposed New Timeline".

...it's in the mail

2007-01-29T23:00:00.000-05:00

Hopefully by the time you read this (which I realize for some of you could be many moons after it is actually posted...) you will have affixed your 39 cent stamps and return addresses to your prayer support letters and dropped them into a blue box in some convenient location, and in fact many potential supporters will begin to open those letters in the coming days.

If you have not completed this task, please be aware that one of the team leaders should be contacting you on Wednesday evening to hold you accountable for getting it done BY FEBRUARY 1 (Thursday). Also, if you need to add more people to your list, please do not hesitate to send out as many letters as desired. There is no limit to the number of supporters who can join our team, however, if you want to send to people who are connected to the Bethel family (or who have been in recent years) please check with me first to make sure we are not bombarding them with 5 different requests for support.

Also, if you need some assistance with personalizing letters again or printing more envelope labels, Kelly is more than happy to show you the process. I have posted the response card template, so you can print more of those at your leisure as well.

Once we begin to receive responses, as people commit to praying or giving financially, you will be handed a response card with the name and address of the person supporting you. You will send them a hand-written thank-you note before the next Congo meeting, and will hand the card back to Mrs. Foggy to let her know that you have done so. We'll talk more about this commitment at our next meeting.

Kiningani

2007-01-14T20:30:00.001-05:00

Director of CECA’s radio station Radio Tangezeni Kristo (RTK), which broadcasts from Bunia and Rethy. He worked as a high school chaplain in Kisangani back when Gregg was head chaplain for CECA secondary schools.

He too lived through difficult times in that city. His wife died in childbirth several years ago. He has remarried, lives in Bunia and has recently been named head of Bunia youth ministry for the Bunia CECA churches.

He will be teaching the daily Bible lessons on "Continuous Revival".

Proposed New Timeline

2007-01-13T18:45:00.001-05:00

DATE	MEETING AGENDA	ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Saturday, January 13*	Welcome to the Team	initial $100 commitment Every meeting: Bible, Notebook, Pen
Sunday, January 28*	Envelope stuffing	personalized letters for all potential supporters, stamped and addressed envelopes
Saturday, February 10*	What's My Line?	second $100 commitment, medical form completed
Saturday,March 17*	Building a Winning Team I	third $100 commitment, passport application submitted
Saturday, April 14	Watch Your Life!	first 4 chapters of "Seeking Him" completed
Friday-Saturday, April 20-21	Please Don't Send Me to Africa RETREAT	parental permission & power of attorney *NOTARIZED*
Sunday, May 6	Building a Winning Team II	fourth $100 commitment, testimony / gospel presentation
Saturday,May 19 8:30 AM	We're Not in Kansas Any More!	first 8 chapters of "Seeking Him" completed
Saturday, June 2	Details, Details, Details	final $100 commitment, yellow fever shot, malaria prescription (not filled yet)
Saturday, June 16	Are We There Yet?
Sunday, June 24	Family Prayer and Commissioning
Tuesday, June 26	Countdown to Liftoff	1 large suitcase packed with only what is on the list
Thursday, June 28	Depart for Entebbe, Uganda
Tuesday-Saturday, July 3-7	English Bible Camp in Bunia, Dem Rep of Congo
Thursday, July 12	Return to US
Sunday, July 29	Report to Church and Supporters

*Saturday meetings are regularly scheduled from 9 AM until 11 AM. The support team is requested to join us for the first hour the first Saturday meeting of each month.

Alt-Ctrl-Delete

2007-01-13T18:30:00.000-05:00

Greetings. Welcome to a new year of blogging. The newly rebooted Congo 2007 team met for the first time this weekend to establish a couple of things:

A fresh focus on our mission, the opportunity for ministry in Bunia
A reminder of the Biblical mandate for partnerships in ministry
A renewal of the leadership team roles
A review of the current tentative schedule and deadlines

Bridget's Bunia Blog 35

2007-01-05T08:30:00.000-05:00

Happy New Year!

'Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.' Proverbs 17:22

"Yes, Gosapa, you have a question?" I was bringing to a close an English lesson dealing with prepositions of position and I wanted to give the students opportunity for clarification. "Could you explain about 'by the door'? I heard it on the radio and I didn't understand it." "Let's look at that tomorrow since there are several prepositional phrases that involve the door."

So the next day we duly explained - complete with sketches and example sentences on the blackboard - the difference between 'by the door' meaning 'near the door', 'at the door' which has the connotation of someone wanting access or egress and 'on the door', and for good measure we added the adverbs 'outdoors' and 'indoors' and the adjectives 'outdoor' and 'indoor'.

"Gosapa, does this make it clear for you?"
"Not really."
"OK. (Sigh) Well, tell me about the radio program where you heard the expression 'by the door' mentioned. Was it a news program? Was it a reporter? Was he talking from another country?"

Light was beginning to dawn.
"Do you think they were reporting from Somalia? Are you sure the phrase wasn't in fact the name of the town 'Baidoa'?

As I picked up the returned library book, the pages fell open to reveal a razor blade. Evidently it had been used as a book marker or placed there for safe keeping. I didn't interpret it as having any malevolent message. But I did find it ironic (or appropriate) that the title of the book was 'Kill Me Quick' by Meja Mwangi! It led to an interesting exercise in creative thinking. What would be left in 'Arrow of God' by Chinua Achebe? Or 'White Teeth' by Okot p'Bitek? A return ticket from London to Paris would be a very acceptable find in 'A Tale of Two Cities'. Any suggestions for 'Great Expectations'?

Doesn't this misspelling conjure up a wonderful picture?
'My mother gave berth to seven children.'

For those of you familiar with the premise of 'Poisonwood Bible'* by Barbara Kingsolver, the Congolese mispronunciation 'Holly Lord' balances out the error.

With all good wishes for a jocund 2007,
Bridget

*(The white missionary refuses to take seriously the tonal aspect of a Congolese language and so calls the Bible, not holy, but by the name of a bush that gives off a poison that makes the skin itch.)

Bridget's Bunia Blog 34

2006-12-22T06:18:00.000-05:00

Ten Years On

- 1996 -

Then it was Christmas in exile;

A refugee in Kenya

Along with the many evacuated from Zaire.

Borrowed lodgings, clothes and toiletries.

Unknown present; unknown future.

Fighting 'back home';

Danger, fear and loss.

- 2006 -

Now it is Christmas 'at home';

A resident of Bunia, Congo.

A new country, a new president, a new democracy.

Plenty in the stores to buy.

Known present but future still unknown

Christmas celebration in peace.

Much hope for prosperity.

We do not know what will happen tomorrow.

What is our life? We are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

We ought to say, "If it is the Lord's will, we will live and do this or that.

James 4:14-15

Message from Emmanuel:

Your heavenly Father knows what you need.

Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.

Each day has enough trouble of its own.

With all good wishes for a joyful Christmas celebration,
Bridget

Bridget's Bunia Blog 33

2006-12-09T05:13:00.000-05:00

Monday morning

I agreed to do the bookkeeping for the school; I received the title Administratrice du Budget; I inherited the unenviable task of ensuring that school fees are paid. There were some, many, too many students who were late with their payments, and salaries and overheads needed to be settled. I didn't relish the thought of going to school on Monday morning. I thought hard as to the wording of the notice so that it would be as objective and unobjectionable as possible.

Le service des finances de l'ISP/CECA-20/Bunia The records show that the following students have not paid the first instalment of their school fees and are, therefore, not eligible to attend class.

There were only 10 out of the 21 students in my first year class that morning as the others scurried around to 'find' money. It never ceases to amaze me how tardy and reluctant students are to pay their fees, how they intimate that it is the authorities' fault that they have to pay!

Rom 13:8 "Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another"

Monday evening

A roar went up as for the winning goal by the home team. Was there a football match at this time of evening? A sudden burst of noise sounded all around the block like the gathering swell of an approaching swarm of bees. For a minute I experienced a frisson of fear. Is this what it would be like were there to be an uprising against outsiders and everyone was gathering with machete and hoe? I went outside on the veranda to see what was happening and in the moonlight I noticed a chair left by the young people of the family downstairs. I found them gathered around the TV. The high court had just announced that Bemba's charge of election fraud had been dismissed and Joseph Kabila had been declared president of Congo. Ah, this was the reason for the noise! Bunia is very much Kabila territory and there was an incredible response of joy and delight. "Do the British get excited like this when they have elections?" Kangano asked. "Not really," I laughed. "But it is our first time of voting." It was indeed something to celebrate with as much noise as possible. There was a spontaneous outburst of cheering, blowing of whistles, banging of drums and beating of metal. A church bell began to ring. Cars hooted. Groups of young people marched around the streets singing till long after the usual curfew hour.

People here are very happy with the result. But one wants to warn them - don't anticipate too much; temper your expectations. It's been a hard row to hoe in South Africa and Kenya and the recent events of these neighbouring countries should be salutary. What's going to ensue - peace? prosperity? progress? May it be a time of living openly without fear. "When the righteous triumph, there is great elation; but when the wicked rise to power, men go into hiding." Prov 28:12

Blessings,
Bridget Howard

2006-11-25T05:54:00.000-05:00

So we're into taking mud baths to improve our complexions?

Or we're boasting of the number of containers that we possess?

Maybe we're composing a still life called 'Portrait of Plastic'?

Why not try making money by turning water into oil like the prophet's widow who filled all possible vessels?

No.

It's one o'clock in the morning and the water barrels in the attic have sprung a leak. We're trying to drain the water and prevent the ceiling collapsing while at the same time try and conserve precious liquid. Only now do we appreciate the state of the water. No wonder whites never wash out white even with biologically active Omo!

Showers of blessings,

Bridget Howard

Bridget's Bunia Blog 31

2006-11-08T06:52:00.000-05:00

Helping Toloidi

Assa is a small community in the northeast corner of Congo not far from the Central African Republic border. There, there is a CECA-20 centre with primary and secondary schools. Communication between Assa and Bunia, 1000 km to the south, both in terms of telecommunication and transport – is very difficult and irregular. However, the link
between Assa and Zemio, 125 km across the border in CAR, is less tenuous. There’s a 2-way radio link and people quite frequently travel back and forth by bicycle.

Toloidi is the headmaster of the secondary school. He has been there for a short time after training in Bunia. He wanted some school supplies. So he sent a message by radio to Wendy in Zemio. Could she buy some basic school supplies when she next went to Uganda? He sent the available $150 by runner. Wendy emailed me by satellite phone system when she heard I’d be in Kampala. Would I check out the items on Toloidi’s shopping list? So she sent an email message to AIM International Services in Nairobi asking for the accountant to take $150 from her account and to give it to a Congo missionary who was then in Nairobi and who could carry the money back to me in Bunia. The connection didn’t work out but the AIM AIR pilot from Uganda happened to be in Nairobi so he carried the money back to Uganda and then sent the envelope by Mission Aviation Fellowship to me in Bunia. I took the envelope and shopping list with me to Kampala.

So a couple of days were spent checking out availability of items and best prices. How many Uganda shillings was the bureau de change giving for $150? At that rate how many exercise books and boxes of chalk could I get? Where would French dictionaries be available? Volley ball? Basket ball? Globe? The Asian storekeepers are always happy to bargain. The price was much better than in the bookstore.

“32 page cahiers? 96 page cahiers? 200 page cahiers?”
“Yes, but only lined not squared. I’ll give you a good price.”
“OK I can’t spend any more time checking out prices. I’ll take these.”

I was happy to cross something off the list and feel that I was making progress in the task.

“Shall I put them in a box for you?”

Then it dawned on me! 6 dozen exercise books and 5 boxes of chalk weigh quite a few kilos! Hum, there’s a problem. I can’t get a taxi back because I don’t know the address of the place where my friends live. I only know where to get off the bus and walk from there. This was very short sighted of me. Agreeing to do some one else’s shopping is sometimes complicated when there’s no car and no opportunity to pay with plastic. It's certainly not sweat-free.

The purchases were given to Wendy when she arrived fresh from USA and taken back to Zemio. They were strapped on the carrier of a bicycle and peddled the 125 km to Assa. In due time they would reach Toloidi.

20 October
Dear Bridget,
Just to let you know that Toloidi sent a note of thanks to you and me for getting all the equipment for Institut Assa. He was very grateful and wanted me to pass that on to you. Wendy

Blessings,
Bridget Howard

Bridget's Bunia Blog 30

2006-10-30T07:41:00.000-05:00

An unsent-letter

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ ~

I am very interested to learn more about a cultural phenomenon that I have observed in Bunia during the past year.

I would like very much to know why many of the Revivalist congregations choose to meet at night. More so, I would like to know why the services have to have maximum amplification. If I understand it correctly, only a few members of the congregations gather for such meetings, therefore it doesn't seem necessary to amplify the preaching and the praying and the singing. And if the raison d'être of the amplification is to reach out to the non-Christians and the pagans of the town, surely it would be more appropriate to do so during daytime? I know that, I for one, would be more disposed to listen when I was compos mentis. I thought that God ordained the night hours for sleep so that, rested and refreshed, we could arise and live and work to his praise and glory during the day.

Even the political campaigns don't begin until daybreak when people are awake and functioning. And the Muslim call to prayer – though at 5 am - is short and sweet and not menacing.

I fail to understand how you can justify thus harassing the population: children and students who need a good night's rest in order to study well at school, exhausted mothers, and weary sick people who also need undisturbed nights.

I think the writer of Proverbs 27:14 - "You might as well curse your friends as wake them up early in the morning with a loud greeting" - expresses my point well. And it seems to me that, as Christians, we have a duty to consider our testimony among the unbelievers and to be kind to them.

However, I do see the value of assembling the Christians during the night hours of late when heavy rains are causing people to stay indoors during the daytime hours. Wise move!

Another trip is underway

2006-10-16T18:30:00.000-04:00

One of our other leaders, Kelly, plus one of our teammates, Lauren, have embarked on another trip to visit Gregg and Karen in Uganda. They have started their own blog, called Two Crazy Girls in Africa, to provide us with updates from their trip. They went on the same flight as Alex and I did six weeks ago, and arrived safely this morning. They are going to do some work around Gregg and Karen's new flat and help out with office support in addition to checking out ministry opportunities in Uganda.

Update on next meeting

2006-10-15T18:30:00.000-04:00

Hey gang... the old notes said we were meeting this weekend, but obviously we are not. The next meeting for any current and potential members of the Congo 2007 team and their families is scheduled for Saturday, ~~October 28~~ *updated* November 4. More details to follow.

Bridget's Bunia Blog 29

2006-10-13T10:36:00.000-04:00

When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. "Teacher," he asked, "which is the GREATEST commandment in the Law?"
Jesus answered, 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' This is the greatest and the most important commandment. The second most important commandment is like it: 'Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments." (Mat 22:34-38)

But Jesus, I only wanted one commandment. Why have you confused the issue!

When the students were taught by a British teacher using an American text book, they were confused. There are so many differences between the meaning of the same words, the spelling of the same words and the pronunciation of the same words.

One of them asked, "Teacher, what is the best way of speaking - American or British English?" The teacher answered, "Better, Lwanzo, better. You're comparing two things. Neither is better. The key thing is communication. You must communicate so that people can understand you and so that you can understand them. But more important again is not the accent of your words but the words themselves. 'Do not use harmful words, but only helpful words, the kind that build up and provide what is needed, so that what you say will do good to those who hear you.' " (Eph 4:29)

Blessings,
Bridget Howard

Bridget's Bunia Blog 28

2006-09-30T05:10:00.000-04:00

And after the vacation it’s back to work!
It’s been a return to the final research papers of the three students whom I am supervising. We’ve spent many hours on the exhausting correction of ‘jots and tittles’ so that the style conforms to that of the American APA format: commas, full-stops, colons, brackets, underlining, indenting, referencing. Is it worth it?
I’m sure the painters of the Pointillist School asked themselves the same question when faced with a half-finished canvas that needed thousands of coloured dots to complete the image. Seurat’s huge canvas of the Bathers – it fills one whole wall at the National Gallery in London - must have driven him crazy!!
Now that everyone is into digital photography, the importance of points and pixels is well-understood.

Just as a photo is made up of tiny dots that create the overall image,

so my day of 24 hours is made up of 86400 tiny dots of seconds.

And it's how I spend those seconds

- how I act and react -

which creates the overall picture of the day.

So I can choose to paint a day of coloured images...

kindness friendliness concern purity

politeness godliness

prayerfulness

Or a day of BLACK and GREY images...

SIN & SELFISHNESS

Blessings,
Bridget Howard

It ain't s'posed ta go that way...

2006-09-09T16:35:00.000-04:00

...that was the comment from Kathleen (a Scottish missionary nurse friend of Gregg and Karen) about our little adventure that started earlier this afternoon...

Gregg, Russ, and I were spending the day in Kampala together, taking care of some financial matters and absorbing the culture of the city. We had just had lunch and were walking up a road called Bugunda around 2:00pm towards the bus station to check on schedules. Russ was following behind Gregg pretty closely and didn't see that Gregg had just stepped over an open manhole in the sidewalk. It could've happened to anyone, you know when you're walking sometimes and you look away briefly and assume that the sidewalk is going to stay flat, but you trip over a raised bit of concrete. Well, this was more than a little bump in the sidewalk. I guess city maintenance here can't keep up with all the people stealing manhole covers to make a few shillings on scrapmetal.

So anyway, Russ didn't see the open manhole hazard and fell four feet straight down into it and landed on the tip of his ringfinger breaking it. The blood and the crooked finger and the pain nearly caused him to pass out on the hot sidewalk right then and there. Russ sat up and I stayed with him while Gregg went for help. A sympathetic lady selling souveniers on the street kindly offered us her handkerchief and some water which we politely had to refuse. I didn't have any spring water left in my bottle from lunch and had nothing to wipe the blood with, but we thought it was better to not take risks with street water and a questionable rag.

Gregg waved down a taxi and asked the driver to take us to the International Hospital on such and such road (you don't want to go to the Ugandan hospital, so I'm told), and the driver said that he thought the hospital had moved to another part of town. Gregg used his cell phone to call a fellow missionary to confirm the new location and explain the directions to the driver partly in English and partly in Lugandan. All of that took about twenty minutes as Russ's finger throbbed and the color drained from his face. After obtaining accurate directions, our driver sped us across town to the hospital on streets and dirt roads jammed with trucks and mopeds and cars and bicycles and walkers and big buses all swerving around and jockeying for position in this teeming city with no traffic lights, traffic cops, or traffic laws for all we know.

The hospital was a great relief to see--clean, modern, etc. It took about three hours but they cleaned everything up, x-rayed the finger and put a splint on it. Russ goes back to see an orthopedic surgeon for a checkup on Tuesday. Total medical expense: 54,000 shillings ... price of cokes on the veranda overlooking the city at sunset: 2400 shillings... value of memories and lessons learned: priceless.

After a great dinner of Lake Victoria Tilapia, potatoes, and curry sauce that Karen made, we spent the evening visiting together and are now ready to go to bed. God has been so good to us!

By the way, Kathleen was holding up this x-ray of Russ's finger:

(We regret that this is the only image we've posted since our trip began. However, we don't have the USB cable for our camera and Gregg's printer/scanner doesn't have a memory card slot. Sorry!)

Back in Uganda

2006-09-08T13:50:00.000-04:00

We have arrived safely back from Bunia and are relaxing at Gregg and Karen's flat in Kampala. We have SO many things to tell from the past few days that will take some time to get on the blog, but we at least wanted to get word out of our progress. Here are some stories to look forward to:

Meeting with the pastors and school administrators who will be instrumental in getting the English Bible Camp going for next summer.
Discussing the English Bible Camp plans on the local radio station in a half-hour interview with Jonas Kiningani, a key partner in next summer's ministry effort.
Every day realizing how blessed we are to be working with Gregg and Karen Lewis.
Wondering while speeding on a piki-piki through the countryside surrounding Bunia, "does my insurance cover this?"
Having amazing chicken, beef, fish, potatoes and, yes, doughnuts for dinner in the home of the president of the denomination of 800 evangelical Congolese churches, talking about the health of the church in Congo, hearing him express the great need for indepth, expository Bible teaching (yes!), and also hearing a very interesting answer to the question posed to the president's wife: "So, what's it like to be a pastor's wife in Congo?"
Joining in a home Bible study with missionaries and aid workers from about a half-dozen different countries and hearing Prof. Ted Witmer (Institut Supérieur de Théologie de Bunia) give a great study on Exodus 19 with explanation for why the date of the Exodus is 1446 BC and Mt. Sinai is probably located in Saudi Arabia. Hmmmm.
Learning a German card game called "Cafe International" from our hostess at the AIM guest house.
Visiting the "Tujenge Choir" rehearsal -- they are a multi-tribe choir making truly amazing authentic Congolese music, some of which we captured on video! Afterwards Alex read from Galatians in Swahili and encouraged the choir to continue displaying their unity with one another in Christ -- a great testimony amid the destructive tribalism that has brought about such hostility and devastation in Central Africa.
Being chased by lots of incredibly friendly Congolese children through a village calling out to us "Muzungu, muzungu, muzungu!" and hearing Alex wonder, "Do you think maybe this is what it felt like to be The Beatles?"

You are the concrete

2006-09-07T15:42:00.000-04:00

We have been visiting several of the schools that we hope will participate in next summer's English Bible Camps and talking with their headmasters about our plans. Yesterday, we visited a school in one of the areas that was hit hard by militia, and is now stable but is receiving more people fleeing from some other outlying areas. Their classes are already full, but many parents refuse to believe it and still want to register their children for school.

Today we went on a nice little walk to the other side of Bunia (through an area with many burned-out buildings and showing signs of great distress) up the hill to another school that had been displaced by all the heavy fighting in the area. They were just trying to get started back up, and were having an assembly when we arrived, causing much commotion due to the throngs of little children yelling "muzungu, muzungu, muzungu" as we walked.

After that, we caught some piki-pikis in the marketplace to take us to one of the more remote schools, where we once again were received with great gratitude. During the meeting, the headmaster there expressed a common theme:

Until now, everything about these plans were abstract but now seeing you visit they have become concrete, and you are the concrete."
- Pastor Donga

We went away from the meeting realizing in an even greater way that God always knows best. With all the Congo issues in summer 2006 (new president elections, school testing delays, an abstract understanding of our plans, etc.) and our own issues (travel costs, health concerns, uncertainty, etc.), God's sovereign leading in having us first make a scouting and planning trip to pave the way for a team trip will help us achieve the right goals next summer. We are praising God for delaying our team trip this year and allowing all the leaders to first plan this ministry together. We believe that the valuable input from the godly and gifted leaders here in Bunia who have our utmost respect will make the English Bible Camp ministry one that will be well worth repeating!

Open my eyes, that I may behold...

2006-09-06T15:30:00.000-04:00

... wonderful things from your law.
- Psalm 119:18

Alex read this verse from a Swahili Bible before presenting the glasses to some of the "mamas" and elders of one of the churches in Bunia. We then had the joy of watching them try on the different strengths to determine which reading glasses were the best for them so that they could once again read their Bibles, which had become quite difficult for them. They were quite appreciative:

"Thank you, thank you thank you. The fact that you young people thought of us and would collect glasses so that these people could read God's Word is a blessing and shows the love of Christ and the unity of the church to us. God will certainly certainly bless you... everyone... a lot."
- Pastor Gideon Busha

Then pastor Gideon put on his brand new spectacles and read Ephesians 1:18 and following as an expression of our hearts to theirs.

Bonjour from Bunia Blvd

2006-09-04T10:14:00.000-04:00

Greetings from Bunia (Dem Rep of Congo)

We arrived safely in Entebbe early Monday (~6 am) and didn't have to wait long for Gregg Karen and the MAF pilot. However, we are one bag short and it was the one that contained Gregg's laptop that he intended to give to someone here in Bunia. We then hopped the short flight out on a five seater (Russell was the "co-pilot"... literally took the wheel for several minutes) and landed on the airstrip in bright sunny weather. The UN troops were abundant and the greeting was friendly.

We had the chance already this afternoon to meet with the President of the denomination - the administrative overseer for some 800 churches, their training institutes and all the many local congregations (some of which meet in homes, etc). He was joined by his secretary, and later another local pastor working with street children joined as well. They seemed very pleased to have us partner with them and very grateful for our visit. We look forward to meeting with many others in Bunia over the next few days to see what God might bring to pass for a team to travel here next summer and in the future.

London Calling

2006-09-03T06:29:00.000-04:00

We had a rather uneventful flight to London and now get to spend the day at Heathrow before flying out to Entebbe this evening. We will be worshipping at ("commandeering") the universal faith prayer room later this morning.

We have a CLEAR VISION!!!

2006-08-30T16:02:00.001-04:00

Well actually what I mean is we reached our "Congo Vision for 2007" goal and have recieved over 200 pairs of reading glasses in the past month! These glasses will be packed up and sent with Alex and Russell on their trip in September! Thank you to everyone who participated, and for each of the teens who went to the Sunday School classrooms to "drum up" business! The exciting part of this, besides just being able to help out of our abundance, is that when we go in 2007 the glasses will have already been handed out--so God may give us a "glimpse" of how these glasses are being used to bring glory to HIS name! How exciting!

Thanks All!!!

Team Meeting Notes

2006-08-13T18:30:00.000-04:00

Attendees: Russ, Joanne, Kelly, Lauren and Vicki
Regrets: Alex, Brynne and Scott

Russell opened with a short devotional from 1 Corinthians 9. We then discussed items in the agenda. See below for action items, results, etc.

New Members joining the team? -- Andy, Amber, Jessalyn, and Dan have expressed an interest in joining the team. Russell emphasized that all team members would need to be confirmed and committed by January 2007.

The team asked about Brynne still being able to go even though her family is moving in January, and Russell assured us that they had already confirmed that they would work with Brynne so that she could still be a member of the team.
ACTION ITEM: Alex to meet with Russell to determine path forward and to meet with prospective new team members ASAP. Until a decision is made by Alex and Russell, the team will stay as is.
Update (as of 8/13): Josh and Ivan have also expressed an interest in joining the Congo team.

Schedule for training/meetings

Saturday Meetings/Work Days - Since Sunday meetings are very difficult, we discussed having combined meetings/team work days on a monthly basis on Saturdays. These meetings/work days would be crucial so each team member would need to be committed to attending, and would absolutely NEED to communicate when they are NOT able to attend. We would meet as a team, and then work on a project for the church to help build team unity.

9/16 - Russ/Alex to confirm as they will be in Congo still
10/14
11/18
12/16

Friday Night Team Dinners - These would be times of fellowship and prayer to help form team unity. These are NOT mandatory, but the idea is that they would be such an encouragement to all of us that we would NOT want to miss them! During these dinners we would like to use Karen's email updates to keep the team informed of what ministries they are currently involved in Uganda and to make this a special time of pray for Gregg and Karen.

Friday 9/22 - First Team Dinner -- Russell and Sharon's home @ 6pm??

2007 Meeting Schedule - In January 2007, after the team has been finalized, we will start having more regular meetings to do language training and team building.
ACTION ITEMS:

Russell and Alex to confirm 9/16 work day
Joanne to have team members added to Karen's email DL -- COMPLETED

Fundraising

CAN-GO - Jean has offered to continue to transport the cans from the collection bins in the church (youth room and by the gym) to the recycle center. She says a car full normally equates to about $100. So our job as a team is to continue to encourage people to bring in their cans. It's very easy money!
Candy Bars - Russell has suggested that we find out how much it would be to just order the Candy Bars with the wrappers already on them (as opposed to making them). We also discussed how much money we could raise from this as many schools will NOT allow the students to sell something for an outside organization.
Shaun Groves Concert - Some ideas to raise money were to have a bake sale during the concert, set up a coffee shop, etc. We have not confirmed if the concert is even happening so we will need to revisit this once we have more details.
Sunday Afternoon Dinners - It was agreed that we do not want to do these monthly as people are already busy enough with family obligations etc. We would like to do 2-3 before we leave.
ACTION ITEMS:

Kelly to create magnets to hand out to church family reminding them to bring their cans to the collection bins to help support the team.
Team to determine if we want to proceed with candy bar sale.
Team to determined dates and themes for Sunday afternoon dinners so that we can get them on the calendar before it fills up.

Vision for 2007 project Update

We just went over the 100 mark on Sunday 8/13, so the next-clearer picture will be posted for Sunday 8/20.
Team members need to each go to a Sunday School classroom on Sunday 8/20 to ask class members to help us reach our goal of 200 by 8/27/06.
As a team, we need to package the glasses so that Russell and Alex can transport them to Uganda when the leave in September.
ACTION ITEMS:

Kelly will review SS assignments with Team members on Wednesday to ensure that each member knows where they are going. YOU NEED TO BE AT THE SS ROOM by 8:55 so that you can make your announcement BEFORE they start teaching!

Greg -> Mr. Henn's Classroom - Room 154
Lauren -> Mr. Wilson's Classroom - Room 2
Vicki -> Mr. Capoccia's Classroom - Room 152
Brynne -> Mr. Erickson's Classroom - Room 34 (down first hallway)
Scott -> back up (not sure if Scott is going to be there on Sunday due to college starting)

Lauren to write thank you notes and put them in their family folders to the following people that we KNOW donated glasses/money to vision 2007 (if I have missed any let me know)

Mr & Mrs Wilson
Mr Erickson
Ms Marcinkowski

Ministry focus for 2007 Congo Missions trip

The September trip to Congo/Uganda is going to help to direct the 2007 missions trip plans. The trip's purpose and/or location is still undetermined, as we want to make sure that we are being used in the best place possible to be an encouragement to both the Lewises and the people of Congo/Uganda. So everything still needs a ton of prayer~!

Prayer Request from Uncle Gregg

2006-08-02T18:30:00.000-04:00

We’re in the middle of our change in administration and although it’s going well some of our people are wondering why we’re changing and feel like it’s a lot of upheaval for nothing so we need wisdom to encourage folks in the process. The goal is to get leaders closer to the grass roots of what’s going on in the mission so that missionaries will be better encouraged and supported in their work. Separate from that, we are doing a week long orientation for three new missionaries this week and I’m responsible for it so am kind of tired right now. Karen’s off to Mbarara for three days to investigate potential needs for short term missionaries and we have visitors coming. My culinary skills leave much to be desired.

A Vision for Congo

2006-06-28T18:30:00.000-04:00

One of the projects that we are going to be working on this summer is "“A VISION for Congo"” -- meaning we are going to have a drive in the months of July and August (since they would need to be ready to go with Russell and Alex in September) to collect READING GLASSES to be distributed to some of the Congolese Christians who are unable to read their Bibles at home and at church, due to weak eyesight!!!

Our goal is to collect 250 pairs of these glasses -– they can be from the dollar store - –they just need to have a magnification level of 1.5-2.75, with most around 2.00. These reading glasses in Bunia would be too expensive for the average adult to buy...

We have a team leader for the project, now we NEED the rest of you to help!!! Here's how:

ideas for the display, publicity, etc.
team members to man the display in July and August so that we can answer any questions and collect the glasses
help packing them so that they are easy for Russell and Alex to take with them in September

...more details to come

Scouting Trip Dates Set

2006-06-21T18:30:00.000-04:00

Here's when Alex and Russell will be traveling:


02SEP 855P - BA 68 - PHL to LHR - 920A 03SEP
03SEP 725P - BA 63 - LHR to EBB - 540A 04SEP

13SEP 910A - BA 62 - EBB to LHR - 400P
17SEP 415P - BA 69 - LHR to PHL - 725P

In case you find that hard to read, essentially we'll be flying from Philadelphia on Saturday of Labor Day Weekend, and then directly from the airport in Uganda out to Bunia on Monday morning. We plan to stay there just a few days before returning to Gregg and Karen's house in Kampala. After a couple days there, we flight out to spend the weekend in London. It will be my first time to set foot on sovereign European soil (outside the airport). Pretty amazing.

New Flag!

2006-06-02T10:30:00.000-04:00

Hi everybody! Thanks again for the GAAMGBP (Going Away African Meal Gracie Birthday Party).

I was tooling around on the information superhighway earlier this week when I ran into a new D. R. Congo flag. I had no idea they had gotten a new flag. It evidently became official with their new constitution in February of this year. So, here it is:

Post-Retreat Update

2006-04-23T18:30:00.000-04:00

Dear Family Members and Friends of the Congo Team -

We greatly appreciate the prayers and encouragement that you have offered during these last few months as we have seen our team come together and begin to build bonds among fellow members, gain understanding about the culture and language of Congo, and grow in our walk with Christ through the training process. As you can imagine, it has been a difficult process, especially in light of the uncertainty surrounding many aspects of our trip.

We wanted to take this opportunity to bring you up to speed on what has transpired and what was finally decided and communicated over this past weekend’s retreat. As a team, we discussed the factors that weighed for and against a team trip to Congo this summer. Input was sought from the team and a decision was made that it was not wise to proceed with travel during the summer of 2006. We realize this is quite a disappointment for members and their supporters who were excited about the mission, the team, and the journey. However, we believe that God will be glorified and will continue to use us while we prepare and look forward to traveling to Congo in the summer of 2007.

As you seek to understand some of the rationale behind this very difficult decision, please consider some of the following:

The initial budget of nearly $25,000 represented almost a third of the anticipated budget for spending on all of Bethel missions. The team considered whether it was wise to spend that kind of money on a two-week trip in light of the very real possibility of Bethel-supported missionaries needing to leave their work to raise support. Once the final numbers were in, the team's budget actually represented more than half of the amount ultimately approved for missions spending this year.
Airfare rose from the budgeted $1,500 to over $1,800 per ticket before we were able to consider the above situation, and at this point is well over $2,500 per ticket.
Because of the leadership's focus on some very complex issues at Bethel during the first part of the year, we were not able to put the kind of attention needed toward preparing this team. In addition, we were not comfortable beginning to raise support or spending large amounts of money during that period of great uncertainty, which delayed the process significantly.
Also due to the church family issues that took our attention, and other scheduling issues, we had to adjust our calendar, which put us behind in the training process.
During the course of the meetings, several team issues became apparent to the leaders which needed to be ironed out before we could really begin to function as Philippians 2:1-4 would indicate.
The state exams in Congo have been delayed due to the upcoming elections, which means that many of the students we wanted to minister to would not have been available during the time frame we originally laid out.

No single factor was the ultimate deal-breaker, but when all things were considered, we believed it would be wiser to delay a year. During this time, we want to continue to build the team unity, learn more language, get a clearer picture of the mission God has for us in Congo, and seek creative ways to raise the financial support necessary. Also during that time, Russell and Alex will be pursuing a scouting trip to get a first-hand perspective and gain valuable experience for the ongoing training process.

We hope that you have confidence first and foremost in the sovereignty of God, but also in the leadership that He has placed in our body, and that you will continue to support the new direction for the Congo team. We also would like to improve our communication with the parents of the team members, and greatly desire your input as we move forward. If you have any questions about the decision-making process, the current state, or the future plans for the Congo team, please do not hesitate to contact Russell or Alex.

The next team meeting will be Sunday May 21st for lunch after church.

Team Retreat Details

2006-04-02T18:30:00.000-04:00

We are going to the Reids' beach house near the Indian River Inlet.
We will leave the parking lot after the Good Friday Service, at the church from 12-3 PM.
We encourage you and your family to attend whatever portion of this service you can.
We will return to the church Saturday by 6 PM, and would like you to join us for dinner.

You need to bring with you:

Your Bible
Your Congo notebook
Something to write with
A journal to write in (if you don't have one you like, let me know)
Enough money to get fast food dinner on the way down
Enough money to go to dinner (if you can) near the church with the team when we get back
Something modest to sleep in (just in case you run into someone in the middle of the night)
Something comfy to sleep on like a sleeping bag, blanket or pillow
Only one change of clothes for Saturday (if you are dressed for church you can change into something more casual after the service and send the extra clothes home or leave them at church)
A spare pair of sturdy shoes with closed toes ("thongs" are OK for travel and meetings)
A towel
Only the bare essentials for getting ready (a bar of soap, a toothbrush, and a stick of deodorant should do it)
Your "testimony"
A two minute presentation of "the gospel"
A working knowledge of the Swahili vocabulary list you were given
The permission slip (that you can download on the right ->)

Testimony vs. Witness

2006-03-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

Don't forget that for the April 02 meeting we'd like each member to be prepared to share a brief testimony (an assertion offering firsthand authentication of a fact; something that serves as evidence) and also how you would share the gospel with someone. The question has been raised about whether you need something formal and typed up, and that would not be required as long as you have something prepared to share.

To Apply for a U.S. Passport

2006-03-12T18:30:00.000-05:00

You MUST:

Provide Application for Passport, Form DS-11
Click here to download an application form.
Or, forms can be obtained from any passport agency or acceptance facility. (Call to check hours of availability.)
NOTE: Please do NOT sign the DS-11 application form until the Passport Acceptance Agent instructs you to do so.
Present Proof of U.S. Citizenship
You may prove U.S. Citizenship with any one of the following:
- Previous U.S. Passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as evidence of U.S. citizenship.)
- Certified birth certificate issued by the city, county or state
  NOTE: A certified birth certificate has a registrar's raised, embossed, impressed or multicolored seal, registrar’s signature, and the date the certificate was filed with the registrar's office, which must be within 1 year of your birth
  A Delayed Birth Certificate filed more than one year after your birth may be acceptable if it:
  - Listed the documentation used to create it and
  - Signed by the attending physician or midwife, or, lists an affidavit signed by the parents, or shows early public records.

Letter of No Record
Issued by the State with your name, date of birth, which years were searched for a birth record and that there is no birth certificate on file for you.

as many of the following as possible:
- Baptismal certificate
- Hospital birth certificate
- Census record
- Early school record
- Family bible record
- Doctor's record of post-natal care
NOTES: These documents must be early public records showing the date and place of birth, preferably created within the first five years of your life. You may also submit an Affidavit of Birth, form DS-10, from an older blood relative, i.e., a parent, aunt, uncle, sibling, who has personal knowledge of your birth. It must be notarized or have the seal and signature of the acceptance agent.

Present Proof of Identity
You may prove your identity with any one of these, if you are recognizable:
- Previous U.S. passport (mutilated, altered, or damaged passports are not acceptable as proof of identity.)
- Current, valid Driver's license
NOTE: Your Social Security Card does NOT prove your identity.
FOR MINORS UNDER THE AGE OF 14:
Each minor child shall appear in person. Both parents or legal guardians must present evidence of identity when they apply for a minor under the age of 14. Read more information on the identity requirements for minors under the age of 14.
FOR MINORS 14 to 17:
Your child MUST appear in person.
For security reasons, parental consent may be requested. If your child does not have identification of his/her own, you need to accompany your child, present identification and co-sign the application.

Provide Two Passport Photos
Your photographs must be:
- 2x2 inches in size
- Identical
- Taken within the past 6 months, showing current appearance
- Color
- Full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background
- Between 1 inch and 1 3/8 inches from the bottom of the chin to the top of the head
- Taken in normal street attire
  - Uniforms should not be worn in photographs except religious attire that is worn daily.
  - Do not wear a hat or headgear that obscures the hair or hairline.
  - If you normally wear prescription glasses, a hearing device, wig or similar articles, they should be worn for your picture.
  - Dark glasses or nonprescription glasses with tinted lenses are not acceptable unless you need them for medical reasons. A medical certificate may be required.
Click here for information on acceptable digitized photos.
Pay the Applicable Fee
Click here to see passport fees.
You can submit your application and fee at one of the 13 Passport Agencies or at one of over 7,000 Passport Acceptance Facilities
NOTE: When applying at one of the designated application acceptance facilities in the U.S., you pay the application processing fee to the “U.S. Department of State” and the execution fee to the facility where you are applying. When applying at a Regional Passport Agency, both fees are combined into one payment to the “U.S. Department of State.”

Provide a Social Security Number
If you do not provide your Social Security Number, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a $500 penalty. If you have any questions please call your nearest IRS office.

Map of the Democratic Republic of Congo

2006-03-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

Flag of the Democratic Republic of Congo

2006-02-26T18:30:00.000-05:00

Philippians 2

2006-02-05T18:30:00.000-05:00

1 Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion,

2 make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

3 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;

4 do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,

6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,

7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.

8 Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

9 For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name,

10 so that at the name of Jesus EVERY KNEE WILL BOW, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

11 and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

12 So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling;

13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing;

15 so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world,

16 holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

17 But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.

18 You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way and share your joy with me.

Team Expectations

2006-01-29T18:30:00.000-05:00

Attend all team meetings and events (Heb 10:25)

Be above reproach (Matt 5:16)

Commit to assignments and follow through (James 5:12)

Do everything without grumbling or complaining (Phil 2:14)

Encourage and build up one another (Eph 4:29)

Focus on others (Phil 2:3-4)

Guard your heart (Prov 4:23)

Hold Scripture in the highest regard (2 Tim 2:15)

Involve yourself in church ministry (Rom 12:4-8)

Join with someone in accountability (Prov 27:17)

Basic Timeline of Events

2006-01-22T18:30:00.000-05:00

DATE	MEETING AGENDA	ASSIGNMENTS DUE
Sunday, January 15	Welcome to the Team	Every meeting: Bible, Notebook, Pen
Sunday, February 5	Support Raising 101	$100, completed medical form
Sunday, February 19	What's My Line?	potential supporter list, draft of support letter
Sunday, March 5	Building a Winning Team I	$100, addressed & stamped envelopes
Sunday, March 19	Building a Winning Team II	passport application submitted
Sunday, April 2	We're Not in Kansas Any More!	$100, testimony / gospel presentation
Friday-Saturday, April 14-15	Please Don't Send Me to Africa RETREAT	parental permission & power of attorney *NOTARIZED*
Sunday, May 7	Details, Details, Details	$100
Sunday, May 21	Are We There Yet?
Sunday, June 4	Countdown to Liftoff	$100
Sunday, June 18	Family Prayer and Commissioning
Wednesday, June 28	Depart for Entebbe, Uganda
Monday-Friday, July 3-7	English Bible Camp in Bunia, Dem Rep of Congo
Thursday, July 13	Return to US
Sunday, July 30	Report to Church and Supporters

Welcome to the Blog

2006-01-15T18:30:00.000-05:00

This is designed to be an interactive forum and information exchange for the members, leaders, families, supporters and friends of the team preparing for the summer missions trip to Congo. Feel free to obtain a blogger ID for posting your own comments, or if you choose to use the anonymous posting capability, please identify yourself appropriately. Comments should be germaine to the purpose of our team and should adhere to the guidelines established at the intitial team meeting.