Bonjour... Jambo... Muli buti... Hello...

However you put it (French, Swahili, Tonga, etc), it still brings a smile to the face of the person understanding its meaning.

The trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo was interesting. Allow me to sum up the experience:

There were 2704km driven, 12 police checks, 8 churches visited, 7 team members, 6 nights stayed, 6 tolls paid, 4 languages spoken, 4 feasts eaten, 2 "tips" paid and 1 "speeding fine", 1 driver (me), meetings with national church leaders, countless pictures taken, lots of fellowship, and many friends made. All in all the trip was a success!

The Congolese church was excited for our visit and we were just as excited. We were thankful for their company while traveling, honoured with a gift of raw copper a church member had found while digging, humbled by the hospitality of the Congolese church, encouraged by their part in Kingdom work, and in wonder by how we saw God work.

A few of the churches we visited were very rural. We stopped on the side of the road between cities and towns to make a brief visit to a church a little ways away. We were told our purpose for those stops was to encourage the church by showing them that they are part of an international family of believers and that it was not just isolated in the DRC.

During our meetings, the church leaders expressed their need: being with the Wesleyan church for only 15 years, there is a large need for trained pastors, leaders, and lay leaders. Pray that God would raise up people who can help train others for the church in the DRC.

We had many problems with customs officers and police, but God got us through and safely home. On our way back from the farthest point in our journey, we were having a particularly hard time at one police check point. The officer took my license and vehicle papers and walked off. By then we were in the habit of praying while our Congolese team mates talked with the police, but this man refused to let us through. We sat there for close to an hour, while the police officer went on stopping other vehicles, when a mini bus slowed down and a man shouted from the bus to the officer asking why he was bothering us, that we were from the church, and that he should let us go. The bus drove off and the officer returned our papers and we were back on the road. A little ways down the road was a toll and another police check. We paid the toll and proceeded without any trouble from the police. On the other side was that man from the bus, standing on the side of the road waving and smiling at us.

No one knew who he was, but he was definately a blessing from God. From that point on we had a smooth journey with no police stops. We returned home weary, but rejoicing and thanking God for the trip. Thank you for your prayers while we traveled!!

Merci beaucoup! Asanti sana! Twalumba kapati! Thank you very much!