There have been some good things and bad things about the Congo. Most of their roads remind me of the first year that I was in Kenya and Tanzania – they are not very good. But while the roads in Kenya and Tanzania have improved immensely over the past three years, the roads here are mostly still in poor condition. Part of this may be due to the fact that it was torn by war for many years, setting them back in many ways. As a result, everything is very expensive here. Food, transport, lodging – everything. It is not just a lot compared the other African countries, it is even greater than what it would cost in the US! At first they were charging us $90 a night for our rooms at the hotel. Beginning today Todd and I convinced the hotel to let us share a room, but it is still $135 a night. The food has been more expensive than it would be in the states as well. On the positive side, they keep their streets fairly clean, and there always seems to be someone washing their car when we leave in the morning. One of the nicest things about our stay in the Congo has been the internet service. We have had wireless internet service here at our hotel, so we are able to correspond regularly with home. That has been really nice (although we expect it with our $135 room!).
Well, today we visited two congregations of the CCLC. First, we visited the congregation in Kipushi. The congregation was singing when we arrived and we were ushered into the front of the church. Pastor Kitombe led the service which consisted of hymns by the congregation and by adult and children’s choirs; liturgical responses; scripture readings, and a concluding benediction.
Todd preaching on the Lost Son at Kipushi along with Mark, our translator.
They asked Todd to preach, and he preached on excellent sermon on the parable of the lost son from Luke 15. After the service we were invited over to the pastor’s house where they provided lunch for us. We enjoyed the rice and sauce (which they call “soup”) and were glad we didn’t have to eat the fish! Check out Todd’s blog at http://www.2010clceastafricavisit.blogspot.com/ for a description and picture.
After settling some problems with our transportation (our van had been in an accident before getting us in the morning, and had to have its real window replaced) we made a two hour journey to the south east to the border city of Kasumbalsa. This growing city sits on the border of DRC and Zambia and serves as a major trade route all the way to South Africa. As a result it is an opportune place for small congregation to be. We met the congregation in a “suburb” named Wisky, at a temporary structure that looked like a pole building with no skin on it. They had thatch on half the roof, but a tarp cover only half of the other side of the roof. There were no walls on any side. Here we were introduced by Pastor Yumba, and I was asked to give a devotion. I used the account of Naaman and the slave girl and emphasized our sin, God’s grace and our ability to serve in His kingdom no matter how insignificant we may be. It was exciting to see the opportunities that this congregation has before it in this small but rapidly growing village.
A picture of the temporary building we met at in Wisky near the border of Zambia.
After visiting the planned site for their permanent church, we were taken on a field trip to the border of Zambia. We actually crossed over the Congolese border, through “no man’s land” and into the Zambia border office. We weren’t able to officially cross into Zambia, but Todd and I did step across the part of the border building that set within Zambia, just so we could say that we had been there! We were not allowed to take pictures, otherwise I’d post one for all of you to see!
From there we made the long two and a half hour trip back to Lubumbashi as a brilliant red sun set to the West. It was after 8:00pm when we finally returned to the hotel, but it had been another enjoyable day. We thank the Lord for these faithful men who are so eager to serve their Lord by proclaiming the gift of salvation in the person and work of Jesus Christ!
In His service,
Nathanael
“The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream; And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the LORD. – Jeremiah 23:28
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