The Third 1/3 of A Day with Rod

Yes, that is the Youth Pastor making that face so I guess that excuses him.

This is going to be mostly pictures because when you fly in a Cessna 206 you really can't hear much but you see a lot!

I love the windsocks next to the airstrip.  It was a calm day.

While loading into the plane, Rita offered me some of her fresh lemons from her tree which sounded delicious.  She ran to her nearby tree and picked four for me to add to my purse.  I had also purchased some onions from one of the tables in the market with a 1,000 franc Congolese.

Don Hamsher got to fly beside the pilot this time.  Nicole and I were in the back again.  Rod had given us ear plugs to help with the noise from engine.  

Good-bye Wamba River

The plane is so loud you rarely ask the pilot where you are.

As we come over the plateau toward Kinshasa there is a lot of swamp land.

The famous Cite de Fleuve where the rich get richer

Landing at Ndolo Airport

When you sit in the back of the 206 you can always look back and see where you came from.

Trying to stay in the shade of the plane.

As soon as we landed the mechanics got to work on a scheduled inspection.

The best way to end a day spent with your husband: Barbequed chicken done by somebody else.

If you would like to see the rest of this day you can click on the two links below for the first 2/3 of the day:

Rod Sharing His Job for the Day: The First 1/3 

A Day with Rod: The Second 1/3 

A Day with Rod! (second third)

This is a continuation from the last post.  Rita and Glen Chapman had welcomed us in their home in Kikongo and then Rita began showing us around the mission/village.  From the Pastoral School we went to visit the local church.  This mission is ran by the American Baptists and Rita's grandfather had built the church.  It is over 50 years old and still standing strong.  Inside the church we were impressed that this man, who was not an architect or contractor had designed and built such a practical and worshipful building.The foundation was built on a slope so that everyone in the church can see the pastor. The glassless windows give light throughout the church and the high ceilings help circulate air in the tropical heat.  Rita and her mom had made the Easter wall hanging that hung behind the pulpit.  A visiting pastor had donated cloth to cover the walls in the front of the church and Rita had added some applique to give a sunbeam look.
 I had visited Kikongo a couple of years ago and enjoyed visiting a ladies meeting in this same church. 
From the church we moved on down the path which was quite "innocent of pavement" to the hospital.

This hospital was a part of a plan that Dr. Dan Fountain came up with.  The hospital is the center of many outlying clinics with nurses who could refer patience to the hospital if their needs are greater than the clinic can handle.  Glen met up with us here.  They shared that the hospital should have been crawling with patience but there are doctors from Kinshasa who have been going out to the villages and giving illegal operations to people in very unsterilized environments. They can make extra money this way and the patience don't have to leave home.  Unfortunately there is no one to give post operation care nor to make sure infections don't set in.  I thought of writing a blog titled "Operations for Sale: Real Cheap" but decided to just give the story here instead.
One huge blessing that the hospital has is running water.  A pump was donated to the hospital so that water comes to these outside faucets.  

The Nursing School

The Kigongo Hospital is also a training hospital.  Several years ago a western government donated money to build a new hospital.  Before everything was completed the money was cut off.  So the nursing students meet in the old hospital.  I would say these are some VERY determined students to continue to meet in these conditions.

The Hospital Kitchen

At the back of the hospital is a cooking area.  Food is not provided by the hospital so a family member comes along and does all the cooking.  Sometimes the whole family comes along.  Some patience stay in the hospital for months at a time.  This means that gardens don't get planted at home and all reserves if there are any are used up. One 17 year old boy has been in the hospital for months.  He had typhoid and was down to 17 kilograms or about 38 pounds.  He is now up to 30 kilograms and gaining. Rita has been getting eggs sent in from Kinshasa to help his nutritional level. 
A great blessing happened on the day we toured, the wife of one of the Bible School Students gave birth to twins.  Both were over 2 kilograms or close to 5 pounds.  It was very exciting news to all.

After the hospital we walked to the market.  The first store we stopped at we had to sit and look for awhile there were so many things on the shelves.  Don Hamsher looked for something from America.  We didn't find any American made products but we did find some superglue. Rita says she comes to the market very rarely but has friends who might stop and buy things for her as they come to and from work.

Just a cute baby monkey outside the store.

 There was also an open market to buy fruits and vegetables.  We could purchase things like salt, onions, dried fish, oranges, manioch greens, peanuts etc. 

 The people were a little embarrassed that we would take pictures of their straw roof because they felt like they were in such bad shape.  But on top of the roof we found that they were drying mushrooms which seemed to be in season.  There were also dried caterpillars.  I almost bought some to try but I thought our guests might go into too extreme a culture shock on their first day.

Behind Glen and Rita's house is a little hangar where Glen keeps his Powered Parachute (PPC).  He uses this to fly to other villages and show the Jesus Film.  Each village has built a soccer field so he simply looks for the soccer field and lands his PPC on it and then shows the Jesus Film.  Since we were there in the middle of the day and winds are rather unpredictable except in the morning or evening we just enjoyed sitting in it.  I believe Glen was planning to go out and show the film that evening.













 On Glen and Rita's front porch we found triplets waiting for us.  Dorcus, Esther and Ruth are very fond of Rod, the pilot.  Several years ago, Dorcus has a severe case of malaria and was going to die.  Rod was flying through the area and Glen contacted him and asked if he could find room for her on the flight to Vanga where there is a larger hospital with more
doctors.  God orchestrated the situation and Rod got to be a part of rescuing this young girl.  Very often triplets do not make it in Congo because of poor medical facilities and low nutrition.  These triplets are a miracle. 
                                                                            As we loaded on the plane, I looked back and laughed at the sign posted outside of Glen and Rita's house. The sign says, "Koboma yango te," which means, "Don't kill it."  There is a picture of an otter on this sign. Glen and Rita's main message to the people is the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. They live among the people and seek to be Jesus among them and show them how to live where they are which includes taking care of the unique plants and creatures around them.    

For the other 2/3 of this day you can click on the links below

Rod Sharing His Job for a Day: The First 1/3
The Third 1/3 of Rod's Day

Rod Sharing His Job for a Day

While our pastoral team was here last week, we got to go on a flight with Rod.  Actually he was flying for us that day and not doing regular flying but it helped us to see a little more of what his work is like.  It began with our normal routine of waking at 5:00 a.m. and I made breakfast as usual.  I didn't have to make lunches because we would be back by noon and could eat at the hanger. 



So I found out that when Rod walks out the door he actually goes and stands or sits in front of our neighbor's house to wait for the MAF van or whatever vehicle will pick him up.  Our neighbor is our manager.  Nick is with Rod in this picture and he was also doing a flight that day in the Cessna 182. 
 We rode in the newest MAF van which to me is always a treat because it has air-conditioning.  David Francis was our chauffeur. He is also a pilot but was doing maintenance that day. 
Driving through the streets of Kinshasa can often mean a traffic jam.  The pilots and mechanics try to leave before 6:30 a.m. to be sure to avoid heavy traffic.  We were glad to be able to drive straight through with no stopping.

Bright-eyed and Bushy Tailed

When we got to the air-port I went to the MAF office and waited for our pastors.  Rod went with the other pilots and mechanics to the hangar to prepare for the flights for the day.  Our MAF workers were busy getting passengers ready by weighing our luggage and bodies. Our pastors and wives showed up in the office and we all had our turns on the scales.  We all made sure we held on to our heavy purses and back packs so nobody could tell our true weight.  From there we went to the reception area of the airport.  We had to show our passports because everyone shows their passports no matter whether you are traveling in country or out. I was questioned as to why the pastors had tourist visas when they were pastors.  I guess you are not supposed to be a tourist if you are pastor.  We also had to buy a Go Pass which is a tax to improve the airport. We were then ushered into a waiting area which is a rather nice place.  From there, Maya, our MAF hangar worker, picked us up in the MAF van with air-conditioning.

Pastor Beau was Co-pilot on the way out.

We got to the MAF hangar and Nick was already taking off.  It was only a few minutes before we were ready to go too but it was great opportunity to get pictures at the airport.
 Once in the airplane we waited for Rod to complete his pre-flight checklist.  I was very anxious for him to get in and get the plane started.  It is amazing how that propeller can cool you off.                 

Kinshasa from the air, at least a part of Kinshasa

Kikongo Fishing ponds

The Wamba River next to Kikongo

It took a little over an hour to fly to Kikongo.  As we flew we saw many fields that were growing manioc which is a staple for the Congolese people throughout the country. There were also plantations of palm trees that produce palm nuts. The many miles between were full of savannah grass. When we arrived over Kikongo we circled over the river then came in for a landing. We could also see the fish ponds, the seminary and the hospital from the air.                                                                                                                                                                 

Pastor Beau enjoying taking pictures of the kids

 On the ground we were greeted by village children.  The plane landing is a very exiting event in Kikongo.  We surprised the Chapmans with our visit since our flight had only been officially planned the night before and Glen and Rita do not check their e-mail until the afternoon everyday.  They still welcomed us with open arms and provided fresh squeezed tangerine juice.  Rita then gave us a tour of the mission station.

First we went to her back yard where the children watched us through a chain link fence while we looked at Rita's managery.  She usually has quite few animals in her yard.  This time there was Bill the Bird, a blue diker, rabbits and chickens.  She doesn't have any crocodiles right now. She does have a Congo Clawless Otter but he had escape in the night.  Apparently he comes back every evening and routinely escapes to the forest to sleep in the early morning hours.
 

A diker is small antelope.

At the pastoral school.  Rita gave us umbrellas for shade.

 Rita then showed us the Pastoral School that she and Glen teach at.  School was on break for the week therefore Rita and Glen had time for surprise visitors.

I will try to post a second post soon to give more on the visit. I am finding posting pictures can get frustrating.

The children had collected cans and were pretend cooking.

Don Hamsher modeling the newly built outhouse

To see the other parts of the day, you can go to the links below.

Rod's Second Third of His Day

The Third of a Day with Rod

Throw Them Away?

I was focusing on the little girl to the right and my camera didn't move.

Last week we had the honor of having two of our pastors from Ohio come and visit us.  We also got to show them around Kinshasa and even the village of Kikongo in Bandundu Province.  During our touring we took them to a couple of children homes.  I usually go to a Catholic home just outside of town to visit orphans, Kibondo orphanage, but we chose to take them to two other homes right within the city.  The first one we visited is run by two missionaries.  They have delegated overseeing the home to Papa Nono.  There are about 15 boys who live there right now.  Each one has a different story but for some reason, their parents can’t or won’t take care of them and they have found their way to Elikia (Hope).  Here they are given a bunk to sleep on, no mattress, but with a mosquito net.  They also receive at least two meals a day.  This seems very harsh but it is so much better than being on the street and not knowing when you will get another bite to eat.  Along with this they also have their school fees paid.  Also this home wants to be sure that each boy is taught about Jesus and what it means to follow Him.

This little deaf boy, Giovani stole my heart.

Papa Nono does not stop there with his child care.  He also had five other children with him that he is caring for in his own home, three girls and two boys.  These children have been approved for adoption.  They are true orphans.  As I looked at them I could see that they had some nutritional problems, that red hair was not genetic.  So I asked what they had been eating.  They get plenty of fufu  (manioc roots) but very little protein. Fufu is not known for its nutritional value but it does make people feel full.  It sounded like they would get some greens too but I doubt that it was often enough.  So I stored in my brain, “These children need some beans right now”.

Lydia and Papa Nono with 3 of 44 children at the home. 

Lunch or dinner?  They got greens with their fufu!

Papa Nono has also begun a separate childrens’ home, Ma Famille. This home was started because the Congolese Government was looking for people to open their homes to more children from off the streets.  Papa Nono kept expressing that these children had been “kobwaka” or “thrown away”.  I use this word for my trash or old wash water every day.  Papa Nono has a team of people who go out and look for children who are living on the streets.  They bring them to the home, and from there they look for the children’s families and ask why they were thrown away.   Their hope is to either return them to their home or to find new homes for these children.  Since they are just starting up, the adoption process is just beginning.  Right now Papa Nono says he has 12 children available for adoption from Ma Famille.  While I am excited for this new ministry, I also move with caution. There are many adoptions happening here in Congo but it is extremely important that all is legal both here in Congo and in the adopting country.  Some families actually do adopt here but there is a large amount of international adoptions happening.  It is too easy for parents to “kobwaka” their child thinking they will get a good education in America or Europe but still be their child.  I appreciate that the U.S. Embassy is beginning  to investigate to be sure that each of these children are adoptable. 

A recent verse I have been studying is James 1:27 “Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress and keep ourselves unstained by the world.”  Does one visit to them give us the check mark that we need to fulfill this verse?  What does this mean for the country of Congo which is considered “Christian” on the statistics charts?  How do we as Christians  live this?  Where should we start?  I am not going to answer this but I will keep asking and praying.  I am asking what God wants me to do next.  I am asking for God to change the hearts in this country, that the father's would turn their hearts to their children and practice Deuteronomy 6: 4-7. I am asking that God will provide for these children one by one as individuals and not as a mass.