A "Normal" Day in the Life of a Missionary Wife

“Small things may be where He [chooses] to leave us because we’d crumble under the weight of something bigger. But small things are just as important to God as the big things.” (http://stephanieshott.com/2013/05/do-you-despise-small-things/)

This blog was written last week, so the actual day I am talking about is Wednesday, May 16. Yesterday was one of those full days. I woke at 5:30 a.m. since I didn’t hear Rod’s alarm at 5 a.m.

  We have been able to find sales on cereal lately bringing a box down to less than $6 so we have enjoyed that luxury for a while.   I made lunches and Rod got the bowls out for breakfast.
  Once Rod was out the door by 6:30 a.m. I wanted to have some quiet time.  I set the timer to force myself to focus.  By 7 a.m. I  hadn’t checked e-mail or Facebook and there would be no connections for the day while I was at work so I took my fifteen minutes to indulge.  Lydia was chomping at the bit and wanted to get to school quickly to talk to a teacher about making up a test and to turn in a science project.  I wanted to return camping equipment to the mission guest house on the way.  Well Lydia won the argument and we got her to school early. 

Arman working on a Square Tile Puzzle!

After I dropped her off I took the first period of school to exercise.  Since the classes are shorter on Wednesday I cut my walk and exercise time to 40 minutes.

I got to class on time and my student wasn’t there but the French teacher next door had just had him in class, so he must have had to go to his locker. He arrived thinking he should be grumpy for the day.  Victory was mine because by the end of the first block we were laughing and enjoying each others company and learning about bar graphs. 

His tutor who also teaches him English and math hadn’t show up by the normal time so I checked to see if he had texted (is that really a verb now?) me.  I discovered that my phone was missing.  I decided to blame that on being rushed out the door even though I tend to forget my phone around 20% of the time anyway. . I guess that isn’t a very godly attitude, is it?   Rod says I forget it more often than that. Christian, the tutor, did show up about 10 minutes late but my student and I were going strong so we continued on.Christian's son was sick and they had to take him to the hospital.

We had a break in class to do a photo session

For lunch I chose to stay in my classroom since we decided I would teach the rest of the day to make up for a day I missed when I was at the retreat three weeks ago.  Lunch went fairly quickly but I was able to get word forms set up, square tile puzzles and the math meeting strip ready as well as eat a tuna sandwich and play a game on the computer to rest my brain for a moment. Arman returned with a great attitude and we had a great afternoon.

Lydia ended up taking her test after school so J. D. and I hung out.  I talked with another teacher for a while so by the time I got back to my truck and realized the camping equipment was still in it, it was five minutes until it was time for us to go.  I quickly drove to the MPH guest house  and dropped off the camping equipment. I left the equipment by the manager’s apartment door inside the building.  I met up with J.D. and Lydia just in time.  On the way home I remembered I needed hamburger for supper.  So after dropping J.D. off I ran to the grocery store and picked up enough meat so I would not run out again soon. 

Ammielle and Acharchelle: The Bloggers

We drove into the driveway to find my twin students and their sister sitting on the front porch.  I had confused them on our meeting time and they had arrived 1/2 and hour earlier than I expected.  I unloaded all the “stuff” included groceries quickly, and we began our  learning therapy session for the day.  Acharchelle did a blog and Ammielle did regular therapy.  You can read their blogs here: http://brooklyntwinsincongo.blogspot.com/.  During the session Rod arrived and stepped in to say hi and began his exercise routine for the day. When the twins and I were finished I went to the kitchen and began making Enchiladas. 

 Pete and Cindy Ekstrand were coming from Gemena and would stay the night with us before going on to the US for a year of furlough.  We also invited our neighbor to join us since her husband was away.  Lydia helped me out by mixing up some brownies for dessert and I was very happy to have plenty of vegetables for the salad.  We discovered that the bell peppers were not bell peppers when Lydia snatched one on the way by.  Her lips and tongue started burning immediately.  So I need to make myself an omelet sometime with some hot peppers in it. 

It is always fun to have friends from up country or out in the bush of Congo over for supper.  We get reports on how the other missionaries are doing and how the church is doing.  We also hear about “new” mission strategies and what is being done to encourage the church or help that is being given to try to boost the economic situation.  The Ekstrands were excited about a recent trip to Kenya to encourage several African Churches that are all connected in some way to the efforts of the Swedish Covenant Church.  The long history of outreach and church planting was interesting and exciting.  The purpose of the conference was to help people in the church to see Biblical Truth vs Cultural Traditions. 

After our visit my eyes were ready to close, so we all caught up a little on correspondence via computer.  Then we were all very happy to go to bed. 

Retreat, Retreat

Our second night of worship with Glen!

Sunday Morning worship with a very innovative drum set.

I just spent the last two weekends with the Youth in our church here in Congo, The International Protestant Church of Kinshasa (IPCK).  I feel privileged that I get to be involved in their lives and enjoy these times with them.  The High School had a desire to go beyond just having a retreat and actually doing more of a mission outreach.  One of the High School students took this on as her project saying that she felt a little jealous of the students in America who get to go on short term mission trips.  So she asked Mission Aviation Fellowship if there was a way that we could charter the plane for a weekend and take a trip to a mission station in the interior of Congo and mingle with the people that live there.  What was amazing was how this was the students' vision and they did most of the planning.  There were many complications and delays but we were finally able to make this mission trip as I shared in my last blog.
Glen Chapman, the missionary at Kikongo was our speaker and he shared with us the theme, "Light to the Nations".  The first speaking opportunity was to take us at night down a dark path that led to a hut by the river.  He shared the contrast of cultures.  The obvious clash in cultures is between Western thought and African thought. But there is also the clash between Christian thought and the World's thought.  We are a light in the darkness to those who do not know Jesus.

Meeting the Delegation from the Village on the other side.

I loved the way he shared how we can reach out to others and our ministries become a safe haven to others.  Kikongo was built out of the African jungle but is becoming a settlement where people can go for safety.  He gave us a LOT of food for thought during those very quick three days. 

We also had opportunities to reach out to the community around us in Kikongo although I felt often that they were reaching out to us.  There is a pastoral school  and a hospital and the people there know how to serve God in a very difficult time and place.
 It wasn't all work though, we had time to go swimming in the river and hiking on the other side of the river to a falls where we met the chief and others from the village on that side of the river.

The Streets near my own home in Kinshasa.

The second retreat I was involved in was with the Middle School Retreat which had the theme of "Outreach".  Jean Senga was our speaker and he spoke on reaching out to others in love.  One thing that really stuck with us is that if we do any kind of ministry or great sacrifice but do not have love we are like a clanging cymbal or noisy gong. I Corinthians 13
After a night of heavy rains in our tents we got up to make sandwiches for the traffic police at one station here in our neighborhood.  Traffic police are not well loved here in Kinshasa so we were all reaching beyond our comfort zone.  Jean had emphasized that loving usually costs us something.  We were going beyond those that we found easy to love and reaching out to those beyond.

Jean's son, Micah leading and teaching Sunday School

On Sunday Morning we visited Jean Senga's church, Source de Vie (Source of Life).  One of our students, Sam, dressed in a Lion Costume and he and a couple other boys rode in a truck around the neighborhood to invite children to Sunday School.  Our students also were able to share through singing during the service.

Our Middle School Team with Leo the Lion of Judah (Sam)

That morning I was doing my normal Bible Study but the passage became very real to me.  It spoke of the people gathering for the feast of booths and living in tents for one week out of the year.  I felt very much like I was living that study.  Then it also spoke of them opening the scriptures and translating it into different languages so they could all understand.  During the church service Jean spoke in French and had a Lingala translator and then Deborah, Jean's wife stood up and translated that into English.  I don't know why but God wanted me to live the Feast of Booths over this time.  I love it when God orchestrates living lessons for me.

Bucket Lists

Every since I watched the movie "Bucket List" I have thought I should make one.  Then as I was studying my Bible one day I felt convicted about the goals I was making in my life.  When we make bucket lists, suddenly the goal becomes to save money or all resources to fulfill that bucket list.  Do we ask, "Is this what God has for me?"  I see mountain climbers and sky divers who work jobs until they have money to conquer the next mountain or the next dive and then they are off again to add another feat to their list.  Is this the way God wants us to use our talents?  Possibly it is for some believers out there.  For me I have been convicted that God wants me to follow Psalm 37: 4 "Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart."
This past weekend I was asked to join our High School Youth on a retreat/mission trip to Kikongo village.  There we experienced the village life to a certain extent (I shelled peanuts and pounded pondu), petted a duiker and held bunnies, worshiped with the Congolese people, hiked the trails both night and day, swam in the river, and listened to great teaching from Glen Chapman.  If I had a bucket list, I would put that on it.  But I don't and God gave me the desire of my heart. I love visiting Kikongo and Rita's menagerie and seeing the Congolese people from the Bible school who have a heart for God.  I love floating down the river on my back and realizing what beautiful scenery is passing me by or I am passing by or grabbing branches of overhanging trees so I can stop and look around for a moment longer.  When I set goals for this year, was this on my list?  No, but God put the desire in my heart to work with youth and God put the desire in their hearts to do a mission trip to Kikongo.  I got the blessings from all three desires.
This is not the only time I have been blessed so much.  I watched the movie "Up" and feel guilty because I married the right man, went on an adventure with him, had children and continue to have adventures. That poor couple didn't get any of those things except the house.
I want to praise God for His great blessing in my life and the great adventures He has given me!

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

Animals of the Congo

Glen and Rita's Turaco
Photo by Marilyn Gorenflo

Our first years in Congo were spent in the Ubangi which is in the northwest corner of the Democratic Republic of Congo.  There were many groups of people in that area.  The largest people group is the Ngbaka people.  They are known for being great hunters.  Therefore, we rarely saw wild animals around.  What we did see were baby animals after the mom’s were shot the hunters were capture the baby and bring it to the “white” people to sell to make some money.  Now I am not the a very good pet person in the world so I was not out to start a menagerie. The variety that came to our doorstep was amazing over the four years we were there.  We saw a pangolin, a dik-dik, a beautiful baby owl, a crocodile, a Cayman, and various other animals. 

Diker, we had one for a pet for a while

Bonobos at their best!

Since we moved to Kinshasa we are definitely living the city life but we have had some occasional interesting visits with animals.  Just outside of Kinshasa is "Lola ya Bonobo" (Bonobo Heaven).  Bonobos are the pygmy chimpanzees and many scientists say they are closest related to humans.  After visiting them I would like to put a disclaimer on any relationship there.They are endangered here in Congo and so a group began an orphanage that has grown over the years.  The Bonobo have an enclosed area that is very much their natural habitat but they can be observed, protected and cared for if they are sick.

The hippo is on the sand bar to the right of us.

 Another group of interesting animals we have visited are the hippos out in Vanga, where Lydia was born.  They roam up and down the river close to the mission station.  One day we were going for a swim in the river and our guide decided to show us the hippos first.   We paddled down river to a sand bar next to an island.  We saw a papa, mama and baby hippo.  Then our guide said, “You can swim here.”  Being from the city, I looked at my local missionary and he didn’t say anything so we cautiously proceeded to enjoy the water.  I kept my eye on the papa hippo that was standing on the far side of the sandbar.  The mama and baby had gone for a swim on the other side of him.  The whole time I had a contingency plan to grab my two kids that were with me and run for the island where people were working with machetes. 

Mazu
Photo by Marilyn Gorenflo

My favorite animal of all was Mazu, the Congo Clawless Otter.  Missionary friends, Glen and Rita Chapman, took Mazu in when she was a baby and raised her.  Rita, took Mazu to the river almost every day to swim and enjoy being an otter.  While we were visiting Mazu went swimming in the river with us.  There was a group of about eight of us and she enjoyed coming around and checking each of us out.  What surprised me was she had big teeth but loved to test our fingers with her mouth and never bit down.  Since I wore a skirt and Rita wore a skirt she occasionally mistook me for Rita in the water and would swim around my legs. 

Mazu checking out Lydia
Photo by Marilyn Gorenflo

So even though I am not an animal collector, over the years I have been able to enjoy a few of God’s beautiful creation.  God has a way of blessing us in so many directions in life.