Part 2: Encountering the Guerrillas and Gorillas
Our trip to Masisi was a great time in the Lord, doing the work God has called us to do. It was truly frontier, frontline ministry. Everywhere we went, they couldn’t imagine that a muzungu would stop and bring the Gospel. They couldn’t believe that a Westerner could care for their spiritual health and growth!
Travel in Congo can be tricky. In fact, it can be easier to predict where an ant may travel than the current travel conditions in Congo. After finishing a powerful pastors and church leaders meeting in the morning, we had a long trip ahead of us back to Goma.
After leaving the town we descended a hill to a bridge. CLOSED! We tried to pass over the bridge but many young men ages 18-30 where holding sticks and made a barricade across the bridge. Nobody could pass in either direction.
This group (now growing in numbers) were rioting because they had not received their voter identity cards for the upcoming elections. Somehow this area was skipped while yet other more remote areas had received their ID cards. Because they had not been given their ID cards they chose to block the bridge from travel for three days. Nobody would be allowed to go in and out from the region.
Our Congolese partners tried to get to the bottom of the issue. Turns out, this road block was highly political and even organized by an up starting rebel militia group. The chief of the group threatened that if anyone in the group let someone pass over the bridge that they would have to answer directly to him. (In other words, their life would be taken or they would be severely injured.)
Reasoning with the Rebels
We tried to reason with them but to no avail. Seeking a win-win solution seemed logical and almost worked. But, there would be no negotiations, they said we were stuck and there is nothing that could be done. (Rioting and preventing people from passing over the bridge wouldn’t get them their voter ID cards and everyone would be mad at them.) We even offered to pay for their transport fair to Goma and I even offered to take them personally to the office responsible for voter registration.
By now over two hours had elapsed. The tensions were escalating so we moved away from the barricade to make an assessment of what to do. Over 12 motorbikes and four vehicles had now lined up, waiting… We decided that nothing would be accomplished so we would have to return to Mweso, the previous city.
Return to Mweso
On our way back to Mweso, two International Red Cross aid vehicles passed us. Maybe they might have luck passing through we thought, so we turned around. STILL CLOSED! No luck for them, another hour passed, nothing could be done, let us return to Mweso!
Returning to Mweso, we saw a convoy of two UNHCR (an agency overseeing the internally displaced and refugees within Congo) vehicles were passing. Maybe… they might have luck passing. STILL YET REMAINING CLOSED! Yet again, no luck, no way, now how, let us return to Mweso! Another waste of an hour.
UN Peacekeepers to the Rescue
Now we are entering Mweso and off on the distance I noticed a MONUSCO convoy coming. By the vehicles I could tell it was a South African contingent. The South Africans mean business and are on the frontlines in the worst places. If they couldn’t pass then nobody could pass. Turning around, we returned to the road block. In true military fashion the SA contingent set up a perimeter on top of the hill. Locked and loaded, they drove down to the bridge from the hill top.
By now there was a convoy of eight vehicles from various aid and NGO groups. We were towards the back of the convoy so we couldn’t see all that happened. All we could see were people running from the bridge and then the convoy was moving. Well the South Africans did it. They gave a warning to move, the group declined. They clipped the wire and destroyed the road barricade. (Side note: never bring a stick to a gun fight with a highly trained infantry patrol coming back from fighting against rebels.)
Convoys are Always Better…
Five hours and eight vehicles later we were on our way back to Goma. Because of our delay it was now becoming dark. The road is not safe to travel so we were forced to spend the night in Kichanga, a city still three hours from Goma. So now a trip that was supposed to take no more than five hours would now take 21 hours.
Wow! Finally at last we arrived in Goma. Though there is instability in Congo, the risks must be assessed but the Gospel must go forth. We are empowered as the children of God to preach the message and establish His Kingdom on this earth.
Visiting the Gorillas
Congo has more than just guerrillas they also have one of the largest remaining populations of mountain gorillas. After returning back to Goma, we had an opportunity to visit the mountain gorillas. Struggling to drive five hours is difficult, even more difficult is climbing up mountains through a jungle for two hours! But, what a relief after seeing them. It is worth the struggle and difficulty to see these “gentle” giants. It was a great way to cap off our last trip to the bush! (More pictures to come of the gorillas.)
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God be with you in all you do and continue to protect and watch over you
ReplyDeleteI pray God's wisdom, provision, and protection over you all as you continue to bring the Good News to the people of the Congo! Blessings and love, brother!
ReplyDeleteAmen.....Your reward is MIGHTY! Thanks alot for responding to the lords call.jmulupi@yahoo.com
ReplyDeleteAFTER READING ON YOUR WEB SITE IT SO BROUGHT BACK MEMORIES OF MY TRIP TO EAST AFRICA WHERE I WAS CALLED OF GOD TO GO TO IN THE LATTER 90'S.
ReplyDeleteIN OUR COUNTRY I AM SADDENED THERE JUST IS NOT THE GREAT HUNGER THAT I WITNESSED ABROAD.
I FELL IN LOVE WITH THESE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEIR HEARTS WERE SO IN LOVE WITH OUR SAVIOR JESUS.
IT WAS A SHOCKING EYE OPENER BECAUSE OF THE DARKNESS ALL AROUND US BUT VERY EXITING TO BE ABLE TO PREACH AND TEACH AND SEE THE DEEP HEARTFELT RESPONSES TO THE HOLY SPIRIT AS SO MANY RECEIVED JESUS INTO THEIR LIVES TO LIVE LOVE AND LEAD THEM.
I MISS THIS AND IT DRIVES ME CONTINUALLY TO PRAY FOR THE MANY LOST IN AMERICA THE LAND OF THE FREE BUT FILLED WITH SO MANY EMPTY HEARTS UNWILLING TO SEE THE LIGHT/AS LUST OF THE FLESH AND THE PRIDE OF LIFE EVEN IN MANY OF OUR (SEEKER FRIENDLY) CHURCHES POPPING UP ON EVERY CORNER TRYING ALL THE WRONG THINGS TO APPEASE THE MASSES.
YOU MY FRIENDS IN CHRIST,YOU HAVE HEARD THE REAL CALL AND ARE THE REAL HEROES! OF THE FAITH!!
AS THESE LAST DAYS CONTINUE AS THE HOLY SPIRIT IS STILL BECKONING WITH HIS LAST BREATH OF THE HOUR FOR THOSE TO STEP OUT OF THEIR COMFORT ZONES.
I PRAY FOR THE HAND OF GOD TO BEGIN TO TOUCH MULTITUDES AS NEVER BEFORE!!
I KNOW I AM SPEAKING FOR MANY!!
WE LOVE YOU SO MUCH AND PRAY FOR A CONTINUAL SENSITIVE HEARING IN YOUR EARS FROM A GOD WHOSE SPIRIT IS SEARCHING THE WORLD OVER FOR OTHERS AS YOURSELVES WITH EARS THAT WILL HEAR HIS STILL SMALL VOICE AND GO!!
PRAYING FOR GODS HANDS TO HOVER AND KEEP YOU IN HIS ALMIGHTY SHADOW OF LOVE AS YOU CONTINUE TO SHED GODS LIGHT OF LOVE TO THE MANY WHO ARE THE HEIRS OF THIS MIRACULOUS SALVATION OF GRACE AND LOVE THROUGH THE BLOOD SHED FOR US THROUGH CHRIST JESUS!!!
DIVINE APPOINTMENT MINISTRIES