Mizigo Ipo Wapi (Where's the Luggage?)

Where’s the luggage? Have you touched your passports recently? T&F (tentative and flexible). Relinquish. Let go.

Team Goma phrases, repeated and heard many times. Some funny, some very serious.
Camaraderie, bonding, inside jokes. Keeps us laughing…a lot! Which is much needed when traveling and working with a team. And keeps us praying…a lot!
We started in a wait mode with a 9 hour delay in San Francisco, then 23 hours air travel, plus two overnight layovers. Yada yada yada. Then go go go in GOma for 11 days. Now back to the wait mode in airports and planes and 26 hours of travel. I’m grateful for this team of patient, tolerant people. Sounds impossible, but I’m having fun!!

Looking forward to embracing familia, but already having withdrawals at the thought of missing my teammates.

Life is about the journey, not the destination. That was the devotion this morning at IJM (International Justice Mission) in Rwanda. So true and so applicable at this moment. I hope I can keep that close to my heart in every season of my life.
Mungu awabariki (God bless you in kiSwahili),
Charlotte Martinez

Language Center

One of many adjunct projects of HEAL Africa, the Amani (Peace) Language Center is run by two brothers and good friends of the team, Stewart and James.

By the Grace of God

Driving back to Kigali from Goma, I talked with our Rwandan driver, Deo. Apparently we were driving through his home region. I asked him if any of his family still lived in the area, since he now lives in Kigali. He said no, going on to say his father and all six of his siblings were murdered during the genocide. After a moment of silence, I asked him how he had survived. He replied, "By the grace of God."

The people who came to kill his family also attacked him, taking a swipe at his head. "This one, he is dead," they said, leaving him to die with the rest of his family. I didn't get the details of how he survived since then, but for 4 years the government and militia fought each other back and forth through his home region. Deo didn't feel safe until 1998, four years after the genocide, when the gov't troops finally pushed the militias back into Congo.

Deo now has a wife and three kids: two girls ages 6 and 3, and a 2 year old boy. He keeps his hair cut very short, as a large scar atop his head keeps hair from growing. He's a careful driver, vary gracious and a wonderful person. I feel blessed to have met him and heard a small portion of his story.

I always thought the phrase "There but for the grace of God go I" still retained some sense of personal choice, some blessing bestowed on us that we were given by God. Deo's story reminds me that I could have been born anywhere, that his story could be my story, that all of those living can say, "By the grace of God, here I am."

Sent from my iPhone

Early Birthday

We celebrated my birthday early (actually Aug 6th) at a local Indian restaurant here in Kigali. They went all out: lights out, entire staff, mixed music, even got me up dancing! Video and more pics forthcoming. And yes, they let me keep the hat.

Back to Kigali

The fields and mountains of Rwanda, on our way from Goma to Kigali.

I have found myself thinking about a conversation earlier in the trip. A team member was commenting about how they had been asked “Why Goma?’, it is so messy, with all of the after effects of a guerilla war, rape as a weapon of war, multiple campaigns by multiple players to destabilize the communities in efforts to control the area and its minerals. Why not work someplace else where it seems that change might take hold faster and results show. Goma’s issues are so long term and complicated, why not work where effects will come on a more human scale. The team member responded that’s why we are working here in Goma, it is complicated and the need is so great, and we can’t just leave our brothers and sisters here until they have an easier problem. Later I was thinking, it is very appropriate that FPCB is involved in HealAfrica work in Goma as a partner. I have heard from multiple older FPCB members about the time First Pres had to decide about staying in Berkeley or leaving when the old church building was condemned. It was the 70’s, Berkeley was going Bezerk, to get to church for service the National Guard was escorting church members into past blockades and protestors. First Pres decided instead of abandoning the hard places of Berkeley, at the time, they were going to stay because there was a need. Even more they were going to build a sanctuary with large ground level glass instead of walls to invite those Berkeleyan’s inside. It seems it is the same kind of go and stay with those in the hard places that sends us to Goma. Its history is intense, and there is still a lot of violence, orphans, widows, pain and suffering in Goma, its still a hard place. But it is the hard places that we are called to. Stay and stand with those who would elsewise be forgotten. To witness and to assist at their directive, to mostly accompany and know as brothers and sisters. So it seems a good fit, to work with Goma. And I find myself planning when I can come back.

Women Carrying Water

An all too familiar sight. Rarely will you see men carrying water, and never on their backs like this. Work is still heavily separated from what I've seen here in the DRC as well as in Kenya. Men tend to focus their efforts outside the home on "business" or bringing in money. Women take care of everything home-oriented, from taking care of the children to gathering water and firewood and more. Ironically, with so few jobs that pay, you see women doing a great amount of work, while a lot of men standing or sitting around talking. I hope when are able to find self worth in good, hard work... Even if it doesn't pay.

Women wash clothes by Lake Kivu

Our Driver, Sammy

Bridget Nolan, Logistics Extraordinaire

She's been such a great help and blessing to the team, coordinating transportation, communication, orientation, logistics and more! HEAL Africa is blessed to have her.

Map making

Today is our last full working day at Heal Africa in Goma. Emotional goodbyes and gifts exchanged.. especially at church this morning...

Yesterday John (UK team), Svetlana and I were able to visit a school and safe transit house to do a few technical tasks. John and I surveyed the main Heal Africa site - ready for the new building. Svetlana became a trained surveyor working with John to survey a few of the other locations. I have been continuing to add data to the google map of the Heal Africa locations, they are no longer forgotten, they have a name and a place recorded for the world to see. I also managed to help complete a rain water harvesting filtration project at the Buhimba Safe Transit House. Where they have carried water in the past - now they have filtered water - with a little chlorine it will be safe to drink. Credit to Alex Densmore for getting this started. Little by little...

We will miss this place...

Foot washing in the Congo

On one of our afternoons, Mary Ellen, Ashley and I had the joy and privilege of bringing body cleansers, lotions, nail polish and makeup to the post op wards at HEAL Africa. At first, when we explain that we'd like to wash their feet, many of them hesitate, not quite sure we can be trusted. But once they witness their friends getting the washing, they prop up in bed and hold their feet out to be next. Very cute. It's such a wonderful experience, tenderly washing tired feet. Nothing like a church foot washing service that's quite sterile, where pedicures are had by many before the service. No pedicures in this group! The intimacy of massaging their feet, calves, hands and arms with lovely lotions is such a wonderful opportunity to experience the bond of love and sisterhood. And then the fun begins: eye makeup and lipstick with mirrors for them to see their beauty. Shy laughter, giggles all around. God is fun!!!
-Charlotte Martinez

A Day with DRC Army Chaplains

How does one begin to capture all that has happened in these past days? Today Tim, Ewen (from the UK team) and I led a workshop for chaplains of soldiers. When I heard about this assignment when I was in Berkeley I was wondering, “what in the world will we be talking about?” But, we felt that God had called us to this task, so God would somehow give us the messages we were to share. We began at 9 am today. Tim passed out index cards to the chaplains and asked them to write the issues/questions they held as chaplains. We then took those cards to see what threads there were for us to discuss. While we were having the cards translated and sorted, Ewen did a seminar on forgiveness. As we flipped through the cards, we saw many questions about their need to learn more about forgiveness! We knew that God was in control.

Another set of questions focused on how do churches/denominations work together when there are doctrinal issues that they are in disagreement. Tim did a great seminar on focusing on those things that they hold in common and are central to the gospel of Christ. There was great discussion amongst the chaplains as they sat in groups to come up with those things they hold in common.

Then I did a seminar on pastoral care. Many of the questions focused on how they were to do their work as chaplains when their families were not being cared for. Yesterday we spoke with the Chief of the Chaplains as he wanted to brief us about the chaplains who would be in attendance at today’s workshop. As a major in the DRC Army, he is getting $40 (US) a month. We went on the base and saw the military housing (which were tents and shacks)! They didn’t make enough money to pay for school fees for their children so they were not being educated. They didn’t have funds for transportation for their children to go to school. It is a really terrible situation. Often both soldiers and policemen end up resorting to robbery and violence themselves because they are not being cared for. I ended up sharing my experience as a military kid. They were surprised to hear that I understood in a small way what it means to live the life as a military dependent and with a father in the military. I realized as were doing the workshop that I came to Christ through the chaplaincy program on the different bases I lived on.

There are no words to describe the convergence of my life experience and my time in the Congo. No words. I pray that what I shared gave them encouragement and hope for the work they are doing.

Mary Ellen Azada

Praying

This morning, like all Monday mornings, I joined the pastoral team to spread out and pray for various persons throughout the hospital.  I think these have been my first pastoral visits in a hospital setting - ever.  Quite a place to start!

I went around the orthopedics rooms with three other pastors, and when I spoke one of them translated.  I've been able to speak a little Swahili, but even English words are hard to muster when facing so much suffering.  Many persons were in casts and a few had lost limbs.  Some were full of life, even when they couldn't move, and a few had that 1,000 yard stare.  We spent the time praying for them, offering words of encouragement and greeting them with a handshake and blessing.

Experiences like these are most humbling.  I feel like I can't DO anything.  Yet it's precisely this realization that I can't do anything that is transformative, that reminds me of our dependence on the power and grace of God.  We are all connected to each other and to God's Spirit, but sometimes during our independent streaks we forget this.

May you be reminded of your dependence on God and others today.  May this realization not cause you worry or anxiety.  And may your soul find a peace deeper than your understanding.

Preaching

It's so amazing to be among a different place and a different people, and yet still there is so much in common!


I had the opportunity to preach and teach the other day at a training of community leaders who are a part of the Nehemiah Commmittees organized by HEAL Africa.  These committees often function as the sole or one of few community governance organizations.  They help resolve disputes in the community, organize microfinance opportunities, distribute school fees for needy children, and more.  It was an honor to meet them and be with them for 2 days in Monrovia, about 1.5 hours from Goma around the lake and just over the border with South Kivu Province.


I shared with them some of my thoughts on Nehemiah; the efforts and sacrifices he went through to rebuild the wall of Jerusalem after the Babylon exile.  He listened to the cry of his people, prayed to God, asked for resources, and then inspired the entire community to chip into the rebuilding process.  I encouraged them to do the same, working together with other people in the community when the burden was too great for them alone.


The next day I preached on "Practicing Resurrection."  The focus was on Acts 14, where the story begins with Paul telling a lame person to stand up in the name of Jesus, and at the end of the story Paul himself struggles to stand up after being stoned.  I acted the story out, myself getting on the ground and causing much amazement from the crowd, who are very careful to keep their clothes clean (esp. in a professional setting). 

Today, Sunday, I preached on Matthew 11:28-30, on the invitation of Jesus to all who have worked until exhaustion, to translate literally from the Greek.  The message was similar: The world is an overwhelming place.  Sometimes we pray for others, sometimes we ourselves need prayer.  In all that we do, let us practice resurrection, relying on the Spirit of Christ to uplift of spirits, minds and bodies.


Sometimes I wonder if my own theological or worldview is coming across to strongly.  I desire to be a vessel of God's Spirit, being filled with the grace and truth of the gospel.  Yet sometimes I become self-conscious and wonder if it's my own good news that I'm sharing, and not God's.  Once again I turn in prayer to God, that my words and actions be a reflection of God's love and not just my own thoughts and perceptions.

Family

It's Saturday already! When we're in Goma, we start each day in chapel for which I am thankful. I need the grounding from worshiping and praying together and receiving a word from whoever is preaching. The singing is one of my favorite things here. It lifts you immediately to another space and time...I guess it's that eternal place.
We have been welcomed back here as family. There is much sharing about each others families and personal lives. The warmth in their embrace is genuine and deeply loving. No wonder I feel like I'm home here.
Sickness has been making the rounds of our team, but no one complains. This is a great group of people to work with. Thank God for laughter!
Off to a football (ie., soccer) game at an orphanage today, then the market, then a visit to Mama Virginie's to meet her twin grandsons, Smart and Smile. Yes, those are their real names. Can't wait!
God is good, all the time.
-Charlotte Martinez
7-24-10

Half way

It’s hard to believe that our time is more than half way through… for my first post it’s a challenge to know where to start.. here’s a few quick ones..

I’ve been supporting the technical manager (Bizi) with various tasks. As part of his varied role Bizi looks after the water system and as a ‘water engineer’ I have a specific interest in this field! We’ve even been able to carry on some of Alex Densmore’s tasks from his work earlier this year. The task however that seems to have gained traction has been to begin mapping the Heal Africa locations in North Kivu province. These mostly entail medical clinics, safe transit houses and hospitals. You can see a rough draft of our google map at this link. The intent is to expand on the available data for each location to enable more strategic planning as we move from an emergency response condition to post conflict redevelopment. We started by asking the question – how can we plan strategic progress if there is limited information available about where we’re starting from? There are around 100 locations in North Kivu province that Heal Africa has invested in.

During Wednesday morning chapel Mary Ellen explained to the staff that First Pres had written cards for each of them. Congo on one side – Berkeley on the other. I was asked to distribute a stack of these by the door and was personally interested considering Svetlana and I had not seen these being put together in early July. We wondered how they would be received – our question was answered when staff patiently but feverishly grabbed them from us as if they were Wonka golden tickets – later staff who were unable to attend the service approached us for more! They greatly, greatly appreciate your continued support and prayers.. this was a very simple but highly effective way to communicate a little of our concern.. our two worlds were brought a little closer by this simple act.. thank you..

Steve

Language

Jambo!

Each day, I spend the morning giving advanced English lessons to the resident doctors. They are overworked and yet motivated to do more. I've enjoyed getting to know their personal war stories and volcano stories- it's hard to find someone who hasn't been impacted by either disaster.

In the afternoons, I head offsite to the local Language School where I meet with the Director and we brainstorm long and short term plans to stabilize the future of the school. His English is phenomonal and I enjoy hearing him say things like, "at any rate" and "I slept like a log". I feel like I'm in my element when working with the Language School- combining business and organizational skills with language is one of the many things that makes waking up each morning in Goma worth it.

I find that I'm using more French than Swahili, which I should have expected. I really dug into my Swahili phrasebook before we arrived to the Heal Africa compound, so I'm anxious to use Swahili when I can. Nakupenda, kitabu kiswahili, mangu!

We had our first thunderstorm this morning around 2am. If anyone slept through it, I'm surprised. The lake that our accomodations are on, lit up at least every 20 seconds. It was both frightening and beautiful. Hopefully someone caught a photo and will post it.

We get our fill of passionfruit and this other amazing fruit that looks like a tomato on the outside and a cantelope with red seeds on the inside.

Days are simple but long, friendships are growing... and there is an abundance of work to be done here.

Mungu Akubarike-
Svetlana

In full swing

Greetings from HEAL Africa! We are in full swing here and around Goma. I've primarily been helping in the school here at HEAL with the wonderful teacher, Beatrice. She is such a vibrant teacher. The children are eager to learn and show up everyday to school whether they can walk or not. Many are here receiving care for orthopedic impairments. They want to be taught in English, so that's what I've been doing. I have also been helping Svetlana give English lesssons to the doctors here at the hospital. It was a slow afternoon, as many of them were not able to make it to their lessons.

I had the privilege of washing feet in the woman's ward yesterday afternoon with Mary Ellen and Charlotte. It was a powerful time for all of us in our own ways. I am looking forward to possibly visiting more schools in the area, and have enjoyed meeting and working alongside another teacher from the UK who was here in April and is a great resource. I am happy to be here!

Sunset over Lake Kivu

Our first full day in Goma

After 5 days of travel we've arrived in one piece - with all our luggage no less! - to Goma. We were very warmly greeted
by the Heal Africa staff and each person has now been partnered with a shepherd, the person or department they'll be working closely with. This morning we worshipped with the hospital community, and even led singing for two songs - hakuna mungu Kama wewe, or There is no God like you, and Trading My Sorrows.

I myself am finally feeling well rested and ready to go after pushing through yesterday. There is so much that Heal Africa does outside the hospital grounds! I was fortunate to visit CAMME, a facility that trains street children in valuable trades like sewing and mechanics. I'll return Saturday for a soccer game and possibly teach the kids Ultimate Frisbee.

I'm thoroughly enjoying practicing my Swahili and French, despite completely confusing myself at times. I'll be working primarily with the media department in writing articles and stories about the various projects. Another person, Carleton, was here for two months several months ago to do similar training, so I'll be building off much of what he's done. I'm excited to exchange ideas and learn more about what they're doing, and have already made a friend in Freddy, the head of the department.

Blessings! Barikiwe!

Evans

Sent from my iPhone

Delayed

the waiting begins... On the phone with american airlines trying to get rerouted!

Bfast and possible delay...

Tim's 'i love pepper' breakfast... And contemplating our first flight delay :-(

Leg 2 Begins

I’m writing this on board American Airlines flight 88 from Chicago to Brussels. We’re one day behind the schedule I so carefully prepared but it appears that we’re exactly on the schedule God has planned. Our schedule was designed to be hard charging and intense. Let’s see how far we can fly in the shortest amount of time: San Francisco to Chicago to Brussels to Kigali, Rwanda in a little over 24 hours. If it had worked out the way it was designed it would have been our quickest trip to Goma yet. It wasn’t to be.

I don’t think God cares about efficiency as much as I do – at least I don’t think he cares about some of the elements I like to see in an efficient process – like everything working as expected with minimal challenges. So far God’s plan for us has been filled with time for relationships, abundant sanity and rest along the way. My original plan had no more than 2 hours and 30 minutes between flights. As I think about that now I’ve come to the conclusion that my plan was simply too ambitious and probably a little nuts; the product of a Bay Area pastor who regularly tries to squeeze too much into every single day and is a little too interested in predictability. I was primarily concerned with the goal of getting to Kigali as fast as possible. The quicker we got to Kigali the sooner we’d be in Goma. God’s concerns seems to be much different: slow down, notice who and what is around me, be kind to the airline employees who are doing the best they can, trust Jesus with what is unknown and out of my control and look for God’s gifts of grace that are all around me.

A long time ago when people traveled the world by ship it would take 3-6 months to get from California to Central Africa and there was a pretty good chance you’d come down with a case of scurvy along the way. What has gone wrong in me and in the culture that shapes me that I’m a little bothered that it will take 5 days to get to Goma instead of 4? I am clearly a Myers-Briggs “J”. I’m goal oriented. I start projects early because I want the payoff of a smooth landing. I know that I bring significant gifts to an organization because I am wired up in these ways but I also realize that there can be downsides to this wiring. I can miss what is most important that is right in front of me because I am fixated on the ultimate objective.

This trip to Goma has already been a gift to me and it is only Day 2. God is inviting me to live more fully under his leadership, trusting that he has the best plan for me, for my team and for our world.

From out over New Brunswick, Canada…

Tim Shaw

Relinquishment

We begin this journey with one word, relinquishment. Any ideas that we are in control have quickly been dashed as we learn the meaning of releasing, knowing that the path we have predetermined is not necessarily the path that God has for us. Waiting at the San Francisco airport for twelve hours in anticipation of beginning our journey, I became keenly aware of all the things we daily take for granted and are grateful for. Instead of an inconvenience, we were all able to enter this time of waiting with calm and Sabbath rest.

We are gathered in the terminal in Chicago now, learning more and more about each other, and bonding. This is an amazing group, low key, yet energized by the work we will be called to do. With the unexpected stays in Chicago and Brussels because of missed flights and new travel itinerary, never did I believe I would go underwear shopping with church members. A new experience.

I look with joy at the surprises yet to come. I have a feeling that relinquishment will be our constant companion.

Mary Ellen

God is Good!

Arise at 4:00 AM with the excitement of the “it’s-finally-here” day. Blessings on Diane Roth who rose at the crack of dawn to take two of us and team luggage to SFO by 6:30. Check in, settle in at the gate, then the “mechanical problem with the plane” announcement. Delay, delay, delay. Twelve hours and much patient rescheduling of missed connecting flights later, we fly to Chicago. Sound annoying? Actually, after fairly frantic prep days prior to our trip, the forced sitting with a wonderfully patient Goma team was quite relaxing. A gift of a day of rest. Our stay at the Raddison Hotel in Chicago was paid for by American Airlines. 2:00 AM pancakes with Mary Ellen at the 24hr. IHop hit the spot. Now we await our flight to Brussels where we’ll be put up at a hotel there again, with a full day to tour Brussels. While we waited in San Francisco, hour by hour given “one more hour” promises by American, it felt perfectly natural for all of us to just give our plans up and trust His plans to be superior to ours. And man, were they!! We’re relaxed, enjoying one another, and mostly looking forward to serving with our beloved friends at HEAL Africa. God is good, all the time.

-Charlotte Martinez

Did the E-ticket say AM or PM?

Hello from warm and muggy Chicago!

I thought this greeting would be coming from Kigali, Rwanda but it's going to take just a little longer than we'd planned to get from the Bay Area to central Africa. Our e-ticket said that American Airlines flight 1612 would depart San Francisco International airport at 9:35 AM. Well, that's not what happened. We arrived at the airport at 6:45 am. We checked in. Everything was going perfectly. Just as I sat down at Gate 66, ready to mark task #1 off the list and enjoy a double cappuccino and a little breakfast my phone rang. I thought to myself, who could this be? I looked at my phone and it said "American Airlines". That's nice. They're just confirming that our flight will indeed depart on time at 9:35 AM. As I was listening to the message Ashley Verinsky confirmed what I was hearing. Our flight was delayed until 11 AM. That meant that there was still a chance that we'd just make our connection to Brussels, Belgium out of Chicago. That delay quickly turned into 11:30 AM. Now we had a problem.

If you've read my First Pres. Messenger article you'll know that my default mode is to start strategizing almost immediately in moments like this. We did go into problem solving mode (nothing wrong with that) but this time I did pray and others on the team did as well. After about 45 minutes on the phone with American Airlines we had new reservations out of Chicago and Brussels but because Brussels Airlines does not fly to Kigali on Fridays that means we'll have an overnight stop in Belgium (not bad) and arrive in Rwanda on Saturday (2 days later than we'd planned).

The 11:30 am departure time from SFO turned into 12:30 pm which became 1:30 pm, 3:00 pm, then 5:00 pm, the 3:15 pm (which was just cruel), and finally 6:30 pm. I love airports and airplanes but even I was ready to get out of SFO by the time we were finally on the plane. American Airlines never did fix the broken aircraft we were supposed to be on but instead finally put us on a plane that arrived from Miami. So many of the original passengers on our flight had given up or transferred to other flights that the 767 to Chicago was less than half full. I haven't seen that in a long time.

The team is doing well. Bridget Nolan is rearranging our plans in Kigali and we hope to be in Goma on Sunday. Thank you so much to all of you who are praying for us. It truly is not by might or by power or by ingenuity or the ability to stragegize our way out of challenges but it is by God's Spirit.

Grace and peace,

Tim

Psalm 31

There are many details and errands to do in preparation for this trip. It seems it's all I'm thinking about as we get ready to go in a week! I read Psalm 31 this morning and it became my prayer:

My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty;

I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me.

But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

O Israel, put your hope in the Lord both now and forevermore.

Yes, Lord, may I still and quiet my soul in preparation for our time in Goma, so that you might do your work in me.