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.