Goodbye from the DRC!

Dear friends, 

this will be my last update from the beautiful Democratic Republic of Congo

We are reflecting back on...

... four weeks of God on our side guiding our every step...

... four weeks of learning and teaching...

... four weeks of trusting and rejoicing...

... for weeks of giving and taking...

and four weeks of so much more!

Matt was invited to speak at Chai Church in Bukavu every day throughout the past week. The message that God put on Matt's heart for the people here was about receiving forgiveness from and through God, who has saved us by grace so that we can rejoice in our salvation forever. In his teaching series "The Power of God for salvation" Matt focussed on "The power of God", "The debts of men and the payment of God", "Gather the wheat", "The burden of men and the offer of God". Through the teaching the Holy Spirit has inspired some pastors and people from church to form groups, like homegroups, to continue with what has been tought and live and spread the true word of God. So far these groups are lead by our translator Michel and a friend of ours, Baba Eli.

We were also invited to join a kids/teenage prayer meeting, also led by our friend Baba Eli, in a less privileged area of town. We did not expect what we then experienced that evening: a tiny room for 60 young people who were singing, praying, dancing and kneeling before the cross. We also experienced and intimate time together and shared the story of David and Goliath with them. A question Matt asked the kids is valid to all of us and also to you, who is reading the blog right now: What or who are the giants in your life? Do we put our trust in God for Him to take care of them? Among these beloved kids was a young man, who used to be involved in witchcraft, and his sister, who used to be a prostitute. God has changed both of their lives completely after they had encountered him. Matt and I praised God for a generation of Congolese who are dedicated to life a life for God. 

Interestingly we also had the opportunity to interview and talk to a guy, who has written his final paper at university on how the UN workers with muslim faith use their work and presence in the DRC as a channel to spread Islam within the region. As for now, we do not have any other concrete evidence, but as the regional minister of justice as well as Dr. Mukwege confirmed during an interview with us the past week, at least 14 mosques have been built within 5 years only in the area of Walungu (the traditional kingdom of my tribe), apparently through some dodgy food-money trade with local people and MUNESCO funds. Let us pray for the Word of God and the Works of God, the Three in One, to be manifested and lead to peace in the DRC!

On friday, we were invited to speak at ULPG, the Free University of the Region of Great Lakes, here in Bukavu. Again we were surprised by how many people came to listen to us - the auditorium was packed with people - professors, students, lawyer, community developers, nurses and many more. Again Matthew shared the Good News and with god-given authority proclaimed that God is in control of all spheres of society, whether it is the sphere of government, economy, science, health and so on. To our surprise many professors were willing to partner with us and invited us teach for a full week at a university in Goma next year!

The other day we traveled the road down to Ngomo. The purpose for that was for Matt to record and give an interview from inside the DRC along a road that a lot of rebels have traveled on. This interview will be shown at Liberty University in the US and is supposed to encourage Christians to discover the call God has for us to be involved around the world as a church and as christians not just in our own location where we are.

Now we are in Goma. The picture above was taken on the boat on our way there. We are staying at my cousins, Claude and his beloved wife's house. Today we met our friends from Focus:Congo, who continue with the work we are doing once I am not there. Skilled and ambitious young men who dedicate much of their time to take videos where soldiers fight in front lines, collect stories of hope and organize youth events. Only God can reward their work.

Tomorrow morning at 6am Matt and I will cross the border to Rwanda and our flights will leave in the afternoon. 

As I have said before, we have been immensely blessed. It was sad to leave my family but when I said goodbye on saturday evening I was touched to see the joy in their faces to have had me there for a short while.

Full of trust of hope, Matt and I, will leave the beautiful DRC and its vibrant people in God's hands until we meet again. 

Stay in touch with us - I am looking forward to be connected with you.

My thankfulness goes to all of you who have faithfully supported us throughout this time.

God bless, 

your friend Pappy Orion