Our alarms wake us up at 6 am and we climb out of our mosquito nets. Taking a few minutes to get ourselves physically ready for the day, we each spend time alone reading our Bibles, journaling our thoughts, or walking outside. At 7:30 we walk to a house next door where our talented cook, Robere, has breakfast ready for us. At about 8 or 8:30 we are scheduled to be picked up by the truck (but we could be waiting even longer because here we have a little thing we call "Congo-Time").
(Our beloved truck that we spent many hours in
bouncing around and getting bruised building muscle and getting tan).
Of course, at least once along the drive to a village we will have to stop and get out so we can fix the truck or get it out of a ditch.
This may or may not include a pit-stop to the woods for some of us. Meanwhile, we'll get bit by a few more bugs and sometimes the people nearby will bring out chairs from their homes for us to sit on while we wait (apparently this is a very common thing in the Congo...I wonder why?).
Sooner or later the truck will get stuck again and maybe almost tip over (which is a huge adrenaline rush according to Shiloh). Then we'll get out and walk for a while until the truck drives or is pushed through the worst of the road.
When we finally arrive at the village, all of the Global Fingerprints orphans and leaders of that village (plus some other orphans and kids who want to see the action) are lined up to greet us. Usually someone reads a welcome message and then they all begin singing for us. Someone plays a type of Djembe drum and the rest clap their hands and sing while we walk down the line, shaking everyone's hands. No matter what, everyone is excited to get their picture taken.
Soon, we will begin our work with the sponsored orphans. We divide into teams, each of us with a translator, and begin to ask the kids questions about their family and what they like to do for fun. Then we pray for them and take their picture.
Afterwards, we usually have a little free time to take more pictures and play with the kids. Shiloh almost always jumps in with her soccer skills and draws a crowd. No matter where we are, kids are either watching or interacting with us. I have never been around so many people at once for so long.
Of course, visitors never leave without eating first, so a few women will cook us a Congolese meal. We enjoy Loso (rice), Soso (chicken), Pondu (cooked edible leaves), and Makemba (like cooked bananas).
Eventually we are back on the truck--sometimes bringing orphans with us to drop off at their homes--headed back to the Elykia center.
The next day we will spend the morning at the office, waiting patiently for photos to upload and entering new information into the Global Fingerprints website.
Whether we are working in our areas of strength or weakness, relying on God has been a crucial part of this trip. This was my prayer--that we would be tested beyond our limits (physical, emotional, spiritual) and have no one to turn to but God.
No comments:
Post a Comment