the roads deserve their own space

the roads deserve their own space

November 29

Hello? hello? hello........hey! I made it! I’m on line!!! Hello world!

Well, we are very happy here on the convent. Yes, I said convent! They have a farm, and all the food is made right here! Wonderful! 

It is situated on beautiful Lake Kivu and offers a peace and solitude that is quite calming. My dear husband.....fear not.....there is one small hardship......absolute silence at meal times!!......deal breaker!!

We leave each morning to drive (= carom) 1 hour to the village for pastor seminar. On the list of appalling roads with 1 being least, and 10 the most, this one rates a 9.9. I think we have ricocheted over one that was marginally worse?? To the usual craters in the roads here, add volcanic rock everywhere.....I tell you....!! Seat belts here, perform an entirely different function.....they serve to keep one in the interior of the car, and off of the ceiling!

 By the time we arrived home, it was a struggle to find enough functional body parts to attempt a graceful exit from the vehicle! (‘graceful’?!...HA! In my dreams!) 

Oh yes, it takes one hour because I am in the car......they drive that distance much faster! An intrepid people, indeed!

I resolved to show restraint.....I did NOT complain......no, no!

(to be perfectly honest though, IF anyone spoke English.......who could say?)

These seminars are so needed. In the wake of M23, there are many many displaced persons, crowded refugee camps.....and a demoralized society. The pastors are exhausted and overworked. There are 60 pastors and church leaders, men and women, attending. They are strengthened by the mere thought that they are not forgotten!

One pastor walked 60km. One lady took a motorbike, 160km, another 190km!! Testimony to the value of the program, I think?

I have their written note of thanks to you, for supporting this. 

November 29

Hello? hello? hello........hey! I made it! I’m on line!!! Hello world!

Well, we are very happy here on the convent. Yes, I said convent! They have a farm, and all the food is made right here! Wonderful! 

It is situated on beautiful Lake Kivu and offers a peace and solitude that is quite calming. My dear husband.....fear not.....there is one small hardship......absolute silence at meal times!!......deal breaker!!

We leave each morning to drive (= carom) 1 hour to the village for pastor seminar. On the list of appalling roads with 1 being least, and 10 the most, this one rates a 9.9. I think we have ricocheted over one that was marginally worse?? To the usual craters in the roads here, add volcanic rock everywhere.....I tell you....!! Seat belts here, perform an entirely different function.....they serve to keep one in the interior of the car, and off of the ceiling!

 By the time we arrived home, it was a struggle to find enough functional body parts to attempt a graceful exit from the vehicle! (‘graceful’?!...HA! In my dreams!) 

Oh yes, it takes one hour because I am in the car......they drive that distance much faster! An intrepid people, indeed!

I resolved to show restraint.....I did NOT complain......no, no!

(to be perfectly honest though, IF anyone spoke English.......who could say?)

These seminars are so needed. In the wake of M23, there are many many displaced persons, crowded refugee camps.....and a demoralized society. The pastors are exhausted and overworked. There are 60 pastors and church leaders, men and women, attending. They are strengthened by the mere thought that they are not forgotten!

One pastor walked 60km. One lady took a motorbike, 160km, another 190km!! Testimony to the value of the program, I think?

I have their written note of thanks to you, for supporting this. 

November 27

So, today, I decided to give my connecting tissues a trial run. They failed miserably! NOTHING is connected any longer! What’s with that?! Well, we are fearfully and wonderfully made....today is fearful, but it is only a few days journey to wonderful! :)

We have just completed a marathon race otherwise known as the 6 hour ‘drive’ to the Congo border and arrived as the border crossing closed, so we have another night in a hotel.  We cross tomorrow early get changed at home and head off to Bethsaida for church service.

November 27

So, today, I decided to give my connecting tissues a trial run. They failed miserably! NOTHING is connected any longer! What’s with that?! Well, we are fearfully and wonderfully made....today is fearful, but it is only a few days journey to wonderful! :)

We have just completed a marathon race otherwise known as the 6 hour ‘drive’ to the Congo border and arrived as the border crossing closed, so we have another night in a hotel.  We cross tomorrow early get changed at home and head off to Bethsaida for church service.