Congo Reflections….Part One

Note to self….before long write down in retrospect the things that stood out in your mind to be the highlights of your Congo trip…..

          1. The Five Day Leadership Conference at Wembo Nyama. Our primary purpose in going was to train 60-70 key leaders in the Central Congo Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. Mission accomplished. Key leaders from the 14 districts of the Central Congo  were trained and effusive in their praise of the life transformation that the teaching brought. One of the highlights was the washing of their feet at the close of one of the sessions. Everyone with cell phones was taking pictures of white people washing black peoples’ feet… “This is historical”!! Training leaders to reproduce is a very exciting possibility as they seek to multiply themselves.

          2. Visiting the United Methodist church at Tshumbe that we built through our Advent offering to our missionary Paul Law. The church was completed enough for us to hold their very first service there, and I got to preach the opening service!! I will never forget that moment. The people were so appreciative that they gave me a live goat!! (Greater love hath no man…lol)! For $8,000 Niceville built a church that will hold upwards to 600 people for worship. The building created quite a buzz in the community for its size and sturdiness.

          3. Paul Law and I took a motorcycle ride through the countryside where he grew up. Riding two 200cc dirt bikes through the villages was an incredible highlight. I said, “Paul, show me Africa!” One spot we went to was where the Revival of 1932 began. UM missionary Alex Reid led this revival that “jump started” the Methodist church’s beginnings. Every where we rode, we attracted large crowds of people…curiously wondering what we were up to. They ran to the roads and surrounded us when we stopped. The children giggled and pointed in friendly fashion.

     Stay tuned to highlights 4-6!

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