Update from Bangui...

As we’re getting ready to leave to come back, my mind and heart are on overload. 

 

The past few days…

 

It’s now Thursday around noon, and we’ve checked our bags in at the local “Air France” station.  I am bringing home two big trunks (checked bags).

 

The past 3.5 days have been so FULL of meetings, conversations, travel, impressions, stories… it will take months, maybe years to unpack my mind and heart. 

 

Monday – camping trip to Bangui, stop at Boyali, Bossembele 2, Bossembele 1… camping overnight at Bossembele 1.

 

Tuesday – camping at Bossembele 1, visit to Bossembele 2, travel to Boyali again for lunch.. travel to AMAZING Boali waterfalls… do a google search.  It was like being at Niagara Falls Without all the commerce and people.  From Boali Falls we came back home, showered, ate… team time, etc.  Went to Café.

 

Wednesday – early breakfast @ Café’ with Dave Collins… We are Café’ junkies here.  Then to Sakpa church for school visit and presentations of gifts.  We were there at least 2 hours.  Came home, had lunch (burgers) and cole slaw and “ngunja” (their homemade stuff that looks like spinach but it’s not).  Wednesday afternoon – team time, and then at 4:10 pm, Christophe from ICDI brought Ursulla here along with her orphan supervisor/caretaker, Marie.  We sat and talked for about 20 minutes, and then I brought out the pics and gifts for Ursulla.  I showed her pics of our family, and played the audio files of Allie and Luke saying hello to Ursulla.  We went for a walk, sat on a swing, and she held my hand the entire time.  She let me hold her and took pictures together.  It was tremendous.  She LOVED the stuffed bunny. 

 

Immediately after Ursulla left, five of us went to the African artist’s market.  It was a blast to negotiate with all of the vendors there.. and I was glad we had help from the other missionaries. 

 

After that, we ate dinner (all leftovers) and then packed our bags and trunks for home.  Probably 5 hours a night the last 3 nights.  I’m sore and tired, but my heart and mind are overflowing with all good things. 

 

Thursday (today) – Breakfast here… then Dr. Francois Ngoumape from the Seminary here (Dean of Seminary in Bangui) and his wife came and picked me up and brought me over to speak to the seminary students and professors in their Chapel.  I spoke from Matthew 4:18-22 about the “Come, Follow Me” passage.  It was awesome to see all of those men and women preparing for ministries and churches that need them.  Part of that visit was to meet Pastor Yalimon Joel – who is the father to Girard, and pastor of our Bossembele Center 2 Church.  He is called “Joel.”  I did an audio interview with him and there was an instant chemistry and gratitude between us. 

 

After that, I talked with Dr. Ngoumape in his office, he prayed for us, and had me sign his guestbook.  Very cool.... 

 

When we got back to the Missions Center, several people were waiting to see us before our trip to the airport… one of them was Pastor Tizokoe of Sakpa… who had  brought a few things that I left accidentally at Sakpa (earplugs, hand-written notes, and – yes – sunscreen!).  IT was GREAT to see him again, but tough to say goodbye again.  Also tough to say goodbye to Immanuel, who is the coordinator here of the Hand in Hand program.  He’s basically the “superintendent” over all the teachers that are employed in the program… HE is the one who keeps up with how the schools, teachers, and churches are doing and visits them constantly.  They have 30+ schools like this to visit.  Currently, three do not have sponsors.

 

Okay, I have to get off the computer… thanks, you guys, for praying and reading along… I will have even more to say in these next few weeks if anyone cares.  This has been great, to say the least!