Goma - Day 10

This morning the staff and volunteers of Light of Africa Network(LOAN) got together for prayer and bible devotions. It was a truly blessed time of heart felt worship and prayer from the depths of the heart. We prayed for the country, the sexual violence issue as well as many other topics. We believe that we serve a God who not only hears these prayers but also delights in answering them.

Much of the morning was finishing the preparations a a two recording engineers from Ghana coming to record the bible in Swahili. They are partnering with LOAN on this project and with be here for about two weeks to complete the project.

With Camille still in a full length cast on his leg, I have taken o the responsibility of chauffeur. I drove to the port and pick up Esther when she returned from a very successful trip to Bukavu. Esther and I went to the market (with me driving) which was an eventful trip. Driving at home is easy because all there is on the road is cars and the road is well paved. Try driving on a dirt and rock road after a night of rain. Then add lots of people, motorcycles driving crazy, little kids wandering about, and other various obstacles, Oi! The market is not stores you walk into, it's the streets lined with everything you might need or not need. As soon as we started to slow down, we had the mama's coming to Esther's window try to sell their goods. On my side were people staring at the Muzungu (white guy) wondering why is he driving around this Congolese. I did see something you don't see in OC. I was looking across the car to what Esther was doing when there was a knock on my window. I turned to see a man holding up a handful on chickens, big & dead, I declined!

Today was the first day here that I did not have a speaking engagement. Part of me feels like a slacker, but I have enjoyed some rest and re-cooping from the past week and a half. I was to speak at the prison this morning but that got moved to Thursday. I bought 100kg of beans and about the same in rice for the prisoners. Patrick, you will be happy that I did not forget to take care of that.

I have committed our church to sponsor 10 kids in the Hope for the Hopeless program. I encourage you to check out their website to learn more about them. (www.hopeforthehelpless.org) This ministry works closely with C & E, and you can see pictures on the blog from the day I went to their tutoring and bible study program. The young man, Andre, who runs the program here keeps very busy. Every other week he is in the schools checking on the sponsored kids and once a month he goes to the home to do the same. Every Saturday they come for tutoring and Bible study. This isn't just pay some school fees and that's it, there is a lot of accountability.

"The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and wonderful results." - James 5:16

Keep praying.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma - Day 9

The power was out all night, but I was able to get the blog out thanks to the generator. At about 3:30pm the power came back one.

Esther left for Bukavu early this morning and arrived there safely about 2 hours later.

Our plan for the morning was to do a half-day seminar at Lake Kivu’s Christian Centers ‘International School of Evangelism’ on the outskirts of Goma. Patrick and I gave medical supplies to a medical clinic in this area back in April. The schools focus is to train up evangelists and then release them back to their homes to do the work God called them to do. They are in classes every morning and then in the afternoon they have various jobs to do, including agriculture. They take the model from the Apostle Paul who called himself a tent maker. I was amazed that none of the students are from Goma, the people in Goma think it is too far out of town, about 10 minute drive. The students are from all over the country and as far away as Kinshasa. I taught one session on the role of the church and another one the role of the leader. They were very eager to learn and after each session we had a good Q & A time. Everywhere that I have been able to teach there is a visual hunger for the Word. They really take what was taught and struggle at time to see how that looks in their life. It is really what we should be doing, not just hearing a message, but struggling to see the application in our lives.

Back at the house Camille and I had a very introspect discussion, and we are more alike that I first thought. We (they, I took a pause to type this while the power is back) are working some new shelving in their house. We (again they) are rearranging the studio to make room for a couple guys that will be here for a couple weeks to record a dramatic portrayal of the Bible.

It has been nice to have a little non speaking work this afternoon, although I could use a nap. I am looking forward to the plane ride home; actually I am looking forward to sleeping the whole way home.

For those who have been to Kinshasa before or those of you have seen the photos, remember the VW vans with 20 or so people in them? I have got another crazy one for you. At the end of last week, I told you about giving the sowing machine and supplies to women going back to their villages. That night we helped get one women, her baby, her sowing machine still in the box, and a large bag of her personal items off to her village…on a 125 motorcycle! She had her baby tied to her back and the sewing machine on her lap. The taxi driver (motorcycle was the taxi) had her bag in front of him on the gas tank. This journey a little was away, cost less than 1000fc, which is about $2. I thought this was crazy, but everyone looked at me like I was the crazy one. You would be amazed at what people carry on these motorcycles. We would use a truck or SUV, and they use a motorcycle. I have seen women with large bags on their lap with their toddler sitting on the gas tank! These ‘taxi’ drivers are crazy drivers, and not crazy fun, but crazy bad.

I do not think I have ever been this exhausted on one of these trips. For me, preparing to speak and then speaking is more tiring than all the manual labor I have done in the past.

Your prayers are working, don’t stop.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma Pictures

Hope for the Helpless
Hope for the Helpless
Hope for the Helpless
A precious one.
Last weeks Conference.

Goma - Day 8

The early mornings keep getting earlier and earlier. I was up last night working the message for the first church and was having difficulty because of being so tired.
I decided to go to bed and get up at 5am to finish preparing and then ready to leave the house by 7:15am. The first service was at Heal Africa’s chapel and was attended by 200 or so people. Many of the people were women from Heal Africa’s programs. I preached on healing, that Jesus wants to heal and that we need to have some faith in our prayers as we ask for healing. I primarily used the passage in Mark 5 with the synagogue leader wanting healing for his daughter and the women how had been bleeding for 12 years touching Jesus’ robe for healing. At the end I asked for anyone who wanted healing to stand and raise a hand to God. I wanted to pray with each person individually, but I would still be there if I did that, so I had to do a collective prayer of healing for all. It was a very anointed time and I am looking forward to the testimony of healed hearts, minds and bodies.

We swung by home and grabbed a quick breakfast before heading to La Source Church. La Source is one of the original French speaking churches in Goma and the place was jump’n in worship. I spoke out of Ezekiel 22, the need for someone to stand in the gap. The church is the one that sound stand on the gap between how things are today and how there are meant to be. The church should be the catalyst for change in the world. Message seemed to be received well and after the service we sat down with the pastors and elders for a piece of cake a beverage.

We had lunch with Hayward, the US diplomat I had met at the end of last week. C & E shared with him what they are involved with and he wanted their take on the over all situation in Goma.

Back at the house, about 5:30pm, we decided to sit out side and relax. The weather had a different plan as a light sprinkle turn into a downpour with thunder and lightening. I think it has rained about evening since I arrived. As I type this power is out and I am using my flashlight to type.

Tomorrow I will be doing a morning seminar at a school for evangelists. I will be using some of the same material I used last week, plus some new material I need to finish preparing tonight.

Pray without ceasing!

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

PS. Sometimes I add pictures a day later to these posts because of connection speed. So if you don't see a picture, check back later.

Goma - Day 7

Early morning again today as I preached at Heal Africa's employee chapel service. Spoke on the importance of taking out burdens to Jesus, in fact HE asks us to do so. The verse says,"Come to me all who are weak and carrying heaven burdens and I will give you rest." That is an amazing promise and when you think of the context of our world, we will not continue moving forward unless we release our burdens to Jesus. After the service I had a few hours until I was to go to Hope for Helpless. I spent the time napping, relaxing, working out, and getting ready for Sunday. I accepted another speaking invitation for Sunday morning. I will speak in one church for their 7am service, then go to another church for their 10am service.

I went to Hope for the Helpless (hopeforthehelpless.com) in the afternoon. This is a ministry which sponsor children in school but does so much more than that. On top of the school fees, uniforms, shoes, and school supplies they provide, they have tutoring, and bible study every Saturday. Children are expected to come every Saturday and if they do no they are followed up with. I was given the opportunity to speak to the kids and I was truly blessed. We ran out and picked up cokes and bread for all the kids. I observed one girl, about 14, doing a little dance while she ate. Andre said she was happy and I ask why. He gave an amazing answer, "because she is eating!" Wow! We need to see how we can plug into this ministry with sponsorship, and help with food for bible study and tutoring times. There is also vision for a basic structure to help to protect kids from the sun and rain. After the Saturday meeting was done, we packed kids into C & E's two suv's and dropped them off close to home. The kids in my suv enjoyed my driving. I pretended that we where all in my Mini, they where laughing hard, especially the boys in the very back.

Esther is going to Bukavu on Monday to keep the "Breaking the Silence" movement moving. The governor of South Kivu was moved by the victims stories and she wants to discuss how the government can help make keeping women safe a reality. She purchased her ticket (travel to Bukavu by 'high' speed boat) next to nice hotel on Lake Kivu. We decided to have dinner there and as we sat we could see the coast of the DRC and Rwanda. It was a very relaxing time.

Pray for Esther's upcoming trip, for protect and favor.
Pray for the continue healing of Camille's leg, recovering from muscle tear. Cast to be on until Wednesday.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

PS. The two girls in the picture are in the Hope for the Helpless program. They are both 8 years old and last year were both victims of sexual violence.

Goma - Day 6

Normally I have all week to prepare to speak at our weekend services. With all the speaking I am doing, I have the night before to get ready for the following day. I did not think that cramming in college was good but it is paying off. This morning I spoke at Heal Africa (www.healafrica.org). The meeting consisted of all employees, volunteers and those in there various programs about 350 people. There was a team from a Baptist church in Brisbane Australia who has been doing a lot of great work. Their team consisted of Doctors, Dentists and teachers, a very valuable combination for Goma. I met a guy from Berkley, California who taught the women how to produce peanut butter for malnourished children. The peanut butter consisted of peanuts, sugar, milk and vitamins.

I met a diplomat from the US embassy in Kinshasa who was in Goma to assess the situation. He had heard about Esther’s Breaking the Silence rally and wanted to learn more. With him was the assistant regional security officer for the US embassy in Kinshasa. Nice guy and he gave his contact information for the next time I’m in Kinshasa. His card says that he is a ‘Diplomatic Security Service Special Agent’. I am not sure what that means, but sounds cool to have special agent on your business card. I wonder if I can get the title of special agent put on my card, Michael Freeman, ‘Special Agent for Advancing the Kingdom’, sounds good.

I went and bought 5 sewing machines, scissors, thread and tape measures for five women that will be leaving Heal Africa to go back to their villages. They will be equipped to provide for themselves and I pray that God will protect them from further violence, sexual or otherwise.

I spoke at Restoration for their Thursday night meeting. The meeting start at 3:30pm but they said I did not need to be their until about 4:15 or 4:30. Within a few minutes of arriving, I was preaching. I used Mathew 13, Jesus telling the story of the different kinds of soil and the seed. My translator was very animated and he helped me to kick it up a few notches. The message seemed to be received well and there was a good response.

After the meeting we went to Heal Africa where Esther and Dieudonne were leading a meeting of the women who are recovering from sexual violence. I was asked to share a few words and I was honored. These are amazing women and they really believe in Jehovah-Rapha, God is my healer. There were 5 women who where leaving to go back to their villages and one by one I present each women with a sowing machine and supplies. They were so overjoyed that they all started dancing and singing. They were so appreciative and I know that this project is something that we need to be a part of going forward. I took pictures, but because of darkness they did not turn out.

It’s now 7:30pm and I think I am done for the evening. I am not sure of the plan for tomorrow and that will determine if I have other things to prepare.

All is well, keep praying.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma - Day 5

Day two of the conference had me teaching on unity in the church and love for your neighbor. To teach these topics in the DRC context is very different that at home. They have dealt and continue to deal with so much, that to live the disciple of Jesus life in difficult. I thought life was tough in OC, but this puts my life into a whole new light. The workshop time produced a lot of discussion especially when it came to breaking down the national, denominational, social, gender and tribal walls. I pray that these church leaders can take these tough messages back and live them out. If this area, even the world is going to change, than it is the church that needs to rise up and be the catalyst for the change.

I am working with Esther on a plan to help their learning center. She has a great vision but lacks the resources to make it a reality. There is good potential for a team trip here and I hope that people start asking God if He want s them to ome to Goma. I am also working to supply 5 women with sowing machines. When these women come to Goma to recover from injuries due to sexual violence, they are also taught skills so they can provide for themselves. Many are taught sowing but for them to buy a sowing machine is out of the question due to the expense ($80). There are five women who have recover and are ready to go back to there villages. We are working to purchase the sowing machines for them.

Tomorrow I am teaching at Heal Africa and then preaching at The Restoration Church in the afternoon.

Pray for Congo.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma - Day 4

Short night, only about 4 hours sleep, but I started my day with P90X, which got by blood flowing.

Our schedule consisted of the seminar, which I was the guest speaker. We (well, Camille) contacted a Pastor from Heal Africa to come and translate for me. Not all the Pastor’s can speak French so Swahili needed to be the main language. Not many can translate from English to Swahili but this guy was good and passionate. Camille translates when going from English to French, but his Swahili is not good enough for speaking on that level.

The two main sessions went well, over 90 Pastors in attendance. God spoke to me and though me in such a freeing way. I spoke for over an hour at each sessions and the time seemed to fly by for me. I did not see anyone sleeping, so I think it went well for the listeners also. There was a pause café (coffee break) in between sessions and a workshop after the second sessions. There where 10 different groups who had predetermined questions to answer. They spent about an hour in there groups and then where fed lunch. After lunch each group reported their answers to the questions we asked. The two main questions were: Has the church fulfilled its roll in North Kivu? & Have Pastors fulfilled their roll in North Kivu? I was insightful hearing the answers as most said they have fallen short. One group referenced a passage I taught on in Ezekiel 34, talking about the self-serving shepherd. As this women presented her groups answers, there where a lot of sounds of agreement in the room. This time was followed by and boisterous time of prayer. It was a great day 1 of the conference. The pictures are from the conference and the picture of me is at the request of Patrick Peterman, who was with me in Goma earlier this year.

I got to drive right hand drive SUV today. It was tricky enough driving here, but now on the other side of the car I felt all out of balance. Fortunately, not incidents major or minor.

If you have any questions about what you have read, you can comment on the blog and I will get it. Your comment may not end up for public viewing, that’s my option.

Keep praying.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma - Day 3

Tuesday found us with restored mobility around Goma. Driving around the only remnants of the previous days trouble was a few looted stores and a UN presence on the main street. The talk among the people is that would rather see the UN out fighting the warlord that sitting on the main road.

Esther and I went with Pastor Ushindi from the Nazarene Church of Goma, to visit a school that is part of their association of churches and schools. It was a fantastic school that focused on educating the children in French. This is important because if the children grown up only speaking Swahili, then there education and job opportunities will be severely limit. This school also has focused time of prayer and bible study throughout the week. Esther and I walked through each class, which went from preschool (3 & 4 year olds) through 6th grade. At least one child from each class presented themselves speaking French to show us how much they had learned. There is a need for child education sponsorship, which cost $60 per year per child. Thanks to Pastor Karie’s “Change Africa” campaign, we will be sponsoring some children. I will be looking into another opportunity to help vulnerable children on Saturday.

I was scheduled to speak to the women of C & E’s (Camille & Esther) church in the afternoon. I was asked to speak the day before and quickly accepted without thinking that I have never spoken to all women’s crowd. But I committed so…

On the way to the meeting, Esther and I stopped by a boutique of hand made goods. These items are made from women involved in a Catholic program that helps them recover from sexual violence. Esther initiated an event called “Women Breaking the Silence”, which had women who were the victims of sexual violence sharing their stories with government and other important officials. The mission was to bring the reality of the situation into the faces of those that can do something about it. The picture of the girl with Esther is one of the individuals who broke the silence. Her name is Mado and she is eleven years old. I will be going back to that boutique and purchasing things that we can sell at church to further support our Congo missions.

The meeting with the women was fantastic, I was so blessed to be able to share with them. God spoke a message of equality, empowerment and importance to women who are part of a male dominated society. The whole time I spoke, their ears were fixed on every word. It was a truly blessed time.

At night we had a great time of prayer thanking God for he day and asking his direction for the next. God convicted me of my concern for all the speaking at the upcoming conference. It felt good to confess and ask God to forgive me, it was no freeing. After prayer I sat down at the table and God poured into me as I wrote my notes for the first day of the seminar. My first two topics are The Role of the Church and the second is The Role of the Pastor. The over all topic of the conference is “The Role of the Church in Times of Crisis”.

Tomorrow will be a full day with the conference.

Continue to pray.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma - Day 2

Because of the events from last night, we had to stay on the down-low today. It turns out that there was wide spread looting and the burning of a gas station believe to be owed by the warlord. All NGO'S(non government organizations) were told to stay in today for fear of more violence. People seem to be looking for someone to blame and willing to take it out on anyone. We have been told and it has been verified that many check points have be setup by the government limiting movement in the hopes of calming things down.

So todays initial plan was to begin a seminar outside Goma for pastors which was cancelled due to fighting at the end of last week. The new plan was to visit an orphanage and to see how we (PraiseWorks) can get involved. That was postponed to to the trouble last night.

So I spent the day preparing for other scheduled speaking engagements, specifically a seminar to begin on Wednesday. Camille had me go into the studio to record a message on the role of Pastors. I found it difficult to sit in front of a microphone and preach. I did it bare foot but that did not seem to help. Maybe I will give it another try tomorrow.

I am well and well taken care of.

Grace and Peace,

Michael.

Goma - Day 1

After 20 hours of plane travel, 12 hours in layovers and a 4 hour can ride, I arrived at the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo(DRC). The border closes to vehicle traffic at 6pm and to foot traffic at 8pm, and we arrived at 7:55pm. We (Esther and Jonettle who works with Camille) quickly got ourselves through the border on foot to a waiting car driven by Clark a friend of the Ntoto's. Camille could not come get us as he tore a muscle in his right calf and was put in a full length cast for a week to immobilize the leg.

On Sunday we went to New Song Evangelistic Church, where I was the guest preacher. The message was received well and about 8 people made decisions to follow Jesus and be doers of the Word not just hearers. (See James 1:19-25) After church we went and had lunch on Lake Kivu in Rwanda. It was a nice time to relax and begin to catch up on life with Camille and Esther. Back in Goma, we began to strategize for the next week.

Some fighting broke out not too far outside Goma tonight. The word on the street is that MONUC (UN force in the DRC), mistakenly bombed a DRC military position that was keeping a dangerous warlord back. He since taken the position previously help by government troops. The injured and dead were brought back to Goma to the General Hospital. The governor came to check on the situation and the people began to throw stones at him, holding him responsible. The police came and had to use force to disburse the crowd. It's 9:15pm and things are quiet and we will reassess the situation in the morning.

Pray for Goma. Pray for the DRC. Pray for Camille, Esther & me.

Grace & Peace.

Michael.

New Adventure to Goma

On September 18 I will be leaving on a trip to Goma, which is in the DRC on the border with Rwanda. This is an area that continues to be devistated by waring factions with the greatest atrosicties against women. Violence against women is ramped and there does not seem to be an end in sight. Much is being done through organizations such as Heal Africa and Light of Africa Network(LoAN) to help nurse these victims back to physical, emotional and spiritual health. The real challenge is to stop the circle of violence so communities and a nation can heal for an endless time of strife. I will be working with LoAN to reach out to the men to begin to teach them what it means to be a man. The following is an except from an email I received from Camille Ntoto who is the field coordinator for LoAN:

We are going to work closely with Pastors equipping them with the tools they need to best assist those in dire need of God’s comfort. Here are my thoughts:
1) The identity of the church, body of Christ (agent of Love and Salvation).
2) Why should we care? (an idea of biblical aspects of social justice)
3) What do we need in order to be a good shepherd of God’s sheep?
4) How can the church effectively break social, economic, racial, tribal, GENDER divides/injustices in our community?
5) Examples of Jesus; The Good Shepard: The Idea of a Good Pastor.
6) Empowering the survivors of abuse with the encouraging Words of God: Turning Pain to Power.
7) The Importance of Reconciliation: with God, Self, and Others.

The task ahead is extensive, but I believe that God has already equipped us to be victorious. Pray for favor. Pray for protection. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray for peace. Pray that God's will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

Grace & Peace,

Michael.