Kinshasa to Goma

Wednesday was to be our travel day, but we were sold tickets for a flight that did not exist. So, we spent the morning at L’Arche church meeting with Pastors on staff and interns. We were sharing the vision for Sons of Congo and looking for their input. We are looking for an in country lead and this was a group of potential candidates. We also spent more time with Pastor Nsembe, getting a tour of the church under construction, and video taping his testimony and vision for the church. He is a great man of God! When our time with him was finished, he took a really nice stature off his desk and gave it to me in thanks for my input at his church.

With new tickets for the Thursday flight, we had to rush to pack and check out bags in. Here you check in you bags for domestic flights the night before you leave. It does make is much easier going to the airport with only a backpack to worry about. The check in process was also chaotic, with people wanting to help carry things and generally wanting to get some money for doing next to nothing. We had a nice dinner with the Turner’s and it was time to say good-bye to Kinshasa.


Thursday was a day of travel. We had the 8am flight out of Kinshasa into Goma, which meant we had, be out of the house by 5:45am. Our plan was to catch the CAA bus to the airport, which we had some reservations about. Turn out fine, ok bus that was only half full. You would think that a domestic flight would be less of a process, but no. Various check points and processes that seemed excessive to me. It was a hassle to get to the gate for departure, but we made it unscathed. Seating again was first come, first serve, so we made sure we got on the plane quickly. Got the exit row again! Flight was a now event, it went up when it was supposed to, and came down when it was supposed to. In Goma, it was a hassled to get through immigration as Camille attempted to handle us as a group. That set a worker over the edge, yelling at Camille and myself. We got through, received out bags, and we were out of there.

Good to be back in the Ntoto home, peaceful and great weather. After lunch Patrick and I crashed hard for a couple hours, then off to the English Bible study. At church we quickly discovered there was no bible study due to a conference that was going on. We had diner plans at a friend’s house, so after some conversation we were off. We had dinner at the home of Omer and Odette, friends of the Ntoto’s. They have a very nice home and are excellent hosts.

Looking back it was a slow day, but it was good to catch my breath before the final stretch of my trip.

More to come.

Grace and Peace,

Michael