Rethy, Congo

Last week I got to go with seven other missionaries from a German mission organization to Rethy, Congo. It was my first time to visit and while they were going to repair a hydroelectric dam as well as a radio, they had graciously invited us (although there ending up being only one seat) to join their team to get a feel for what the church was like in that region of Congo. Rethy is a small village of sorts nestled back up in the Congolese mountains which plunge down into Lake Albert. It was absolutely beautiful country (a good reminder of the joy of Africa) and the roads to Rethy added a unique combination of excitement, danger, and adventure. Before the relatively recent troubles and war in northeastern Congo, there was a huge missionary presence in Rethy and the surrounding area. While they all had to be evacuated ten years ago, the church’s hydroelectric dam still supplies power for the region and the church’s radio station still offers the good news of Jesus. My short time there was filled with hiking up and down the rather steep incline to the generator house, talking with local church leadership and even helping adjust radio antennas from atop the thirty meter radio tower. Getting to climb the radio tower was an unexpected surprise but it was an absolute blast to be back in a climbing harness and the view from close to a hundred feet over the countryside was fantastic. One of the joys of the mission field is you never know what opportunities will open up.
The greatest blessing about the experience was the time with the other missionaries as well as the local church leaders (see pastor Luchi pictured). One missionary couple in particular had been in East Africa for over thirty years and they were a fount of wisdom, humor, and possible ministry suggestions as well as cautions. There is no substitute for experience. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!
The other tremendous encouragement was that almost no one in Rethy spoke English. It was only the local dialect, French, or Swahili! I spoke (or at least attempted) more Swahili in those three days then maybe I have spoken in the last three months! It was exhausting but the incredible thing was I was able to have whole conversations and while they were limited and at times bumpy, they were in Swahili! Hallelujah! Praise God Forever! Thank you so much for your language prayers. Please keep praying! Since moving to Arua, we have found Swahili speakers but many of them also speak English and thus we find it hard to keep trying when the easier option is available. Please pray Jesus continues to give us His Swahili game plan.
Overall, the trip was eye opening and we got a precious goodbye from hundreds of children that came to see us off. This last weekend our field director and his wife visited us to see how we are settling in to Arua. The time with them was an encouragement as we were able to talk and process out loud some of the various possibilities for what God might want to do. Whether He wants us to train in Rethy, we do not know yet, but He continues to lead us to people who desire to be trained. Pray with us that we can patiently wait not just for good opportunities but His best for us and our team.
We are so glad to report that Jesus kindly took care of Joanna while I was away and she has done an incredible job of continuing to get us settled. Marori (our dog) has also arrived from Kampala for which we are most glad. Thank you for your continued prayers as we seek to balance relationships (both nationals as well as other missionaries) with daily challenges to just live life. Hallelujah! Praise God Forever!