Day 14

Our day got off to an EARLY start - church at 6:30 - yes that is A.M. !! Pastor Darrell thinks that should work in Killarney. Any comments ? After a heartwarming farewell service, and some tearful good byes, we made a quick stop back at our house to pick up our luggage. Actually, Lee,Ruth,Joel & Laura almost got to the border without any luggage or id because that's where our driver thought he was supposed to take us. We thought that the road was a little unfamiliar and then we had to try to communicate with our limited French - we really should have paid attention in French class in school ! We made it back through the Congo border crossing and then the Rwanda border crossing. Five minutes from the border we caught our plane back to Kigali. Darrell & Sharon seemed to enjoy this trip much more than the trip in on the bus. We leave Kigali tomorrow afternoon at about 4 pm local time.

Day 10

November 9, Sunday
And what a Sunday it was!! Joel & Laura left at 6:30 to go teach Sunday School in Bethsaida Church. Turned out they were helping the regular teachers. There were perhaps 75 – 100 children from the area surrounding the church. The church is in the middle of a very needy area of the city. Joel & Laura were very humbled to see these children come forward to give an offering!! There was also a time for the children to chare a testimony of what God has done for them. Many children were eager to share!
Lee & Ruth & Doreen left at 7:30 to go to Sayuni Church. The choir for each of the services was incredible!! I asked if we could bring one home, they said that would make them very happy. We had a little trouble tracking down an interpreter. They finally found a visiting pastor who could help. We still had a few difficulties though, because when they asked Pastor Lee’s wife to stand and pray, we were told to stand up and we all stood!! The congregation of 1000 groaned and whispered the same way we would if we thought our guest speaker had 2 wives! I think someone straightened it out, but there is a lot of teasing happening here! The second service had between 2000 – 3000 people, and we were unable to stay for the third service.
Pastor Darrell and Sharon left around 8:00 for the Bethsaida Church. They found it very encouraging and a blessing was prayed over the church in Canada.
Somehow, we were all gathered again for lunch at home, and then off for a cruise on the lake. There were upwards of 300 people, church people and dignitaries, on board. We were quickly ushered up to the top level into a beautiful room with areas for visiting and 2 closed circuit cameras to watch and hear the live band. The worship music continued throughout the entire journey … top volume! We were also able to sit on top out in the open. The scenery and the music and singing made for an experience that will last in all of our memories for a very long time!
More later. Missing all of you. Thank you for your prayers.
The team in the Congo

Day 9

Hi there we are doing well and getting ready for the Sunday services here. Doreen will be speaking at the mother church and there could be 2000 in the two service that she will be speaking at Joel will be speaking at a smaller church and I will be speaking at our host church. We had a great day today i was able to help in a baptism service which was a real honor. Following the baptism we went to visit the Watoto (children) there was 40 of them gathered we were able to present them some toys and share with them. It was a great day.

Day 8

Hi Killarney;
Here we are once again. (Stan, we are having problems logging into the internet most days, this does not mean I have died.) This morning the ladies went to a sewing class. We will bring some samples for you …. I think you are in for a surprise. The ladies were using a treadle singer and one with a handle on the control wheel. They have about 25 women in the group and they spend most of their time waiting in line to use the machines.
Lee and Ruth went to the hospital and spent the morning listening to the staff debate treatments in French! They are having some difficulty finding a translator. They are trying to make a list of supplies that we could send.
Pastor Darrell and Pastor Raha went to the university to have a tour with the rector.
We were taken to a beautiful restaurant for lunch, followed by musicians playing outside. It was wonderful!
The ladies decided to forego the afternoon revival meeting and rest (in the market). We walked a short distance from home and found a cab. The three of us together with the driver took up all available seating. However, a pedestrian seemed to think we were going his way too! He joined us in the back seat. I hear the layered look is in?! I think we went to ‘superstore’. The check outs had computer screens and handheld scanners. No cash drawer, however, just someone sitting with cash in his hand. Everywhere we went people were whispering behind their hands “wazungu” …. that’s us. We are having some difficulty blending!
In the morning, the men are going to a village to have look at the harsh realities that represent the countryside. Pastor Raha feels it would be too difficult for the women.
Pastor Darrell just asked me to do 2 days for the blog. I did yesterday already, so I can only assume he wants me to do tomorrow??! I think I’ll just leave that for now.
Coming to you from the Congo
(you should see the bugs!)
Killarney team

Day 6

Hi Killarney from the Congo. This morning Ruth & Lee left us to go to the hospital. They were there for the arrival of 6 emergencies. It sound like they will be able to offer quite a bit to the system here.
We ladies went to a ladies gathering. The music was spectacular! I think we died and went to Heaven! (It must have been on that road trip from Kigali.) Sharon was the guest speaker, and did a beautiful job of sharing. It seemed to be greatly appreciated by the approx. 700 guests!

We are just back from the “evening service”. (3:00 – 5:00) Pastor Darrell delivered a message on salvation and invited people to join in prayer at the end. After that, Pastor Raha asked for those wanting healing to come forward. After the alter area was full, we prayed with them.
Wishing you a “delightfully fresh and each” evening. (we picked that up from the toothpick bottle. Do you like it?)
Stan, I have a question, when I spoke to you on the phone, you said “where are you?! I’ve been gone 5 days, where did you think was?
Sending our love to all at home…..
The Killarney Congo Team

Day 5

Monday, November 3, 2008
Up early (on time this time). The hallway monitor noticed that all Canadians were awake between 12:00am and 3:30am ?!
After a great breakfast, the men left for a meeting with Christian leaders. Darrell had a chance to share with 85 leaders from the city of Bukavu.
After lunch half the group went for a walk down to the Lake. The other half went for a drive down to the slums. We have some footage for you to view.
We are trying to get to bed early because we have an early start tomorrow. In the morning we are taking then medical supplies to the hospital. More then…..
Doreen Lundy reporting live from Bukavu, Congo. (I always wanted to say that)

Day 4

Sunday, November 2
We all slept in !! Pastor Raha had to phone each one of us. He must be wondering about the next 2 weeks. The trip through the Rwanda defies description. We can’t wait to tell you all about it. Lee was an endless source of questions. We have not heard this much from him in all of 2008!!
The scenery was incredible. Saw a man wearing traditional clothes and crocs!
More on that trip when we get home.
Joel and Laura have a bedroom downstairs, Lee and Ruth upstairs, and Darrell and Sharon upstairs. I have the hallway ….. where else would you expect to find a chaperon ? Our plans for Monday have changed. They feel we need more time to rest. It makes me wonder what they noticed?