Wednesday, April 20 leaving Kinshasa
The driver of our taxi takes Erik and I into the center of Kinshasa to check in my baggage for the return flight. On his dash board is a huge bumper sticker with the words: «With Jesus-Christ you are never alone». I ask him if he really believes these words and he says «Yes». In the Congo there are many Christians but one never knows how many are true believers.
The check in at Brussels Airlines is at a different address from the office. I show my passport and everything is in order. Each time I am asked the itinerary of my flights as if I am supposed to get another connecting flight in Brussels. Maybe because I have an American passport. I explain again that my flight ends in Brussels. I live there.
We have time to spend a few more minutes with Hubert Miyimi in his office down town. This is a large building across from the Belgian Embassy. His office is on the third floor, nicely decorated and with air conditioning. A secretary welcomes us. At one time this was a very nice building with offices and stores lining the large corridors. But the white marble is now broken in places, not enough lighting, escalators not running. We have one last visit with Hubert and a time of prayer. He shares with us his concerns for the dishonesty and corruption in the land, even among Christians, and the fact that this holds back a lot of progress.
Returning to the car, we find the driver trying to fix a flat tire. He didn’t have a jack nor the right wrench, so went to a nearby open-air garage, like so many in Kinshasa, and borrowed the jack and wrench that would fit his bolts. This taxi is an Opel Kadett and in fairly good condition.
In spite of this and all the time spent getting through traffic on bad congested roads to the airport, we manage to get there early. Another Congolese is there waiting with us, and we get acquainted. It turns out that he is the Chief of the office for the International Criminal Police Organisation (Interpol) for Congo. He is very friendly and interested in the work at Matende and offers his help if we would ever need it. When I mention the problem of getting a tractor for Matende, he tells me to send him the formal request and maybe he can try to get the need presented to the government.
Maybe I will end up getting more help from waiting at the airport, than from all these visits in downtown Kinshasa the past three days. Now it is time to say good-bye to Erik. He is so thankful that the trip went well, without any accidents or sickness during the whole time we were traveling. We thank the Lord as we did in the office together with our friend Hubert.
When I show my passport to the immigration officer at the airport, he sees that I have quite a few visas from past travel to the Congo. I ask him if it wold be easier if I had the Congo nationality? He gives me his name and telephone number and tells me to contact him on my next trip and he could arrange to get me a permanent visa since I was born in Congo. Of course it would cost $1500 which is a lot of money. The visa I got this time was for 6 months and is good until the end of August. (cost $300).
I go through security, my handbag is controlled and alas, I forgot to take out my pocket knife and a pair of scissors plus some rechargable batteries. I have to leave them behind. Why didn’t I didn’t remember to put them in my luggage?
I take my seat in the plane back in the last row for the overnight flight back to Brussels. The Chief of Police is up in business class but we meet again in the luggage claim area after the plane lands, and I help him get through the airport to the train that will take him in to Brussels. From there he goes to Lyon, France, for meeting with 250 Interpol chief officers.
Thursday, April 21 back in Belgium
Charlotte meets me at the airport and we drive home. I am happy to be back. Tired after a night flight, but aware of all the comforts and even luxuries we enjoy. It’s good to take a nice warm shower with the shower head up above me, the first time in eight weeks, since in Congo it was always a bucket of cold water on the floor. I had several weeks without looking in a mirror. So it is possible to live without certain comforts that we too easily take for granted. And I was always thankful for each bucket of water knowing how hard it is to carry by hand.
During this two-month trip to the heart of Africa, I was constantly filled with joy and satisfaction at the thought of being able to contribute something, even though small and often just encouragement and sharing of vision. This far surpassed any discomforts endured. To take part in the life of others who are struggling day in and day out for years helps us understand why they tend to loose hope and give up or lack initiative.
The greatest satisfaction is in knowing that we have done what God asked us to do, even though we see that we have only just begun. There is still so much to be done, and the needs are staggering. We need to take time to seek God’s will, wait on Him. We will be meeting with people here in Belgium, planning, do accounting, reports, write letters, and start thinking about how to organize a future trip, maybe in August.
Thank you to all of you who have followed my trip by reading the updates, by your prayers, gifts, and encouragements and for your interest in the project Congo Open Heart. May God bless you.
Bud Kroeker as well as the Congolese team, Erik Kumedisa, and all who had a part.
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