Appleseed Travel Journal

May 20, 2014 — Some of the things I love about Africa

Roger

They will always make time to greet you and catch up on your life. No one ever says, "It's good to see you but I need to run off just now."
There is a deep gratitude just for being alive. How many times I hear, "I had this accident or this disease, but I was just so grateful to still be alive." Hmm…
Tea and coffee is really good, no disrespect to Starbucks (okay, maybe a little). Though I would still like to see more decaf at times.
Older people with white hair are considered very wise and very much worth listening to. Since my own hair could not possibly be any whiter, much respect comes my way that is real and genuine.
Worship, without the benefit of musical instruments, is always amazing. Incredible harmonies and rhythm fill a room from just their voices and heaven always seems to visit. Oh, and my feet just seem to start to move without telling them to. It's very contagious.
Friends are like family. When you develop relationships, they expect you will be part of their family for life and you feel that loyalty and bond that says, "I may not have much, but I would gladly give up what I do have for you."

May 15, 2014 — Words Given

Brooks

map of East Africa (May 1) As I write, sitting on our bed, mosquito net hanging down, I listen to the bleating of a goat no doubt missing it's mom and a thousand crickets chirping the night away. Massive Lake Kivu sits proudly a short distance away dividing Rwanda from DR Congo. Feeling small and insignificant in a continent of turmoil and distrust interspersed with periods of stability, I am once again reminded of the greatness of our God. As David declared, "I look at the heavens and know that you are there … and who could deny it?"

Friends before leaving told us things they felt the spirit of God saying. Using words like structure and breakthrough and tree top vision…

"You will see deeply imbedded foundations of evil (strongholds) breaking up and opening the way for deeper more enduring levels of ministry. It will occur in the lives of leaders (behaviors/mind sets etc.) and in area structures (leaders/power bases etc.) that have hindered in previous ministry efforts."

(May 13) After only two weeks in Africa, I can confidently say, these words are becoming reality. We are blessed, encouraged, and strengthened as we continue to work … now in Burundi.

May 13, 2014 — Thomas (a pseudonym)

Brooks

Sometimes I feel like I inundate you with how and what is going on in the "work" of ministry when we travel, perhaps missing the most important aspect of what we are doing: our developing relationships with men and women who are passionate about Jesus and reach every man, woman and child in their nations with the message of hope that will not only transform their own lives, but their family's and their countries.

So, let me tell you about just one of these giants in the Kingdom:

Thomas

Thomas is Congolese and in his mid thirties. He's also an amazing musician. During the war (one of many) in his homeland of Eastern DR Congo, he escaped and went into Kenya. There he learned English and through a myriad of years and experiences ended up in a large church in Nairobi where he was the worship leader. That church grew and grew until finally there were three services every Sunday because of all the people.

In some of the church structures in East Africa there is a hierarchy, beginning with the Pastor and the Pastor's wife. When the pastor is away, the pastor's wife takes over. There is the constant pressure for those under them—the staff, the elders, the people—to please the pastor in order to receive the blessings of health and prosperity from God. Once I was even told the pastor's wife took a collection from the people so she could buy new clothes and makeup because what would people think of her church if she looked just "like that."

One day Thomas, who was married by that time and had three children, was called into the pastor's wife's office. She railed at him for this and that and told him to leave and never come back. Hurt, rejected and feeling completely beaten up by those he had served and loved, he and his family returned to Goma, his vulnerable and oftentimes volatile home in the Congo. Today he lives there. It's a hard life … war threatens daily, the volcano looms over the ever expanding city because of the people streaming in from the villages trying to escape soldier or rebel attacks on them and their families, poverty is rampant. Money is scarce, living day to day for food, rent, school fees, medical needs, and clothes is common. Yet, Thomas, even with what his "family" has done to him, destroying his life of economic stability, not to mention his emotional or spiritual health, continues to look to God for love and comfort and purpose. Today he serves his neighbors and even the far away refugees in the camps with love and compassion; he walks among the poor proclaiming the Good News, undaunted by his experiences. It's people, not God who has let him down. Please pray for this man; challenges are ever present … without God, he has nothing; with God, we know and can agree that all things are possible.

Refugee camp

Goma, DRC

Congolese church planters

May 10, 2014 — Seeds that Bear Fruit and a Healing

Roger

Two years ago, Josue jumped on the back of motor scooter for a several hour ride from Goma (Eastern Congo) to a southern village Makobola. He heard that our training was taking place and he wanted to be there.

A few months later, Josue took his family and fled to Uganda when the rebels took over Goma. However, he had planted the seeds of church planting in two other young men, Etienne and Oyelo, who remained in Goma and carried the vision.

This past week, we saw the fruit of this as we met with this emerging team in Goma for the first time.

We told them to bring only leaders who have started more than one church so that we could encourage the most fruitful leaders. They brought 20 men and women!

What a joy to look around and see a harvest that started with one persistent man just a couple of short years ago!

Amazing how God works! When Josue first showed up by motorbike two years ago, my own skepticism naturally kicked in: "Well, he's so far away, who will support him?" "Will he really know enough to get started?" "Can anything good come from that troubled city of Goma?" But God always knows what He's doing despite our doubts and worries. He is, truly, so good!

A Story of Healing

Joyce One woman, Joyce, described how God worked a miracle for a neighbor as they reached out to her:

We learned of a woman who had been sick for some time so we went to visit her. She was Catholic, by religion, who did a lot of good works for people in need, ministering to orphans, etc. But she was not born again. She did not know a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Because of her sickness she had not been able to work.

I began working with her to understand the Word of God and to see how much God loved her and wanted her to know Him personally. She gave her life to Christ and also received the Holy Spirit during that time. As soon as this happened, God completely healed her. Today, she is so happy and she has a desire to reach out to her entire church and neighbors.

Seeds are sprouting thanks to all of you!

May 6, 2014 — Volcanos and other Eruptions in Goma, DR Congo

Brooks

Day 2 of first level training is over … tomorrow we meet with seven key leaders. They are the ones who are in the field, training others.

What these folks live with is unimaginable to us … between the ever-present poverty and trying to have enough money for housing, food and school fees, there is also the constant threat of war with bombs being launched into the city, as well as rebels and/or soldiers wreaking havoc in streets and homes. And, standing quietly in the very short distance is a volcano that could erupt any time. Mamas explain to me that as long as you can see at night that the rim around the top is red, there is no threat of eruption. Otherwise, the gases are gathering and it will blow, which just walking anywhere is quite obvious that it has happened before with all of the lava rock roads, walls, gravel and piles of huge pieces of red, dimpled stones everywhere. Yet people come and go and carry on. They say, "What can we do? We must live."

In the face of such destruction for generations, it seems to me that cities, in particular Goma, have survived amidst such devastation for some purpose. I can't help but believe looking into the faces of these 18 men and women that sparks of hope and light are being sprinkled throughout that vast city. Perhaps the darkness of oppression in Eastern Congo will be dispelled by such as the likes of these. Jesus did it with 12; I'm quite confident he can do it with 18!

Love,
Brooks

Here are some new pictures for today:

John Omondi from Kenya