Field Trip 1

As part of the preparation for an upcomig donor visit, I went on a field trip today, just 15km from Dungu to places called Kpezu and Dungu May, to help prepare the heath centres. Enjoy some of the views. Below is the road to Kpezu.

The journey to the health centeres. People just appear in clearings in the jungle, there are villages hidden in the dense forest. Its crazy really.

The health centre at Dungu May. You can see a Congolese soldier waiting to be treated.

The consultation room in the health centre at Kpezu, its pretty basic conditions. Medair have helped to treat displaced people here for free. An invaluable service, as some IDP`s can`t even afford the most basic treatment for 1$/2$. They have been forced to flee their homes and crops, and sometimes have no income at all.



The health centre at Kpezu. Supported by Medair since the beginning of the LRA conflict in Nov/Dec 2008, early 2009.

More photo`s - Dungu

The truly bizarre chateau in the centre of the Dungu, on the banks of the River Kibali. It was built by a Belgian coloniast, and lies in ruins now.

The Medair base in Dungu, the house was used for elections in Congo in 2006. You can see the satellite dish they used for the elections just left at the house. We have nowehere to store it, and we had told the local administrator several times to pick it up, but nothing, they never came. A bizarre country.



The outisde kitchen at our base in Dungu, with Maman Therese in the picture as well. We cook on charcoal, and we have a bread oven as well.

The Medair Base in Dungu

Flying directly over Dungu

The amazing colour of the Congolese. Women waiting at a heath centre in Dungu

Dungu - Photo`s

There is a significant UN (MONUC) force in Dungu, with troops from Morocco, Indonesia and Bangladesh. This is the entrance to one of their 2 camps

A MONUC helicopter loading up ready to go to Bangadi. One of our medical supervisors was on this flight, but I was not allowed close enough to get anction shot. Bangadi is an extremely insecure area, deeply affected by the LRA crisis.

The incredible landscape of NE Congo

The intense jungle in NE Congo. This is the approach to Dungu by plane...pretty incredible

The Bamokandi district of Dungu, pretty intense jungle. Makes it easy for the LRA to hide and avoid and capture. There was a serious LRA attack here in January and the threat persists. You can see a MONUC tanker in the distance.

The airport in Dungu, built by Indonesian UN (Monuc) Forces. Maybe thats why the sign welcomes you in En glish

Depending on God

Phillipians 4,11-13 is an interesting verse in the bible ive come to appreciate in recent months. `I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

I only have one month left in the Congo, and the last year has not always been easy, lots of ups and downs. Problems ranging from security issues to many changes in the team have led me to depend on God on a daily basis more than I have ever done before. For my work, i have been asked to do things Ì have never done before and had to have faith in God to help me, sometimes when i have been the only expat at my base.

Its right to depend on God. Trusting God`s grace to draw near so that we can expeience Him as our refuge, glory and stength corrects the problem of our independence and separation from God. That God wants to be close enough to be your confidence and security means that he wants to be yout God, in every situation. I also think that our dependence on God in these everyday situations exalts Him, gives Him praise and shows that we are worshipping Him through the way we choose to live our lives.

I hope this attiducte represents a developing maturity in my faith, and i really hope i can keep surrendering every day in dependence to God, to give him the glory. The apostle Paul wrote, Therefore let us lay aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light...behave properly as in the day, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual promiscuity and sensuality, not in strife and jealousy. But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh in regard to its lusts (Rom. 13:12b-14). Separation from God naturally leads to sin, and sinful desires. It is right to completely depend on God for our confidence and security.

Book Review

I have read 2 books recently about the LRA, the Wizard of the Nile by Matthew Green was the first. Matthew Green is a British journalist who used to work for Reuters in East Africa. The book focuses on his search for an interview with the elusive Joseph Kony. He does eventually manage to find Kony, across the border in the Congolese bush, along with other journalists and a group of individuals trying to to restart negotiations for peace with the LRA. The book contains some interesting information on the background of the LRA conflict and several testimonies to the conflict, but a lot of time is wasted by Green who describles in detail his many visits between Sudan, Northern Uganda and Congo trying to locate Joesph Kony.

The second book is trial justice by Tim Allen. This is an older book, published in 2006 but is a fascinating account of the investigation into the LRA by the International Criminal Court in the Hague, and their subsequent issuing of arrest warrants for Kony and the other LRA leaders. These are many of the reasons why Kony went into hiding in Garamba National Park in NE Congo, and following this, his retaliation against the Congolese people and their continued quest for survival. There is also a fascinating look at the story of the LRA and Joesph Kony, their political roots in Northern Uganda and their truly bizarre spiritual roots. A great read.