More clashes in North Kivu (but not Beni)

UN: Nearly 5,000 people displaced after clashes in Congo’s North Kivu province
Just so you know - this is nowhere near where we live in Beni.

Profile: Bosco Ntaganda the Congolese 'Terminator'
The title just screams, "fear mongering," to me.

The Congolese radio stations are reporting not just about politics in Congo... But also in the US. It was surprising to hear Mitt Romney's name this morning on the radio... Seems like a lot of people are interested in whether Barack Obama gets re-elected in November!

Returning to the DR Congo

After over one year in the States, I am going back to the Congo again. My tickets have been purchased, my luggage is (somewhat) packed, and the time is flying by, as it always seems to! Especially when a deadline is drawing near or there's something to look forward to.

There's still so much to do before I can go (pray for my visas, please!), and even though the time is steadily slipping away... I want to enjoy these last couple of weeks as much as possible. Good byes are hard but thank God for the wonderful memories we have!

Even though I didn't expect or plan to be here for so long, it has been a really good, full and blessed year! As a little recap:

• Our family (minus Becky & Jon) went out east together last summer. The time with family was wonderful, and we had a fun road trip and time spent at the beach. It was a great opportunity to hang out and reconnect.
• Being at home with Mom and Dad (and Nathan), allowed me to help out with homework (yay for helping to write and edit English papers at 2am! You know you're loved when your big sister stays up that late! ;) hehe), and bond with my brother in new ways. 
• I got to watch Becky develop as a beautiful and pregnant woman... How fun to watch her change before my eyes as she and Jon prepared to become parents! 
• Numerous trips to Chicago and the area allowed me to reconnect and rekindle so many important friendships that I thank God for placing in my life.
• Thanksgiving at home with the whole family (minus Hannah), Birthdays and Christmas - all things I really missed while I'd been in Congo for two years.
• We went skiing a few times (it'd been forever since I last went), that was a blast! And sledding :) Hill 17!
• Our family hosted an exchange student from Poland, Karolina. It was good to be with her and the rest of the family for the majority of her stay with us, from middle of January until the end of June!
• I took a trip out to LA with my dear friend Mandi to visit another wonderful friend, Michelle. It was a great little vacation and time to even swim in the (chilly) Pacific, in April! 
• Our family took another family trip out east during Nathan and Karolina's spring break - we saw Niagara Falls, family in Syracuse, Maryland, Pennsylvania and even Delaware. Some of us got our feet in the ocean, but it was significantly colder than in LA! We spent time in Washington, DC and even New York City. 
• Reunions and lots of laughter over yummy meals with good friends has been wonderful.
• This spring meant yardwork, helping (a little) in the garden and watching everything turn green, at last! 
• Becky gave birth to Marcus in April, and it has been sooooo fun to watch him grow a little, almost before my very eyes. I have loved having a nephew and getting to shower him with love! 
• Sarah graduated from college and Karolina from high school. Both are milestones and I loved being here to celebrate with them!
• Hannah came back from Ecuador in June, Karolina left a few weeks later and it was so good to be here! 
• We've been picking strawberries and even made ice cream once...
• The 4th of July meant fireworks, BBQs and time in the pool... Which, is awesome! :)

 Things will be super busy in Beni when I get there:

• The Graduation ceremony for our first class of students will be at the end of July!!
• Year-end celebrations with all of the students and staff.
• Farewells to students and teachers for their vacations (or, with the graduates, as they go on to pursue their careers).
• Reconnecting with many friends and colleagues in and around Beni. 
• A trip to Burundi for a wedding in August.
• And preparations for the start of the next school year, in September.

I am excited to return to Beni, the students at UCBC, friends and colleagues there. It will be difficult to leave my family, friends and community here, but it's timportant I go back to the work at UCBC and it's time for me to return now.

Thank you all so much for your love and support during not just this year, but since this journey first got underway, in 2008.

I will try to keep you posted in the coming weeks...

much love,
Bethany

Food...

Peanut Butter M&M's

Eating habits gone awry 

Living in Congo for a number of months at a time has always left me with cravings for food that I can't get there. Things that make me miss the States just a bit more...

For example:

Alfredo sauce - for pasta!

REAL cheese... 

From Wisconsin, of course!

Boneless, skinless chicken breasts - so easy to cook!

Warm (or any!) chocolate chip cookies, baked in an oven 

 

Cold water (no ice, please)

  

Thai food... Any kind! 

I scream you scream... 

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And while here, I also miss some of the food that we have there... Which no matter how hard I try, either cannot be had here in the USA, or it really just doesn't compare to the real thing.

Passion fruit

Until you try a ripe pineapple... You don't know what you're missing!

Nyama choma (roasted meat) - pictured with chapati and cabbage

Chai (tea) - with biscuits! 

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I've attempted to make Congolese food - such as shu (cabbage), chapati, beans fried plantains, meat... But it just isn't quite the same!

It's a heck of a lot easier to cook on a gas stove! 

Thankfully, I've had the things that I crave while in Congo... a number of times these last few months. And probably more that I can't even think of right now. I actually haven't had too many peanut butter M&M's... But that can always be fixed! :)

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Some of the cravings for American food (if it can be called that), WHILE being here in the States, as odd as they may be: 

Grapefruit!

Hot dogs!

Sweet carrots

Yum!

And what did I have for lunch today? 

      A "batter wrapped hot dog on a stick."

Yep.

I may need help.