Future UCBC students

They visited UCBC this morning and went on a tour of the campus, visiting classrooms and staff. It was a pleasure to have these future students with us today!

A timely reminder

Recently, I was reminded of the voice, the platform, the eyes that I have… And that I can and should use it to educate, inform and enlighten those without the accessibility and exposure that I have… Especially the unique perspective and experience that I have to life in eastern Congo. It’s a calling and an opportunity and most don’t have.

Of course the reminder wasn’t so direct as that. But this man did encourage and surprise me when, after introducing myself to him for the first time he responded with, “Bethany, as in ‘Bethany in the Congo’?” I was taken aback for a moment and then realized that he was referring to my blog!

Wow. A reader. Not just a reader but one who knows the current title of my blog. He then went on to say how he and his wife came across it when looking for information about Congo that wasn’t all grim, bleak and heartbreaking. They were looking for something positive, he said, since they are considering a long-term move to the Congo. He also told me how they have appreciated what I’ve posted… And they follow my writings.

That brought me to feeling guilty for not updating in a long time… And then I felt even more shame when I remembered that my more recent “updates” were re-posts or news articles about Rwanda-Congo relations, or scandals in Congo with US professional sports players – I had written nothing (much less anything personal) in ages.

When was the last time that I had even reflected on what I’m seeing, living, hearing here?

Not long after that, Noé and I were going back to Beni, after church in Oicha (this was now March, two or three weeks before our wedding).

I was remembering a trip that Chelsie, Megan, Kizito and I had made to the DRC-Ugandan border at the end of November. We had left Beni to go to Kampala to wait for elections and the results here. Along the way, while still in Congo, we passed a few small towns in Virunga Park, which we drive through to get to the border.

One of the towns we came to had a military camp nearby – or maybe it wasn’t a town but just a camp, I really don’t remember. As we were approaching a few soldiers standing on the left side of the road, I struggled with my typical feelings when I see the national soldiers: distrust, fear, skepticism, doubt. I then realized that there was a little girl in a red dress standing very near to one of the men. And I fought against my feelings even more! Who do these men think they are? How dare they intrude in the lives of the people living here, the families, this little girl! God, protect that little girl from these men!

As we were about to pass them, while these thoughts were swirling around in my mind, I saw that the little girl, not four years old, was standing very close to one of the soldiers – and he was holding her hand.

He was protecting her.

He was caring for her.

He (likely) loves her.

I was arrogant. And very assuming.

Who do I think I am? How dare I project my assumptions on people I don’t know! God, thank you for that man. Is he her father? Brother? Uncle?

I then had to praise God for showing me the humanity in some of our soldiers. I thanked God for reminding me that the soldiers are not just people like I am, like my Congolese friends and family are – but they are also fathers, friends, brothers, uncles, sons, grandfathers…

Soldiers in a poorly managed / trained army... But they are still people.

So anyway, back to the Sunday after church in Oicha. Noé and I were headed back to Beni on the motorcycle and for some reason; I remembered the trip in the car to the Ugandan border and seeing the soldier near the young girl in the red dress.

After these thoughts re-entered my mind, we came up to a small military camp near a cluster of small houses, along the side of the road. As we got closer to one house in particular, I saw a small child who was totally naked and covered in soap suds. I started to smile, knowing that he was getting his bath, when I noticed the person bathing him – was in army fatigues. And he had a gun strapped to his back.

A father? An uncle?

Moments later, I could see two soldiers walking along the side of the road, heading towards us. The one in front was smoking a cigarette. The one behind him, was tightly holding onto the hand of a young girl, in a light blue dress. It looked like he had just swung her by the arm, kind of like how my parents used to play with us when we were kids – propelling us forward by the arms – a game where you were left feeling like you had just flown forward those 3 or 4 feet. How exhilarating!

And this young man was playing with the little girl in blue, as they walked north up the road.

I was dumbstruck for a few minutes.

God, what are you teaching me? What am I missing? What have I forgotten?

These three brief moments have really touched me deeply. I’ve seen how judgmental I am, especially towards the army. Even how fearful I have been – assuming the worst in the people that I see.

But what do I know? Maybe I know just a little, a percentage of the “truth,” and I project my assumptions, my generalizations on to the collective group.

When I am included in the stereotyping of Americans, women or white people – I get all bristly.

How dare you assume something about me when you don’t even know me?!

Yet, I’m guilty of the same thing.

God forgive me and help me to see others with your eyes… God help me to see the Congolese army with your eyes.  And help me to remember that everyone, every single human, is your creation.

I am so thankful for the reminder a few weeks ago – to keep informing people back in the States about life here. For some, I may be the only set of eyes that they have access to. And for some, I may be the only one they know of who’s seeing good things here.

I don’t want to waste that. It’s a privilege to be here. It’s an honor to be a part of life here. To see, with my own eyes, what’s happening in Beni. And I want to share that with you, my family, friends, supporters and community in the rest of the world outside of Beni and UCBC.

The Mystery of Children: The Three Fools - a story

Dear Friends,

I read this posting from January, on my friend Soyon's blog and just loved it! She has posted a beautiful chapter from Mike Marson's book, The Mystery of Children. And I wanted to share it with you!

With Soyon, and other friends at ASP, in 2004!

Please click here to go to her blog and read the whole (but quite short) chapter!

Chapter Two and a Half from The Mystery of Children by Mike Mason 

The star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. Matthew 2:9 

The three wise men (as everyone knows but likes to forget) did not visit Jesus in the manger as a baby. They found Him much later, living in a shanty on the outskirts of Bethlehem, when He was two years old. This is important. 

They were looking for a child, and this was a matter of some awkwardness for them. They wondered: What sort of behavior would be appropriate in the presence of a child-king?

Silence is "not" golden...

This is an interesting opinion piece on Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rev-otis-moss-iii/congo-breaking-the-silenc_b_1003431.html

I love when I find articles about Congo... Most aren't good or positive, but hearing and knowing people are talking (even if just a little) about this country, is so important!

Silence Is 'Not' Golden When It Comes To The Congo

Rev. Otis Moss III
Senior Pastor, Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago

The ancient proverbial statement says, "Silence is golden." But how can a person, especially a person of faith, be silent when a woman is raped every minute and 45,000 children, women and men are dying in the Democratic Republic of Congo?

The Democratic Republic of Congo is the one of the most mineral-rich countries in the world. 64 percent of the world's reserve of Coltan, the mineral that allows you to read this on your iPad, laptop, desktop computer or cell phone -- comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo. The commercial sale of cell phones and computers is a $1 billion dollar per year global industry. But 80 percent of Congolese women, men and children live on 30 cents or less per day. At the July 2011 "Voices from the Congo" Conference at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) , who has traveled to the Congo twice said, "It is a nation of breathtaking natural beauty, rich in natural resources. It is also a badly broken country dominated by relentless poverty, war lords, pillaging soldiers, and horrific, almost incomprehensible violence."

The national and global politics of Blood Coltan mining includes the minute-by-minute rape of women and the deaths of children every day. The six million deaths caused by Blood Coltan mining exceeds the number of people who have died around the world in any war in the history of humanity. Why is the world silent? Why is the Christian community silent? Why is the interfaith community silent about this indescribable human tragedy?

Like the Bible, each religion's source of truth emphasizes that love, righteousness and justice are guiding principles for human beings. Yet, silence is offered instead of an interfaith clarion call for justice on behalf of our beloved Congolese sisters and brothers. Are we not our brothers' and sisters' keepers?

We must break the silence about the daily child deaths, rape of women and economic and human exploitation that is occurring in the Democratic Republic of Congo and around the world.

Trinity United Church of Christ and the rest of the global "Breaking the Silence" community will participate in the Blood Coltan "Cell Out" Awareness Campaign, October 16 -22. While the challenges seem overwhelming, we can stop the maiming, rape and exploitation of children, families and communities. It's critical that even after this campaign we continue to nonviolently protest the Blood Coltan mining tragedy. By not using your cell phone every Wednesday from noon until 1:00 p.m. and from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. you can show your solidarity with those being exploited. I also encourage you to email and call members of Congress with a clear moral message: stop the exploitation, and protect the people of the Congo.

Silence is not golden when 45,000 people die every month and innocent youth are forced to be child soldiers. How can we as a nation and a faith community ignore these horrific injustices? Silence to wrongful death is not golden. Silence to exploitation of the poor is not golden. It is time to "Break the Silence." The sins of racism and oppression in the Congo and around the world must stop.

Life in Beni

People always want to know what life is like in Beni, the town where I live in the DR Congo. And until people actually come and visit, see it with their own eyes, I will continue to be asked to describe it. Which is fine with me! I like telling people about life and living there. But for now, here are a few things that make Congo (or maybe this part of Africa, unique):

• The gorgeous but sporadic views of the Ruwenzori mountains to the east of us.
• Glaciers on the Equator (in the Ruwenzori mountain range)!
• Our students and their enthusiasm for learning.
• The vegetation is very green... All year round. If trees look like they're dying (as they do here during the Fall), it's because they are! 
• The way that people can always be heard singing (cooking any meal, walking down the street, working, etc). 
• The smells of cooking stews during the early evening hours.
• Some bleating goats sounds frighteningly like children crying... And the reverse can also be true. 
• Everyone greets one another if you pass on the street, especially around home. It can be very rude to not say even a simple "hello."
• Children can make musical instruments out of most any item... The sounds of these melodies can be heard late into the evening hours as they are walking home or sitting outside their houses. 
• Language is so diverse... Most Congolese know at least three languages... Others understand or are even fluent in eight! 
• The food is fresh - naturally grown, freshly cut or harvested and quickly eaten. You have not tasted pineapple until you've tried it in the Congo. Amazing.
• Church services can seem to go on for an eternity... But it is really time that is dedicated to our God, in honor and worship of Him. So it's not so bad after all.
• Most people start and end their days with the sun. Since we're on the Equator, we have a solid 12 hours of sunlight... About 2-3 hours after dark (so by 9pm), most people are in their homes, quiet, with their families, getting ready to sleep. 
• Work is hard. Gardening is nothing like gardening here... Being a butcher is totally different as well. But the people work, sometimes for hours on end. 
• When someone is happy - it is usually very obvious. Joy pours out of people's eyes, hearts, lives. This is an emotion that is not easily hidden or kept discrete. When someone is happy - it is expressed. Freely.
• Children watch after other children. Each one has one younger then him/herself, and they know they must take care of that smaller child. Parents don't usually have to worry about their children. They know they are being cared for. 
• Adults watch out for and discipline other people's kids as well. If a little boy does something wrong, but his mother isn't there to see it, you can bet another mother or loving adult is nearby, and believe me; he/she will be quick to correct that child! 
• Families are huge. Not because they are all having 20 children (that's uncommon and rare), but because who is included in the family is much broader than what's typical in the West. Not only are there the brothers and sisters of the husband and wife, but their inlaws and the family of the inlaws... There are cousins and more cousins and 5th cousins. Family members may have uncertain connections, but it's known that somehow, somewhere, he or she is connected to the family. 
• Some parents will sacrifice everything, to be able to send their children to school: leaking ceilings, broken bicycles and even food. Education is extremely important.
• There is no end to the people who love you and have your back. Family is always there. 
• Almost everything stops when it rains (pours). Not only do motorcycle drivers stop and seek shelter, so do those working in the fields, walking down the streets... Even inside, businessmen, teachers - many have to stop their work, because the sound of the rain drowns out all other noises! 
• Many children work as hard as their parents... Cooking, fetching firewood, cleaning, selling things on the streets, carrying gallons of water on their heads or backs... Everyone is expected to contribute. 
• Food can be scarce for most families, especially during certain times (drought, flood, hardship at work leading to less income, etc). But there is always something for each member of the household. And even surprise guests. 
• The sun is much closer to us there. One of my dear friends told me before I left the States in 2008 that the sun in Congo, feels like it's just above your forehead... Cooking you all day long! He was right. The sun is so powerful there. Thanks Baraka.

I love where I live. It is a beautiful place. And these few things listed above - just scratch the surface of what it's like there. But I hope it will give you even a glimpse into life in Beni, DR Congo.

Peace,
Bethany

a "blessing"

Yesterday we went to Oicha... A village about 25 minutes from Beni. It was a good day of laughter, conversations, playing, sharing, and good food.

Here's a photo with Mzee, before we got in the car... While in the car, this two (or three?) year old, fell asleep in my lap and after falling asleep, as Tate (grandma) told me, he blessed me. As most sleeping babies not in diapers probably would do once relaxing...

Thanks buddy. But, I still love him. Besides, I'm sure one day my kids will do the same and "bless" others!