Mbote

Mbote! (Hello in Lingala)

Sango nini? (what news?)

That is about the extend of my knowledge about the language of Lingala. I am learning though, slowly but surely. I am determined to come back able to have a conversation in lingala, even if that conversation is broken up and childish.

I am literally living in a village in the jungle, roads are bumpy, and the homes are made straight from the earth and I love it. Gemena is so full of color and character. The dirt is deep reddish/orange and the plants are green like I have never seen before. The people have huge smiles on their faces and have such excitement to see mandele (a white person). Children stop what they are doing and yell, “mendale! Mendele!” as we drive by while others (mostly men from what I have noticed) look at us like they have just seen an elephant climbing a tree, shocked to see white people. Not only are we white but we are in vehicles which is rare, I have yet to see a vehicle that has not been related to the church that we are working with and even at that I think the total would be no more that 4 vehicles.

Today we start working with the orphanage and later on in the week some sports ministry stuff should get going once Joel gets back in town. I am hoping to also design and build a simple play structure for the orphanage while I am here.

Prayer requests:

-       -that our time here would be used efficiently and effectively

-       -for stomachs of steel, we are getting used to the food here and we don’t want food to be an issue

-       -that God would be glorified in everything we do, no matter how big or small

-      - that in our weaknesses God’s strength would be shown and evident to the people here and to us.

-       -For Lingala to come easily to Hannah and I (we desperately want to be able to communicate with the people here)

-       -For growth in me and my relationship with God, to have a child like faith in him to do the unimaginable.

-       -For special down time from God (as an introvert in a culture that is so charismatic, talkative and energetic it can be hard to keep up. So pray for divine appointments from God that would renew me and give me energy when I need it.

Praise God:

-      - for safe travels and no complications

-       -for the generosity of the Sangumas for letting us stay in their home for 2 months ( we are living luxuriously compared to the rest of this town with running water, flushing toilets, toilet paper, beds, vehicles, some electricity, and more food than we could ever desire (we are having to turn food away because we have been eating so much, so often).

-       -aFor the opportunity to come to Gemena and learn from these amazing people.