a few comments/thoughts.

Here are some bullet points of my first full week in Gemena (mostly because I don’t know what to write J)

•       I love playing soccer here. But I am not good so I stick to playing with the kids.
• · The rain here is AWESOME! It has only rained twice so far but it is crazy. It is a relentless downpour for about 20 minutes and then it is gone. But it is cooler when the rain comes so that is a plus
• ·      At most events Hannah and I are asked to give a few words to go along with our welcoming and as much as I dislike public speaking I am getting used to it. I am waiting for the day they ask me to preach… im not looking forward to that as much.
• ·       We are currently in Karawa, about 2 hours away from Gemena with a group of 7 mendele who are here from a covenant church in Chicago on a week long vision trip.
• ·      Language is a crazy and amazing thing and I am continually amazed and grateful for a God that understands the hundreds of languages of the world.
• ·      Hannah and I both thought that we were getting whiter here (which is weird because we are very close to the equator)… and then we realized the “background” has changed so our perception of “tan” has changed as well.
• ·      To address my attempt to not sweat while here: I failed. Today specifically has been very hot and I don’t think I have stop sweating since I woke up. Hopefully the rain is coming soon and bringing some cooler temperatures with it.
• ·      I do not like mosquito nets! They make sleeping so much hotter!! But I am thankful I have one because I think it would be miserable to be sick here.
• ·      There are 3 refrigerators in Gemena. Two are at the missionaries houses. And one is here at our hosts homes.
• ·      The soil in congo is some of the most naturally rich soil in the world.
• ·      The mangos are out of this world.
• ·      I sleep about 9 hours a night…  it might be a rough transition back to the college life.
• ·      Girls do not sit with their legs crossed here ( only men). I have to correct myself often to find a different way to sit.
• ·      Hannah and I have agreed that one of our favorite things about Gemena is that it feels like family. We can say hi to anyone, or step into the home of anyone while we wait for a ride. We feel safe. We feel like part of the Congolese family.
• ·      God is teaching me to be completely satisfied in His presence. It is not easy, but I am slowly learning. He reminds me that it is not the amount of “work” I do here but it is  the fact that I am in his presence that matters, that my desire for a schedule is not as important as being able to say “Lord whatever “schedule” you have for me today is better than whatever I could have possibly planned.”

More to come,

H