Our team right after we prayed on top of the water reservoir/filtration system
Water Filtration System
Pastor Jeremiah and myself - Love Pastor Jeremiah
One of the kids at one of the water sources
Some of the orphans eating lunch
The Orphanage/Bible School Classroom
Another Water Source for those who live in the village - Source of hope and life!
Baptism in Lake Tanganyika (I had the opportunity to baptize 13 people from Congo for Christ Missionary Church)Throughout this trip we saw God's faithfulness first hand. We saw God's faithfulness to the people of Congo in spite of the conflict currently going on. God's faithfulness shown to Pastor Jeremiah and the Congo for Christ Missionary Church...for them to see fulfillment of the vision for the orphanage, Bible School and the Water Pipeline system.
As I continue to process this trip, which is by far the best missions trip that I have ever been a part of on so many levels. God definitely broke our hearts for the orphans and for the Congolese people.
A few takeaways, I will try to narrow it down to 5 things.
1. The vision of Pastor Jeremiah is amazing. His vision is not limited by his resources. Pastor Jeremiah is such an amazing man of God and faith. He vision goes beyond the Congo for Christ Missionary Church, the Orphanage, the Bible School and it goes beyond the compound where where everything is.
He has such a vision to reach the village around him and to meet the needs of the city of Uvira. By the way, God has strategically placed them on land that overlooks the city of Uvira...in many place around the world, people would build their dream home on this mountainside! They have an amazing view of the area.
Pastor Jeremiah wants to see a hospital/clinic on the compound. For the orphans and those who live in the community. Serving everyone and not turning away anyone. He also wants to have a restaurant on the compound that would create some economic sustainability and provide for the community as well.
Another side note, I love seeing how Pastor Jeremiah's adult children absolutely admire and love their father. They show so much honor to him. As a whole, the church really honors their pastor. My personal reflection of Pastor Jeremiah is that he is an amazing godly man with a heart for the people that he serves.
2. How much joy and celebration that the people bring with them. They don't allow the situations or circumstances that they have faced to keep them down. They celebrate God! They have joy! Here are people who have experienced some crazy things in the middle of conflict, yet those things don't keep them down. Some of the worst atrocities that have been committed and they have so much joy! Love how they have challenged me and giving me a different perspective on my own circumstances, situations and challenges.
Love watching them dance, sing and all out celebrate God's faithfulness! People great need celebrating with so much joy!
3. To be able to see first hand the building that was built for the Orphanage and to be a part of the water pipeline dedication. It was our hope and prayer as a team before went over to the Congo that this water pipeline would be a source of hope and life not only for the orphans but for those in the village. Not only did they put a water source right next to the orphanage, they also put a water source at the bottom of the compound to be used for the purpose of provide accessible water for the village.
Again, was so cool to see what many NCCers had the opportunity to invest in last April with the offering that they gave for that orphanage and for the water pipeline as well. God is awesome! For us to see this first hand was absolutely amazing and indescribable.
4. The hospitality of the Congolese people. From their heart to serve to their desire to just want to pour out love and blessing, even if they don't have a whole lot they gave a whole lot. From the time we stepped foot on the soil of the DRC to the time we left we were greeted with so much love and enthusiasm and felt so blessed and appreciate for being there.
Never once did we feel unsafe or like strangers. Everyone we came across invited us into their country with open arms and with love.
5. This is on a personal level --- I was blown away by every opportunity that I received along with the team to minister. Everything from being able preach 3 times for the youth conference to baptizing 13 people from Congo for Christ Missionary Church to meeting the Mayor of the city of Uvira, DRC and the Governor of the region of Uvira (felt like a diplomat, of course not officially) to hanging and loving the orphans, teaching them how to throw a football.
One of the coolest ministry opportunities we had as team was meeting two sister who own the restaurant that we ate breakfast and dinner at everyday while we were there. This was outside of our scheduled "ministry time" but we were able to build a relationship with them and they said that were going to start going to Congo for Christ Missionary Church.
I also got to preach an outdoor evangelistic meeting in a community along the main road and 8 people decided to cross the line of faith and make a decision to follow Christ!
God gave me and us as team some amazing opportunities to be used for His glory! One of my prayers before this trip was that God's glory would be revealed in and through us as a team. God certainly answered that prayer.
Overall, such an amazing mission trip. With an equally amazing team! God definitely destined for the 13 of us to do this trip together. We all left a part of our hearts in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and we are all looking forward to going back. Not just to go back to be on the ground, but to continue the relationship with Pastor Jeremiah and the Congo for Christ Missionary Church. We have a desire to them in a great capacity not just in the Congo but also from right where we are here in the United States. We also want to provide and nurture a sustainable partnership with them as we continue to invest in incredible ways as individuals and as a church.
I thank God for what began as a financial miracle on April 11, 2010 to what He has done in me and the other 12 individuals who were a part of this team. Looking forward to what is next!
Here is a letter from Renee Reed of Global Outreach International that she sent to us right before our trip (PLEASE READ!)
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