Cathedral at Boga, DRC

Left, the Altar at Boga Cathedral. Made from the wood of one of the trees planted by Apolo Kivebulaya, who brought Anglicanism to DRC in 1896. Right is a picture of his grave. Apolo Kivebulaya volunteered to go from Uganda to Boga to evangelize. I was told the local chiefs resisted, but he was not discouraged. He is known to have evangelized the Pygmies as well, who we met at Mafifi in May 2008.
The cathedral is beautifully built ...
Above right is the interior during a service in May 2008, courtesy of K. Smith.

Children at kyabaganzi... pics only.

first I started talking to the few boys on the right. Then as classes let out, more came to see the wazungu. (white person) Above, I took out my camera and some ran away. Then they came back. All you have to do is smile, say "Habari" and wait for the "Nzuri" and the smile from them... We are one body in our humanity. Love it! Love it! Love it!

Kyabaganzi!

UFPPS with sewing machines supplied by Christ Church Greenwich Seabury Silent Auction.
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The Holy Spirit is doing some amazing work here. With a grant from ERD, the diocese of Boga bought 4 hectares to plant cassava and bananas. We arrived to a warm welcome from the church and the UFPPS. We visited with the women of UFPPS under the tree. There were 6 women sitting uder the tree working on sewing machines. (Pics below) Then we set out for ... the garden! 4 hectares is a LOT! They burn the ground where the old crops were, then plant cassava. We walked over the burnt stalks and thru the bush... I thought we would never arrive...

Finally we arrive at the planting area. The wind is blowing in our direction and the smoke from the fire is ... in our faces. The women are working very hard to plant and harvest the cassava so they can sell it. The banana grove next to the cassava is producing many bananas, again for sale.
We returned to the tree by the church to find some shade and a bit of dinner (lunch).
Pictures below ... or above. sigh. Next: Yours truly has fun with the children!!! at Kyabaganzi. pics only.

Pics only - Boga, Hospital and schools.

The new hospital in process of being built.
Mugisa Isingoma (car) Dr. at hospital, Kiza head of Mothers Union in Boga.
Prep room for surgery.
Labor and delivery...
One side of the hospital quadrangle.
Don't you just love the kids? Girls on one side, boys on the other. Next post is Kyabaganzi.

Weds 8th - Boga and Kyabaganzi

Today we had soldiers for breakfast. They were looking for a father who was hiding his son, because the son had broken the law. It was suggested that the soldiers look for the father at the hospital, where he works. We had bread and peanutbutter, honey, bananas, tea and eggs for breakfast. We did not share with the soldiers.

The house is on the grounds of the Cathedral of the Diocese of Boga. There is a hospital, several schools and housing for perhaps 40 families. The schools serve 768 primary school students in only 12 classrooms, so there are split classes, morning and aft. (pic 2) There are 459 students in the secondary school. Tuition is irregular but it helps to support the school. When parents cannot pay, the children just stop coming to school. During the 2006 war, the library was plundered. They are looking for ways to restock the books.

The hospital itself dates back to Belgian occupation and termites are slowly eating the wood which holds up the roof. They have begun to build a new infirmary that will be clean and termite-free. (pic 1) (wish I could figure out the picture posting thing...) This was a real sign of progress and reconstruction in an area where there is still conflict in the bush not far away. More in next post.

Tuesday, trip to Boga.

Tuesday morning 9th. A call to worship from the local mosque wakes me up. Another beautiful 80 day in Bunia. We're leaving at 8 a.m. for Boga. A 60 mile drive that will take us 4-5 hours on unpaved and rutted roads, sometimes only a trail. Breakfast of bread, peanut butter and honey, an omelette and bananas. mmm.
John Zaba, (left) archdeacon of the diocese, arrives to make the journey with Mugisa and me. We take the road to Kasenyi and turn off towards Gety, about halfway there.
We slow down through the villages and the children run towards the Land Cruiser yelling "Byeee! Byeee!" with big smiles on their faces. THe kids are the best! As with the adults, all you have to say is "Jambo!" or "Habari!" and instant smiles appear! Some folks have never seen white people before.
In Gety last night a man was beaten by the militias and is now in hospital. The UN and Congo forces are present. Someone suggested that they cause more problems than they solve. There's a brand-new camp of MONUC near Bukiringi. At the parish there, people came out singing and waving palms -- many more children than women. I love catching the eyes of the girls and watching them giggle. (Sorry about the pics, will wait to download more)
Visited the school and the infirmary there. They said that if you go there, you can catch whatever the others have.
The Mothers' Union erected a solid building on top of the hill... and soldiers took it over. The
building was the infirmary, with separate rooms for TB, malaria patients. No longer. Its not like you can serve an eviction notice on the soldiers...We didn't actually see them.
Visited the infirmary and L & D which looked better than in 2008.
We had a good lunch, rice, beans and cooked plantains. A friend told me what I could eat and what to stay away from. Did I mention it is very very very HOT?
Arrive Boga mid-afternoon. Isingoma and Mugisa's house is big and beautiful, w/ a big porch that looks over the valley at the Rwenzori Mountains... in Uganda. I begin to hear the tribal history between Lendu and Hema. It's cooler now. TBTG.
Q of the day: What's the best thing you can find in your bedroom on an overnight? Your very own, brand-new, never-used, made-in-China roll of toilet paper.
btw, MSF (Medecins Sans Frontiers) are very present here. A BIG ray of hope.
Boga visit to be continued...

Bunia to Boga

Friday, March 5: flight from Kampala Uganda on Mission Aviation Fellowship plane goes smoothly. Mugisa, Mama Archbishop, pastors and women from All Saints Church Bunia welcome me with singing. We drive to the church. The Mothers' Union gave a beautiful welcome singing in Swahili.
back to the Isingomas' compound for bath, supper and sermon-writing. Seems I am preaching in French at the 8 on Sunday! Well then...! Saturday was a full-day workshop for pastors and pastors wives, run by the Archdeacon John, who did a very fine work of leading. Topic was the role of pastors wife. Texts were the 2 creation stories in Genesis. PW's are to be helpers to the pastor in his ministry. I was honored to bring the Connecticut ECW donation of $2500 to the UFPPS - Union des femmes pour la paix et la promotion sociale - Women for peace and empowerment. This group has grown by leaps and bounds since 2008 - members are women who have been victims of violence themselves, widows, or touched by violence in any way. More in the trip to Boga. Stand-outs: the family I stayed with has evening prayers and hymn singing every night after supper and before bed. Very very moving.
In the not-so-moving department, the watchdog and 2 cats left little "presents" for me outside my room during the night. Don't know whether this was "we like you" or "we are waiting for you to leave."
the 8AM service at All Saints Bunia is in French, light attendance. During Lent the Holy Eucharist is not celebrated here. UFPPS prepared the dinner (lunch) of rice, cassava, plaintains liver and... choice of Coke or Fanta! Afternoon rest. Leave for Boga, the seat of the Diocese of Boga on Tuesday for 3 days. Monday is spent in French lessons with the provincial secretary. Hm. Next post: Boga.