November Update (in December)

12/07/2011

As I write this update we are in Bangui, capital city of the neighboring Central African Republic. We left Gemena on Friday, November 18^th at the request of CECU leadership. Ourselves and our mission, ReachGlobal, had given CECU the decision as to our course of action concerning the national elections to be held November 28^th. They decided that it would be best were we to leave the country 10 days prior to the election and return 10 days after barring any violence or unrest that would make our return imprudent. So we obliged. Thankfully, there was actually plenty to keep us occupied for the three weeks we would be away. Michelle has been busy corresponding with a team set to come out to ELIKYA in January. She also began to translate some materials for a Biblical Worldview course to be taught at ELIKYA. I brought some materials to begin writing lessons for two computer courses I will be teaching beginning in February on Microsoft Word and Excel. Most of my time so far, however, has been spent continuing to work on an agriculture curriculum for ELIKYA. Along with the Snyders, we have also been planning out the remaining 7 months or so of our assignment, putting the pieces in place that will enable us to turn over our ministry to the Koyamba Team.

Living in Bangui is not without its benefits. The apartment that we share with Sam and Sarah is about 3 blocks from the US ambassador’s residence and he has an open invitation to the American community in Bangui to use his pool any afternoon of the week. So we have enjoyed going with Soleil. The other benefits you would expect: running water, electricity during the day, fans to keep cool, etc. We have also enjoyed our fellowship with the missionary community here. On Thanksgiving we enjoyed a potluck style dinner (with turkey and cranberry sauce even) at the ambassador’s house. All Americans in the CAR were invited. It was fun to spend time getting to know embassy staff, NGO workers and other missionaries over a good meal. We have been getting to know some of the expats here, whether through playing tennis or sharing meals so pray that God would use us to share his love.

Please keep the Congo in your prayers as the election has been far from smooth. Though nothing has happened in Gemena, other parts of the country (namely Lubumbashi in the far southeast and Kinshasa) have experienced significant unrest and violence. So far 18 people have been killed and over 100 wounded in election-related violence. Though the official final results have yet to be released, it appears that the sitting president, Joseph Kabila, will retain power. There are widespread allegations of fraud by the opposition, however, and they have already declared the results invalid. Kinshasa is bracing itself for the worst, when the results will be published Thursday night. There is a lot of valid concern for Congo as a nation right now so please join us in prayer that God would frustrate the “troublemakers” and would bring peace to the country. We will keep you up to date on further developments.

We are excited to see Michelle’s dad, Ron Watters, on Friday. He’s coming to visit with us for a month. He wants to see his baby granddaughter and while he’s here he’ll be teaching a course at a local seminary and teaching an advanced Excel course to several in the CECU office. We are planning to return to ELIKYA together with him next Monday if all is well across the river in Congo.

We are so appreciative of your prayers on our behalf. Keep fighting the good fight and remember to keep Congo in your prayers during these days of tension and anxiety.

In Him,

Aaron and Michelle