Diengenga Mission and Trip into Lodja

Monday 5 March – Tuesday 6 March 2012

Diengenga below

We did make it to our last stop, but not before flying through a really severe cloud condition which suddenly developed.  Jacques is fully instrument qualified so there was no danger, but Jim said he would have had a more difficult time with these conditions as he only had a few hours "under the hood." 

Diengenga welcome

Sue and the lovely fresh flowers welcome to Diengenga

Our last stop was really interesting.  There was a huge crowd with a robed choir and we were followed by the multitude to the guest house at the end of a long avenue, the main street of the Diengenga Mission.  There were welcoming speeches, another huge bag of rice and two dead chickens, plus big bouquets of flowers for each of us. 

Paul and Marty Law

We noticed another white woman on the fringes of the crowd, the first we had seen at any of the stops.  Turns out Marty and Paul Law are long term Volunteers in Mission (VIMs).  Paul grew up in the Congo, as his father and mother were missionaries here.  Marty and Paul have spent most of their married life in the Congo.  We saw a memorial to Paul’s father, Burleigh Law, who was killed by rebels at Wembo-Nyama in 1964.  We had dinner with them and visited for four hours, learning lots of great information.  They will be solid contacts for any future VIM team projects.  

Guest house, Diengenga

The Laws have been upgrading the guest house where we stayed, and are engaged in many on-going projects. Their website Appointment Congo describes the ministry and projects of their non-profit organization.   They started a pastor’s school scholarship fund, which provides a $20 stipend per month to each student pastor for three years while they complete school.  When they graduate they receive a Bible and a bicycle to begin their pastoral career.  Marty initiated a Wednesday after school Bible lesson for area children ages 6 – 12.  Bible stories are told using felt graphics.  The children memorize scripture, color Bible pictures and then have a play time outside the mission church.  With the Lodge Water System Project the Laws are helping to rebuilding a dam that will bring water once again to the mission.

Trucks for road work

The Congolese government has asked the Laws to supervise the rebuilding of the 150 kilometers of road between Lodja and Bena Dibele, the primary river port in the area.  Unusable for more than 10 years, the road has 9 bridges that need repair, reinforcement, re-decking and re-painting.  They even have the only set of trucks and three SUV's operated by anyone in the UMC in the Central Conference.

Print shop at Diengenga

On Tuesday Jacques, Jim and Sue, with several local dignitaries, toured many projects at the mission.  We visited a print shop with very old equipment.  They would like funds to upgrade to computerized publishing.  At this point, with no electricity, the project would need to include solar batteries or a generator.

Staff welcoming us to Diengenga Clinic

Maternity patients at Diengenga Clinic

The Diengenga Clinic provides basic health care and maternity services at the mission.  Construction of an operating room and expansion of the patient receiving area are needed.  

Elementary school classroom at Diengenga

We also toured various schools at the mission.  The elementary school needs major renovations.  The students are in small, cramped, unlit classrooms with poor ventilation.  

Pre-kindergarten class

We saw the pre-kindergarten class, using one room in a rubble filled, dilapidated school hostel (dorm).  They propose to renovate the building for high school boarders and also need a new location for the pre-kindergarten program.  

Wives of pastors in training greeting us at the theology school

Dresses and other clothing are sewn at the trade school for women

At the theology school we were greeted by the wives of pastors in training.  A program to train pastor’s wives is planned with funding.  We visited a woman’s trade school where sewing and other trades are taught.  Among other things, treadle sewing machines are needed.  

Jacques had to explain in all the venues that we were simply fact finding and would go back to the States and work on projects ONLY after they had been vetted by the Congolese UMC leadership and their decisions on the priorities among all the very worthwhile needs.

Trip to Lodja

Road rebuilding

On Tuesday afternoon we were driven into Lodja, the town by Diengenga Mission, in a Toyota Land Cruiser.  It had air conditioning, so Sue, sitting in the front passenger seat, had a nice cool ride into town.  Not so much for Jacques, Jim, and two local officials who were in the back, which was a bit stuffierL  The road is dirt surface, the first part is being rebuilt by Paul Law’s workers.  The road is crowned to slope down to drainage ditches dug at the side of the road. 

Lodja street scenes

Soon homes, stalls selling goods, pedestrians and cyclers appear along the way.  Lots of activity.  This city seems tidier and cleaner than any we have encountered so far in the DRC.

Lodja Clinic

Discussing the clinic, listening to needs to bring back the story

Gathering around to see the visitors

We were in Lodja to visit the Lodja UMC Clinic.  It is tiny, with mud and stick walls and a tin roof.  We had a quick tour and then sat under a tree with local folks while they explained their needs to us.  Children crowded around to see the proceedings and get their picture taken.

Leaving Diengenga for Kananga

After grabbing our bags from the guest house at Diengenga Mission, we flew back to Kananga, coming in right over “our” guest house.  We’re back home in Kananga again.