On Sunday morning we went to a church that was just down the street from the guesthouse. It was a beautiful service. The African people have such musical rhythm! The songs are very repetitive, but they sing in beautiful harmonies. They sang songs in French and Swahili, and the message was in French and David Kasali went up to translate for us. The message was about tithing and it was strange to hear a message that I’ve heard so many times back home being preached in Beni to people who have less wealth and possessions. But then again God asks all of us to give of what we have, no matter how much or little it may be. The church is in the process of constructing an addition to their building; it’s impossible to borrow money and so what they do is they just build little by little as the money comes in. Although the church still has a long way to go in construction, it looked as if they had done everything humanly possible just to get that steeple with a cross in its place in the air! After the service the elders invited us to sit down and offered us sodas. They were very thankful that we had come to Beni and for the work we were doing for UCBC and therefore for the community and for the Kingdom. Their thankfulness was overwhelming because the sacrifices that I made to come here seem so small in comparison to the challenges that the people here face every day.
Photo by Tim Ellis
Photo by Tim Ellis
On Sunday evening we were invited over to the house where the internationals stay for a time of dinner and fellowship. On the way there we finally got the opportunity to explore the town a bit by foot. A few memorable sites that I have from Beni are the many children that are around playing or doing chores, men washing their ‘motos’ in a stream, and the many small shacks alongside the main road that sell petrol in reused water bottles. That evening we had a wonderful time of food and fellowship and it was wonderful to get to know these ministry leaders better, and learn about how they to came to serve with the Congo Initiative. Before we ate dinner, we were introduced to a beautiful Swahili song that translates in English to: There is no God like you.
Photo by Tim Ellis
Hakuna Mungu kama wewe (There is no God like you)
Hakuna Mungu kama wewe
Hakuna Mungu kama wewe
Wewe Mungu wangu (you my God)
Twasema “Asante” (We say “Thank you”)
Twasema “Asante”
Twasema “Asante”
Wewe Mungu wangu
Wewe ni Alpha na Omega (You are Alpha and Omega)
Wewe ni Alpha na Omega
Wewe ni Alpha na Omega
Wewe Mungu wangu
Photo by Bob & Eileen Gresham
“O Lord, God of Isreal, there is no God like you in heaven above or on earth below – you who keep your covenant of love with your servants who continue wholeheartedly in your way.” – 1 Kings 8:23
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