Suspended "Congo Inland Mission Trip” 
Week 3  (July 18-July 24);  Congo Mission Report:
 

This will conclude “Congo Inland Mission Trip”, first 3 weeks of wandering around far northeastern

part of Congo DR and had to suspend the trip due to serious malaria.

We always try to begin with Aru of an administrative city of “Ituri”, part of “Province Orientale”.

Week 2 Report, we mentioned about “Kambala” village where we spent Sabbath, and had a wonderful

experience of evangelism to innocent people who never heard of Gospel before.

“Kambala” is located at about half of way from Aru to Bunia.

This “Aru-Bunia” road (271km) was classified until 1-2 years ago as impassible;

(1) due to possible rebels,

(2) due to worst condition of road.

When Maha Mission first attempted to reach Aru so that we can reach naked tribe “Lugbaran”, it was not

possible by land; therefore, Pilgrim Society (Canada based missionary group) sponsored a chartered airplane.

Since then, Maha missionaries dared first by motorbikes, and later on Maha has conquered this route several

times.

The road improved since then and even has a bus a day today, but as you saw on Week-2 photos,

mission car has lost all spare tire and fuel can racks. So we had to repair the car again in Bunia.
Bunia has a painful memory; there basically are 2 tribes and for no reason they started to fight and murder

each other. This was like a smaller scale of infamous “Rwanda massacre” between Tutsi and Hutu.

For this reason, there is a large contingency of UN forces stationed in Aru.

July 21 (Wednesday), 2010 – We stayed overnight at Epulu, a town in the center of national park,

we were advised to drive only during the day for security reasons. We spent previous night at Komanda

after we left Bunia to Kisangani. We made only 225km in 2 days.
By the time we reached Nia Nia (51km from Epulu) by noon, several people waved vigorously by road side

unexpectedly. Pastor Taghoya and NiaNia church members were waiting for us. Pastor came all the way

from Bafwasende, where he is stationed at, to NiaNia (about 51km) to greet us.  They heard missionaries

were coming and it was a good enough reason for them to wait for.

We went in to church (NiaNia) and had a noon devotional. To us it was strange that we have a SDA church

out of nowhere in a sparsely populated place. Pastor insisted us to go north (to Isiro direction) to visit his

other church in Bafwanekengele, about 12 km away.
When we arrived, there was no one at church. Pastor was not able to inform he was coming because no

cell phone network. Soon we found out a son of church elder died and it was his funeral day.

That elder finally came to church in spite of his sorrow and distress. I had delivered a simple message of

life and death of a man in the Bible to give consolation to this sorrowful elder.
By the time we arrived at Bafwasende church where the pastor resides, we found out he is lone district

pastor from Epulu, where we had slept in the park, until Kisangani, about 450 km! He does not own a bicycle,

or motorbike. He either hitch-hikes, or pay fare to use public bus that passes barely once a day to his

next ministry destinations. He had 3 churches and a Sabbath school. How can a pastor minister to such a

distance without a motorbike or an automobile?

July 22 (Thursday) – Early in the morning, we drove toward Kisangani with pastor accompanying us to

Tchoko, a strategic town 115km before Kisangani. We thought this was a good plan to consider planting

a church there because it is a half way of 250 km. By the time we have reached Tchoko and met the Chief,

we knew we were not welcome.
A drunkard was in control of a town council and the Chief was not about to subdue him…all these events

amused town people who did not have excitements for a long time. Our expectation of evangelism following

morning was shattered and shook off dust from our feet, preceded to Kisangani though it was late evening.

 
July 23 (Friday), 2010 – Through an extraordinary arrangement by officers of Upper Congo Field

(UCF-Kisangani), we settled in treasurer’s home. Through morning devotional and fellowship, we came to

learn about Kisangani Field.
Kisangani was meant to be an ideal and dream city during colonial days, and thus have a good looking

buildings around the city, but economy has dwindled down to near zero due to modern day geo-political

disadvantages; due to its landlocked position, although it is located nearby Congo River, the city and residents

do not have productive activities. It is a consumption city without income. All goods were coming from Butembo,

previously by air, but fortunately they made road not long ago linking Butembo and Kisangani. And even

Butembo goods are coming from Mombasa, filtered through Kenya and Uganda by corrupt practices, thus

making prices higher.
Thus, Kisangani Field (UCF) is suffering; it has a very large area, few members of church, and significantly

less tithes and offerings even compared with other Congo standards. All these seem to affect evangelism and

morale of ministers who are already suffering disadvantaged financial packages. It was beyond description

how ministers were serving God in such financially distressed area.

July 24 (Sabbath), 2010 – We had fever and chill previous night and were not able to prepare message

diligently. Sabbath morning came, it was getting worse, but we had to preach Gospel to congregation at

Central SDA Church.
Central SDA Church had a large congregation of about 5-600, mainly young people, who came to study because it is inexpensive. They all go away after they finish.
We prayed hard God will hold us strong enough till we complete sermon, perspiring all over body and almost

quivering, yet we screamed His Word with remaining strength. Barely after Divine service, rushed to clinic,

was it malaria.
As a missionary, whenever encountered with unfavorable and unexpected situation, we think of Job.

Of course, we cannot but help to think of why He does this to His servant in action? Then Job helps.
During 4 days of intensive care at clinic, God gave us vision; vision of Macedonia Call!  Mass people in

Congo scream for Gospel. Kisangani is difficult enough, and for the rest of Congo could be much worse than

Kisangani. Not that the Field we were ministering does not need gospel, but vast inland of Congo is vividly urgent for gospel. Apostle Paul was ministering in Asia, and when he had Macedonia call, it did not mean gospel in Asia is not necessary, but gospel in Europe is more urgent. Obedient Paul knew, this vision was

from God and from Troas he went to Macedonia, maybe together with Luke when Paul met Luke first time in Troas.
Thanking God that He called me at twilight of my life, only way left for me now is to obey Him. Entire Congo shouts for workers urgently.  “…for they are already white for harvest” (John 4:35 NKJV). “And he who reaps receives wages, and gathers fruit for eternal life…” (v.36)

For three weeks, Maha witnessed necessity of gospel in the vast empty field of Congo. Maha also witnessed pastors and lays risking their lives, sacrificing themselves and endures sufferings. And Maha witnessed a pastor covers 450km diligently without a bicycle or motorbike, enduring their poverties. Maha could not continue mission trip, and had ample expenses left, and maybe five motorbikes would help to five most mission minded pastors.

Maha Mission supported mainly one Field in Congo during last full three years, and thus Maha’s own fund has been exhausted. Even this mission trip, Maha prepared barely travel expenses. On its way to Korea,

one of Division leader has consulted three years of support in one area may be long enough,

and it may not be a bad idea to share with other more needy areas. Suddenly Maha had solution.

This was vision God gave as Macedonia Call.
Four days of non-stop quinine injection at clinic, 3 more days of oral intake in Kisangani probably affected

body system; lost eye sight, reduced hearing capability and voice has changed.
After 2 months of care and rest in Korea, we are fresh and back. We thank His special care.
This is what Maha Mission owed you. We will continue to report when we resume our trip soon. We will be there.

May God bless you.
Maha Mission