Wow what an incredible time in the Democratic Republic of Congo!! It was such a joy in my heart to be able to be there for an entire month this time with my team joining me half way in! THere was so much that happened on this trip and so many things I am processing. I thought I would just make my first blog an overview and be adding more posts and pictures as the weeks go on!!! First things first. . BACK HOME SAFELY! 🙂
Partnering with Justice Rising who is seeing transformation throughout Eastern Congo with hundreds of children going to school, sowing groups for widows and child mothers, soccer team and discipleship for over 40 children effected by war, we desired to love those in front of us and gather together with our Congolese family to sing our hearts out to enthrone Jesus in this nation. With the desire to see worshipers rise up in Congo, we got to lock hands with a people who have persevered through more than we could ever understand or imagine and worship. We got the opportunity to gather youth from the city of Goma and spend time worshiping and teaching on hearing the voice of God, identity, forgiveness and the love movement. Creativity and imagination has really been something that the enemy has attacked in Congo because such intense trauma, many people have been blocked from using their imagination, but we believe God is restoring that, and he is starting with the children and youth! It was beautiful as the kids began to interact with the Holy Spirit, ask Him questions and see how He was speaking to them. Next we headed to a church built right in a slum area and we gathering together with many Congolese for a day to pray and worship together. Our team was blown away by the perseverance of the believers of this nation who continuously are lifting up the name of Jesus even in the midst of trauma and war.
Heading 7 hours into the bush, we trekked to one of my favourite places in the entire world. Mud huts, mountains, raging river, jungle . . the list could go on. The village of Kalembe has been at the heart of the war in Congo for the past 20 years. This time was my first time going to the Kalembe when there was peace and it was so strange to be there without troops of soldiers walking around with their Ak-47s and rocket launchers. The fighting has stopped, but the stories live on and the memories become a new kind of reality. Its moments of hearing of horrendous trauma that seeking the Lord and His goodness become everything there is to cling on to. The team set foot on the land to pour out, worship, pray and see what Jesus would want to do. We held a conference with some of the village and at one point we found ourselves in a church on the top of a hill overlooking the land. In a huge circle of adults and about a hundred kids singing out “karibu Jesu, nakwee tagee, Karibu Jesu ponya Congo (Come Jesus, we need you, come Jesus and heal Congo).” As children, men and women each began to each pray out their declarations of the goodness of God and their cries for peace, it was as if all of Heaven was fixed on our little wooden church on the hill. The presence of God came and filled the room as it was so apparent he responds to the voices of His sons and daughters. We got to pray for those who were sick, hold multiple brand new babies, play soccer with the most precious kids and with our guitar strapped to our backs, sang all over the village gathering crowds around with curiosity of the “mazungus” (white people), sharing the love of Jesus. In our first day adventure through Kalembe we found ourselves in what our pastor told us was a brothel. We all crowded in this brothel for soldiers disguised as an ordinary hut and began to sing Swahili worship with four women who invited us in. One of which was clearly the head woman running the “business”. The team began to speak out words of identity and worth and insight into these women’s lives. We asked if they knew Jesus loved them and if they wanted to know His love. We invited them to experience this love and give their whole hearts to Him right then and there. . . and they all said yes! 🙂 There in that mud hut, a place where innocence is stolen, rape, dreams ripped apart. . Jesus came. He isn’t afraid of these places. He doesn’t stay to far off afraid that the darkness will rub off on Him. He runs in to these places knowing His love will always win even in our hardness and brokenness. It was kind of one of those moments that you don’t really realize the reality of the situation until later when your eating beans and rice and all of a sudden it hits you that Jesus was worshiped in the very rooms of darkness and 4 women who work in a brothel just gave their hearts to Jesus. His love truly is not a respecter of persons. These women want to meet on a continual basis for chai with our long term staff for chats and prayer. So excited to see what God does in that place and he transforms that brothel. He does it again and surprises me at His desire for those who are lost and hurting.
Back in Goma, we also spent some time in one of the hospitals in the city where there are many have had to come from distant villages for treatment. Our hearts were broken as we sat with many women and children who were there because of effects of the war. We got to pray for all those who would let us, sit with them, hear their stories and invite Jesus to come to some of the most impossible situations.
Whether it was simplicity of holding a child, playing soccer, singing, praying, sharing the love of Jesus, it was evident that the love of Jesus is real and tangible. It is evident that it is His desire is to heal, exchange our ashes for beauty and see the barren woman sing.
As Isaiah 61 says:
“to grant to those who mourn in Zion— to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit; that they may be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he may be glorified. They shall build up the ancient ruins; they shall raise up the former devastations; they shall repair the ruined cities, the devastations of many generations. (Isaiah 61:3-4 ESV)
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support, we truly felt all the love and covering. Our team is healthy and safe, and truly have been changed. Please keep the nation of Congo and all the believers there continually in your prayers as they journey to healing!
Much love,
Kelsie
The Great Exchange 