Sunday, December 28, 2008

Saying Goodbye to Congo


Having seen what I've seen here in Congo...having met so many people whose lives are in complete chaos...having my heart ripped out by kids living without any parent or family member...having seen the selfless work of pastors and church leaders, trying to show Christ-like compassion without the simplest of resources...having spoken with moms who cannot find their babies...having heard from relief workers who are simply overwhelmed with the numbers of displaced people...

It's almost impossible for me to walk away...to get in a plane and fly home.
Temporary shelters of tarps and twigs holding hungry, confused and terrified people.
People trying their best to disassociate themselves from the fresh memories of civil war and abuse by rebels, government forces, and even peacekeepers.
Silas, poking his head through the only window in a 140 person tent.  
He has no idea where his mom or dad or brothers or sisters are.
Neither does anyone at the camp.
When the rebels came to his village, Silas just ran to the forest and hid.
Driving back to the Rwanda border we met these kids who won't go to an IDP camp.
They feel they are better off on their own.