Pirogues and Pygmies, part 2

This morning's trip back to the city of Mbandaka was to start promptly at 5:00 am, but a tropical downpour delayed us by an hour.  We loaded the pirogue in the drizzling rain and found as we got underway, that the boat was riding a lot lower in the water than before. Although we had used half of the fuel and left behind all the empty water bottles that we had drunk during the week, we had gained heavy branches of plaintain from the forest as as a gift from our Pygmie friends. We also had an extra rider and some other items that members of our team were taking back to Mbandaka to sell. 

I got the last seat under the tarp, right above the chickens (part of our gift) and next to a serious leak. Jay found a small piece of reed that I plugged it with and as the reed swelled, the leak stopped.  In front of us, however, a pastor is bailing water coming from somewhere in the front of the pirogue, and he'll probably have to keep it up the whole trip back. It's going to be a long day.

Breakfast is being served and each item is carefully passed back from person to person until it reaches me.   One of the chickens has made it to his feet and just pecked my ankle. I'll try not to invade their space.

The hum of the motor is relaxing, and with the sun covered by clouds, the breeze is cool.  The forest is amazingly beautiful, so the long hours will pass relaxingly. The quietness of the trip offers time for reflection on the week's lessons and prayer needs:

1. Utmost in my mind is the need to pray for peace for this beautiful country. We learned that there were problems in Kin while we've been gone. And in this part of the forest they spoke of possible war between the Pygmies and the Bantou people.

2. Racism is real and deep and openly practiced here. Just one shameful example among many is that in some churches, Pygmies are refused baptism and communion. Pray that those who call themselves Christian will act like the One whose name they claim.

3. A pastor who is on this trip with us is a coordinator of the Baptist schools. He is returning to Kin with a burden for the Pygmie school and will be seeking funding for them to be officially recognized by the government so that their teachers will possibly receive a salary for their work. Notice that I said possibly.  Just because the school is officially recognized doesn't mean the government will pay.

4. As we've taught about the Father's heart, both Pygmie and Bantou church leaders and laity have felt the burden of being obedient disciples who are fishers of men. Pray for their zeal to not wane.

5. Apart from our fellow trainer, Pastor Ndebe, we've had 3 other Kinshasa Baptist pastors with us on this trip. They've experienced as much culture shock and heart tugs as any American would have. Pray for them to have wisdom to know how to support their church planter, Pastor Jeremie, and how to begin leadership training for the Pygmie pastors. Pray that they will not just start throwing money around in ways that make their own tender hearts feel better, but that God will show them sustainable ways to help with the people's felt needs and not help in ways that create dependence on outsiders.