When we were with Christine's sister, and her husband Jim, recently, we realized that we hadn't given you feedback on the 3 trucks - and the amazing stories surrounding each and every one of those trucks! These stories are a testament to the prayers of God's people (you!), so we wanted to share them.
In our last blog we mentioned the 40 foot container truck going from Nairobi (Kenya) to Bunia (RD Congo). Shortly before the truck reached the border our country director shared a local news story with a photo of about 500 trucks stuck on the road between the border and Bunia!! So we were really praying on this side as well! The truck arrived at the border post without problem, and we wondered how the passage to Bunia would go. We didn't hear anything for a couple of day, and then we heard that the truck had arrived in Bunia! We have no idea how the passage to Bunia transpired, but we are so grateful that it arrived without major incident! We don't think it got stuck at all!
The truck going to Butembo had its own challenges. It made it to the border without any problem. But after being cleared the clearing agent told us that customs was requesting an armed escort for the truck as some trucks had been attacked on that road, merchandise stolen and the trucks burned. When we talked with the head of the base, he hadn't really heard of armed escorts of trucks. Armed escorts are a big issue for humanitarian aid (and they are systematic, in Somalia, for instance). So there was discussion with headquarters about whether or not we should accept this request (part of the equation in taking a decision had to do with whether or not the requesters could do the hijacking if we didn't accede to their request). Finally HQ said we could go ahead with the armed escort, and the truck arrived safely in Butembo.
Unfortunately, that was not the end of the Butembo story. As there were no customs officials who came from the border with the truck, the local customs officials in Butembo sealed the warehouse into which we put this medicine and would not allow Medair to use the supplies. This was obviously a challenge, and it took us another week to get the warehouse unsealed. We had to bring customs officials from the border to unseal the warehouse.
The third truck was sent to Goma. It was the first to arrive at the border, and all seemed to be progressing well. The customs clearing process had nearly finished when Phil got a message from the customs clearing agency saying that customs was requiring that another government agency sign off on the duty free exclusion. He said that it could take a month to get that approval! Phil was super busy when he received this email, but he felt an urge to simply send the clearing agent this verse: "I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves." (Mt 10:16, NIV). About an hour later Phil got an email back from the clearing agent saying, "God has answered your prayers. The file has just been validated. We're finalizing the OCC formalities, then we'll take the truck out." We got the truck the next day and unloaded it into our warehouse.
So you see just how important your prayers are! In fact, the clearing agency said that it was a miracle that our 3 trucks were cleared so quickly, because it has been taking up to 3 months to clear cargo! Phil contacted a colleague from Médecins Sans Frontière (MSF) who confirmed with him that they are spending at least 3 months to clear cargo. Thank you for your constant prayers (even when we are unfaithful in reporting back 😓).
This week the new Deputy Logs Managwer shared this image with me:
In our Advent devotional this week, this was said: "When we cry out to God just as Jesus did in the Garden of Gethsemane “God take this cup from me” (Luke 22:42) our voice joins the chorus of the fellowship of the afflicted." This really resonates with us. In this season when we await the coming of the baby Jesus again, we are thankful to be able to be your voices joining the fellowship of the afflicted in Eastern Congo!
The Father showed us the way - He gave his Son with us to share in our afflictions. May the Lord use us all to walk along with the afflicted in this Advent season! If you desire to do that through Medair, you can make a donation at medair.org.
Praise:
- Since Rudi his green card, he and Annika will be spending Christmas in Albania with Rudi's family. It has been nearly 5 years since Rudi has been home to Albania. He lost his grandfather during this time. So we are thankful they can be with family in Albania together!
- Presidential campaign season has been relatively calm thus far. It is likely to be highly contentious when the results are announced (if the election isn't delayed) on the 15th of January.
- For good time in Tanzania with Christine's sister and husband. We got to visit the hospital where Christine was born, the market she remembers as a kid, and other notable landmarks.
- For awareness-raising during the 16 days of activism against violence against women (which will be the subject of another blog).
Prayer:
- For elections to come off peacefully on Dec. 20 (this might take a miracle!)
- For us to be able to get other needed supplies from Nairobi to Congo - and cleared!
- For peace for Congo during this period of elections.
- For Medair to be able to continue to stand in the gap with the afflicted, the harassed and the destitute
