Gordons finally going to Goma?

After more than 5 months in Rwanda, it looks like we may finally cross the border into Goma this coming Tuesday! The DRC border opened last Saturday, but the Rwandan border remains closed. Our visas have run out and the Congolese authorities won’t honour them, meaning we have to meet the Director General of Immigration on the Congolese side of the border, hand over a wad of cash, and we get let in. Because the Rwandan border is still closed it will be more tricky to get out again. Covid cases in Rwanda are around 2,500 with significant testing, but close to 10,000 in Congo, with limited testing.

We are very thankful for our time in Kigali, for both houses we have stayed in (we have been in one of Anthea’s colleague’s houses for the last 2 weeks as our first house-sit family returned from Germany and wanted their house back!), for being able to visit quite a bit of Rwanda, for the people we’ve met, for Anthea being able to start her job with Tearfund and for everyone being kept in reasonable health. But we are VERY ready to go to Congo.

We caught a glimpse of Goma last weekend from the Rwandan side, and are really looking forward to finally arriving. The children are particularly excited to be reunited with the 4 bags we sent in advance, although we fear that they have hazy memories and unrealistic expectation of the amount of lego they contain! Schools are already open in Congo, whereas they won’t open in Rwanda until later. This means Martin can retire early as a primary school classroom assistant and can start his work with the Diocese. Our house in Goma has fallen through because we have taken so long to arrive, but we can stay in the guest house we had originally booked for March until we find a more permanent place. It is right opposite the Tearfund offices.

Although Immy said today that ‘waiting always helps everything’, it has by no means been a smooth ride for us. Waiting has been tough - living out of suitcases, moving house, not knowing how long we would be anywhere. This week was a particular low-point - all 3 kids with stomach bugs, hearing ‘our’ house in Goma had fallen through, realising we would have to pay again for visas, and then the car breaking down pretty much as far as is physically possible from Kigali whilst still being in Rwanda. We became something of a tourist attraction as we waited for 5 hours at the side of the road, where the only benefit of waiting seemed to be building resilience!

Still, we are thankful for God’s provision, his presence, and his guidance. And we are excited that the blog can very soon live up to its name. Thank you as always for praying and being in touch. We really appreciate it. And to finish here's a little light relief / insight into one of the things that awaits us as we go to Congo, Congo's innovative coronavirus fashion.

How can you pray?

• That we actually get to Goma on Tuesday!

• That we settle in quickly to life in Goma, and the kids settle into school when it starts in September.

• For a more permanent house - we’d love one on Lake Kivu (pictured above), with a garden and space for guests!

• For the Diocese of Goma, following Bishop Desiré’s sudden death, for Archbishop Masimango as he oversees the Diocese and for the clergy in the Diocese and they lead in difficult circumstances.

• For Martin’s Mum, Aileen, and her successful operation to remove her tumour and for her ongoing cancer treatment. 

• That the car repairs aren’t too expensive.

From Martin, Anthea, Silas, Zachary and Imogen