Appleseed Travel Journal - Volcanos and other Eruptions in Goma, DR Congo

 

Brooks

Day 2 of first level training is over … tomorrow we meet with seven key leaders. They are the ones who are in the field, training others.

What these folks live with is unimaginable to us … between the ever-present poverty and trying to have enough money for housing, food and school fees, there is also the constant threat of war with bombs being launched into the city, as well as rebels and/or soldiers wreaking havoc in streets and homes. And, standing quietly in the very short distance is a volcano that could erupt any time. Mamas explain to me that as long as you can see at night that the rim around the top is red, there is no threat of eruption. Otherwise, the gases are gathering and it will blow, which just walking anywhere is quite obvious that it has happened before with all of the lava rock roads, walls, gravel and piles of huge pieces of red, dimpled stones everywhere. Yet people come and go and carry on. They say, "What can we do? We must live."

In the face of such destruction for generations, it seems to me that cities, in particular Goma, have survived amidst such devastation for some purpose. I can't help but believe looking into the faces of these 18 men and women that sparks of hope and light are being sprinkled throughout that vast city. Perhaps the darkness of oppression in Eastern Congo will be dispelled by such as the likes of these. Jesus did it with 12; I'm quite confident he can do it with 18!

Love,
Brooks

Here are some new pictures for today:

John Omondi from Kenya

The whole gang!

Crossing the border from Congo into Rwanda

Etienne

Mama

Volcano