Q: What language do they speak in DRC (Congo)? Can you communicate?
A: Nearly everyone speaks Swahili, although it is their second language. A mother tongue is spoken first, which is different in each tribal group. French is the third language of those who have gone to school. English is desired by many but not easily attained unless a person attends university. We speak Swahili, and can manage most ordinary conversations and situations. Surprisingly, it was amazing how after so many years it comes back when surrounded by people speaking it. I (Jayn) can buy food in markets or restaurants in French because of my former job as purchasing agent for outstation missionaries. Ray uses French when purchasing mechanical components, auto parts, building supplies, etc., because his role was in logistics.
Q: Is the DRC safe?
A: That is surely the first question and the hardest to answer. There have been so many crises, civil wars, rebel groups, oppositional parties and fugitives from neighboring countries’ wars (the 1996 genocide in Rwanda, the conflict in Burundi) that there are more UN soldiers encamped in Bukavu than any other place in Africa. I find I have to answer this question on different levels.
On the face of things, the country’s politics are unstable at best. Many opposing parties exist, waiting for an opportunity to gain control of the country or some piece of the pie. Political upheaval can arise at any moment. So in this regard, we must face reality and have a well thought-out exit plan. Our house is less than a mile away from the border crossing into the country of Rwanda, therefore exiting Congo quickly is possible, giving us some comfort.
On a spiritual level, it is a bit different. As Christians, we choose to rely heavily on things in an unseen realm, the kingdom of God. His Word gives us promises to believe in, hope that we will have wisdom for any situation, and faith that He will guide and protect us wherever we go. We certainly have had many amazing experiences that attest to these truths in the past, both in Congo and stateside!
Q: Where will you live?
A: We’ll live in a very old *Belgian cement-over-brick house with wooden rafters and corrugated steel roofing, cement floors, and barred windows and doors. The yard is completely surrounded by high brick walls topped with concertina barbed wire. The tall steel gates are always kept locked. The yard is guarded both day and night by 3-4 zamus (watchmen) who rotate shifts, there is a good guard dog, and the gate is only answered by the guards.
*Before it became known as Democratic Republic of the Congo, this land was called Zaire and before that it was known as the Belgian Congo.
Q: Will you have electricity and running water?
A: Sometimes. It depends on the weather, the season, and the whim of whoever controls what part of town gets water and what part doesn’t. There is always a rotation. When there is no electricity, usually from noon to 7 or 8 p.m., we do have a generator to run for short periods. If the water tanks are filled, we’ll be able to get a shower. If not, a bucket of water*, hopefully warmed on the propane stove, will be ours to wash with. We will have lake water for washing, laundry, etc., although we cannot drink it. Drinking water must come from another source, filtered or purchased in bottles like here.
*One soon learns what to wash first, as who wants to rinse out shampoo with dirty water?
Q: What supplies are available and what are the prices?
A: Many foods are available now. There are canned goods from South Africa, frozen fish and chicken from parts unknown, paper goods and house/cleaning supplies from China, though most imported goods can be inferior. A few varieties of fresh fruits and veggies are also available at open markets. There are two grocery stores now that we visited last year, though they don’t have fresh items. And we can get bottled water. Twenty-five years ago we had to bring our own toilet paper, personal products, special food items, and enough underwear to last 3-4 years, so today’s situation is definitely preferable!
Wooden furniture with simple foam cushions can be made by local carpenters. Beds are similar.
Clothing of many styles can be copied by excellent tailors, though there are no Western clothing stores as we know them. Used clothing and shoes can be found in many little dukas (small kiosk-type stores that can pop up almost anywhere).
Gasoline, called petrol, can even be found at a couple of gas stations with old-fashioned pumps, which is a real improvement. I’ve heard prices are rising in Bukavu, but last year it was around $5 for four liters, which is a bit less than a gallon. Twenty-five years ago, petrol was purchased in a border country and rolled in large metal barrels to your home by young men.
Q: What is the weather like?
A: Without question this is truly a perk! Temperatures fluctuate between 70 and 80 degrees all year round. It’s not hot and steamy as people tend to perceive. But go down the mountains to the Ituri rainforest, and you will find 120-degree weather with extremely high humidity. Bukavu is 5000 feet up in the mountains around Lake Kivu, a beautiful volcanic lake, though unfit for human use. We will be there during the rainy season, wintertime in the Midwestern U.S., when it rains some part of nearly every day. This is not a bad thing. It can be raining over one part of a valley while the other has brilliant sunshine. A heavy thunderstorm can come and go in an hour, and it is glorious to watch over the lake. Dry season, on the other hands is extremely dry and water has to be rationed, as the tanks cannot be refilled. The dust causes all kinds of lung problems, and sickness is a constant.
Q: How long will you be gone?
A: We plan on a six-month term this first time, as that is how long a visa lasts. When your visa is up, youmust leave the country. We will be home for the summer, then leave again in the fall. We hope to be able to continue that for the next few years. As you might surmise, it is not an easy country to live in, so R & R is a necessity. Our stays will depend on political conditions, local need, our physical and emotional health, and how well we are funded.