It’s Just a Matter of Perspective

Sunday, April 28, 2013

I think too often we forget to put things into perspective.  I know that at times I can definitely be one of those people!  Since moving to Gemena I have found myself saying…hmmm…it’s all a matter of perspective!

My first time visiting Kinshasa was 2011.  We stayed in the most densely populated part of the city; we drove around in the HOT city in what felt like 10 feet deep of sand…we got stuck at least 3 times, and never actually made it to our destination.  Anytime we had to walk places, with each step we took, the sand puffed up, covering our legs, shin down, with dust and dirt.  As I said before we were in the most densely populated part of the city, and anywhere we walked you would bump into the person in front of you, or next to you or behind you.  It really may feel like an exaggeration, and perhaps it is slightly, but it really was a difficult first visit.  Not to mention we stayed at Hotel Apocalypse, NO JOKE!  Although we are truly good friends with the District Superintendent in Kinshasa, I said, if I NEVER have to go there again I would be one happy girl!  Of course with a statement that strong…the Lord likes to keep His sense of humor by making sure we HAD to go there again.

After moving from Juba, we found ourselves in Kinshasa AGAIN!  Most of our business was going to be in the central part of town so we found a place to stay that was closer to town.  While it was still busy, there was a significantly less amount of people, we stayed in this beautiful Catholic compound, and realized that the city of Kinshasa is a beautiful place.  I was happy I was still just passing through, but I had a very different perspective of Kinshasa after that trip.

Then we moved to Gemena.  Now don’t get me wrong we have quickly grown fond of our little town.  It really is a small and simple place.  It does not have the security concerns that most of the big cities in Congo bring, but it is also very secluded.  The last passable route to drive from Kinshasa to Gemena is no longer passable.  You can drive to Bangui, Central Africa Republic, but it is anywhere from 12-17 hours, depending on the rain; and in lieu of the current political situation in CAR, no one we know has been on the road since the start of this recent rainy season, so who knows what it’s like now!  There is not a lot in Gemena.  There is one man that I know that grows cucumbers, carrots and green peppers, sometimes, to add to our “list”, otherwise the food options are quite small: sweet potatoes, onions, tomatoes, garlic, avocados, papaya, pineapples and bananas.  We have found one restaurant (it’s actually the UN base) so we go on Sunday’s after church.  Since they have regular flights in and out of Gemena, they change up their menu options and offer things we would not normally get for ourselves; and it does make for a nice break.

People ask us what we think of the climate in Gemena, and are surprised that we say it’s quite nice.  You don’t think it’s HOT?  People, we are coming from South Sudan, trust us…its all a matter of perspective, I even find myself using a jacket some mornings!

So why did I write this blog?  Well, we have now been in Kinshasa AGAIN for a third time.  We are 3 weeks into a 5-week stay.  After being in Gemena for 3 months and realizing how secluded you can feel, this trip to “civilization” has been a welcome change even if it IS Kinshasa.  In 2011, after I left Kinshasa, I had absolutely no desire to return.  I left not realizing that I would eventually consider Kinshasa a nice “vacation”.  We have power, air conditioning, and HOT showers.  We are staying in a guesthouse, meeting other missionaries from so many other parts of Congo, many that are just as secluded.  It just puts things into a whole new perspective.

While I would never want to live in Kinshasa, and I am SO ready to be back home in Gemena, its funny what Kinshasa has become for me.  It no longer feels like the end of the world…pun intended (i.e. Hotel Apocalypse), instead it feels like a place that I can get a fresh perspective.  It’s has become a place I can get encouraged by other missionaries, many whom have the same struggles and it has become a place to get refreshed.  And also taking advantage of the many food options doesn’t hurt!  So from now on, I promise to keep things in perspective.  You never know when you are going to wish you were back in YOUR Kinshasa.