The Future, The Present, and The Past (Day 54, September 14, Sunday)

While walking to and from church, we saw two sick children being carried to the hospital. They were lying lifeless in their parent arms. They had fevers which generally meant a case of malaria said Justin. Earlier, Dr Joseph stated that malaria is BIG problem in the health zone. We plan to distribute 2500 mosquito nets to pregnant women and children under five. We had decided to visit the Luebo Church for Sunday service. It is located on the other side of the village. It had been a few years since I was there. Plus, the assistant pastor had stopped by to greet me on Tuesday morning And subsequently, Pastor Jacqui had stopped over for a more former visit to discuss her future plans. Pastor Jacqui is one of the few female pastors in the Presbyterian Church of Congo (CPC). She had a copy of the picture we had taken in 2006 of her along with ten other seminary students from the Bulape area. Pastor Jacqui is said to be the only female pastor working as a minister in a CPC church. Pastor Jacqui preached the sermon to a packed church. She was well received by the reaction of the congregation. Also, Justin stopped translating during the sermon which meant he was more interested in the sermon than me. It was all in her native tongue. Pastor Bope, the head pastor was away today. Pastor Jacqui and her husband have five living children. The oldest child is a girl of 14 years old. One child died while they were at the seminary. Her husband is the assistant accountant at the hospital. They live in a typical mud and stick house with a thatched roof. After church, we were invited to her house for some refreshments of bananas, peanuts, fried bananas and plantains, palm wine and water. We discussed equality (emancipation) of women in Congo, and our upcoming elections. Also, Pastor Jacqui submitted her idea of starting an orphanage for children who parents died from Aids. After leaving Pastor Jacqui's house, we walked over to the cemetery near the nursing school and hospital. I had been asked by a former missionary kid, Ken, to visit his sister's grave. The headstones still clearly identify six graves of missionaries or their children. At least, three graves do not have headstones but are still visibly outlined. After a prayer, some time of reflection, and a few pictures we made our way back to the guest house. Another great day in Bulape!