15 Minute Video of the Maki's 2015 trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo!
On May 28, 2015, Dan and Hazel Maki, along with friends, Joy and Joe Chaudoin from Wisconsin, flew from Montreal, QC, Canada to Kilgali, Rwanda. The next day a half-ton truck was hired with a driver who drove us the three hours to the border of the Democratic Republic of Congo. After getting our passports stamped by the Rwanda border services we walked to the DRC border (about two blocks) with all our suitcases and bins (seventeen in all). It was "fun" walking back and forth to bring in all our things.
We were met by the charity's intermediary, Mr. Mungabo, Pastor Joseph and several friends. It felt good to be back in the DRC with good friends. The next day, we left the hotel at 6:00 a.m. and got on a boat headed for Bukavu. Six hours later, we landed on the dock with friends waiting anxiously for our arrival! After dropping our things at the guest house, we headed to church. It was already in full swing when we arrived. (It gets really dark in the DRC by 6:30 so church is during the day).
Sunday morning, we drove up and up and up a mountain path to a country church. It was awesome to drive up and here the singing and rejoicing. These people are so poor but not poor in the spirit!! We had a great time that day and ended with a meal shared with the pastor's, their wives and ourselves. On Monday, we drove the school where Hope for Orphans-Congo has 27 children that it is sponsors for education. We were able to go into every classroom and visit the wood working shop and the classroom where the widows are being trained to do things to help them make money to support themselves. And we had church!!
Tuesday morning, we were on our way back to Goma. We had shopping to do and Wednesday we went to a pygmy village and had church!!
Friday, we were finally on our way to Kikamata to visit the orphans at the orphanage!!!. We stayed there 18 days. Eighteen wonderful days!! We had a huge birthday party for ALL the kids! We had movie afternoons (soccer videos), roasted marshmallows, put on skits, had school and lots more!!! It rained 15 out of the 18 days!
Then we were back to Goma for two days and then back to Kigali to fly out on Saturday night. What an awesome trip!!
We were met by the charity's intermediary, Mr. Mungabo, Pastor Joseph and several friends. It felt good to be back in the DRC with good friends. The next day, we left the hotel at 6:00 a.m. and got on a boat headed for Bukavu. Six hours later, we landed on the dock with friends waiting anxiously for our arrival! After dropping our things at the guest house, we headed to church. It was already in full swing when we arrived. (It gets really dark in the DRC by 6:30 so church is during the day).
Sunday morning, we drove up and up and up a mountain path to a country church. It was awesome to drive up and here the singing and rejoicing. These people are so poor but not poor in the spirit!! We had a great time that day and ended with a meal shared with the pastor's, their wives and ourselves. On Monday, we drove the school where Hope for Orphans-Congo has 27 children that it is sponsors for education. We were able to go into every classroom and visit the wood working shop and the classroom where the widows are being trained to do things to help them make money to support themselves. And we had church!!
Tuesday morning, we were on our way back to Goma. We had shopping to do and Wednesday we went to a pygmy village and had church!!
Friday, we were finally on our way to Kikamata to visit the orphans at the orphanage!!!. We stayed there 18 days. Eighteen wonderful days!! We had a huge birthday party for ALL the kids! We had movie afternoons (soccer videos), roasted marshmallows, put on skits, had school and lots more!!! It rained 15 out of the 18 days!
Then we were back to Goma for two days and then back to Kigali to fly out on Saturday night. What an awesome trip!!