Dear Friends and Family,
“And Jesus said to him, no one who puts his hand to the plow, and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God”. Luke 9:62
I apologize it’s been so long since you’ve heard from me. Praise The Lord the internet is working (sometimes). So, I’ll do my best to sum up the last for months.
God has been very good and faithful in providing. Thank you all for your prayer. Since being in Congo I’ve seen the power of prayer in a very real way. “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many”. 2 Cor 1:11
Clear back on October 1st I had the opportunity to attend the birth of beautiful baby boy. His name is Emerode, which is French meaning good and precious things. And, that he is!! I’ve also been able to get to know his mom, who is my age.
In Congo “rainy season” usually starts the middle of August and goes through till May. Without “rainy season” there are no gardens, and a major shortage of water. Generally during rainy season the fevers don’t become epidemic. In rainy season it generally pours torrential rains at least three times a week. And, in between those down pours, we see the sun. This year rainy season is tardy. We still have not yet seen it, although a few times we thought it was here. Sadly, sickness is at a high and many people are dying. There are a few fevers going around that have taken many of the village children as well as a few adults. However, God is faithful and he knows our need. We continue to trust that he will send this much needed season in His time.
So, I’m not sure how familiar you all are with the name “Driver Ant”. Really to get the full effect of the following story, you should look them up on YouTube and then finish this letter. The story (as told by Mama Myndii) goes like this:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 10, 2014
It’s about midnight. I awake to the feeling that the wind changed…a sure sign that a storm is on its way. Pastor Sparky hops out of bed to shut the school room windows (most often the storms come from that side).
Just as Pastor Sparky gets back into bed, lightning divides the sky, thunder follows closely behind, and the clouds suddenly let loose of their water storage. We usually let it rain for a good 20 minutes before we start our water collection (if you saw the filth that flows off our roof that first 20 minutes, you would well understand why!)…however, this has been an extremely tardy rainy season, and we need the water…so out of bed we come, gathering buckets on our way to the door.
PTL for that rain burst…as it got us out of bed…
We got 3 buckets filled when Pastor Sparky stopped to shine his head-light on our hand-washing basin that sits just beside our dining room table (our only running water). Why he chose to look there must have been a God thing! Myndii saw him pause…and with natural curiosity, she asked why. His response will send chills down the spine of anyone that will recognize the name of the creatures in his answer: “Are these Driver Ants? I think they are!”
Driver Ants! Millions! (Possibly billions!) Inside! All over the kitchen…with a trail through the dining room! The thought that passes through everyone’s minds: this is going to be a LONG night. And it was. What an epic battle! It’s one thing to fight them outside, with the goal of keeping them OUT of the house…but quite a different battle to get them to leave your kitchen! Especially when they seem quite content to stay a while.
In the meantime, our guard was doing an emergency evacuation of our poor bunnies...as the Ants had completely surrounded the rabbit hutch and were quite intent on eating all of its contents. (The bunnies safely spent the rest of the night with him in his guard house.)
Thousands of lives were lost in our kitchen when Sparky deployed the insecticide defense, and so after a few hours, their General finally admitted defeat and called his troops back…leaving a massive Driver Ant grave yard of their casualties behind them. They retreated right back through the 1-ant-size hole they’d found in the kitchen window screen (on the list to be repaired today!). As they retreated, this caused quite a bottle neck, as they were attempting to retreat in a line 4-5 ants wide. But eventually, they made it safely back to the exterior and down the hill. Once they sound the retreat, it’s not usually necessary to battle further, however we did stay up to make sure they didn’t rally the troops for another attack.
This morning, we found a few hundred stragglers obviously attempting to find their comrades that had escaped through the window last night. We swept them up and threw them out the back door…because Driver Ants don’t like to leave anyone behind, and they would be calling for back up! We’re praying they don’t decide to come back tonight to find out what was so interesting that we were trying to protect…BUT, they really don’t give up easily, so we are preparing for all-out battle again tonight!
In case you are wondering why I capitalize “Driver Ant” every time it’s because they really do deserve that much respect! Whoever decided that the lion was the king of the jungle, never came to Congo…everyone here knows that the Driver Ant is KING…Even the lions run!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We had the amazing opportunity to go as a family to Ndongo-Welo. Ndongo-Welo is a small village of approximately 2,000 people on the edge of the Equitorial Rainforest (second largest in the world). We left early on a Sunday morning, praying we’d cross the Kasai River (largest tributary on the Congo river) and cut through the forest in time for church!! We started on our journey with two canoes (dug out by hand from mahogany) chained together, side by side. But, we reached a place at which we had to separate because the passage had become so narrow. Slowly we inched up the passage dodging trees and vines along the way.
Long story short, we made it safely to Ndongo-Welo about two hours later. We were greeted by a group of friendly villagers eager to carry our things and show up to church. I was very blessed to see their desire to serve God, and have us in their village. After church on Sunday we taught the children “red rover”. I’m still not sure they got the idea but it was fun!! We also enjoyed singing with the children, teaching them “Esango” which means “Joy” in Lingala, and “to bundaka te” which means “do not fight”, also in Lingala.
It was a refresher, and a blessing to see a people eager to love the Lord!! An experience I will not soon forget. The night I spent in the Equitorial Rainforest, I was nearly eaten by every mosquito in Congo…I’m sure of it!!
Recently I was at the hospital visiting a lady from church who had just had an operation. Her husband was also there, and so the three of us decided to sing!! I love singing, and now that I understand the language I’ve very blessed by the songs. (Praise the Lord he has given me the ability to communicate with the people. I’ve studied and been laughed at many a time. But it pays off and you’ll see why at the end of the story). Together we sang “Mono zola ve kwenda mpamba” which means “I do not want to go empty handed”. As the three of us got to the 4th verse:
O baklisto sala nswalu, sala bu ntangu ikele, sosa bantu ke na mpimpa, bu bau me fwa ntete ve. Mono zola ve kwenda mpamba, na ntwala Mfumu Yesu, ata muntu ikele ve, Ya kupesa na yandi.
Which means:
O Christian work, work for the time is coming. Search for men who are still in the darkness. Search, before they die. I do not want to go empty handed and stand before the King Jesus and have nothing to say when he asks, did you tell any man?!?
Wow, at that point as I sat in that room (a room in which most would be appalled to have their dog looked at), and sang with these people I was very blessed and challenged. After we had finished the song Papa Mona looked at me and said, “When you stand before God, what will you say”??
Mama Myndii (mama and papa to show respect. Not meaning mother and father, a Congo custom), and I have been very blessed doing Sunday school with the children. We started out with the life of Christ. Thank you to New Tribes for your wonderful pictures that we’ve been using!! The children already has a good understanding of creation. The previous Sunday school teacher had been stuck in Genesis 1 and 2 for the last two years. Long story!! Anyway, we’ve tackled the project as a team and have been very blessed thus far. Continue to pray that the Lord would help raise up the next generation so that this work is not in vain.
This update is already forever and day long!! I really could go on, and on. Thank you so much for your prayers, we see the effects of them every day. Please continue to pray for safety and wisdom. And, even though I can’t always respond, I do get your emails! It means a lot to hear from people at home.
There are lots of pictures on the Photos page so be sure to take a peak! It is updated frequently with new images of life here so check back often.
Joyfully His,
Kristina Anter
“And Jesus said to him, no one who puts his hand to the plow, and looks back is fit for the Kingdom of God”. Luke 9:62
I apologize it’s been so long since you’ve heard from me. Praise The Lord the internet is working (sometimes). So, I’ll do my best to sum up the last for months.
God has been very good and faithful in providing. Thank you all for your prayer. Since being in Congo I’ve seen the power of prayer in a very real way. “You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many”. 2 Cor 1:11
Clear back on October 1st I had the opportunity to attend the birth of beautiful baby boy. His name is Emerode, which is French meaning good and precious things. And, that he is!! I’ve also been able to get to know his mom, who is my age.
In Congo “rainy season” usually starts the middle of August and goes through till May. Without “rainy season” there are no gardens, and a major shortage of water. Generally during rainy season the fevers don’t become epidemic. In rainy season it generally pours torrential rains at least three times a week. And, in between those down pours, we see the sun. This year rainy season is tardy. We still have not yet seen it, although a few times we thought it was here. Sadly, sickness is at a high and many people are dying. There are a few fevers going around that have taken many of the village children as well as a few adults. However, God is faithful and he knows our need. We continue to trust that he will send this much needed season in His time.
So, I’m not sure how familiar you all are with the name “Driver Ant”. Really to get the full effect of the following story, you should look them up on YouTube and then finish this letter. The story (as told by Mama Myndii) goes like this:
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
November 10, 2014
It’s about midnight. I awake to the feeling that the wind changed…a sure sign that a storm is on its way. Pastor Sparky hops out of bed to shut the school room windows (most often the storms come from that side).
Just as Pastor Sparky gets back into bed, lightning divides the sky, thunder follows closely behind, and the clouds suddenly let loose of their water storage. We usually let it rain for a good 20 minutes before we start our water collection (if you saw the filth that flows off our roof that first 20 minutes, you would well understand why!)…however, this has been an extremely tardy rainy season, and we need the water…so out of bed we come, gathering buckets on our way to the door.
PTL for that rain burst…as it got us out of bed…
We got 3 buckets filled when Pastor Sparky stopped to shine his head-light on our hand-washing basin that sits just beside our dining room table (our only running water). Why he chose to look there must have been a God thing! Myndii saw him pause…and with natural curiosity, she asked why. His response will send chills down the spine of anyone that will recognize the name of the creatures in his answer: “Are these Driver Ants? I think they are!”
Driver Ants! Millions! (Possibly billions!) Inside! All over the kitchen…with a trail through the dining room! The thought that passes through everyone’s minds: this is going to be a LONG night. And it was. What an epic battle! It’s one thing to fight them outside, with the goal of keeping them OUT of the house…but quite a different battle to get them to leave your kitchen! Especially when they seem quite content to stay a while.
In the meantime, our guard was doing an emergency evacuation of our poor bunnies...as the Ants had completely surrounded the rabbit hutch and were quite intent on eating all of its contents. (The bunnies safely spent the rest of the night with him in his guard house.)
Thousands of lives were lost in our kitchen when Sparky deployed the insecticide defense, and so after a few hours, their General finally admitted defeat and called his troops back…leaving a massive Driver Ant grave yard of their casualties behind them. They retreated right back through the 1-ant-size hole they’d found in the kitchen window screen (on the list to be repaired today!). As they retreated, this caused quite a bottle neck, as they were attempting to retreat in a line 4-5 ants wide. But eventually, they made it safely back to the exterior and down the hill. Once they sound the retreat, it’s not usually necessary to battle further, however we did stay up to make sure they didn’t rally the troops for another attack.
This morning, we found a few hundred stragglers obviously attempting to find their comrades that had escaped through the window last night. We swept them up and threw them out the back door…because Driver Ants don’t like to leave anyone behind, and they would be calling for back up! We’re praying they don’t decide to come back tonight to find out what was so interesting that we were trying to protect…BUT, they really don’t give up easily, so we are preparing for all-out battle again tonight!
In case you are wondering why I capitalize “Driver Ant” every time it’s because they really do deserve that much respect! Whoever decided that the lion was the king of the jungle, never came to Congo…everyone here knows that the Driver Ant is KING…Even the lions run!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We had the amazing opportunity to go as a family to Ndongo-Welo. Ndongo-Welo is a small village of approximately 2,000 people on the edge of the Equitorial Rainforest (second largest in the world). We left early on a Sunday morning, praying we’d cross the Kasai River (largest tributary on the Congo river) and cut through the forest in time for church!! We started on our journey with two canoes (dug out by hand from mahogany) chained together, side by side. But, we reached a place at which we had to separate because the passage had become so narrow. Slowly we inched up the passage dodging trees and vines along the way.
Long story short, we made it safely to Ndongo-Welo about two hours later. We were greeted by a group of friendly villagers eager to carry our things and show up to church. I was very blessed to see their desire to serve God, and have us in their village. After church on Sunday we taught the children “red rover”. I’m still not sure they got the idea but it was fun!! We also enjoyed singing with the children, teaching them “Esango” which means “Joy” in Lingala, and “to bundaka te” which means “do not fight”, also in Lingala.
It was a refresher, and a blessing to see a people eager to love the Lord!! An experience I will not soon forget. The night I spent in the Equitorial Rainforest, I was nearly eaten by every mosquito in Congo…I’m sure of it!!
Recently I was at the hospital visiting a lady from church who had just had an operation. Her husband was also there, and so the three of us decided to sing!! I love singing, and now that I understand the language I’ve very blessed by the songs. (Praise the Lord he has given me the ability to communicate with the people. I’ve studied and been laughed at many a time. But it pays off and you’ll see why at the end of the story). Together we sang “Mono zola ve kwenda mpamba” which means “I do not want to go empty handed”. As the three of us got to the 4th verse:
O baklisto sala nswalu, sala bu ntangu ikele, sosa bantu ke na mpimpa, bu bau me fwa ntete ve. Mono zola ve kwenda mpamba, na ntwala Mfumu Yesu, ata muntu ikele ve, Ya kupesa na yandi.
Which means:
O Christian work, work for the time is coming. Search for men who are still in the darkness. Search, before they die. I do not want to go empty handed and stand before the King Jesus and have nothing to say when he asks, did you tell any man?!?
Wow, at that point as I sat in that room (a room in which most would be appalled to have their dog looked at), and sang with these people I was very blessed and challenged. After we had finished the song Papa Mona looked at me and said, “When you stand before God, what will you say”??
Mama Myndii (mama and papa to show respect. Not meaning mother and father, a Congo custom), and I have been very blessed doing Sunday school with the children. We started out with the life of Christ. Thank you to New Tribes for your wonderful pictures that we’ve been using!! The children already has a good understanding of creation. The previous Sunday school teacher had been stuck in Genesis 1 and 2 for the last two years. Long story!! Anyway, we’ve tackled the project as a team and have been very blessed thus far. Continue to pray that the Lord would help raise up the next generation so that this work is not in vain.
This update is already forever and day long!! I really could go on, and on. Thank you so much for your prayers, we see the effects of them every day. Please continue to pray for safety and wisdom. And, even though I can’t always respond, I do get your emails! It means a lot to hear from people at home.
There are lots of pictures on the Photos page so be sure to take a peak! It is updated frequently with new images of life here so check back often.
Joyfully His,
Kristina Anter
RSS Feed
