We have a long-standing request to build three One-day-churches in the
area of Koumra, a village about 230km south-east of here. Because of our
schedules, we determine that this week will be the week to go down
there. We have been assured that the materials are going to be there
already and that each site has been prepared and that there is cement,
sand, and gravel for the foundations.
Last evening we loaded up the hospital Land Cruiser with the materials
after double checking that everything on the list of tools was there. I
decided to throw in an extra bag of each type of screws in case some get
stolen or for some reason we need more.
We were rolling out before 5am, and had been told to expect about a
4-hour trip. I decided to take our motorbike to help with any troubles
we might have with the vehicle. Almost right away, we encountered a
large, deep puddle. We went through with the motorbike, but it was
almost too deep. The truck made it through, barely, and we continued
toward Lai.
Then, less than an hour into our journey, the brakes got weak. We bled
the front brakes and cleaned and adjusted the back brakes. In the rice
fields beside us, naked fishermen were checking their nets and hooks for
fish. Our brakes were significantly improved, so we decided to continue.
Upon reaching Lai only 22km along our journey, the road near the river
was swamped in areas. The level of the river was higher than the road.
Once we got on a more built-up road, progress was slow, but OK. We
encountered lots of mud and mud puddles. Sections of the road were
wonderfully smooth.
Then we got away from town and the road got less wide and was not built
up anymore. We were now out in the bush. I kept thinking, "If the road
gets much worse, we'll have to cancel the trip." Then I thought, "If we
turn around, we have to face all the obstacles we already have been
through." On we pushed, through small towns, through hundreds of mud
puddles, over deep ruts and gullies.
We pass a vehicle coming from the other direction. We ask him about the
road ahead. He said, "There's a little water but nothing bad. No
problem." We are encouraged to push ahead.
Around 11am, we encounter a vast stretch of water. We ask the people,
"Is it deep?" They say, "The truck is fine, but only put one person on
the motorbike." Darren and Joanne were on the bike at the time, and they
decided to both go ahead and test it out. I followed in the vehicle.
Ahead, I saw them sink deeper and deeper until the water was almost knee
deep, close to the level of the air intake. Darren stops the bike, and
the man zooms up with his dugout canoe to "rescue" Joanne. She hops into
the canoe and is ferried to the other shore. Darren verifies the path,
and the vehicle makes it fine.
As we mount the next hill and view the other side I comment, "This may
be the end of progress for today." Ahead is a low area of land
completely swamped with water. We cannot see anything but water ahead. I
decide to walk this section. It started shallow, but deepened until
almost waist level on me. There is no way we can even push a motorbike
through this. It would be mostly submerged. "We can put your motorbike
in the canoe," the men eagerly suggest. "For a fee," I think. But what
are we to do? Is it wise to put a new motorcycle in a tippy dugout? But
these guys know how to operate a canoe. So we load the canoe with the
motorbike, and Joanne gets in, too. Eventually, both the vehicle and
bike cross this section of probably 500-700 meters of water.
The people say this is all, and that the rest is fine. We encounter more
water across the road and more mud pits, but eventually we make it to
the paved road at Doba. We are half-way on our journey now.
Because of increasing brake troubles, we progress slowly. Eventually we
make it to the place where we will stay for the night. We ask some
questions and begin figuring out some discouraging news. "The pastor is
not here yet. He's the only one that can show you the church land." "The
materials are not here yet." "The land for the second church has been
taken back by the government." "The land for the third church is
inaccessible because the roads are under water."
What are we to do now? We have been promised that everything is ready.
Now we are told that two places are not even an option, and we have no
materials yet for the one place that might be an option 15km away. We
wound not have come if we knew this. Maybe that is why they didn't tell
us. We leave this situation in God's hands and sleep, not knowing what
tomorrow will bring.
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