Life in Goma

Hi folks,

Have not had internet access since my last post so this is a bit of a treat for me. After having lovely high speed dsl in my own house, this is an adjustment! But really I couldn't have expected much more.

So the biggest personal news to share is that last Wednesday, the 14th, our compound (where we live with Salesian priests and brothers) was robbed by 4-5 armed men (we've determined that they were not military or militia but just civilian criminals). I had just gone to bed when I heard a loud shouting from one of the priests and thought he'd been hurt. I then heard voices outside my door and promptly turned out my light, put back on all of my clothes in case I needed to leave and double checked the lock on my bedroom door before sitting on the bed listening and waiting for what might happen and praying no one would get hurt or killed. It turns out that the other two women did the same, though one locked herself in her bathroom (I don't have my own) as the men broke her window and climbed in. None of the women were found and while we were terrified we are all okay. All of the men, the 5
Salesians and my male teammate were rounded up at gunpoint and taken to the dining room where they were held at gunpoint while rooms were searched, computers, cell phones, money and personal items (watches, etc) were taken. Two of the fathers were roughed up but no lasting or serious injuries. When a knock on my door and a familiar voice told me it was okay to come out, I did and after a headcount and seeing that no one was seriously injured my trembling slowed, but none of us got much sleep that night.

Our story however is not uncommon in this region and some say in any part of Congo. When there is war and people are desparate, criminality increases. We and the Salesians, have received incredible support from the community, our friends and partners. And in this outpouring of support we have heard their stories, their robberies and assaults and we have been welcomed into life in Goma as most people see it. It does give me another perspective and shows me too that I am not ready to live in a village hut with a curtain for a door. I may never be and that's okay.

I won't say more about it but wanted people to know what life can be like here.

Friday and Saturday were national holidays (hence internet and businesses were closed) and we had unexpected days off. The holidays were in memory of the death of the first Kabil and of Lumumba respectively. It was good to have the days off to recover from the fright of the robbery as well as to discuss security issues and spend time with those stopping in to visit. Pole (polay) is the Swahili word for sorry and is the word used when bumping someone in the street to expressing sympathy after a death. It has proved a most useful word and has been used much this week. People come to give pole.

Shortly we have a meeting with MONUC, the local UN force (17000 troops in DRC) and later this week we plan to head north to Bunia (if you check a map it's just west of lake Albert) in Ituri province where we hope to learn more about artisnal gold/diamond mining and oil exploration. I am not sure if we will have internet access there but I will write as soon as we're back should I not have access.

The situation on the ground seems to be changing. We learned yesterday and today that there is a divide in one of the major rebel groups, one advocating for peace and we've heard that checkpoints (by rebels) have been removed on the road to the north (held by the CNDP, Nkunda's forces) If this is true, and we'll find out soon, this is a big and potentially positive shift.

This is a lot of text but hope to have more photos soon as well!

Thanks everyone for your continued support.

peace,
a.