Survey Say's..... God!!!!

Wow.... You know my last entry about my story coming back from Rwanda to Burundi??

It has been very interesting at peoples responses when I tell that story, I already knew that the Lord had to have helped me but little did I know how God it was...

In just the last week or two I have had more than three different people tell me either their own story or ones that they have heard about having to stay the night on the side of the road or having to turn around and going to find a hotel or guest house somewhere. I have a real understanding now that it is really not easy to get through that road during curtain hours of the day....Also of the dangers that have been known to happen along the same road.

Thank you God for your Angel's that helped guide me through that almost impossible task. With you Lord all things are possible!!

To pay Fanta or not to pay Fanta...

I know this one is a long read, but please take time! I hope you enjoy it!

I would like to share with you about my trip back from Rwanda to Burundi a couple of weeks ago. But first I have to go back before that, about the time we first entered Rwanda in 2005. Let me first set the precedence so that you will have a better understanding when I tell you the story of my trip from Rwanda to Burundi.

Title’s here in Africa are of huge importance, by your title the populous will respect you reject you and or judge you. By your title they will set the standard for how you are looked to live your life. From the cloths you where to the car you drive to the house you live in.

Here the favorite titles that I hear so often are pastor and man of God…..Both of these I am not too quick to call myself. But this is the chosen title that the locals prefer. Now by this one is judged very seriously and held to a high standard. It is not really a special title, it is what they call all missionaries who are working with or alongside the church. Every so often you will hear the title Apostle or evangelist. Really any way to put you in a box, then they will know how to look at you.

As I sit and talk with the other men of God (missionaries) one of the common pieces of conversation is about the bureaucracy and corruption that is slapping you in the face day in and day out while trying to do the Lords work. At times it seems that you can’t get anything done. As the discussion unfolds there is talk about standing for righteousness, truth, and justice. Never telling lies or paying bribes, for that is the way of the Lord.

This how we Men of God start out, or for the most part. Let me give you an analogy, picture a big stone or piece of marble. As the artist chips away at the mass it slowly gets smaller and smaller all the while taking form and shape to become something that is so beautiful a piece of work that will cause every one that see’s it to marvel. (And God Said let us make man in our likeness.)

Now take this beautifully carved image that has taken so long to make. Something that is such a piece of beauty reflecting even the artist (masters) very likeness. Now it is put in a place where it is being hit and chipped on once again. Yet the chipping is not like before, it is not being done little by little there is no grace in the movements or carving for that matter. No standing back for moments of reflection or planning. No; the one who has the tools now, is one that seems to have no vision or goal to what he wants the beautiful piece of work to become. As time goes by the hits become harder and more frequent. It is as if someone is standing over the piece of work with a very large Hammer swinging wildly hitting it repeatedly. Now what was once something of marvel, something that was altogether lovely reflecting the very nature and likeness of its maker, begins to lose its form.

I like many before me have and do stand, in the midst of the calling that God has put on my life, I at all times want to uphold righteousness, truth, and justice. Never to lie to get what I want, never to pay a bribe so that I can see things move forward at the pace I desire.

I have been greatly disappointed in the last four years of living in Africa. As I start to hear things coming out of some men of God’s (Pastors, Missionaries) mouths like,” it is necessary to give a fanta or chi every once and a while”, (fanta & chi refer to giving money or paying a bribe)of course this is done in the name of building relationship, so that is ok… Or “this is the African way”,“If you want to get anything done here then…..” or “it is Africa there is bound to be some corruption”.

In the beginning many start strong but the system begins to chip away at you first slowly then harder and harder. Then the morals and beliefs begin to get weakened. Before you know it a year has gone by then two it gets harder and harder to fight. You get weaker and weaker, you just want to see progress, something has got to move forward or it is going to kill you. At what time does it become ok to buy a fanta or give chi? Finally you give in, you tell that little lie or give that little money and bam things move forward you see progress. Your paper work moves up to the next step, your able to get that package out of customs without paying all the taxes, you get through the military or police check point without being harassed. It is truly the African way, before you know it you find yourself just part of the system. It doesn’t take long; you don’t even realize you’re doing it daily now. Amazing that all it takes is a little untruth here and a little fanta there and your right where you want to be in the time you want to be there.

What has happened to that beautiful piece of art work that once reflected the artist, does it still have the same form? Does it truly reflect the likeness of the maker? Can it be looked at in marvel as it once was or has It lost something?

Please hear me out; I am not stereo typing missionaries or pastors on the mission field! I am simply saying that I have seen and heard these things more than I wish to. Not to mention it has been a serious battle and road that I have been walking myself.

Now; the trip from Rwanda to Burundi…..

I will start from the moment that I arrived at the border. Everything was going so good, the police registered the car to come back in the country, they stamped my passport and I had no problem at customs. To my surprise they didn’t even want to look at my stuff and I’m telling you the car was packed. I had our washing machine, stove/cooker and at least 15 boxes filled with cloths, toys, books, kitchen items, gardening tools, etc. then sitting in the front seat with me was my dog Komera.

I started the car, the police man walked to the gate and started to open it. As I pulled forward another police man walked out of the building said something and the gate was lowered again. They motioned for me to pull back and park. After approaching the car they asked if I had the passport for my Dog. I shook it off, laughing, Ha, passport that’s funny…. Then I realized they were serious! Confused I asked them for clarification. They wanted to see the dogs immunization card to be sure that it was up to date on it’s shots. I explained to them that I knew the dog had shots as a puppy but I had no record to prove it. It was very simple to them, no papers no crossing. It was aggravating yet in a way I was impressed. I tried everything from begging to asking for forgiveness. At one point I even asked them if I could talk with their chief of police. The officer agreed and told me that he would call him for me and explain the situation maybe the chief would have mercy. Unfortunately the officer had no phone credit in his phone to make the phone call and asked me for money so he could help me talk to the chief. I thought ok I guess that is ok, perhaps the chief will be more understanding. The officer then told me that $10(ten) dollars would be enough. I instantly knew what he was getting at and played stupid, telling him that $10 of phone credit was far too much to make a phone a call and gave him about $2 to buy a phone card.

He bought the card and talked with the chief who also rejected me, telling me to go back to Rwanda. I finally after talking with them for three hours got them to agree that if I could get a doctor form Bujumbura to come out and give the dog a check up and some shots. They would then release us to move on.

I called every one that I knew in the Bujumbura to ask for help. After waiting another two hours a Vet. (doctor) arrived. By now it is after 4:00 in the afternoon. The Vet. goes and talks to the police then signals for me to bring the dog behind the building. With the police watching and I of course holding the dog, he takes his temperature, checks his teeth and says “ok no problem”. At this the police tell me sawa (it’s ok, good). Now I am told to rush along because the road into the capital (Bujumbura) will be closing at 6:00. It is already after 4:30 and the drive is at least 2 to 2.5 hours without a over loaded heavy car.

The doctor and the people with him tell me to follow them so that I will not have any trouble at the check points on the road as it is getting close to road closer time. This worked wonderfully for the first 20 or so km, we flew pass the first of the check points. After reaching the first major town they stopped and told me that we could not continue because it was getting late. They were planning on spending the night and getting a fresh start in the morning. They tried to convince me to join them but after being gone from home for three days and waiting for five hours at the border in the hot sun the only thing I wanted was to get to my family. I kindly declined and told them that I must continue and God will make a way… Now it is well after five and I think I still have about 100km to go. I quickly phoned everybody and told them to start praying for God to do a miracle. What I didn’t know was I had 4 to 5 military/ police check points to still go through.

This is where it gets hard! I am flying in my loaded car as fast as I can without driving like an idiot asking the angel’s of the lord to hold on to the stuff.

I come to the first road block and sure enough they tell me to turn around that the road is closed. I argued with them at first telling them it was not six o’clock. That didn’t work, I then started pleading with them telling them that my kids and wife were waiting for me and I must make it through. They of course wanted to see what it was worth to me, so he simply raised up his fingertips rubbing them together as to say (money….) and told me “sorry the road is closed”. I lifted up an emergency prayer to the lord at this time saying “ok Lord, now what??? I have a pocket full of money and it would not take much to get these guys to open the road. But it is wrong!!! I would rather sleep on the side of the road! Please God, I don’t want to pay a bribe….”

After that emergency prayer I looked at the soldier and just said “please”!! To my surprise he turned and motioned to the others to open the road block and I was off again… Praising God all the way!! But lost ten minutes of my time…

Then bam I came around a corner almost running right through a road block. The officers not being amused at all with me almost crashing into their stuff told me again that the road was closed and to turn around. I started being very apologetic and tried joking with them a bit to get them to lighten up thank God it was working. I told him that I had still ten minuets before the road would close and if he would open for me I promise to go very vuba vuba (really fast!!) He laughed and told me “you will never make it”. I told him I know because you guys are always stopping me. I said “me I want to go, go, go, but now all I get is go stop, go stop, go stop..” I thought at this maybe I said to much..oh Travis you ruined it now! He looked at me and said “give me a fanta (money)!” All I thought was God…..Please…. what do I do???? Oh man…. Again he ask me for fanta, I looked at him and said “please, I promise, I will go vuba vuba (really fast)”. He laughed and motioned to them to open the road block and away I went. God you are so good!!

Now number three road block, the two military officers cut right to the chase of course assuming that the only reason I was there at their road block was because I gave some fanta. They were not hesitant a bit to ask, after of course giving me the lecture that the road was closed and that I need to turn around. I knew what was coming so I thought and prayed quickly. Then he said those beautiful words do you have fanta? You see fanta is meaning money but what it really is, is a soda pop drink. There are different types orange, lemon, passion, pineapple. So playing dumb I told him that I had none of the above mentioned fanta. He then rubbed his fingertips together saying fanta, fanta… Again I played dumb telling him that I had no fanta. Then I decided to take it a step further, I asked him why he was asking for fanta when it is a cold night and he should ask for chi (also meaning money but is really tea with milk). The officers both laughed so hard and the one said “Oh yes” still laughing “chi, give us chi.”

At this I responded “I am sorry I have no fanta and I don’t have any chi either, all I have to offer is water, would you like water?” They seemed to get a little agitated at this and I thought Travis you idiot you took them too far. Now they’re mad and you will never get through. The one officer finally tired of playing games, called it what it is. Amafaranga (money) give us amafaranga!! I could not play dumb any longer and it would not be smart at this point I thought. God I said, these guys are serious!! And this stinking money is burning a hole in my pocket! It is wrong!!! God what can I do?? Do I have a choice?

I looked at the officer and said, “oh you mean money! I am sorry I can’t give you money, but please my wife and my four kids are waiting for me and I must make it home to them”. I think this is where I held my breath for a while…. He turned and told the other officer to open the road block, and away I went…

I drove hard and fast and just when I was thinking I must have made it through all the road blocks, I saw a car stopped ahead of me. I thought oh no not again is this ever going to stop??? After a few minutes of talking to the car in front of me they opened the road block just enough to let him pass then closed it again. I knew that I was not to far away from the city at this point. By now my faith was built up and I was determined not to give any money no matter what. The officer came to the window and told me “ the road is closed, you stay here!” He just stood there and looked at me. I tried to plead with him and say something but he interrupted saying again the road closed, you stay here!! Again he stood at my window just staring at me… So I said “ok I sleep right here, thank you”. At this I turned off the headlights of the car, put the window up and stopped the engine. He then walked off, so I put my head back and closed my eyes (to pray of course). When I did this I heard some of the other people at the road block shouting and yell something obviously to this officer. But I kept my eyes closed, I was praying so hard!! God you have got me this far, don’t stop now!! I cannot stay here and I will not pay a bribe!!!

Oh I forgot to mention that this road block was in the middle of a village center, so there were a couple hundred people standing all around the crazy white guy’s car. I know this because I was squinting with my eyes so I could see out of them yet have it appear that I had them closed. Don’t ask me why I did this because I don’t know….

About five minutes later there was a tap on my window and there stood another officer who spoke better English than the first. Again he told me that the road was closed and they could not let me pass. I told him that the other officer had already given me that message so I knew that I had to sleep there.

I then pleaded with him, telling him that I know I am very close and all I want to do is get to my wife and children so please just let me go. He turned and motioned to them to open the road, then told me to go but take it easy. I thanked him and was off.

I arrived in the city about 7:30 in the evening, finally into the arms of my wife and four beautiful daughters who were all very happy to see me and our Dog komera.

Believe me or not it was all done without paying a fanta!

God’s word stands true, Do you??? (He will make a way where there seems to be no way!)

Thank you Lord!!!!