I.R.T. - Goma, Congo

The next day, we decided to cross the border to Goma, Congo. The border was just a short drive from where we were, and we had talked to several people who told us that the town just on the other side of the border was safe for us to go to. So we drove to the border, parked the truck on the Rwanda side so that we wouldn’t have to get insurance for it, and walked across to the Congo!

(between the borders of Rwanda and Congo)

(Congo border)

There was only one factor that we were concerned about for being able to get across the border. The border crossing fee had to be paid in American cash and usually the bills have to be recent (at least 2003). Becca R. and I didn’t even have American cash on us because going across this border wasn’t in our original plans and crossing the Rwandan border was free. Becca E. had enough cash, but it was the year 2000. We just decided to go for it and if it didn’t work then at least we tried. We all got processed through and then when they asked for the money, sure enough, they wanted a newer bill. There was a brief moment of sadness that we wouldn’t get to enter the Congo before an American man standing behind us spoke up and said that he had a newer bill that he would trade! Another unexpected blessing!

So, I can now say that I have been to the Democratic Republic of Congo! We only spent a few hours there, and there really wasn’t that much to do, but it was still an interesting experience. It was incredible how drastically different things were on the Congo side of the border. Almost immediately it was dirtier, poorer, and less organized than Rwanda had been. Goma had been covered by lava sometime in the 90s and so the street level was significantly higher than it was before. There were buildings that you could see where almost the entire first level was covered in lava. They just rebuilt on top of everything and second floors of buildings became first floors.

There were walls built entirely out of volcanic rock and piles of volcanic rock everywhere.
We stopped and talked to some people to see if there was anything in particular that we should do or see while we were there and they told us we could walk one way to see the lake, one way to see the market, and one way to see the monument from the volcanic eruption. We had already seen the lake on the Rwandan side and the market wasn’t too appealing, so we decided to seek out the monument. Here is a picture of what we found.
It is a statue/monument of a bunch of stuff tangled together and covered in lava. Of course we had to take a picture in front of it! That was about the extent of our Congo excursion, but again, I can now say that I have been there! I have the stamp in my passport to prove it!

I.R.T. - Gisenyi, Rwanda

After leaving the orphanage, we drove the rest of the way to Gisenyi where we spent the night at a hotel right on the shore of Lake Kivu. The view was beautiful! From our room that night we could see both the lake and a glowing volcano! My camera was out of batteries so I wasn’t able to get a picture of the glowing, but we got pictures of the volcano with its smoke the next morning.

I.R.T. - Imbabazi Orphanage

After our time with the gorillas was over, we still had a full afternoon ahead of us. We made our way back to Sue’s house where we packed up our things, said our goodbyes along with many thanks, and we were back on the road! We headed toward Gisenyi, which is right on Lake Kivu and at the boarder between Rwanda and the Congo. On our way there, we stopped at an orphanage that was started by a woman named Rosamond Carr. She had been living in Rwanda for several years and was forced to evacuate during the genocide. As soon as she could return, she began the orphanage for children who had been affected by the genocide. Ros recently passed away at the age of 94, so I never had the opportunity to meet her, but I have heard that she was an incredible lady.

The fact that we even had a contact at the orphanage and were able to visit was another provision from God through Sue. When Sue heard that we were interested in visiting the orphanage because of all that we had head about it, she immediately called her friend Kay-Ellen who was a good friend of Ros and is now kind of in charge of the place during this time of transition! Kay-Ellen said that she would love to have us come and Sue made sure that we had directions to get there. It was great because when we arrived Kay-Ellen greeted us with, “So, are you what Sue sent?”

Kay-Ellen was wonderful and showed us all around the orphanage.


Currently, the orphanage takes care of 114 kids. It really is a wonderful ministry.


We also got to see Ros’ house and her flower gardens. To bring in money, Ros grew and sold flowers professionally. Her gardens were amazing and filled with so many beautiful flowers!

(This is where the cut, arrange, and prepare the flowers for delivery.)

Ros had a tradition that she always stopped whatever she was doing for afternoon tea. This became a well-known fact and she often received visitors at that time. When we were there Kay-Ellen invited us to join her for tea in Ros’ house. It was wonderful. We had the opportunity to listen to Kay-Ellen tell stories about her life and about Ros. We could have listened to her stories for hours and were disappointed that we had to leave in order to make it to Gisenyi before nightfall. It is so interesting to hear others’ stories. It has been so amazing to meet all of these new people!

I.R.T. - Gorilla Trekking!

We woke up early on the morning of our gorilla trekking adventure to prepare for an incredible day! We drove in the early hours of the morning to the main ORTPN office not far outside of Ruhengheri town. We were then put into a hiking group, given a guide, and set out to find our family of 8 gorillas, the Umubano group.


As we drove to the trailhead, we could see the volcanic mountains in the distance.


Our hike began with walking through local fields until we reached a wall made of volcanic rock, which marks the boundaries of the Volcanoes National Park.

(Becca E. and I with our guide, Francis)

Once inside the park, we began hiking up the mountain through a bamboo forest. The hike was so much fun! We were climbing over, under, and through bamboo with our guide up front hacking out a “path” with his machete.


We even stopped for a moment to try some of the gorillas’ favorite food – fresh bamboo shoots!


As we hiked, our guide was in communication with trackers who stay in the mountains and keep up with where the family units are moving. They help the guide know which direction to hike and also help to protect the gorillas from potential poachers. After about an hour of hiking we saw the first member of our gorilla family. It was an adolescent and was lounging around downhill from us. After a while, he got up and ran past us all and grabbed onto a boy that was with us! The trackers and the guide got the gorilla off of the boy and then, as it ran back down the hill, it grabbed and swung off of Becca E. like she was a tree! It was crazy!


We hiked down the path where that gorilla had been and around the corner to find ourselves in an opening on the side of the mountain with the gorilla family all around us! There were mothers and babies and one silverback.

(The silverback of the family)

The guides were a little concerned with the fact that we were in the middle of the family, but soon most of the family moved up further into a different clearing and we were able to watch them interact for about an hour. It was so amazing! For the most part, the adults just sat around and ate bamboo while the smaller ones played. The little ones were so much fun to watch as they were constantly climbing, swinging and wrestling with each other! One time one of the smaller ones (I think it may have been the same one that grabbed onto Becca E.) ran back out to the first clearing and ran into me on the way! It basically just brushed against me as it went past, but still, it touched me!

(family time)

(wrestling babies)

(adolescent snacking)

(We almost look like we were pasted in, but seriously, we were that close!)

(hard to tell: frustrated or bored?)

(so cute!)

(swingin' in the trees)

(anyone up for some sunbathing?)

The hour went by entirely too fast and we soon had to leave the family behind and begin our hike back down the mountain.


It was quite muddy and slippery in places and we going almost straight down sometimes. The combination of those factors led to some really funny slipping and sliding!


The hike down was beautiful and I struggled between needing to watch where I was going and wanting to take in everything around me that was so amazing! All in all this was one of the most incredible adventures ever! Pictures and words cannot do justice to how beautiful our surroundings were and what amazing creatures the gorillas are! I know I have said it many times before, but it always remains true, we serve an incredible God! Hiking on that mountain and watching the gorillas reminded me again of God’s amazing creativity and what a blessing it is that He allows me to enjoy it! Wherever you are, never forget to take a step back and take in the beauty and blessings that God surrounds us with!