It is a new week and I slept so long last night that I think today I must work extra long. Can it really work that way??? I spent the day yesterday with a priest friend, Abbe(Father) Guy. We traveled by foot, then by motorcycle (the local taxi here), and finally by a borrowed car. It was a full day with worship at Mount Carmel and then many visits, beginning with some refreshments with the priests at the parish where Abbe Guy was assisting in worship. We ended the day at his brother's home for a wonderful feast. I was glad to be accompanied also by Bahati's sister Marie Jeanne. I was so tired by the time I arrived home I was in bed at 8pm. Then during the night there was a huge thunderstorm with so much lightening, so close that I feared for the lives of those who live in the homes above the Diocese de Goma where I stay. At any rate it was so loud that I had to wake up just to listen, and the rain was furious. It was what we call a gully washer back home in the Dakotas. Beyond the thunderstorm I slept very well.
Above is the photo of a new friend of mine that I want to introduce you, Taylor Toeka Kakala. He works out of the offices here at Caritas Goma and I thought his stories would be of interest and enlightening for all. Included in this post are links to some of his articles. He is originally from Kisangani where he speaks Lingala, French, and some Swahili, though he says it is a bad Swahili…and so he studies Swahili language just like I do. Taylor now lives here in Goma with his wife Meda and his 4-month-old daughter Maria. I include pictures of Taylor and Maria. Thought you would enjoy a little family info too. Following is a short bio he wrote to tell a bit about his work, first in French and then the translation in English by our linguist from St. Anne Parish (Thank You Nadine!!!). Below is the wonderfu face of Taylor's daughter Maria.
Taylor Toeka Kakala est Journaliste indépendant. Correspondant à Goma (capitale provinciale du Nord-Kivu, RDC) du Journal « Le Phare » (Kinshasa), de l’Agence « Syfia Grands Lacs » (Montpellier) et de l’Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) (Londres), il est aussi le Représentant de l’Asbl « Journalistes pour la promotion et la défense des droits de l’homme » (JPDH) au Nord-Kivu.
Taylor Toeka Kakala is an independent journalist. In Goma (capital of the North-Kivu Province in DRC), he acts as a correspondent for newspaper called the « Le Phare », for the « Syfia Great Lakes » (Montpellier) Agency and for the Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) (London). He is also the representative for the Non Profit Association « Journalists for the promotion and the defence of the human rights)(JPDH) in North Kivu.
Following are some links to his articles so you may read some of the news from our region. This past weekend the news was bad, there were three murders Friday night and another Saturday night. That brings a total of 14 killings in the last two weeks here in Goma. The word on the street is that the killings this week were perpetrated by soldiers looking for money and goods to sell. Not good news, but news all the same and everyone here says this is the way of life now in this eastern part of DRC. The state of unrest and inability to feel safe at night causes people to always be in a heightened state of wariness, not a great way to live. It's the kind of stress that negatively impacts health in a variety of ways. The death Saturday night was the wife of someone known by a colleague here in Caritas. Keep us in your prayers that peace may arrive soon.
The titles and links for two of Taylor's articles that have been translated into English follow, if you read French you can research and find other articles of his available on the web. I am glad to call him my friend.
Rebel General Insists on Amnesty Deal
Rebel General Insists on Amnesty Deal
Kivu Peace Deal Failing to Deliver
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