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The initial call and first steps
We have both sensed a call to live and work in French-speaking Africa since before we were married. In late 2018 we started to explore what that might look like, somewhere where Anthea could find a job, Martin could serve the Anglican church and the children could go to an international school. Congo seemed the obvious place to start, having both already spent some time there, with Goma as our first choice.
The Diocese of Goma was created in 2016 and Martin had Bishop Désiré of Goma recommended to him. He wrote in January 2019, asking about possibilities. Bishop Désiré replied the next morning saying that he’d received the e-mail but wouldn’t commit to anything more at that time. By lunchtime, after a phone call or two, he’d invited all of us to come and live and work in Goma! Then, when we approached CMS we were told that they knew Désiré well and were exploring closer links and Désiré had already asked them for someone who could help with theological education.
In May 2019 a chance conversation at Tearfund led to some other conversations which led Anthea being offered her old job back, but now with the possibility of doing it overseas. Since it is a regional role, she could be based in Goma. Around the same time, we came across a new international school in Goma – following both the Congolese and Belgian systems – which looked a good fit for our children.
Then a good few months of preparation, CMS training, the difficulty of not being able to tell anyone from church until Martin resigned, telling the kids with their differing responses and levels of comprehension, packing up the house, organising schools and visas and jabs and insurance, wondering if it was all a bit foolhardy, hugely divergent reactions when we could finally share the news and not knowing when we’d come back and where we’d live.
Then March 2020 and Covid. Kenya closing its airports early meant we had 24 hours to find an alternative route to Kigali (Rwanda) and leave the UK if we wanted to go. Rwandan lockdown followed 3 days later leading to 5 ½ unexpected months in Kigali with Anthea working and Martin home-schooling the kids. 5 ½ months of seeing the goodness and the provision of God, of navigating the new normal with the rest of the world, but also knowing that we wouldn’t be there to stay.
Whilst in Kigali we heard the news of the unexpected death of Bishop Désiré, who we’d never met, only spoken to on WhatsApp. We were left wondering how such a visionary, godly man, at the helm of a newly-formed, desperately poor, yet hope and faith-filled diocese could die so young, at 52. What would the diocese now do? What would Martin now do? The Diocese still assured us that they were looking forward to welcoming us as soon as we could cross the border, which was eventually in late August.
Now that we are here we love it! The Congolese have welcomed us warmly – at home, in Tearfund, at school and in church. Our first 6 weeks were in a guest house just opposite Tearfund’s offices, right on Lake Kivu, with a steady flow of interesting guests, with one of the most stunning vistas in Goma.
In October we rented our own house, also on the lake. The children’s French is getting better slowly. We are getting to know some people as well as the city. And since the Archbishop of Congo’s visit in October (who is acting Bishop of Goma) Martin’s role is clearer. As well as a focus on teaching and training pastors he has been asked to be Vicar General of the Diocese, supporting the Archbishop in the administrative and pastoral oversight whilst they appoint a new bishop.
November 2020