Fearless for Congo

Top photo (left-right): Mandy, Nik, me, James

Bottom photo (left-right): Ricky, Mandy, James, me, Nik, Jennifer, Ericka, Ian

On September 8th, 16 adrenaline junkies trekked to Crumland Farms in Frederick, Maryland to face the Mid-Atlantic Tough Mudder. It's tagline ambiguously describing it as "Probably the Toughest Event on the Planet," the Tough Mudder is a 10-12 mile, 25 obstacle challenge meant to test stamina, strength, mental grit, and camaraderie. Developed by British Special Forces with proceeds going to the Wounded Warrior Project, this is an event in a class by itself. It brings out individuals, small groups, large groups, costumed groups. It makes no pretenses about what it is but it welcomes all to participate. Our Congo team of 13 completed the challenge last year at Wintergreen, VA and we recruited a larger group to join us this year. Plain and simple, I love this event. And here's why:

We are 59!

The Congo missions team is a group of people that I have had the privilege to lead and  grow in friendship with. This eclectic bunch of people are passionate about restoring hope and dignity to the Congo. This group does this by fundraising for, advocating for, and visiting a special group of 58 children in Uvira. These kids are single and double orphans in eastern DRC and the home that takes care of them is Congo for Christ Center (CCC). CCC is about providing shelter, food, education, and discipleship to these abandoned children. Not only do they want these kids to just survive, they want them to thrive and become next generation leaders in their community, regionally, nationally.  

Over the past two years, it's become clear that these kids have captured our hearts. Some team members have bonded with particular children and have chosen to sponsor them monthly through Global Outreach, the financial sponsor of CCC. These kids are smart. They're hungry for knowledge and for love. They want to know that someone believes in them and that they're not orphans, but children of God. 

We believe in them so that's why we run this race. This year, we accepted the Tough Mudder challenge and the fundraising challenge to raise $7,500 for all 58 kids' primary and secondary school fees for the year plus needed supplies like uniforms, book bags, notebooks, pencils, etc. We became aware of the goal five weeks before the race but miraculously, we reached our goal and even raised $1K over the stated goal...again, in just 5 weeks. Our supporters are awesome! 

They Make You Say a Pledge Before You Start

With our right hands up, we all say in our best tough voices and in unison:

I UNDERSTAND THAT TOUGH MUDDER IS NOT A RACE BUT A CHALLENGE

I PUT TEAMWORK AND CAMARADERIE BEFORE MY COURSE TIME

I DO NOT WHINE - KIDS WHINE.

I HELP MY FELLOW MUDDERS COMPLETE THE COURSE

I OVERCOME ALL FEARS.

And then we're off!!!

Variety is the Spice of Life

There are 25 obstacles! From scaling wooden walls, crawling under barbed wire, jumping into an ice bath, running up a half pipe, crossing greased monkey bar inclines, jumping 20 ft into muddy water, sliding up and down muddy hills, running through live wires, this challenge gives it to you good. Each obstacle is different and some you hate and want to punch in the face, while others you have great fun getting through. The variety shakes it up and really breaks up the 10-12 mile course.

Camaraderie

This race is all about it. Camaraderie is a big value in the military and the British Special Forces who developed the course saw a lack of races and events that employed this value. In triathlons, marathons, 5Ks, it's pretty much every man for himself. Not so with this one. We need each other to get through it, which leads me to...

You Can't Do Life Alone

At one point or another, during one season or another, there will be a time where you will need to lean on and depend on someone else to get through it. Here was my moment when I had this metaphorical epiphany...

It's called Everest. It's a muddy half pipe where many an athlete wipe out. Some people can get a running start and make it to the top. Kudos to them.

Me? As Kings of Leon sing, I need to "use somebodyyyy."

I didn't try Everest last year, but this year, I was determined to do it...or charlie horse trying. I watched a few people try for pointers on technique. I backed up to get a running start. Before I ran, I made eye contact with two dudes at the top and nodded. They nodded back.

Then up I ran. As I reached the landing of the pipe, I looked up again and locked eyes with the two dudes waiting for me. These dudes were complete strangers but in that moment, I took a running leap of faith and committed my fate to their muscular hands. They caught me and proceeded to work with me as I tried to figure out how to get my legs up. Another guy and girl joined the crew and pulled me up after a bit of struggling. I made it! They helped me accomplish the obstacle that bested me last year. That moment when we locked eyes, reassured me that this trust was good, albeit momentary. We look for those moments in life of truth and goodness and fullness. For me, in that moment, I thought about how much in life, we need each other to help us through...to trust one another even with doubts in the tummy. It was a beautiful moment and affirming.

I received their help with gratitude saying "thanks" over and over and then a big 'ol "F#cK!!!!" I honestly don't know what word would have been better in that moment. 

Life Changing Moments Happen Before Our Muddy Eyes

With beers in hand and space blankets around our bodies, we huddled in a little area as we waited for more of our team to finish. Nik, Mandy, and Jennifer had crossed over into the finisher's zone. I was talking to Ericka. Mandy's brother, Andrew, and his girlfriend, Rose, came by to join us. Mandy lost one contact lens during the challenge so she put on her eyeglasses. We had naturally formed a close semi-circle and then it happened!

Nik started lowering on one muddy knee and before Ericka could realize what was actually happening, Nik asked Mandy, "Will you marry me?" Mandy: "YES!!!!"

What! Are you kidding?!?! That's amazing!!! We've been waiting for this proposal all summer and here it was, right in front of our muddy faces. It was pretty beautiful actually to have witnessed it that close and to be with Mandy and Nik as they cross over into the land of engagement, fiances, and wedding/marriage planning. 

Special Tour Earrings : Kicheko

Categories: From a Friend, Merch, Summer 2012 Tour

I wanted to bring something lovely with me on tour for all of you. So I asked my dear friend Sarah if she would create a special set of herdesigner earrings for y’all!

I love the look of them, and I love the vision behind them. Here is a bit about Sarah’s company:

Kicheko, meaning “laughter” in Swahili, is a cause-based brand producing goods that directly benefit orphan care and development work at Congo for Christ Center (CCC) in the eastern region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Born out of a love to create and a passion for Congo, I started making earrings with a group of women from the DC area, who also enjoy crafting. I chose “Kicheko” to represent what we are doing because so often, the narrative of Congo is dark and paralyzing.

When we went to Congo in 2011 and again in 2012, it was uplifting to see that the people and the children laugh and most of all, they hope. Laughter can be healing medicine, is contagious, and perpetuates hope and joy.

Kicheko has been a wonderful way to engage people in the story of Congo and the struggle it faces today. It’s the second largest country in Africa; rich in minerals, natural resources, and beauty; and home to an amazing community of children and people, who we have worked with for the past two years. There is an immense amount of need and obstacles that the Congo needs to overcome and while they are resilient and hopeful, they cannot do it alone.

Last Friday, our Congo team attended A1:8 Voices, a rally and an event of celebration and storytelling recounting the year's 10 international trips and local service projects that have spanned the Fearless missions cycle. Each team was given 3 minutes to share a story, video, or picture. Congo went first and this is the story we shared. 

In 2009, I joined a team of 24 men and women from NCC to help build a schoolroom in the Bbira Village of Watoto in Kampala, Uganda. This 8 day experience was my first in Africa, a continent I had always dreamed of traveling and possibly living. It was a mix of hard physical labor under the hot African sun constructing the classroom brick by brick yet also emotional and spiritually reawakening. Fresh off the heels of graduating with my master's degree in international affairs & development from GW, I was keen to see family based models of orphan and care of vulnerable children in the flesh. It was incredible that a faith-based organization like Watoto could scale up a family based model orphanage to 3 villages plus multi-site church locations and an economic empowerment program for HIV+ women and girls. Extremely impacting on my notions of orphan care and the power of God's provision and vision on the Ugandan people and children. I stayed for two additional weeks to work in their Baby Watoto center as a full-time care giver. Caring for a group of 16 babies 0-2 years old was no small task but a rich and colossally emotional experience. No way close to being a mother myself, I could only glimpse the love of a mother and more importantly, the love of a God that knows each hair on each of the orphans' heads. 

“Different Plans” by Brian Andreas (of StoryPeople.)

One of my best girlfriends, Caroline, included this poem in a recent post. I understand what this means more and more as each day goes by since Congo and I find that I miss it increasingly. I think that there comes a time when someone has an experience that alters them in a way that they did not expect or even hope to be altered. The feeling of change or rather need for change is one that feels so visceral since I've been back. Yes, the people of Congo have very little materials and in DC, we have so much. It's more than reverse culture shock. What altered me was the depth and richness of life that I was able to experience in 8 days. I forgot how rich the time between sunrise and sunset can be. So full of life, laughter, importance, purpose, pain, joy, humanity. The children and the people that we met tapped that unmet need in such a real way despite the language barrier, short length of stay, and yes, painful diarrhea. :)