Goma

In the spirit of Jason Schwartzman: Two things. First thing. I’ve updated the About and Portfolio tabs. And I’m always on the hunt for plug-ins specifically aimed at RSS readers. Anythoughts, I’m all ears. amongst other things.

Second Thing:

My boss, Jack, and Mike are in Goma, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, that rubs up against the western border of Rwanda.

You might recognize the region, if not the name, as being one of the places in Africa that gives it its darker, dangerous reputation. The eastern parts of the DRC seem to be in constant governmental flux, resulting in a highly unstable way of life. As a matter of fact, Mike sent me an article the day he left about more government/rebel/civilian violence that is such a staple of this country.

This, tragically, is the reason why so many people there are starving. In many places just like this, over fifty percent of the populous rely on food aid from the US and other industrialized nations. This is, in part, what we do.

On an interesting note, there is a constant debate at the highest levels about how to help these people become self-sufficient. It’s been proven it’s not the incapacity of the people. It’s also been proven it’s not poor land or the lack of other recourses.

It’s the fighting. It leaves such a pitiful framework for industrialization and stabilization that the affected regions are left with people who’s farms are destroyed, roads are destroyed, and bridges are destroyed. How can one self-sustain like this?

In thinking about all this, what’s the solution?  I hesitate to write the singular, “God,” although I firmly believe He is. I look around at the constant godlessness in my own country, and I can see the outcome is clearly not the same. What then? I don’t know. But I do know two things: I don’t (and won’t) know everything. And God is allpowerfully in control. Based on this, I have peace and continue to move forward.

Pictures from Mike:

All pictures taken by Mike Ludwick.