We were in Bas Congo Province; Congo’s most western province and only geographical link with the Atlantic Ocean to supervise some of our outlying hospitals and clinics. I was with a pastor from one of our churches in the United States who wanted to better understand first hand the work of missions in Congo. We had crossed the Congo River on a rickety steel barge in waters which the locals told us were infested with alligators; no comforting thought as I looked at the 3 rusty pontoons welded together with a piece of steel plate; upon which sat our jeep landcruiser and 2 weeks worth of food, water, change of clothing and supplies.

An hour later, after crossing the river, we came across Laurent, a young man, who was setting out on a long deserted stretch of road. He had been out in the bush for 4 days delivering oral polio vaccine to children. Having depleted his stock of vaccines he was on his way back to the hospital; a 10-12 hour venture by foot. He was dressed in loose pants and a sports jersey. In one hand he carried a portable cooler with melted ice pack which had kept the vaccines cool earlier in the week, and in the other a neatly folded plastic bag which contained a notebook with the names of the children who had received vaccines. He had no cloak, no water or food; no clothes besides those on his back. He waved to us; it was a rare sight to see a jeep on the road in this part of the country; and we offered him a ride; cutting his trip home from twelve hours to two.

During the wind-cooled ride in our covered jeep on this hot and sunny day; I asked him a little about himself. His French was limited; so our driver had to translate much of what he said. He was 19 years old and single; he was a volunteer health care worker who normally made his living fishing on the banks of the Congo River. He told me about his work as a community health care worker; he volunteered two to three times a year, traveling by foot to remote villages; often when there was an outbreak of Polio or Measles; not uncommon in this part of Africa next to Gabon and Angola where outbreaks of everything seem to occur.

This was a particularly challenging trip. In some of the more remote areas; village elders did not want him to vaccinate; claiming the vaccine would make their people ill. He had to go door-to-door to convince mothers to bring their children out to be vaccinated despite the threats of tribal authorities. In 4 days, walking over 200 km and traversing hot sun and several drenching rains he vaccinated over 800 children “Why do you do this?” I asked him. His response...'I believe I can make a difference”.

I wish we had the same passion and zeal for missions; driven by a concern for others, willing to endure environmental hazards, steadfast despite the threats and jeers of contemporaries, and relying on God to provide for our needs.

Some say that doing mission work in Africa requires methodical training and years of preparation (medical training or scriptural preparation), attention to detail and planning (our well traced map and survival gear) and willing to take risks (crossing crocodile infested rivers on rusty barges). After being visited by young Laurent, a stranger we met on a lonely stretch of road on the African plains, like the Ethiopian who welcomed Phillip aboard his chariot, I was reminded of the most important thing in doing this kind of work: simply faith!

Bill Clemmer
Bas Congo Province, DR Congo

Mark 6:8-9 He instructed them to take nothing for the journey but a walking stick--no food, no sack, no money in their belts.