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| Dr. Mossai Sanguma, Director of World Vision Gemena |
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Last night we celebrated the birthday of the Director of
World Vision in Equateur province, former Covenant Church of Congo President
Mossai Sanguma. Some of you may know his
name, and some of you have met him during his time in the States studying at
North Park University and Fuller Theological Seminary. He has been a very influential leader in this
region and continues to occupy that role with his relatively new position in
World Vision.
We celebrated in his home, which is always full of people
and always full of food to share. Last
night was no different, and we enjoyed a spread of goat, fried fish, chicken,
rice in a mushroom sauce, and pineapple.
As we talked and laughed together, the topic turned toward the subject
of “experts” on Africa. I commented on
how interesting it was that reporters from some major news sources
labeled “Africa Experts” were Caucasian males from Europe or the States. Why does the world still, so often fail to give voice to African experts from Africa? Dr. Sanguma shared frustrations about
meeting people or reading books written by people who claimed to be experts on
this region of Congo, but who had spent a total of two weeks here. One of the things I really respect about
Mossai is his willingness to challenge me in my assumptions about my role here
and about my foreign perspective of his culture.
And this made me reflect on my role as a correspondant
between the World Vision office and all of you churches and donors back in the
States. This is a very delicate position
to be in. I am not Congolese and I have
lived in Gemena not even a year, yet I am one of those reporting on World Vision’s
work and it’s interplay with people, organizations and culture here.
So I want to set a disclaimer and say, I am no expert. My goal is to give voice to what is happening
here, and though I know I will be biased, I can only pray that God uses my
words to communicate the true voice that needs to be heard from Gemena. Thankfully, I work with a wonderful Congolese
staff who has agreed to review my work and tell me when I’m off. So it is with their help and perspective that
we have the privilege to hear the Congolese World Vision story.
And I invite readers to ask questions, make critiques and
put in their two cents too.
Transparency, onward.
