Impossible Love by Craig Keener

Author:Craig Keener [Keener, Craig and Médine Moussounga Keener]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: REL012040, REL012110, BIO018000, Christian biography--Africa, Christian biography--United States
ISBN: 9781441229601
Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
Published: 2016-02-17T05:00:00+00:00

Rising Tensions

After the disruptive night, an eerie quiet settled over our district. We prayed and debated again what to do. Carrying Papa Jacques into the rainforest seemed suicidal. And how could I hide there with a toddler? David did not know how to stop talking, shouting or crying.

We mostly stayed inside. At one point my friend Yvette burst in, distraught. “My brother fled with my baby!” she cried. “I don’t know which direction they went.” In her panic, she had left her home without shoes. “Take these flip-flops,” I urged, and prayed with her for the safety of her eight-month-old child. As Yvette departed I contemplated anxiously my own baby’s safety.

Several hours later, Ngoma Boniface arrived at our door with thirteen members of his extended family, including sixteen-year-old Massala, who spoke only Lingala, the language of the north. Massala would have to be particularly careful, since southern troops arrested as infiltrators anyone who could not speak the local language.

“There’s too much gunfire in our part of the city right now,” Mr. Boniface explained. “Might we stay here for the moment?”

“Of course,” my hospitable father assured them. This addition brought the total number of people crowded into our little house to 24.

Before long another fugitive reported what was happening in nearby districts. Northern soldiers and Angolans were going from house to house raping women and killing men. The numbers of soldiers from both sides were now swelling.

“We won’t go outside more than needed,” Papa Jacques determined, hoping to keep our presence quiet. This was going to be a considerable problem because we no longer had running water and would need to use the outside toilet. It took very little time for this situation to prove how dangerous our position was.

It was growing dark when Massala needed to use the toilet. “Aimé,” Papa Jacques called. “Go with our guest and stand watch.”

Just as Massala emerged from the outdoor toilet, two soldiers passing by on the dirt road spotted them. “Stop! Put your hands up,” they ordered.

There was no time to think. Massala, speaking in Lingala, yelled to Aimé to run. They dashed madly into the house.

“Soldiers saw us!” Aimé shouted, throwing us all into a panic as he scrambled for cover.

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