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The wait is over

Annie Brosseau

On a beautiful afternoon on August 13, 2000, a dark period in the life of the Kitata family had a happy ending. At a time when many had stopped hoping, the wait finally ended for Jean-Calvin Kitata, who had been separated for three long years from his wife Élysée and their two sons Joël and Daniel. When Jean-Calvin had said goodbye to his family in August 1997, he and his family had not expected to be separated for more than six months.

Together at last: The Kitata family.

Kinshasa, August 1997. The Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire) is barely recovering from political change. The dictator Mobutu has fled the country, but echoes of war have not yet faded, and the promise of building a democracy has yet to be fulfilled. The Kitata family is living in Kinshasa, the capital, a city of more than 5 million people. Recently ordained as a pastor in the Conference of Mennonite Brethren Churches in Congo, Jean-Calvin is also working as editor for the communication services of the Church of Christ in Congo, an organization uniting all the Protestant churches in the country. Élysée is a student at the International Centre of Missiology, and their two sons are three and four years old. John Esau, a Canadian and a former MBMS International missionary in Zaire, is a close friend and mentor of Jean-Calvin. With his help, Jean-Calvin has the opportunity to come to Ontario for several months to study media production. In August 1997, with a visa and financial aid, Jean-Calvin says goodbye to Élysée and the children and leaves for a semester in Canada.

Montreal, August 1998. Jean-Calvin is still in Canada. The critical situation in Congo encourages him to extend his stay and study at the University of Montreal. Instead of going back home, he tries to bring Élysée and the children to Canada. Jean-Calvin starts to do volunteer work with Le Lien (the French language periodical of the Canadian MB Conference) and Mennonite Central Committee Quebec. Spring 1998 is a difficult period for Jean-Calvin. He learns of the sudden death of his friend John Esau, soon followed by the deaths of his father and then his eldest brother in Congo. In the midst of these tragic events, Jean-Calvin is comforted by the love of his brothers and sisters at L’église chrétienne de Saint-Laurent (Christian Church of Saint-Laurent, an MB congregation). The members of this church generously contribute funds to reunite the Kitata family, but money does not seem to be enough. Though Canadians have the freedom to travel to most places in the world, Congolese can only get visas after a long wait and solid guarantees. During this time, war breaks out in Kinshasa, bombs land close to the airport, entire neighbourhoods are plundered, electric services are down for a month, and people are murdered in the streets. The MB Church of Kintambo, which Élysée and the children are attending, is the only church to welcome opposing factions. This church is a true model for peace. Regularly, Jean-Calvin sends money to Kinshasa to provide for the needs of his family.

Kinshasa, February 1999. The situation is back to normal in the capital of Congo, though the war is continuing in the eastern part of the country. Delegates from Europe and Quebec go to Kinshasa to build the foundation for an international French-speaking Mennonite network. I have the joy to be the delegate from Quebec. Upon my arrival in Kinshasa, I have the privilege of meeting Élysée and the children. Élysée is a strong woman who finds her courage in prayer. Her courage enables her to educate and feed her children, complete her studies at the Centre of Missiology and serve in her community. However, on the day before my departure, sadness takes over, and we cry together for a long time in each other’s arms. It is so unfair for me to come back so easily to Canada while Élysée has been waiting to make the same trip for 17 months.

Saint-Jerome, August 1999. L’église chrétienne de Saint-Jérôme (the Christian Church of Saint-Jerome, another MB congregation) near Montreal has been looking for a pastor for a few months. During the summer of 1999, the church hires Jean-Calvin Kitata, who becomes the first Congolese to pastor a Mennonite Brethren church in North America. The never-ending attempts to bring Élysée and the children to Canada continue, bringing both times of hope and times of discouragement.

August 2000. After Canadian visas have finally been issued, the suspense reaches its highest point when Élysée and the children have trouble getting transit visas to pass through Brussels, Belgium. If these visas are not issued, the plane tickets will be lost. Through human and divine intervention, transit visas are issued only two days before the scheduled departure from Kinshasa. Élysée and the children leave the only city that they have ever known, leaving behind a loving family and a loving Christian community.

At the other end of the world, on August 13 at Mirabel Airport in Montreal, Jean-Calvin tries to remain calm while his family’s plane is delayed for two hours. These few hours, added to the last three years, are difficult for Jean-Calvin. About 20 friends are at his side; they want to be the privileged witnesses to this intense moment of joy. When his family finally passes through the gate at the terminal, Jean-Calvin and Élysée embrace each other, tears of joy pouring from their eyes. It is difficult for us not to cry as we sing a welcome song in Lingala. How good it is to see Joël and Daniel already mixing with the children who have come to welcome them.

The rest of the story has yet to be written. Joël and Daniel will write a new page of it by integrating into a new school and a new educational system. Élysée and Jean-Calvin will write more as they experience the joys of again being a couple and a family. The Saint-Jerome Church will share the moments of happiness as well as the challenges which await the Kitata family in their new land. Whatever happens, they will continue to be sustained by prayer.

Mirabel Airport, August 13, 2000: Élysée, Joël, and Daniel Kitata are warmly welcomed by friends and members of the Saint-Jerome Church.

Annie Brosseau is editor of Le Lien. This article is reprinted, with permission, from the October 2000 issue of Le Lien. It was translated into English by Marc Paré.

Counting deaths in Congo

Between August 1998 and May 2000, 1.7 million more deaths than usual occurred in the eastern part of Congo because of war. “These are conservative numbers,” says the International Rescue Committee. Children are disappearing from the demographic landscape. 34% of the 1.7 million deaths are among children under age five, and in some regions 30% to 40% of the deaths are among children under age two. In the eastern part of Congo, war is linked with illness. In the regions where the most violent deaths occur, there are also more deaths due to contagious diseases and malnutrition. Numerous cases of cholera, dysentery and meningitis have erupted in some regions. Other cases, most likely related to polio, have also been noted. Violence against civilians is perpetrated by both government and rebel forces. 47% of the victims of violent death are women and children. It is expected that the mortality rate will be higher in 2000 than it was in 1999. Source: Studies on Mortality, the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo (www.cnn.com)

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Last modified January 11, 2001.

© 2001 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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