We have arrived in the DR Congo to the city of Goma just on the boarder with Rwanda. There was an instant atmosphere change upon the initial steps into the country. We did not need to hear guns shots to know we are in an area in the midsts of war. The tension you can feel is more than enough clarification of the curcumstances.

We have been given some peace of mind from locals that Goma is safe. The renegade general Laurent Nkunda was arrested on January 22. He was the leader of the rebels so without his presence the fighting has backed off. I still get some chills knowing that now that the rebels have come out of the bush they are being relocated to there base in Goma. We have driven by several caravans full of rebels. I am not able to photograph them because Tamota, our guide, warned us of high theft and crime. So we just drove straight to our hotel. The place we are staying in is safe, secure and nice. There is a bylaw that two people of the same sex are not aloud to stay in the same room. You can only share a room if you are a married man and woman.

I outlined some details about the war but on the other side it is very encouraging to see organizations like UNICEF and World Vision almost every where we look. Tomorrow we are off to the orphanige. Our friends Daviede and Diessongo from Burkina Faso arrived yesterday and we will work together for a week or so.

I will try and add some more photos when time alows. Thats all for now

PSplease forgive my spelling but the french spell check does not help anyone and spelling is amoung my weakness

Old Shawn ard