Crossing the border

The Rwandan-Congo border sits on the shore of mighty Lake Kivu bustling with energy. People cross everyday to sell their goods either in Goma, DR Congo or in Geyseni, Rwanda. UN vehicles drive across full of troops and refugee supplies accompanied by the odd Mercedes with a Dubai license plate. We hopped into the Land Cruiser flying the HEAL Africa flag and head into town. At first DR Congo seems no different from Rwanda, until we enter the city center. The smell of burning garbage and car exhaust hit us like a brick wall. The streets teemed with activity as the moto drivers (taxi motorbikes) weave in and out of traffic like ants in a uniform line. Goma is a sensory overload. The noise, smells and sights are overwhelming. We were definitely not in Kansas anymore. After a quick stop at the HEAL Africa office we jumped back out on the bumpy road to our final destination of the day, Maji Matulivu, the HEAL Africa guesthouse. Just a short distance away from the city center Maji sits right on Lake Kivu. Just a few doors down lay one of Mobutu’s many palaces, which now acts as a government office. Tired and hungry we enter the gates of Maji; we were met by the striking view of lake Kivu bordered both by Rwanda and DR Congo. Maji is an oasis in the volcanic desert that is Goma. Maji is a place of rest and relaxation amongst the business and stress that lie just outside the gates. While my days will be spent in the madness of Goma I will be able to sit back and decompress from it all comforted by the warm hug of Maji.