May 2001
Yaoundé

Dear Friends,

The general lack of progress, which has been observed in the educational systems of some African countries and which sometimes even seems to have reached a point of regression, is discouraging. The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is the embodiment of such regression in educational services. According to UNICEF, less than one percent of the country’s national budget is allocated to education, compared to 26 percent in 1972 and 6 percent in 1987. Gross enrollments have also fallen from 94 percent of the school-age population in 1978 to 72 percent in 1993. I expect that percentage has dropped even more in the last eight years. Girls are affected much more heavily than boys. In the schools I observed only about two-thirds of the students advance to the next grade each year. The stagnant economy prohibits many parents from paying school fees for their children. In the DRC only 24 percent of the students who start primary school are expected to reach fifth grade.

As bad as the situation is, it would be far worse if the churches weren’t involved in education. Between 70 and 75 percent of the students attend church schools. Those schools are also generally regarded as better than government ones, both for their academic level and their moral character.

During my recent trip to the DRC I visited a number of educational projects from both our Congolese partner churches to evaluate activities supported by the Booth Family Africa Fund. These involved school repairs, new school constructions, the purchase of teaching materials, and the support of theological education. For the first time since I began these evaluations two years ago, I was granted government permission to visit the West Kasai, a mineral rich region at the front line of the war.

With help from the Booth Fund, mud-and-thatch schools are being transformed into solid brick structures with metal roofs. Desks are replacing branches and stacks of stones. In addition to the physical improvements, this support provides an important psychological encouragement for the churches, as they try to express the good news in concrete ways.

Despite the discouraging trends, it is heartening to see the dedication in some of the individual teachers, administrators, parents, students, and others who continue to do their best to provide an education for the children. One of my colleagues is just such a hardworking man. Unfortunately, these past nine months he has been sick quite a lot. He was first diagnosed with typhoid and twice treated unsuccessfully. Visiting another hospital, the doctor told him that his illness needed to be treated with traditional medicines. The three traditional healers he consulted all said he had a "slow poison." Those who speak frankly say that slow poison is a term often used by doctors who are reluctant to tell the truth to patients—that they may have AIDS. As a way for doctors to relieve their own conscience, they refer the sick to a traditional healer who may provide some temporary comfort for the patient and his family. Meanwhile, my colleague has asked me to help him financially so that he can give a local healer $15 and two black chickens.

In our culture, illnesses are generally understood by relating the symptoms to physical causes. One becomes sick due to eating something bad, being bitten by an insect, catching a virus, etc. But many here see the cause and effect relationship foremost in a spiritual realm—there are spiritual elements causing an ailment, sometimes thought to have been brought on by a curse. When viewed in that light, the treatment is also in the spiritual realm. In the case of my friend, it involves some locally produced medicines and two black chickens, which are probably sacrificed in some traditional ceremony or ritual.

As a matter of faith we do not help my colleague pursue his currently chosen treatment. We believe it involves calling on unholy spiritual powers. He also consulted a faith healer who demanded payment of $150 before he would pray for my colleague. We have moral problems with that, too. We hope that the true cause of his illness can soon be found and treated. Until then, we will try to find a meaningful way to be of help and support for him and his family.

Please join us in prayer:

• For my colleague’s return to health in a manner honoring to God.
• For peace, reconciliation, and unity within our partner church in Cameroon. She is going through a very divisive period, risking even a split within the church. During such a time it is difficult to advance activities meant to strengthen the church’s witness and to forge a tighter link as partners.
• For peace and stability in the DRC.
• For the Cameroonians involved in the Joining Hand Against Hunger program as they have started to implement their plans of joining efforts through a newly created network.

Peace be with you,

Jeff Boyd (with Christi and the kids)

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 32