July 29, 2004
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Since I wrote to everyone on April 11, four months have gone
by. It feels like a lifetime. A lot has happened, a lot I have
stored for future reference and digestion.
Fiftieth anniversary of the IMCK
The 50th anniversary of the Christian Medical Institute of the
Kasai (IMCK—actually it’s the Institut Medical Chretien
du Kasai) attracted wide participation, especially from missionary
families. They arrived and hit the ground running, loaded with
boxes and boxes of goodies, which in good Presbyterian style they
insisted carrying themselves, not wanting to load their burdens
on others. The local workers stood aghast at suddenly finding
themselves redundant, but also in happy anticipation that maybe
some gifts would come their way.
The first day passed in defining which hospital would receive
which supplies and in earnest deliberation on how to distribute
the toys. For the latter, the decision was to give them to schools
for common use. The pilot caused a near riot by distributing 100-franc
notes (about 25 cents) to the village kids, who pushed and shoved
and fought to get a bigger share.
On the second and third days the visitors went to outlying stations.
Over a five month period, Ms Charlotte White Rule (born and raised
in Lubondai, daughter of the founders of IMCK) had assembled memories
from everyone and composed a slide show on the history of IMCK
in English. It needed a French translation, so I hammered away
for about 30 hours, trying to be faithful to content and spirit.
I learned a lot, not the least that this mission station was led
by visionaries and never gained the full unambiguous support of
the Presbyterian Church in the USA nor the wholehearted support
of local authorities. Maybe people in the United States could
not grasp the grim reality and local people could not grasp the
vision of a better future and the way to it. Maybe that is inherent
in any real mission? Or can we forge a better way now that communication
between continents is easier? Maybe we can do better in sharing
the reality? Maybe we can better share the hope and the vision?
Plant the seed more deeply in the soil and seek local gardeners
more arduously? I learned profoundly to love and to respect the
IMCK. It is like an old knotty tree full of scars and pushed over
by prevailing winds, but alive and blooming.
My translation of the history of IMCK and of several conferences
were like bridges on which the ex-missionaries, their offspring,
and I could reflect on the voices of the poor all around us, even
their fights for the 100-franc notes or the stealing of a football.
The ex-missionaries contrasted their past experience with the
present, and some asked questions, such as why I do not close
off my yard or flee the voices, but listen too them patiently
even if I cannot always help or keep events in check and sometimes
need to restore some sanity. God guided us to delve deep. We developed
a true communion built on shared faith and experience of His reality.
I give thanks for the exceptional depth of the relationships that
came about. I hope all of us will find nurture and strength in
them for the rest of our lives on this earth, even if the departure
was tearful.
Food Security and Nutrition program
The Food Security and Nutrition project continues to develop
collective fields in Mutoto and Lubondai and we have been able
to open the dialogue also with other agencies that try analogous
projects. UNICEF data show malnutrition of children under 5 is
very widespread among all socio-economic classes but particularly
in rural areas and among the poor. It is significantly worse now
than in 1995. People eat a few very bulky starchy meals, which
is disastrous, especially for children. Only about 10 percent
of families eat three meals a day in the Kasais; in Western Kasai
22 percent eat one meal a day or less, while in Eastern Kasai
44 percent eat one meal a day or less. No doubt the main reason
is that food isn’t available. Another reason is that in
addition to preparing the food, women also are housekeepers, traders,
and/or farmers. Men seek salaried employment and few find it.
Even fewer men help in any consistent way with childrearing or
agriculture. Very, few men know how to prepare food.
In Lubondai, Tshikaji, and Mutoto, the enthusiasm to open new
fields is so great it has become a problem. Women volunteer to
work on the fields by the droves, and each expects her own agricultural
tools from us. They expect to be fed during the work sessions,
and they hope for a good share of the harvest. Unless we are able
to expand the area and buy more seeds, each added volunteer increases
investment costs and diminishes the returns for each one.
We know people have few if any alternatives, as the security
of crops is not assured on the family plots and seeds are hard
to procure. In total, we have requests for over 28 hectares. To
refuse hungry people to eat is a sin, to refuse them the chance
to produce their own food is worse, as it kills whole families.
But we cannot expand unless we have more means, so this year I
sold part of my life insurance, preserving what I have planned
as coverage for Khonesavan, my young Laotian son. May God guide
us to respond well and in a disciplined way this year and find
enough resources for next season.
Contributions may be sent to: Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) Individual
Remittance Processing, PO Box 643700, Pittsburgh, PA 15264-3700.
Write the title (Sustaining Health Programs in the Congo—Food
Security and Nutrition) and the ECO number on the subject line
(051711) of the check and put it on your cover letter, too. Send
a copy of the cover letter to International Health Ministries
Office at 100 Witherspoon St. Louisville, KY 40202-1396. We have
covered the upcoming planting season of August and September.
We need a minimum of $7000 to be able to cover the next planting
season for 50 hectares. Or click the button below to give on-line.
Medical Council
We were finally able to call the Medical Council—all the
Presbyterian hospitals here—to discuss common problems,
a vision of the foundation of our work in our faith, and what
that implies in terms of objectives and tasks to be carried out.
The PC(USA) has funded and encouraged this activity which was
a strongly felt local need.
It was a very enthusiastic almost exhilarating meeting. In the
end we had a list of tall orders, including reshaping the Medical
Department of CPC as the coordinator of Presbyterian health activities.
We have a 24-page report (in French), which can be made available
electronically. In the next few weeks we should produce the Highlights
in English and will offer electronic copies of this to the PC(USA)
and Congo networks. Then, based on these recommendations, we need
to start developing a 10-year plan for Presbyterian health activities.
You can contribute either to the coordination of health activities,
especially its documentation center, or to the sessions of continuing
education, which are urgently needed. Or to the equipment and
drugs for existing or new health centers and health posts. The
latter are necessary, as large parts of the population live far
away from any source of primary health care and people die unnecessarily
for lack of care.
During the Medical Council, the health institutions asked CPC
to organize a day of prayer on 24 June on the theme of our unity
in Christ. This was motivated by the situation in Eastern Kasai
where civil unrest based on tribalism and even clanism is still
threatening and has devastated our two Presbyterian hospitals,
done a lot of physical and spiritual damage to parishes, and thrown
loyalties into confusion.
I went and participated in twelve hours of continuous prayer,
hymns, and messages in Mbuji Mayi, the heartland of the trouble.
We were joined there by 400 to 600 people and pastors from 20
different denominations. It was a real love fest and show of commitment
to our unity. I am sure the Holy Sprit was very active in and
amongst us and gave us a boundless joy.
I myself delivered a message in Tshiluba and in English and danced
to the glory of God with the women. At one point, all pastors
and dancers balanced Bibles on our head. (I had to hold mine but
to my relief some of the pastors also could not balance the book
perfectly). My message was direct and biblical: there is no race,
no nationality, no tribe nor clan in Christ, no rich nor poor,
no master nor slave. Three other local pastors, including the
Reverend Tshibemba, the legal representative of CPC in Kasai Oriental,
delivered clear powerful and prayerful messages.
We have a three-hour video of the highlights of this prayer service.
The prayers were broadcast live on four radio stations and on
one television station. As I was told by an inspector general
of police, “The messages rocked the town.” May the
Spirit continue to rock it until enough people come to their senses
and acknowledge in their life our unity and become peacemakers.
I am very grateful to have been part of this celebration, which
led to one of those rare Kairos experiences for a community.
Subsequently the Coordination of Presbyterian Health Activities
and CPC in Kasai Oriental will broadcasts threes times a month
that address fundamental questions of holistic health, focussing
on threats to the physical, mental, social, and spiritual health
of the people. Kasai Oriental needs prayers, partnerships, help.
I hope a congregation or presbytery from the United States will
feel called to help. I am committed to support and help through
prayers, visits, and advocacy.
Much more has happened, as you can well expect, but I have given
here the highlights. I pray God may continue to bless us all and
bless the work you and I undertake in His name.
Peace,
Cecile De Sweemer
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