December 1999

Dear family and friends,

A new day has begun! January 1, 2000. At last, what has been talked about and hyped for the last two years has finally come to pass, and we have now crossed into the new year, the new century, the new millennium! Fears of acts of terrorism, problems relating toY2K, and even forebodings that this would signal the end of the world have dissipated and are already, mere hours later, just remembrances of the past. By the time this reaches you even this will be old news, as our lives will soon gear back into our daily routines, and events of the last 24 hours will be only memories to be recalled and retold, laughed about and lauded over, as we look ahead—and back—with a new perspective.

As I've watched portions of CNN's continuing coverage over the last 24 hours of events from around the globe, I've been impressed by several things. One, what an amazing diversity of people and cultures were brought live into our homes from every part of the planet! The names of cities are so familiar to us—from Seoul, Bangkok, and New Delhi to Moscow, Bethlehem and the Giza pyramids of Cairo (their seventh millennium); from Paris, Berlin, and London to New York's Time Square, Hollywood, Brazil and who knows what in between. Stops along the way included small islands in the South Pacific and Indonesia where very traditional celebrations were held. Each place so unique in the look of the people, the dress, the dance and music, and the level of technology incorporated into their activities. Truly something to celebrate, this mixture of peoples, cultures and traditions!

The other thing that impressed me was that, judging from all reports and appearances, the celebrations were just that—celebrations! Often hundreds of thousands and even as many as to several million people crammed into spaces never imagined to hold that number, their presence testifying to the importance of the event and celebrating in a spirit of harmony and unity. Problems and concerns were gone—folk just wanted to have fun and make some great memories.

As I think of that now I recall how, just days before, on the afternoon of Christmas Eve I sighed with relief and some degree of astonishment when I made it home alive, climbing out of my car feeling like I'd just emerged from a sea of madness. As I had been driving in town, the rules of the road seemed to have been dismissed for the holiday season, and unpredictable behaviours of both drivers and pedestrians left me wondering if it hadn't been declared open season on the roads and I had just missed the announcement! These could have been the same people I might have laughed and chatted with in celebration only days later—these who I raised bewildered hands to, muttering to myself with brows furrowed. These, the same ones who were likely muttering words about me, too!

But back to the millennium celebrations. People were asked, "What is your dream for the new millennium?" Common responses included world peace, unity, harmony, more sharing with those less fortunate, greater equality among people. Oh yes, I agree. Greater acceptance and love shared among people. Don't we all want those things? The love of family and friends, happiness, security, the opportunity to improve our lives and the lives of those around us? Those seem to be intrinsic desires—don't they?—built in to each one of us. If so, how is it that some 30 percent of the countries on our planet are currently involved in a war or violent conflict? How is it that millions of people die each year of malaria on the continent of Africa alone. Malaria! Before coming to Africa I thought malaria was a disease that died with World War II! And the AIDS epidemic—that's a whole other, devastating crisis in many underprivileged countries. Now that the Y2K money drain and the worldwide celebrations are over, I can't help but wonder why the same priority—and monies—can't now be used to bring about truly miraculous world changes in areas such as those related to the health and the well-being of those who can't do it by themselves.

I don't know about you, but personally I was excited and inspired by what I have seen and experienced in these last 24 hours. Not only has it reminded me that ultimately most of us want these positive, constructive, meaningful aspects as part of our lives, but also, if that's what is important to us, if that is what we really want, then it can happen! Because that's also what God wants for us, and He's the One who has placed those desires in our hearts. Imagine it!

We also know that, with God, nothing is impossible. So, for you and for me, may it be a year of dreaming the impossible and allowing God to work through us to accomplish His desires in and for us and our world. He has told us His plans for us are to prosper, not to be harmed; for good, not for bad; to give us a hope and a future. Since the "new millennium" is, in fact, a numerical recognition of Jesus's birth 2,000 years ago, wouldn't it be glorious if we trusted Him enough to believe He can do the impossible and turn the course of so many destructive events in our world?

My hope for you and your families—and for me—this coming new year is for blessings beyond the imagining and a fresh recognition of our Creator as the originator of ALL that is good.

With love,

Cindy Easterday