October 2002

Dear Friends:

We are back in Tshikaji after our vacation in the States. We were welcomed with an archway of palm leaves and flowers in front of the house. We were delayed in Kinshasa 10 days longer than we planned for numerous reasons and learned that when we didn't return on the date planned and for several days after, folks in the village were crying, believing that we would not return. What was great though was that the programs that Nancy started in the village—including the development of a health center, classes in health, and in English—all continued during our absence as did the patient care at the hospital under the direction of the residents and medical students that I have helped train. This was a sign of eventual "success" for us. One of our goals is to help develop programs and train people so that we will no longer be necessary. The Congolese are bright folks. We are always amazed at their ability to learn with so little in the way of resources. With God's help, they will overcome, and we are blessed to be able to live beside them as they do this. While in the United States we had a lot of folks saying very nice things about us and our work. That always feels good. We have been called to live a very different life from those back home, but it is so wonderful. We look forward to each day with its challenges and its rewards, including the relationships with people of inspiration. Here are a few.

They find better lives and it is wrong to blame them directly for the fact that all the money spent on their education is lost to the people of Congo. Leon, on the other hand, came back and is working diligently toward helping redevelop the infrastructure of the health system of Congo. He drives on the same terrible streets and deals with the frustrations of working in this country but has a vision beyond himself. Leon is a Congolese who put aside the American dream for the dream of justice for his neighbors.

Tshibuabua is a student in the nursing school. It took him three years to save the $90 for his first trimester. He also works with Nancy in the village clinic as an interpreter and in taking histories. He received $20 in pay from the government for his work during the immunization campaign against polio. This money was immediately stolen by someone who know where he hid it. He kept working, buying a bicycle with money he saved from other work, which is very hard to find. He used this bicycle to help transport vaccines for routine immunizations at the clinic and also loaned his bike to folks in need. An authority, believing that the bike was the property of the clinic and that he was using it without authorization, came and took the bike and let his own children use it. Some damage has been done, but this will be straightened out. Tshibuabua faces adversity but does so with the good of his neighbors at heart.

These two friends are but a few of the wonderful people we have come to know here in Congo. We will share more stories and pictures in coming newsletters, but for now, it’s on to work.

God's Peace to All

Mike and Nancy

The 2002 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 29