July 2006

Dear Friends,

Greetings and Happy Independence Day! We pray that you all are well and enjoying the more relaxed, contemplative pace of the summer months. Please accept our apologies for not writing with updates during the busy months of May and June, and we thank all of you who have sent emails inquiring about Mike’s health status. So much has transpired since we sent our last newsletter in April, and we are happy to have much good news to share with you.

To begin, Mike has now completed all the lymphoma treatments, concluding with 20 radiation treatments during the month of May. His most recent CT scan (June 22) was very reassuring, revealing that the primary tumor scar had diminished even more following the radiation treatments. Mike is now in the “follow up” period, and requires CT scans plus laboratory assessments every three months for the first year, followed by every six months check ups during the second year. There is risk of recurrent or new disease, so this close surveillance is necessary and important to detect any future negative developments. Overall, Mike is feeling great! He is running one hour each morning and doing some strength training, all in an effort to get back into shape and “get back to Congo!”

In May, while Mike was undergoing radiation treatments, Nancy was blessed to be able to return to the Democratic Republic of Congo for a month of whirlwind reunions and activities. The first week, she participated as a PC(USA) representative in a six-day workshop, held in the capital city of Kinshasa, “Training for Health” which focused on community problem solving and health development, HIV/AIDS and gender inequality/violence against women. Twenty-six bright and eager participants, representing the HIV/AIDS program and project leadership force of the Presbyterian Church of Congo were ‘transformed’ as they processed new, constructive ways of thinking and responding when faced with community health crises. The remainder of the month she traveled to our village of Tshikaji, where her time was divided between praise and worship at our village Presbyterian church, responsibilities at the IMCK Hospital annual board meeting, the Nutrition Rehabilitation Center, the village health center and maternity and having meaningful reunion visits and meetings with villagers and all the project/program partners. The fantastic news is that all the Tshikaji health, development and evangelism projects are thriving and serving thousands of vulnerable impoverished Congolese. God is so good!

There are many wonderful stories of this visit, but we particularly want to share the story of Tshibuabua Tshitala. Tshibuabua, or “Demps,” is a finalist, finishing his fourth and last year at the school of nursing in Tshikaji (ITM). Demps is a 32-year-old faithful church elder who is married and the father of three beautiful children, two girls and a baby boy. He was raised as a village orphan. For seven long years following high school graduation, Demps worked as a “transporter,” carrying heavy loads of homemade charcoal on his bike to sell at the market in the city of Kananga. After seven years of diligent and hard work, he saved $50, which was enough money to be admitted to the nursing program. In 2002, we met this lovely and inspiring man, and determined that he merited a full Presbyterian scholarship ($140 per year) so that he could pursue his life-long vision of becoming a quality community health worker and be of assistance to his fellow villagers. Please join with us in celebrating the joy of his graduation this month!

In Tshikaji, the mission house that we live in is not situated "behind walls," as you will often see when traveling in the developing world. This renders us very available and accessible to the villagers (and vice-versa). It is not unusual to have a large group of Congolese “hanging out” on our front and back porches. However, in May these groups were huge, with local chiefs, hospital workers, and hundreds of concerned villagers coming to hear the story of “Ngangabuka (doctor) Mike” and to express their sincere anguish over his illness. They told Nancy many stories of the day, Friday, March 31, when all the hospital administration, physicians, employees, students and villagers came together to hold an intercessory prayer vigil for Mike’s healing. The Congolese believe completely in the power of prayer, and so do we. It was at this time in the bone marrow transplant process that Mike essentially"‘turned the corner" and started to dramatically improve. We are fully convinced that Mike is alive today thanks, first of all, to the generous grace of our loving God, and the thousands of faithful friends around the world who have been praying in earnest for his recovery over this past year. We are truly humbled, and we thank you all.

As we in America celebrate this month our precious freedoms, our special prayer request is for successful free elections in DR Congo, planned for the end of July. This landmark event—first free elections in 45 years—represents great hope for good governance that is imperative for the future survival of our dear Congolese brothers and sisters.

With love,

Mike and Nancy

The 2006 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 317