Dear Friends,

All the avocados are gone, so are the village children waiting for an opportunity to get fruit from the tree. Whenever the wind would blow before a rain storm, our front yard would fill with children circling the tree, waiting for the fruit to fall. It is not very different from the freshly unloaded plane passengers waiting for their luggage to appear at the carrousel. Anyway, the fruit has all fallen and we notice the hopeful glances of the children as they pass.

We reported earlier that unless an area is clearly blocked off physically, one is free to roam anywhere, including our front yard. People often cut across our yard to save two steps. If this country ever gets the postal service going, they should have an ample source of letter carriers who already know how to cut across lawns. The concept of open access is granted to animals as well, evidenced by a family of goats who regularly enjoy our front porch. We just wish they would not leave their calling cards at our front door.

Yesterday evening we had a yard full of children again. Apparently, termites built a nest near the trunk of a large tree in our front yard. One of the older boys built a trap. Right over the termite mound, he built a lattice work of bamboo strips, which he then covered with a flour sack sealing off all sides except one small mouth. He placed a plastic bag at the mouth to catch the termites flying out of the nest. He sealed small gaps in his contraption with dirt. We do not know exactly what he did, but by the time we went out to investigate the excitement, termites were flying out of their nest in droves.

Right at the mouth was the boy actively protecting his property from the poachers, many younger children in the fringes concentrating on catching the stray termites and putting them directly into their mouths, complete with wings and the ground dirt. Several chickens were risking their lives by jumping in the middle and pecking away at the insects. Rather quickly, the bamboo and flour structure could not stand all the activities and gaps began to appear. His cry for help was heard and a boy came running with a very large leaf from the nearby field. The leaf and a fistful of dirt repaired structural damage and the boy with the leaf was well rewarded with a fistful of termites from the plastic bag at the mouth of the trap. Before he took three steps, they were all in his mouth, some of them only partially in. Simon caught a couple of termites and offered the most fresh source of protein to Haejung. Suffice it to say that the act of generosity was refused. During our trip to the States, we will get a video camera so that we can record this next year.

Along with our December mail, which arrived this month, we received some vegetable seeds. Among them were some yellow zucchini seeds. They sprouted well, flowered well and zucchinied well. We did not want to wait until the bugs got to them, so we picked them when they were only six inches or so. What you know?! While the outside is perfect, the bugs were inside and eating away already. It seems they get into the flowers and find a place for themselves as the vegetable is formed. Perhaps sin is like that, ever present in our inner being, no matter what we do to clean up our actions and outer behaviors.

On Palm Sunday all the parishioners supplied their own palm leaves. Many thought just the plain palm leaf, often used as brush or broom, was not good enough for Jesus. So, some laced the leaf with colorful flowers. All came with their own leaves to welcome the King. Haejung is having a very spiritual and awakening Lenten period. We yearned for the Ash Wednesday service and Lenten study activities at Central. But this year, we had to try to get closer to God on our own. God is faithful, and guided us through the period. Through reading, praying, and life experience, we are beginning to realize that the journey with Jesus is the ultimate joy and responsibility of Christians. As we live and work here, we are beginning to realize that our romanticized version of missionary work was simply a myth. Perhaps God allows us to have the misguided vision to encourage us, but He is giving us a taste of reality now. We were often confused and angry as we questioned the purpose of our presence here, and we wanted to search for more meaningful service. As we read and prayed together, God spoke to us, saying that our only responsibility is to stand ready to hear the voice and respond. The period of confusion and pain is the necessary process of growing and maturing in faith. We are beginning to realize that our efforts to become better Christians and do more things is just a way to avoid the growing pains. Oswald Chambers said that perseverance is marching forward with clear conviction that the promised future lies ahead, while endurance is simply trying to survive the difficult time. We pray that we always persevere in our Lord Jesus.

For Simon, it is an extremely busy period, working with auditors for financial examination, preparing for the annual board meeting, while trying to put the operations of the hospital on a more sound footing. Haejung visits patients at the hospital as well as in the village, learning firsthand the sufferings people have in this difficult period.

Another cease-fire agreement went into effect a few days ago, but no one seems to be holding their breath. The economy continues to decline to a level not thought possible. Our regional medical officer from the government was to come to our hospital for inspection. While we were waiting, we got a message from the local World Health Organization office asking us to donate fuel so that the officer could come out and see us. We have had a false report saying that the rebels took control of Kananga. As we got over that problem, the depot at Kinshasa airport blew up, disrupting air traffic. We pray that traffic will be restored soon.

Nonetheless, we look forward to our trip to the States in late May. Will be seeing many of you in person.

Remember, the Lord is Risen.

Haejung & Simon Park
c/o Doug Welch
100 Witherspoon Street
Louisville, KY 40202-1396

(If you e-mail us, please don't send attachments. We have to pay by the byte.)

E-mail: SHPark@maf.org

The 2000 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 29