December 21, 2001

Dear Loved Ones,

I would be hypocritical and dishonest in this, our Christmas communication to you all, if I reported that things are going well for us here. They are very far from my hopes and expectations. We are experiencing and wrestling with issues of poverty that transcend any awareness and experience we have ever known. I have nearly given up hope of being able to influence or change the things that I came here prepared and determined to do. The harder I try to evaluate, diagnose, and treat the problems (the major hurdles are not
necessarily medical) the more difficult the path.

In fact, after many months of stuggle I find myself at the very beginning, but, as Mary Poppins says, "It’s a very good place to start." With this in mind, and with the assurances of His promises we will keep trying.

Yesterday was a long, hot, and difficult day. Many patients, no interpreter for Tshiluba, and again, no students or staff with me to teach. I returned home for a cool shower and a refreshing cup of tea. Sue reminded me of the nursing students’ evening Christmas Chorale. It is our one and only Christmas celebration here. I was not in the mood for it. Sue and I both interact with many of these students every day and some we have gotten to know well. I felt obligated to go.

We arrived at the church early (on time), and had the opportunity to greet those setting things up. There was taped Christmas music being played and a mood of expectation and excitement. The students were very happy to see us and called and waved to "Mama Sue" and me with much affection. Soon the church was decorated and the electrical equipment, drums, and Dr. Bukasa’s keyboard put in place. The church filled to overflowing. Through the windows we could see the many faces of those who arrived too late to crowd into the crammed interior spaces. Congolese are masters at "always finding room for one more," as our missionary friend Simon Park often remarked.

Then, the 62-member choir began their concert with singing and the traditional dancing processional to the front of the church. They wore spotless white nursing uniforms and were in great form. After the reading of the Christmas scriptures in Tshiluba, the first of many familiar Western carols rang out, sung both in French and Tshiluba. Then came the roof-raising Tshiluba carols, which filled the church and the bright star-lit night of Tshikaji.

Not only did they sing, but they looked at each other while they sang with such joy, love, and appreciation for each other, it was infectious. Many in the church joined in singing the familiar carols. The aisles became crammed as many village children wormed their way to the front of the church in awe of the event.

I became quite aware of and touched by the familiar carol, O nuit bienveillante:

O holy night! The stars are brightly shining, It is the night of our dear Savior’s birth
Long lay the world in sin and error pining, Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.
A thrill of hope the weary world rejoices, For yonder breaks a new and glorious morn;
Fall on your knees, Oh, hear the angel voices! O night divine, O night when Christ was born!"

Touched by 62 angels! That was God’s gift to us. We were able to sense God’s living Spirit at work in our midst. He appeared and our souls felt His worth. A thrill of hope rippled through the assembled celebrants and pierced our hearts and minds as well. We felt blessed.

What a wonderful Christmas gift to us, to them and all this ‘weary world’!

We wish the same for you all for Christmas and throughout the New Year!

Bill and Sue

The 2001 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 31