June 28, 2007

Dear Family and Friends,

The Congo winter is upon us, and that means the dry season. That means that one gets to experience a little coolness in the evening and mornings. What a blessed relief for about four months, but with it comes the dust and smoke.

After watching the movie “Blood Diamond,” some of our kids could not wait to tell me something they heard in the film. For years I have used an expression I heard when I was in Uganda prior to coming here. Apparently that expression has now made it to Hollywood. When people were expressing their dismay or frustration with the way things were, the easy response was “TIAB,” which means “This is Africa, Baby.” Now you can use it in a cynical manner, and that is not good. I have to guard my heart against cynicism and sarcasm. There is a lot that frustrates me, but I wouldn’t be anywhere else.

My wife and I are teaching at a seminary, and we are facing now the preparation time for exams. Soon we will be giving our students their exams and grading their work. If only my students would learn fast enough to speak English, I wouldn’t have to be working so hard with French. My French may be getting a little stronger, but keep on praying for our language training.

The work at International Protestant Church is in the midst of a massive shift. Many folks are leaving on vacation and some will be permanently leaving Congo. Embassies are rotating folks, and the U.N. people are replacing people who are ending their contracts. You are probably aware that things are not completely stable in this enormous country—we are still getting news of the unrest in the east. This only emphasizes the necessity for our prayer and Bible study groups meeting faithfully. My wife has two of these going, one in the city and one in our home. The one on Sunday evening at our house is with some very enthusiastic Congolese single women.

This is a time of transition for our family. Evangeline graduated from the American school only four nights ago. At the ceremony the most dramatic moment came when U.S. Marines from our embassy “posted the colors.” Now, when your country’s flag is presented with great ceremony, it does something to you, especially when you are on foreign soil. There I was in a sea of international folks, experiencing the strangest thing: I could say simply, “Just allergies,” as the lump formed in my throat, and my eyes filled with tears.

Don’t be alarmed. I am not suffering from something we “Reformed and Presbyterian” folk describe as “statism.”  I am not confused about my prior allegiance to the Kingdom of Christ, and my citizenship in heaven. But I am profoundly grateful to be an American citizen and for the cost my Dad and so many others paid to keep us a free and democratic republic.

Can you imagine what that is like in such a country as the new Democratic Republic of Congo, which is trying its best (and sometimes not) to be able to live up to that name, and figure out what it will become?  I am grateful, and I have found it is helpful when meeting with government officials and various embassy workers from different countries to represent not only Christ’s kingdom, but my own country as an ex-pat missionary in the Congo.

Of course at a graduation and the many parties for graduates, we experience the typical parental commotions (the emotions). It has been wonderful to mix it up with so many nationalities. My daughter’s closest friends in her graduating class were from Morocco and India. What a huge mission field in which to enjoy her friends! The American School has provided an enormous supply of contacts for evangelism for our family.

The tough part of seeing your daughter honored at graduation and the awards day ceremonies is the reality of saying good-bye in just a few days, as she gets on the plane for the States. Wow. There’s a reality check for us as parents.

It’s not that we are worried for her safety. No, we are good Presbyterians and recognize that our children really are His. And that our God has a thing for His kids: He loves them fiercely. Look at how He expresses this thought in Isaiah 50:78: “For the Lord God helps me. Therefore I am not disgraced. Therefore, I have set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed. He who vindicates me is near. Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other. Who has a case against Me: Let him draw near to Me.” I love this passage, as the Lord Jesus carried this very promise in His heart as He strode courageously on that path to the cross for us. But this is a promise we parents can appropriate in the difficulties to which we are assigned as well. Those dreaded moments come upon us when we join in with the accuser and find the many flaws with our parenting, and we lose sight of what our God has promised us. “Nothing shall separate us from the love of God in Christ” (Rom. 8:39). And in those low times when we are flooded with doubts and so overwhelmed at our sense of failure, we need to run to that promise. “He who did not spare His own Son but delivered Him up for us all, will He not also with Him freely give us all things?” (Rom. 8:32). Then what about our children? If one gets nervous that the “anything” doesn’t cover “everything,” listen to this in Isaiah 49:25, cross referenced with Jesus’ words in Luke 11:21 and 22: “Surely, thus says the Lord, ‘Even the captives of the mighty man will be taken away, and the prey of the tyrant will be rescued; for I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your sons.’”

We have so much to be grateful for. And in this time of our family transition we want to thank you all for your support of us. Without you, we can’t serve here, nor can we stay here. With your prayers and support you allow us to keep at the work here in the DRC.

May He keep blessing you as you are used to bless so many!

The 2007 Mission Yearbook for Prayer & Study, p. 313