Dear Friends,

Nice cool and clear weather should begin to visit most of the Congo about now. Friends from Denver have been writing about the extremely hot weather, although Denver should have the season’s first snow before the month is over. We have heard nothing about the Olympics in Sydney (?) nor the elections in the United States, not even the big U.N. event in New York. While we miss being in touch, we also enjoy the calm.

Our gardener’s wife just gave a birth to their seventh child, a 3.5 kilogram healthy baby girl. Luse Lua Nzambi Bilolo. The given name means "Grace of God," in Korean—Haejung. For a while we thought they were going to call her "Haejung" but they settled on "Luse." We pray for her health and future. We had encouraged and paid for a pre-natal care program and the hospital gave a 50 percent subsidy for the delivery, as it does for all follow a pre-natal program. Total bill for the normal delivery? Less than $14, including the two-night hospital stay, and yes, that includes the pre-natal program, too. At these prices, we should be able to offer a good start to all babies. We do not believe that the low cost of birth encourages them to have more babies, currently averaging around nine….

When Simon returned from Cameroon he was invited to a special interview at the airport immigration office. The relationship between our two governments are not very warm at this time. We pray Dr. and Mrs. Sager coming to IMCK as new missionaries at the end of this month will have an uneventful entry. Bill is an internist and Sue is a teacher of English as a second language. We look forward to their service to the Lord and personal friendship.

Simon really enjoyed participating in a seminar held for the principals and business managers of the schools in the Cameroon Presbyterian Church. The theme of the seminar was "transparent management." Simon’s preaching theme was "open and transparent communication," but with his French it is doubtful that his presentation was "open and transparent." It was difficult, but enjoyable and rewarding. At least one participant—one of the seminar leaders—got the message clearly enough to volunteer for the follow-up work. It is quite humbling to find someone who is so enthusiastic about our ideas and suggestions. Someone told us that good poetry is so powerful because readers read more in the poem than what the poet wrote. Perhaps Simon’s presentation had a poetic quality. Simon is encouraged enough to launch a series of training courses at IMCK. Of course his status as the office machine repairman continues. We have not found the replacement parts for the vehicle from last month and the chauffeur is sporting a pair of good-looking goggles.

We also heard from our Louisville office that it is already time to start preparing for our six-month "interpretation assignment," which is to start in July 2001. Our appointment includes a period of sharing our experience with people back home. We do not have exciting success stories to tell, but we can share the loneliness, the struggle, and the love of God that gives us new beginning each time we stumble. We will have a few short videos and many photos to share as well. Should your church like to have us come and share some time with you—minutes, hours or days—please let us know. We will communicate your wishes to Louisville for scheduling. No, our time is not over subscribed, it is just a way to plan ahead so that we can work in some personal time and possibly some continuing education as well. We pray that we will be able to see many of you during our interpretation assignment period.

We thought God would use the time in Congo to prepare us for an important task elsewhere. We are learning that God is patient and cleanses our slate over and over and waits as we take many false starts. While He prepares us, He does not seem to take active part in building our spiritual holiness. He waits and waits and again waits for us to identify with His son and become one with Him. We have been too busy talking, too busy to listen—professors and consultants tend to be that way. As we enter into a discernment period for our next assignment, we shall listen and listen and let His voice guide us.

Life in the village continues. Return of the rainy season coincides with the start of school, abundant clear water, and the planting of corn. We hear the children singing every morning at school. Secondary school students left for their schools in town, where they live with their relatives. Because there is no secondary school in the village yet and we lack public transportation between Kananga and Tshikaji, a 30-minute journey by car. Nursing school students are back and are seen everywhere in the hospital. Church services will be different with the students back in the pews. Each and every children of the village is responsible to keep the goats out of the corn field. Some children are struggling with goats bigger than they are. Daily thunder and lightening requires Haejung and Simon to listen and unplug the antennas for the e-mail system before the lightening strikes. Haejung baked a Krazy Cake using sugar substitute (Equal). The crazy thing is there is no sweetness in the cake, all must have evaporated. Anyone know the reason?

One sad note is that the economy continues to deteriorate at an increasing rate. Only two weeks ago, we were dismayed to learn that the exchange rate reached 73 Congolese francs to one U.S. dollar; today it is 95, with no end is in sight. Earlier this week some stores in town closed their doors, choosing to keep the merchandise rather than receive the unstable currency. We fear the economic system might collapse completely and give way to another pillage. As the peace process continue to mis-fire, pray for the people of Congo and the children whose future is being taken away by hunger, disease, and lack of education.

Also remember to pray for us, that we find serenity in the faithfulness of our Lord and to become like Him and able to wait for others. Simon’s glucose level is another item of concern, and as always our children are on top of our daily prayer list.

Talk to you next month.

Haejung & Simon

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