Mission News from Mulungwishi

July 8, 2005

Dear Family and Friends around the World,

It seems this year will run by us if these past months are an example. Can't believe it is already April. Most of you hopefully, are enjoying warmer weather and the beautiful trees and flowers. We are now entering the dry season, after a very hard rainy season and it still is raining a bit here and there. For us the last months have been very green, colorful and beautiful but unusually hot and muggy...so the climate changes are reaching all over!! Oh, that the world leaders would take the environmental issues seriously. In thinking how to share our events I have decided to just do topic paragraphs...so hang in there!!

Masters in Christian Leadership program started a new group in March. This one is made up mostly from people outside the Methodist community. There are quite a number of pastors and church leaders from different communities, a judge, and several business leaders. The first group, which we wrote about in January , is still continuing and working on reading and papers. The next two classes for them, will be in September. This new group will now be taught by the Seminary faculty who have already gone through the process. David and Dr. Nkonge taught this first session. We are excited that the word of the strength of the program is getting out and there is already a list for a next group!! Concepts of Jesus' servant leadership and dynamic ways to change old attitudes. Please keep praying for this ministry because it is changing habits and understanding all round!!

Due to the Leadership program we have been in Lubumbashi for over a week. We always stay at the missionary guest house where there can be as many as 8 people or just us two. We'll try to give you a feel for some of the other we have been doing while we are down here!!

Bank story #1.  As we write, Mulungwishi has been working on anchoring and putting in place a satellite dish so we can enter the new age! Ha! with internet! Claus, our fellow Danish missionary, has been measuring and planning this all out. David just made a call to Kinshasa so that the company's technicians can come down and set it to the right area. This is a flight of about 1000 miles!! nothing like a call your local rep?? To help with some of the funding of this project, we have received funds from a church in Texas and an NGO. Tuesday, one of these NGOs gave David a check to cash to help pay for some of the expenses. The check, from one bank was for an account in another bank. After several hours waiting, they said they could not accept the check from the first bank, because they did not trust it! So David heads back to the first bank to see if they will give him cash?? Then they tell him the check could not be cashed because it was made out to our university of which he is the treasure and not to David personally! Next morning, David went back to the NGO and they rewrote the check to him and then he returned to get dollars cash from the issuing bank so he could then take to the other bank and then change to Congo francs!!! This matter cashing the check took a full day of driving back and forth and waiting!!!

Story #2. Two and a half weeks ago a check was wire transferred from the Danish church to a bank here!!! We have checked every day and it still has not arrived?? Someone called and they said the last known spot for its appearance was Belgium??? hope it is not coming by boat!!!! .
story #3 This week, when David went to get cash. Congo Francs... to cover all the Seminary salaries and expenses this month, he returned with a large white (like an old flour sac) sac! On it were the words 100 kilos...so we had 200 pounds of cash!!! Needless to say it took some repacking in boxes to be able to send it up by car to Mulungwishi!! Anyone have a big wallet??

We and other different Church communities are working with projects of different NGOs. The first of March, one of them, PACT had an inauguration for their farm project across from Mulungwishi. It was quite a day, with the governor, the commissioners, the major chiefs and little chiefs, speeches, a band and marching soldiers!! The women at Mulungwishi helped by cooking all the food for over 250 people. What is interesting is that the big paramount chief can only eat by himself and the other lesser chiefs have to eat apart. Then the governor had to eat just with the other "big wigs "!! that left the "regular people". So we had four different kitchens operating and four different places set up to serve food! Some food for thought: one of the interesting aspects of working with NGOs is the amount of money (millions) they have or can put together!! compared with the small amounts those of us in church work have??? Yet when it comes to long term commitment and staying power it is churches that hang in there! Also, NGOs use the people already trained through Church schools to work with their projects!!

Our four are keeping busy. Jeff is changing jobs and will now work for the State government. Michelle is still with her two kindergarten groups and things are going well. Amber's job at Seattle Children's Hospital Psyc unit is very hard work but she feels like it is a good ministry and worthwhile. She is thankful to have a job she feels challenged with and fulfilled. Andrew keeps his hand in developing new comedy show and a sitcom and trying to get interest for production. He also keeps with his job filming college sports for a local TV and working for the plastics company. We miss them but feel blessed to be able to call from time to time!!!

The Seminary and University are moving along towards the completion of the academic year after the Easter break. The schedule is set to graduate the students the last Sunday of June. However, the government has not yet announced when the general elections are going to take place. We may have to close in May if the elections take place in June. This will be the first election in over 30 years!!!

We head back to Mulungwishi tomorrow. Maybe our next word to you will come from our own internet connection from our mission station!!! We are thankful for the many of you who write and send cards. We always appreciate your prayers and support. We ask that you continue your prayers for: 1) the country as it prepares for elections; 2) for the Church and her leadership as this country goes through the changes, 3.) the Seminary and the University continuing studies and working on final papers and dissertations, 4) for the work and connection of internet, 5) our family and our work.

May the Lord continue His blessings and His grace in your place of work and with your families.

Love Lori and David

Congo mailing address:
P.O. Box 22037
Kitwe, Zambia
Africa

Persons_mulungwishi @ hotmail.com  [without the spaces]

Please remember that our email system is elementary; messages sometimes take a week or so to get driven up to us from where they are received in Lubumbashi. So be patient with us.

This page was last updated 07/14/2005