Mission News from Mulungwishi

November 7, 2005

Dearest friends,

Life has been up and down and brought some surprises for us to say the least these past few months. We returned to the United States on the 6th of September in order to speak in churches in the New Mexico Annual Conference. This arrangement was worked out as part of the Bishops’ Initiative for Hope for the Children of Africa. Bishop Max Whitfield of the New Mexico Annual Conference came out to visit the Congo this past summer with a work team. His Annual Conference is partnered with our Southern Congo Annual Conference. It was decided that Lori, David, Dr. Kongolo (the Dean for Administration) and Rev. Kandolo (the head Librarian) to spend three weeks itinerating in the NMAC. We came on ahead of our Congolese colleagues in order to visit our daughter Amber in Seattle.

During the past months, Lori had been bothered by a swollen gland under her hear on the right side. While in Seattle, it gave her a great deal of problem. It had been present for several months but this was the most acute it had become. Doctor and nursing friends in Seattle (who had been part of a medical work team to Congo) advised us that it should be looked at right away. We made a decision that Lori would stay in Denver to have tests done and David would go on to New Mexico in order to be with the others and visit the churches. The Lord was good to help us find translators for Dr. Kongolo and the speaking and sharing in the conference went well.

We were fortunate to be able to find doctors who could fit Lori in for testing and become her primary care physician. She went through a CT scan and a biopsy. David joined her for the results on Friday the 30 of September. The results showed that it was a benign tumor in the parotid gland. We were glad that it was not more complicated. She was then scheduled for surgery to remove the gland on November 7th.

We then rejoined the group in New Mexico to finish the speaking tour within that Annual Conference. On October 10th, Dr. Kongolo then traveled to New York for the Board Meeting of the General Board of Global Ministries. Rev. Kandolo returned to Congo. We went on to Arizona to speak in some new churches that have come on board for support of the Seminary at Mulungwishi. We also took a week of vacation in Sedona where we have just started a relationship with the Methodist Church there. While in Sedona, we were joined by David’s brother, John, and his wife Dagmar. It was a special time for us to be together and visit our parent’s grave.

We have now returned to Denver. Lori’s surgery is tomorrow and we covet your prayers. We are so grateful to the Lord for so much love He has given us: to be with family at this time, churches that we visited being so supportive; friends have rallied around us; the fact that we are here in this country where we can get the medical attention needed and most of all God’s constant love which never leaves us. We are most blessed.

God’s blessings are also showered upon us through our children. Amber is doing well working in the psych unit at Children’s Hospital in Seattle. It was great to visit her and meet new friends. Michelle continues to teach first grade and her husband, Jeff, is working for human resources for the State of Colorado. Andrew is busy with several jobs, filming sports events and producing pilot TV and movie projects that will gain interest in the movie world.

The Seminary and University have started at Mulungwishi and we are sorry not to be with them. We try to keep up through email. Congo is pursuing the road to national elections and groups with special computer programs are going around the country to register votes. Before we left it was exciting to watch the lines of people stretch around the blocks waiting to enter to register for the first time in 30+ years!! Please continue to pray for the Congo and the delicate balance of working this out and the restoration of peace for the Country. Please pray for leadership in the Churches.

We love you and so appreciate you love, your friendship and your prayers.

David and Lori Persons

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 11/07/2005