Christian Medical Institute of the Kasai Good Shepherd Hospital PAX 
     Polyclinic
     Kasai, Occidental
     Democratic Republic of Congo
    

     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 reticent, evasive and difficult the path.
     

     In fact, after many months of stuggle I find myself at the very 
     beginning, but...as Mary Poppins says, perhaps, "Its 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. The outside windows were also filled with the 
     faces of many 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. With the 
     reading of the Tshiluba Christmas scriptures, the first of many 
     familiar Western carols (in French and Tshiluba), as well as 
     roof-raising Tshiluba carols, rang out, filling 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 throughoutthe New Year!
          
     

     Bill, and Sue
     

     
     Sorry for all the e-mail delays and confusion here.