The Biblical account of the birth of Jesus includes one segment which we conveniently forget or consciously omit, but it is the "big event" in the Christmas plays enacted in Kikongo: the slaughter of 100's of innocent babies by king Herod.

While our little village in Western Kongo is over 800 miles from rebel activity, the "slaughter of the innocents" continues in the eastern DR Congo. On September 5th, rebels in the far northeastern village of Nyankunde gunned down over 1,000 persons. In December, Dr. Clemmer delivered a massive shipment of medicines and supplies to Oicha, the small village/hospital to which many of the Nyankunde refugees fled. Dr. Clemmer had trained many of the hospital staff at Vanga.

PLEA OF THE CONGOLESE CHRISTIAN LEADERS:
As we left Kikongo and Kinshasa, a constant refrain was heard from leaders in both locations:"Tell the Christians in America to pray and work for an end to the fighting (in the DR Congo). Nothing constructive in our country can happen until the war is stopped."

As Christians here or there…how can we pray and work for peace?
How can we live in the "Way of Jesus" when children are being dismembered before our eyes?When unspeakable acts of violence are inflicted on wives, daughters, sisters, or mothers?While these questions MAY seem new in the USA after 9/11/, they are NOT new for the Congolese, the Palestinians, the Israelis, or those in Northern Ireland, or the citizens of many other countries.

What is the "Way of living" to which Jesus calls us?How did he respond to terrorists in his culture?FIRST: Jesus was willing to be BORN INTO a world of terrorism - he didn't avoid it for "better times."

SECOND: Jesus LIVED what he taught by INVITING the terrorists into his midst. (Love your enemies as you love yourselves. Do good to those who curse you.) He was willing to trust them with his life that they might EXPERIENCE FIRST HAND the unconditional love and forgiveness, which God offers.He invited SIMON, a radical Zealot, to be one of his inner circle. He ALSO invited Matthew, a turncoat who worked for the State.

LASTLY, Jesus lived a life of HOPE, even as he was willing to die that the world might know that suffering love is the only answer to the vicious cycle of violence.

In spite of the continuing "slaughter of the innocents" in our world we are called to INVITE the terrorists into our intimate inner circles without fear of ideological, theological, or religious differences. We are to continue to LIVE/ACT WITH HOPE, even in a time of despair.

HOPE CONTINUES IN THE DR CONGO: OIL PALM PROJECT FIRST PHASE COMPLETED.

September 6th, 12,000 germinated seeds of miniature oil palm trees, began their trek from Costa Rica to the DR Congo. Everyone knew they had a guaranteed of life of only 15 days once shipped, SO, careful plans had been laid by agricultural missionary Ed Noyes with MAF (Missionary Aviation Fellowship) to transport them to the interior immediately upon arrival. The seeds arrived in Kinshasa on Sunday the 15th; by Monday afternoon the US Embassy had them out of customs and all ready for the Tuesday MAF flight to Kikongo and Lusekele.

Then MAF was "grounded" by the government for a seeming petty "infraction" of a recently imposed regulation, which had not been widely circulated. While it seemed the MAF issues had been resolved by Monday afternoon, Tuesday found everyone waiting at the airport all day while the security people refused MAF clearance to fly. By Wednesday they had reached a settlement...only a confirming signature was needed.(That signature took four more days!!!)

Meanwhile, the seeds for 350 farmers sat in their cardboard boxes, with their biological clocks ticking. Thursday Ed put together an alternative plan to use the vehicle of CBCO's women's ministry, to make the trip.Thursday evening, when MAF still had no assurance they could fly on Friday, Ed and crew left for Kikongo arriving exhausted and dust-covered early Saturday morning.

While the Kikongo representatives of the cooperatives received a hasty demonstration of how to unpack, clean and plant the seeds, Ed quickly packed and continued on to Lusekele.Road conditions have NOT improved, and on two occasions the truck almost turned over trying to cross on an improvised track crossing a steep slope. While rain threatened for the entire trip, the weary group sluiced off new layers of dust and tumbled into bed at 3:30 am Sunday.Five hours later, the farmers' association representatives met after church to distribute the seedlings, ALL of which were planted IN TIME on Sunday or Monday.

WHAT GREAT NEWS of an incredible chain of people that God brought together!Quoting Ed: "Not just believers. But each one by a display of integrity, honesty, diligence, and extraordinary effort or sacrifice has made it possible for farm families in the area to make a new start.In this world of terror, fraud, self-interest, or even profound weariness and resignation to failure, this is a miracle rooted in God's character and unbounded love."

THANK YOU for your prayers and support making this project possible with "seed money" which will be again recycled in 4-5 years when the project begins bearing fruit.

MECHANICAL GRAIN MILL: HOPE CONTINUES
Our last installment in the saga of the broken grain mill had it packed and sitting in Kinshasa waiting for someone to transport it to the states for return to the manufacturer to repair one-half of the grinding stone, which had separated from the drive shaft.

Ed Noyes was able to include it when he returned for several weeks to the US, in August!!Miracle number one.

How to get it BACK to the DR CONGO?At Green Lake, Sue Staples from FBC of Indianapolis indicated that their congregation was shipping a cargo container to the DR Congo around September 10th, but she did not know if there would be room. THERE WAS!!!The needed repairs were completed in time, and the unit is now on its way back - probable arrival in March or April. An absolutely INCREDIBLE set of "timing" miracles.

We are enjoying our speaking and leadership engagements in the USA. Our "home" address: PO Box 2188, Ventura, CA 93002.Our e-mail address: Drcongovir@aol.com.

WE HOPE all is well with you and your families in the New Year, and that you will be filled with HOPE as you seek to be faithful living in the ways of Peace.

Shalom,

Virgil and Lynn