This morning four pressing items clamored for attention. First, waste water from the bathtub doused the bathroom floor again after a wonderful shoe goo repair on the broken bathtub drain connector. Exposing the 45-year old drain pipe meant digging down into the floor to find corroded chromed brass plumbing attached to a 2" plastic irrigation pipe running toward the septic tank. Since the local Tru-Value Hardware store is about 300 miles away, the scrap heap at the center garage is the best we can do for repairs. It looks like some more irrigation pipe, an old pump cylinder, a 2" galvanized pipe elbow and more shoe goo will have to do. But the bath tub is much more convenient than a bucket, even if water still arrives in a bucket. Maybe Monday.

Second, when I left Kinshasa, Simeon Avuta, the MAF radio tech, had me set up to get e-mail going as soon as the batteries arrived and the radio was set up. The batteries arrived Wednesday and we had the radio set up Thursday. But I lost the paper with the proper frequency on it. Friday morning MAF gave us the frequency. With great anticipation I started the e-mail set up. The computer communicated with the modem. The modem controlled the radio for transmitting and receiving. And . . . it never connected. An error message says, "No Carrier." Simeon sent a message yesterday afternoon setting up a radio rendezvous for this morning. But the appointed hour came and went; but no one answered the radio in Kinshasa. Maybe Monday.

Third, the book shelves looked barren and forlorn, neglected while we concentrated on unpacking kitchen stuff and linens. Somehow eating and sleeping seemed marginally more important than floating in the pool of ideas. But the book barrels finally disgorged their contents this morning. The living room has mystery, adventure, humor, travel, philosophy, lives and history. The office has agriculture, development, science and management. This is slowly looking like a place we can live and work. Fourth, Glen and Timothy Chapman bicycled over from Kikongo (three-day ride) to see the country and put on a two-day beekeeping seminar here at Lusekele. About 25 people showed up. This afternoon they even managed to find a wild hive, capture the queen and install the bees in a new hive at Lusekele. Monday Timothy and Glen will be back to check on the hive show people how to process honey for more demanding markets.

Sometimes the world seems like such a hostile place - a threat to our plans, a threat to our faith, even rarely in more unstable environments a threat to our existence. But God's word reminds us that our lives, our plans, our dreams are held firmly in His hands, subject to His timing and eternal purpose, covered by His ultimate love and mercy. Sunday we worship with Christians gathered for the closing retreat meeting at Milundu. May you too see the Lord in the places where you gather.

Ed