Cell phones drip with blood

The Democratic Republic of Congo is rich in the combination of minerals columbite and tantalite (Coltan for short), which are used in cell phone batteries. African journalist, Kofi Akosah-Sarpong has said, "Coltan in general terms is not helping the local people. In fact, it is the curse of the Congo." In addition to the chemicals being suspected of causing birth defects in families of Coltan mine workers, the mining has cause forest destruction. "Cell phones are tainted with the blood of 3.2 million deaths since 1998", reports an article by the World Rainforest Movement. [Thanks to Barbara Powers for passing this information to us.]

News roundup

Here are some of the Congo-related stories from December and January...

• Thousands homeless after floods
• Most of Congo Basin forests could disappear
• Getting Congo's wealth to its people
• Congo pygmies' problems
• National committee to standardize food quality
• Poaching devastates Congo's hippos
• Congo hippos face extinction
• "I have nowhere to go" (an 18-year old Congolese refugee)
• Capability to produce AIDS treatment sits idle in Congo

January: On the road again

We now find ourselves in California beginning our itineration in the Cal-Pac Annual Conference. It is hard to believe that our time here in the States is flying by so quickly. We arrived back in the States on August 26th after spending two weeks in Switzerland. Two churches had invited us to speak and we have so many friends in Switzerland who have been our colleagues in the work in Congo. It was a wonderful time of sharing. We were joined on the trip by Dan and Nancy Massimer of Canon City, CO. We have been long time friends and their church supports the work in Congo. September 6th saw us begin our itineration in the central and eastern parts of the United States. Our trusty blue Toyota van saw us safely through close to 12,000 miles in which we visited churches in Kansas, Missouri, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, New York, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Louisiana, Texas and Oklahoma. All told, we made 104 presentations in 60 churches. Side trips included family visits in Kansas, Connecticut and Texas. We made a quick visit to be with Lynette (many of you know her through our e-mail connection) in the Washington DC area. We were in Atlanta for part of our medicals. Thanksgiving was held in Chicago with my Brother John, his wife, Dagmar, and other members of the family. It was our first Thanksgiving together without any of the parents present. It meant so much to be able to be together to enforce the family bonds we have. Christmas was held in Denver. Amber flew in from Seattle. Jeff’s parents came from Illinois and his brothers live her in Colorado. Michelle and Jeff have moved into their new town home in the Denver area. Andrew is still in our town home. It was good to have both families together to get to know each other better and to enjoy the season. We need to say that Christmas in Colorado this year was definitely white and we were snowed in twice. Because of responsibilities in Congo we are cutting our year of itineration in half. We are doing six months now and will be doing the next when we return this fall. Our plans are to return to Congo at the beginning of March. We covet your prayers for us as we continue to travel and share what God is doing at Mulungwishi.

Christmas 2006

It is amazing how fast this year has past! We began it in Denver with Lori struggling with health issues. Then we were back to Congo, in February, teaching our courses and everything else. We returned to the U.S. in late August, via Switzerland. Now, we have had better than three months of traveling and speaking and hope to be back to Denver for Christmas!! Many, many miles and many, many different beds in our travels! Ha!! It has been good to reconnect with many of you and hope to see more of you in the New Year. Our home assignment will be a split year – 6 months now and 6 more months next Fall. As of now we plan to return to Congo in February. Through this year, we have experienced so many different cultures, such diverse lifestyles and such varieties!!! The one constant through out the diversity has been “family" or "family relationships”. Christmas is about family. It is important and amazing to reflect and meditate about Christmas and how God used a family. When God wanted to send His Son to earth, He had to find a family in which to place Him. Why did God choose a young girl to be the mother of Christ? Why did God choose a carpenter to raise His son? Why did God entrust the raising and care of His Son to a family? How did Mary feel about becoming the mother of the One who would save His people? What were Joseph’s thoughts concerning his responsibility to teach and protect this Child, Lord of the universe? God put all of this in creating a family!!! What about the world and her children? So many children are without parents because of disease and war. In Africa, the extended family takes on the responsibility of those who have lost parents. Many of our Pastor students have several extra children living with them. The tragedy of Africa is that these families are also becoming victims of the devastation that is continuing!! Lubumbashi, (100 miles southeast of us) the city of supposedly one million is now a hurting City of an extra added two million displaced people, with over 75,000 orphans!! A whole generation is disappearing. Grandparents are taking on the responsibility of the children that are left!!! More and more there are children without any family. The Church’s continuing ministry is to be part of the Family for these children!! Because of Christmas, we have become part of God's Family as His children – Heirs in His Kingdom! Wow! God has also put us in families to mirror what family life should be. He has entrusted our sons and daughters to us to raise as His children. We are responsible to our extended families and living out His Love to them. This Christmas, let us celebrate the families God has given us and the amazing world-wide Family of God’s children. Hallelujah!! We are Christmas family! Praise The Lord!! Praise for Christmas!!

Life is hard for Congolese

Consider recent news ... As forces loyal to a local general were advancing toward Goma, capital of North Kivu province they fired on UN peacekeepers. The peacekeepers battled back and secured the area. Meanwhile, a volcano has erupted in the Eastern DR Congo. After the recent election, Zambia and DR Congo signed an agreement about repatriating over 50,000 refugees, who had fled from violence in DR Congo. Mass graves have been found in the northeastern DR Congo. Every year, more than one million African newborns die within their first month of life, half with the first 24 hours. Life for the Congolese people is neither secure nor peaceful. The people and the new democratically elected government is in need of prayers.

WHO: Africa needs health investment

Africa has about 90 percent of the world's Malaria and 60 percent of its HIV cases. A major World Health Organization report says that the cure can only come through urgent investment in lowering both disease and poverty. Without major improvements in health, African countries cannot develop socially or economically, the report says.

Mulungwishi mission calendar arrives

It's here! The 2007 Mulungwishi Missions calendar is ready. Photos from recent years adorn each month's calendar. A Bible verse and brief description of the mission area rounds out this precious item. Lori suggested $10 as a price, but I notice that calendars made from photos routinely go for $12 or more. So I'd recommend donating at least $15. That covers costs (printing and binding was not free) and allows a decent amount to help fund the mission. As the cover at left gives you an idea, the calendar features the many faces of the Mulungwishi Mission:

• Pre-school
• Elementary School
• High School
• Seminary
• Women's School
• Katanga Methodist University
• Master of Leadership Program
• Health Clinic
• Nutrition Program
• Development & agriculture
• Church life
• The Persons' extended family

To order the calendars, contact the Persons' U.S. Liaison:

Jeanette Michelin 1230 County Rd., #136 Cheyenne, WY 82009

jjmcmh [at] aol.com