My all for hot water!!!!

Dear Loved Ones:

Well, I'll get right to it! I haven't had access to hot water in four days now! "Spit baths" with a wash cloth and cold water...just like the old days in Egypt! Amazingly enough, I don't worry as much about myself. I worry more for those around me. I'm sure glad I brought that Pinaud Clubman Fragrant Talc Powder!!! MMMMMMM Fresh! Not necessarily clean, but fresh smelling. I think I'm getting into the politically correct area where those who may be reading this are shouting out: TMI!!! TMI!!! Too much information. So, I'll move to another topic.

We're here at the Presbyterian/Methodist Hostel in Kinshasa, DRC. The power (electricity) goes off periodically and every time I go to take a shower, it seems that the power goes off. Power goes off, pump goes off, no water for Chris.

Other than that the people here are FANTASTIC. Who needs water!!? We've just talked to a surgeon whose work here is legendary. Unfortunately, I can't remember his last name. But, I think that his first name is Kevin. He's in his thirties and the people love him. He is a vascular surgeon back in the states and spends 2-3 months here in the Congo operating on those in need. What a truly Christian human being.

He told us about the main problem that we are here to try and solve in Lubondai: mainly that in the hospitals the solar and hydro power goes out often and premature babies and those who need surgery die unnessessarily. Often times, he cannot operate without basic power and when the power goes out, he has to sit there and watch the people die...not because he doesn't have the skill to save them...but because he doesn't have any power to see what he is doing in the operating room, run the basic instruments he needs to operate, etc. It's tragic!!

Also, I think the hardest thing to hear is about the premature and newborn babies that die because there is no electric power to power the incubators and basic life support instruments and equipment that is basic to newborn care. Imagine that back in the states: having no power to keep infant babies alive. It would be unthinkable back in our incredibly wealthy country...not completely absent...but generally unthinkable.

Clean water is a huge problem. They don't have the filtration systems to create enough drinking water. They boil it and then let it cool...having to wait and wait and wait for enough water for 30 people to drink, when there's 100 or 200 hundred who need water. Imagine that, only 15% to 30% of the people who are thirsty getting to have a drink of water. The rest go thirsty. And, some of those die...just because there is not enough water to drink. Who picks the 15% to 30% people who will get the water? God only knows. But, it must be a heart wrenching process! And, the worst part of it is this has been going on so long that the people in these poorest of the poor villages and towns think that all of this is normal. It's just the way it is. God bless them.

We are meeting with engineers and specialists trying to determine whether solar and hydro power can be used in Lubondai in such a configuration that it will not only bring power to the hospital, school, and church (and other gathering places), but also how much "load" will be needed to do this effectively and in such a way that the loads are properly proportioned between the hydro and solar power units. Load is the amount of "push" and "pull" is needed in terms of the electricity produced and the electricity used...and in what proportions. It's sort of like water. The pump pumps the water and the faucet "pulls" on the water source so that the water can come out the other end. Except as my wife properly points out to me, electricity is NOT like water in that it has to keep flowing from source to use (or batteries or something that pulls it thorugh) or it stops. I guess it's as simple as this: You can't just turn the faucet off with electricity. The faucet has to stay open or the whole flow of electricity stops. Thus, you always need to match the production amount of electricity with what's using the product, creating maximum load periods (usually the daytime) and minimum load periods (usually nights). I'm probably making this as clear as mud. But, I think that you all get the basic idea.

Basically, it's a problem for the Electrical Engineers and Hydro Engineers to figure out. As you can see, IT IS NOT AN ISSUE A SIMPLE PASTOR LIKE MYSELF CAN FIGURE OUT.

John Metzel is doing a FABULOUS job of overseeing this project! He is driven by a love for the people of the Congo that is nothing short of heroic!!! He is extremely intelligent and can think in various ways: engineering, human needs, practicality, and Christian love. He is involving himself in every single aspect of this project. I don' t think I have ever seen a more Christ-driven person approach a huge task like this with as much love, wisdom, intelligence, ferver, energy, and practicality. With Christ, we can move mountains...or at least build bigger dams that hold more water that creates a strong flow of water that turns water wheels (turbines) that generates electricity that brings fresh water and electricity to the poorest people in the world. Maybe that's what that phrase means: With Christ, we can move mountains. In John Metzel, I see Christ working in that incredible and miraculous way. Praise be to God.

And, how about his father, the Rev. Bill Metzel. I can hardly keep up with him. Today, we're going to run around Kinshasa to see the sights. I hope that he doesn't lose me. Notice that I didn't say that I hope that I don't lose him. He has more energy than the energizer Bunny!

Also, watching John and Bill communicate in French and Chaluba (the native languages) is nothingshort of miraculous! I can understand about half of the French, but not any of the Tshiluba. But, if I were here alone, it would be very, very difficult. Also, they are taking very good care of me. I often feel like a sack of potatoes that they have to lug around, rather than an asset to this project.

I guess I will be meeting with the Secretary General of the Presbyterian Church in the Congo today and will be able to formally and officially bring the greetings of the National Capital Presbytery and the First Presbyterian Church of Annandale/First Korean Presbyterian Church of Virginia to him. And, I will be doing my share of preaching and sharing of the Gospel with the people in the villages to which we'll be travelling. And, I guess I'm a pretty good objective sounding board for John to bounce ideas off of. But, my role in this is limited.

I am taking lots of pictures and will attempt at some time to send some home...once I learn how to!!!

Gotta go now. I'm going to meet with some Assistant to the Ministry of Health, named Larry.

Until the next time...

Chris Looker