Dear Friends,

We last wrote in April about an attempted coup in Congo and being awakened in the middle of the night by artillery and machine gun fire outside our very home. Unfortunately, the month of June has seen similar rumblings and insecurity in Congo.

Last week, mass demonstrations in the capital city of Kinshasa and ensuing attacks against a select group of westerners left several dead and offices, homes, and vehicles burned. A mob that had assembled outside our school gate had to be dispersed by local authorities after trying to force their way in. As if that wasn't enough, Congo experienced another coup attempt this weekend with explosions and fire in the night.A strict curfew restricted us to our homes during the weekend…though few would have ventured out.

Today is a new day and we are back about our work this Monday morning. The city streets seem subdued as shopkeepers timidly open their stores and people are out testing the surroundings. The military is of course, out in force; soldiers with grenade launchers and flack guns at key intersections, others circulate by trucks and jeeps blaring their horns and sirens as they clear the road of civilians like me on my way to work. My thoughts bring me to early summer in New Hampshire and Maine….and what we would be doing if we were at home rather than in Congo this time of year: a walk in the park with the children, outings, plans for the beach….all seem so distant. What kind of environment are we raising our children in, Ann and I asked ourselves this morning?

In my reading this morning, I was brought to Psalm chapter 16…."Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge." We are safe and must acknowledge the hand of God in keeping us well during this tumultuous period. In fact, during this weekend's mortar and tank firing….our children took it amazingly in stride, saying, "It looks like another canceled day of school." It reminded Ann and me of our last winter in New England in 1999 and the children's delight in unexpected snowstorms that caused schools to close ….what a contrast to ‘what causes schools to close' in the Congo.

We will be traveling home in mid-July…our first trip back to the U.S. as a family in over four years. We are looking forward to seeing many of you in your churches (we have 16 church engagements in 5 weeks) and at Green Lake where we have been invited to share. The middle of August will see us back in the Congo…with likely more challenges ahead.

The Psalmist finishes Psalm 16 with these promises…"You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence."

The Lord has indeed made known to us all….the path of life….that is "assurance of salvation and abiding peace with Jesus."

When we block out the tanks, the guns, the chaos…our problems, our concerns and our worries become insignificant indeed…when compared to His Glory and Grace.

In His presence…we are well

Bill and Ann Clemmer and family
Democratic Republic of Congo