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Pederson's Progress
March 2001
"Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:16-18

Momentary Troubles

     The Democratic Republic of Congo's President Laurent Kabila was assassinated here in Kinshasa on January 16. After his death there were several tense days. The city remained under curfew and most people stayed off the streets while they waited to see who would assume power. After about a week, President Kabila's son Joseph was appointed as president. A few days after the assassination the US State department issued a more severe travel warning for Congo and evacuated their non-emergency staff, but most missionaries stayed put. We thank God that a potentially explosive situation was avoided.

     The new president has made several new statements indicating that finding an end to the war will be a priority, so we are hopeful. He has also indicated movement in lifting travel restrictions on organizations that want to provide aid and relief to the people suffering in the interior. A move to allow foreign currency exchange will also remove a barrier to our work, so we pray that actions follow words.

     On January 20, after landing at Kinshasa airport with one of our Cessna 206 aircraft we were informed that avgas, the specially formulated gasoline that we use in our piston powered airplanes, was out of stock. We later learned that the military had taken all the remaining reserves and that the local oil companies didn't have any more avgas on order. After meeting with representatives from several of the oil companies here we realized that because of the large minimum order required for more avgas and the relatively small market for the fuel they weren't planning to order any more. So while we maintain emergency reserves of avgas at two of our interior bases we have had to ground the 206's because of the lack of fuel.

Caravan goes to work

     Thank God for the new Cessna Grand Caravan, which is operational now. Since it has a turboprop engine it uses jet fuel which is more readily available. Even the jet fuel has been sporadic in its availability, but we know that there will be a continual large demand for jet fuel. The Caravan is truly a joy to fly, as it is beautifully equipped and larger than our Cessna 206's. We're able to fly higher and faster as well, so our passengers are also pleased with the new airplane.

MAF to facilitate aid to health zones

     The continuing civil war has been devastating to the civilian population. The International Rescue Committee estimates that since the war began in August 1998, up to 600,000 Congolese children under age 5 have died either by violence, epidemics or malnutrition. The United Nations also reports that hundreds of thousands of civilians have died and estimates there are 2 million displaced people in the country. The health system has collapsed and the economy is in tatters.

Through your partnership with us, we are planning to be a part of showing God's love to these suffering people. Plans are in place for our airplanes to provide transportation for anew USAID project that will be resupplying isolated health clinics with medicine and supplies. Dr. Bill Clemmer, our next door neighbor, is an American Baptist missionary who is in charge of administrating this 5 million dollar project. He estimates that by the end of February, the containers of medicine will arrive in Kinshasa, and we will then begin flights to help with the distribution.

Family news

     At the beginning of February, Jody, Sam and Anna were able to travel with me to Vanga for a two-day visit. Vanga, one of our interior bases, is situated 180 miles east of Kinshasa on the banks of the Kwilu River. It is home to three other missionary families. Jody and the kids enjoyed getting a ride on the new airplane and seeing these friends. We were given a tour of the mission hospital and see the river landing. We were also glad for the opportunity to stop at Kikongo, another of the mission stations we regularly serve with our flights. A nice break from city!


Prayer Requests...

  • Pray for peace and the departure of foreign armies.
  • Pray for a new source to become available for avgas.
  • Praise for the timely arrival of the new Caravan aircraft.
  • Pray for strength and creativity in meeting the continual challenges and problems.
  • Pray for the provision of a new Program Manager before June.


In His Service,
Garth + Jody
Garth, Jody, Sam, and Anna Pederson