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Pederson's Progress
September 1998
"The Lord will protect you from all evil; He will keep your soul.
The Lord will guard your going out and your coming in
From this time forth and forever." Psalm 121:7-8

EVACUATION...

     On Saturday August 8th, we evacuated from Nyankunde, Congo to Entebbe, Uganda. In less than one week we went from normal life and ministry to war and evacuation. We were amazed at how quickly the situation deteriorated forcing us to leave. Shortly after we left, rebel soldiers moved through and took over the area.

     We were able to fly all our airplanes out except one that was in pieces in the midst of a major airframe inspection. We filled the airplanes with as many missionaries as we could, and other missionaries were able to flee in vehicles by road. We weren't able to fly everyone out since all the airstrips were closed and the military had threatened to shoot down any aircraft trying to take off or land. Thankfully, we were able to negotiate permission to fly directly out of Nyankunde to Uganda.

     It was a time packed with many different emotions. There was fear, fear for our family's safety, and the fear and despair on the faces of our national staff as we left. There was confusion as we received conflicting reports on where the fighting was and what was happening in surrounding areas. We felt sadness as we said goodbye to close missionary friends and as we walked away from our house and all our staff. There was anger as we heard reports of missionary vehicles and even medicines being stolen by soldiers in Nyankunde. There was anxiety as we took off from Nyankunde hoping that we wouldn't be fired upon by soldiers. And then relief as we saw the Uganda border passing beneath the airplane and eventually landing safely at Entebbe.

     At the time of this writing things remain uncertain in eastern Congo. Recent peace talks have failed to resolve the situation. Unfortunately ethnic hatred has increased and government-controlled radio has called on people to kill people from the Tutsi tribe. One transmission from a station in Bunia said, "People must bring a machete, a spear, an arrow, a hoe, spades, rakes, nails, truncheons, electric irons, barbed wire, stones, and the like, in order, dear listeners, to kill the Rwandan Tutsis." We know of one tragedy where soldiers executed an innocent man just because he had Tutsi heritage.

     Many of the ordinary people have fled into the bush in order to avoid being caught in the crossfire, and to avoid murderous and abusive soldiers. The memories of what happened in the war in 1996 are still fresh in people's minds, so they are very afraid. We have had limited contact with people in Nyankunde, but we continue to seek information and pray for our national staff there.


MAF Uganda...

     On September 1, we went on loan to MAF Uganda for two months as we wait for Congo to hopefully calm down. The Uganda program was short a pilot or two, so we were glad to be able to help out. I am flying a Cessna 210 now and I'm enjoying seeing another part of Africa as well as seeing what God is doing here in Uganda. Most of the flying we do is in support of missionaries in the northern part of the country, and also flying for organizations working with Sudanese refugees near the border with Sudan.

     The staff here has been very gracious to us and we have settled into a nice home here in Kampala. It has been an adjustment living in a big city and learning to drive on the left side of the road in chaotic traffic. I have a 45-minute drive each way to the airport now in contrast to a one-minute walk across our front lawn to the hanger in Nyankunde. We are grateful for God's daily provision for our needs here.

     We want to especially thank you for praying for us during these past weeks. Your prayers have sustained and encouraged us. In the same way we pray that God will sustain you in whatever trial confronts you in your life. The Bible tells us, "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish it's work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4

Praises and Prayer Requests...

  • Pray for peace and stability to return in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
  • Praise and thanks for God's protection for our family during this time.
  • Pray for protection for MAF national staff still in Congo, and for protection of MAF families' assets in Congo.
  • Pray for wisdom about future work assignments for displaced MAF families.
  • Praise for the opportunity to serve with MAF Uganda short-term.


Garth + Jody
Serving Christ in Africa with MAF,
Garth, Jody, Samuel & Anna Pederson
P.S. We were planning to include some photos with this letter, but they were left on our desk in Nyankunde.