Story number 2 for 4 Jan 2002

(Democratic Republic of Congo)–Meanwhile, the leaders of Rwanda, Burundi and the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) have begun the New Year with messages of peace and reconciliation. The countries are still struggling to restore a measure of stability. American Leprosy Mission’s Dr. Jacques Kongawi (kon-GAH-wee) says the trouble has had a minimal impact on their work, however:. “We have a program to teach them how to deal with the spiritual ministry, and they do it very well. We wanted to begin the CHE ministry, Community Health Evangelism. We had planned to do the training (earlier), but we didn’t because of the war. We hope to do it this year.” Kongawi says their medical outreach opens doors. “They only thing that disease comes from bad spirits. When we explain it to them, it helps us to talk to them and to help them to see the light of Jesus Christ.”