Date: Wed, 24 Jul 2002 4:50:54 AM Eastern Standard Time

From: Sarah Beckstrom <whiteafrican01@yahoo.com>

To: markb31936@aol.com

Hi dad.

How are you doing? I am still in Congo but leaving today for Kigali; where I will spend the night while waiting for the bus to go to Kampala and then on to Nairobi: Today is Wednesday and I think I shall reach Nairobi by Friday or Saturday. A long journey; especially because I traveled yesterday also. I was in Bukavu: the trip there was longer then expected because the ferry that we were taking to Goma broke two hours into the trip; so we drifted off to an island where we waited for four hours until another boat came and towed us back to Bukavu: Bukavu is a beautiful town with big rolling hills and the lake right there: it has been so good just to spend time with the people and to see how they live and to work through ethical questions as to what is the best way to help these people. I do not want to leave; but I know that I will be back; I hope within a year.

The people here are concerned about politics now, because the rebels are saying that they are going to make this land into a new country starting on August 2nd, the people will use Rwandan francs and everything will change. The people need to get new license plates for the cars and everything. people are really disturbed and don’t know what to do; but I doubt if there will be much fighting because Congolese really value life and are not willing to risk their life for much. so no suicide bombers here. I’m in the internet café now; but the connection is lost so we are just waiting to see if it will come back.

How are things at home? I will be there in a month’s time, it will be hard to come home, especially because I will have such a busy semester and it will be so exhausting if I am to graduate in December. I’m still trying to see what will happen when I finish. I want to come back here as soon as possible; I will either go to Covenant Point Bible Camp for January through May or else I will be at home with a job trying to pay off the student loans and finding sponsors or an organization to work with here in Congo: Vanessa is getting married in the summer so I will be helping with that, and God willing by the end of August I will be back in Congo.

I need to work on my French. I’ve learned a lot living here, but a class would be faster and more well rounded. I will see if I can audit a class at north park next semester; but there might be some time conflict and it will be like I’m taking 22 hours...two of them graduate classes, and two are seminars- the hardest classes in undergrad.....I will suffer, but the joy when I finish will be so much greater to know that I’m thru.

How is church, my greetings to them also. Is the movie on Congo back? I'd like to organize a showing of the video and then maybe also a time to talk about my trip this summer.

Sometimes when I'm doing something out of the ordinary or just something normal for here, I wonder what you and mom would say if you could see. Have you ever tasted rabbit before; its not too bad... it will be fun to have you guys visit me once I have a steady job and a home. Last week I visited an organization called SOS Grands Lac. They take children that have been in the army and prepare them to go back into normal living. The boys were so young and they had been fighting for so long, what kind of people will make children fight; they don’t even know what they are fighting for; it’s so terrible:

I'm wondering if the computer server will ever come back on, its 11:30 now and my bus for Kigali leaves in two hours. Its funny how people can treat you because you are white, even going from Goma to Bukavu they were disturbing me and trying to find something wrong with my documents so that I could give them “a lil chai”, just some tea; some money. One guy; after seeing that everything was correct; said; “well you can go to Bukavu now; but when you come back we will be sure to find some reason so that you must give me five dollars” we just laughed and went on our way.

Well the connection is back so now I'll send the message: much love to all: Sarah

UPDATED

Today is Friday and I am in Kampala. I will take the bus to Nairobi on Saturday. And on Monday ill take the bus to Oloitokitok. Hope all is well. I will try to write an update for the church and send it when I’m in Nairobi on Sunday. Love. Sarah.