Letter from rain forest mission in DR Congo

Fr Jim Fanning MHM

Fr Jim Fanning Mill Hill Missionary, writes from Paroisse du Christ Roi Waka, Diocèse de Basankusu,

Dear friends and relatives,

The rhythm of life here in the rain forest is very slow. Occasionally people decide to make money by felling and hacking out some trees to make them into dugout canoes so that they can sell them in the Provincial capital of Mbandaka. The canoes are tied together with a few creepers from the forest and attached to a small raft made from the same materials. People construct a little house or bivouac on the raft and they then sit inside and let the river carry them down the 800 kms or so to their best market, spending their time fishing, talking, cooking and sleeping. They go with the flow of the river which is often slower than the average walking pace and maybe reach there after two weeks or more-but there is no hurry! Very little energy is expended and there can sometimes be enough money at the end to catch the airplane back!

Yes things go very slowly here. It is now over six months since I left Uganda and my pace of life has slowed down to almost zero. Not having either Internet access nor mobile phone at Waka helps this to happen. But also the difficulty in travelling and procuring the basic things of modern life is also a cause.

At least in Kenya or Uganda I could make use of a supermarket or a little Indian shop to get things I took for granted like screws, screwdrivers,iron bars, pots of paint, notebooks, box folders,panes of glass etc etc.

And yet there is so much to do here! After my first three months I have got some of the electrical fittings to work again and got some doors back on their hinges. Not one lock in the house was working and I still do not have any running water. I have done some emergency work on the holes in the floors and am now looking for ways to patch up the kitchen. The sacristy roof has also had some emergency treatment replacing the leaking tiles with temporary palm fronds. I am also in the process of putting up a new cow shed for our six beasts.

Of course I have had some wonderful interactions with the people through the Masses, prayer services,house visitations and prayers for the sick. I have also made some good friends through teaching English and computer when I have spare moments.

It's weird not having any colleagues with me although Frs John and Stan are always here at Basankusu 85 kms away. It is the African Sisters who are my regular table companions and the parish Assistant, Jean Willy - a teacher and father of ten children is my close collaborator and adviser in the parish affairs. Sometimes I feel as though I have stopped the western world and left it like you do on a London bus. Do you remember the phrase 'stop the world I want to get off''? Fortunately we have the thrice daily radio call with Basankusu in case there is anything urgent to communicate. Being here in the rain forest has many similarities with going into a monastery and leaving the world behind. I do feel very close to God out here.

My new Toyota Landcruiser assures me of reaching Basankusu at least every three weeks for 'a break' and a chance to communicate with the outside world.I have even been hamstrung with this however since the necessary oil filters for the first 1000 kms service have been held up in Mbandaka when the weekly flight to Basankusu was cancelled. The vehicle has been grounded for almost a month. Today I rejoiced when I found a local mechanic here in Basankusu with the very filter that I need! Our God is a God of surprises. Maybe I go back on Saturday.

I am also delighted to discover that the Little Way Association in London has granted me £6000 for the refurbishment of the teachers' houses. We have about six of them falling into wrack and ruin which can now be restored.

How I wish I had an old fashioned Mill Hill Brother to help me with all these things but I know they are almost all in retirement now and those around now are not trained for this sort of life any longer. What I need is an experienced handy man who is ready to rough it for a few years, who can speak French and has some African experience. Is there anyone with that sort of qualifications out there?

The solar panels have arrived and all I need now is someone to fix them on the rooves!

Our superior Fr Bernard Fox was supposed to come out to visit us this month but he has had difficulty obtaining a visa on time and so has had to postpone his visit till much later in the year. I was looking forward to receiving him in Waka and seeing if there would be any possibility of a second priest being sent out or even some seminarians for pastoral experience.

Talking of languages I often wonder what sort of sounds are coming out of my mouth these days as I try to express myself in the African language of Lingala each day with the local people. My Luluhya and Swahili of East Africa keep interfering and I end up with blank looks from the workman as I use the wrong word once again! French is very useful but not for the ordinary interaction with the people.

Despite all these handicaps -not to forget my hearing disability-and this slow way of life I would not wish to be anywhere else. I feel more fulfilled here than I have felt any where else in my life. It is tough going at times and am still trying to find my feet. I am determined to respect the rhythm of life out here even if it takes a lot of getting used to . I know I must learn to go even more slowly. Keep me in your prayers as I do you in mine. Thank you for all the support you are giving me. I am still looking forward to my first visitor from all my many friends abroad.

A song from the sixties film about St Francis of Assisi comes to mind as I sign off which is good for me don't you think? : "If you want a dream come true take your time go slowly. Do few things but do them well take your time go slowly..."

Enjoy the seasons wherever you are: the summer in Europe and America, the winter in Australia or the rainy season in East Africa,

A missionary who is your friend

Fr Jim Fanning MHM.

Paroisse du Christ Roi Waka
Diocèse de Basankusu,
BP1800 Kinshasa
Rép Démocratique du Congo