Dear Friends,

As you read this letter, Kaswera and I and our three adult sons, Baraka, Chris and Steve, will have pulled out boxes of Christmas decorations from the store room and decked our home in the town of Beni, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In our many years spent in the U.S., people often asked us how we celebrate Christmas in Africa. Here in Congo we decorate churches with palm-tree leaves, slaughter goats and chickens, spend hours in church singing and hearing nativity stories, followed by afternoon feasting with friends and family. We don't have the NBA or NFL to entertain us, but we certainly build community around food. So, we're looking forward to celebrating Christmas in 2011.

One of my favorite Christmas stories is that of the Magi. I admire their wisdom, boldness and endurance to hit the road and follow God's sign, their courage to refuse to worship an earthly king, and instead to worship and have a humble faith in a child who truly is the King. I am amazed at their presentation of sacrificial, precious and costly gifts. I imagine that Joseph and Mary used the gifts of the Magi to make their home a beautiful place for the baby King to grow and become the servant God sent him to be. So I say to myself, if the Magi, why not me? And why not you?  

During our six-week tour of the U.S. in October and November this year, many of you welcomed my wife and me into your homes, met with us, prayed for us and encouraged us. Many of you have offered the gift of your time. And yes, your financial stewardship means that we can continue to proclaim the message of hope in Congo. And so, you are a gift to us.

Above all, this Christmas we are grateful to God for the gift of his Son.  

Kasali Family (from left to right: Kaswera, David, Baraka, Steve, Chris)

So, if gift-giving is on your mind this Christmas, consider a ministry God has raised up in this needy context of Congo, a ministry God is using to change many lives. Your prayers and partnership make Congo Initiative a blessing to the 500 or so students enrolled at UCBC, to over 50 women who have been abused and who are now learning skills to take care of themselves and their families, to over 120 under-privileged children who attend our lower level education, and to hundreds more in our communities who attend our seminars for church and society on issues of reconciliation and peace building, justice, care for the abused, and more. Through your generosity we are proclaiming the good news of "peace on earth," and peace in Congo.  

Merry Christmas!

David M. Kasali                                                                Make a Gift Today
Founder/President                                                      
Congo Initiative