“I admit that I have a problem with drinking,” said M. Sani, one of the participants in the recent CHE committee training in Bogbakole. \u00a0This admission came after Rev. Elenga taught the lesson on “What is Health?” \u00a0In this lesson the participants learn there is much more to health than simply their physical health. \u00a0Health also includes their relationship with God (spiritual), their relationship with themselves (emotional), their relationships with their family and neighbors (relational), their relationship with the environment and of course their own physical health. \u00a0A healthy person is one for whom all these relationships are good; where there are not problems in any of them. \u00a0Rev. Elenga uses the symbol of a fist with the thumb pointed out as follows: shalom with God when the thumb is pointed up, shalom with myself when I point my thumb my way, shalom with my neighbors and refers to my fingers circling around, and lastly shalom wiht the environment again with my fingers circling.<\/p>\n
Exceptional about this confession is that we seldom see public confessions of a problem here in Congo. \u00a0These issues are hidden, even when they are being addressed. \u00a0Of course they are not always so common in the US either. \u00a0We give thanks for Sani’s confession. \u00a0We pray for the Lord to enable him to confront his issue and overcome it, for good counsel from the local pastors and for support from family and friends. \u00a0I look forward to hearing from Rev. Elenga after future visits how things are going for Sani.<\/p>\n