It has been my custom when visiting the Congo to engage in a study of some theme or author that interests me. In the past that has included Walter Wink (Engaging the Powers), Karen Armstrong (Fields of Blood) and writings by and of Rene Girard. This year is no exception. What is unique is I’m going entirely Catholic. As those that know me, I often refer to works by Henri Nouwen, a Catholic priest who spent years as a lecturer, writer and finally working with the most vulnerable through L’Arche. Nouwen is sometimes talked about as the Catholic gift to Protestants. This could bear some truth since I have encountered more Protestants that have related to his writings than Catholics. In our Mennonite congregation we undertook a wonderful study of his book, ‘The Return of the Prodical Son’.

  The basis of this study is a book, ‘Love, Henri’. It includes letters written by him in response to the questions and needs of others he has related to. Special to me is the fact that the book is compiled and edited by a cousin of mine, Gabriele Earnshaw. I’m not sure she is technically my cousin, but she is married to my cousin, Don. If she were here in Africa, I would call her my sister. I bought her book off of Amazon, used, so avoided paying her the royalty. If I ever meet her, I will do so.

  In any case, I will be sharing more on this as the days go by.