Is Missionary Life Dangerous?

Wed., July 26...Another Happy Birthday in Congo, Kathy!

What an amazing life for one little girl!

LIFE IN KAYEMBE

Kathy's early years in the Belgian Congo

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to ride on a lions back, to hang on to that fur and fly across the fields with the wind flying in ones face! That would be really so much fun! Can't say that I ever got close to that experience, but...

As elephant go, we had plenty in the land where I spent some of my childhood days, Kayembe was the place, in the Democratic Republic of Congo--just the Belgian Congo when I was growing up. (Also known as Zaire)

My father, Fred Bahler, not stopped by polio at age two, was our pilot. Fred flew his Cessna across the jungles and mountains wearing a brace and using crutches throughout his lifetime. We still need more brave men and women like my dad and mom to help us extend the outreach!

There were many evenings when Daddy would take us for a ride out on the plains just so we could watch the elephants peacefully standing off in the near distance, waving those huge ears back and forth, listening and watching us as we watched them with awe and amazement! I always wondered what it would be like to get near them!

Then, one day, some of the men from the village came running up to our house, with the dreaded news that one of the older elephants had gone crazy, and was in their village attacking their houses and anyone that came in his path. The men wanted my Dad to bring his elephant gun, and shoot that elephant before he wrecked the whole village. But, how does one go about shooting a crazed elephant.

I'll never forget that day, as my daddy climbed into the pickup truck along with the village men, and headed out to stop the elephant stampede. As they arrived at the village, the elephant saw them and started charging, so as the elephant got closer and closer, my Dad said he just had to take aim and shoot and fortunately brought the bull elephant down and stopped the stampede. One had to be calm and steady with that shot, and the Lord gave Daddy that gift!

	Fred Bahler at age 29 fresh on the field.

That day I got to see an elephant first hand, even climbed up on top of the huge mountain in my bare feet and to feel those needles on my feet, not fun, but that's what their fur is like. Ouch!! Won't ever forget that!

So, instead of riding on a lion's back with all that fuzzy fur, I got to stand on an elephant and feel an elephant's bristly needle fur. Someday, in heaven maybe we'll see and touch all the creatures that God has made for us to enjoy, only without all the "ouches" that come with them here on earth, won't that be something.

That was another day to Praise our Lord for bringing us through safely!!

"What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Psalms 56: 3, 4.