LOKO, CONGO (November 24, 2004) - Warm greetings have become an anticipated part of the current tour of Evangelical Covenant Church (ECC) mission operations in northwestern Congo by an 11-member delegation representing the denomination, with hundreds of people crowding the airstrip at Loko to await the group's arrival on Monday and to send them on their way again yesterday (Tuesday).

The delegation has been visiting a number of places where Dr. Paul and Lois Carlson ministered while serving as ECC medical missionaries four decades ago. Paul Carlson was killed by rebel soldiers in November 1964. This trip commemorates the 40th anniversary of his death.

In addition to Lois, members of the delegation include the Carlson's son, Wayne, and his wife, Rebecca, and their son, Paul; Carlson's brother, Dwight; Rick Carlson (unrelated) who was the producer of the new documentary Monganga unveiled at this year's Covenant Annual Meeting in Minneapolis; Bob and Jan Thornbloom, well-known Covenant missionaries to Congo for many years who continue to work with various Covenant ministries; Curt Peterson, executive minister of the Department of World Mission; Jim Sundholm, director of Covenant World Relief and the Paul Carlson Partnership; and Pete Ekstrand, regional coordinator for Africa who also is serving on this trip as a special correspondent for Covenant News Service.

Traveling with the American delegation are CEUM President Mossai Sanguma and Vice President Mawe Sema, as well as Keith and Florence Gustafson, Congo coordinators for Covenant World Mission, and Covenant missionary Nancy Jo Hoover. To see additional photos of Tuesday's visit in Loko, please see Loko Visit.

The delegation's flight to Loko followed Monday's tour of Wasolo schools. After their arrival in Loko, delegation members toured the Loko hospital where a new framed photograph of Dr. Paul Carlson was presented , with a special commemorative plaque in honor of the visit presented to the Responsible Pastor of the region by representatives of the Covenant Church of Congo (CEUM) and the delegation.

Following dinner and a time of rest, the Carlson family and other delegation members joined more than 2,000 people for a 3:30 p.m. worship service with Rick Carlson preaching. (Accompanying photo shows one of the musicians, a drummer, with his unique homemade instrument.)

"Paul's faith and testimony have been a witness to me since I was 8 years old," Rick Carlson began. "I learned from his witness as a young boy and took on the history of Paul Carlson (Rick Carlson was the producer for the new documentary on Dr. Paul Carlson's story, Monganga.). On November 24 (1964), Paul took on the history of Jesus - his life, his suffering, his death - and he would also take on his future. Brothers and sisters, we are all to take on the history of Christ so that we can also take on his future." Following the service (which continued until it was dark), the new documentary was shown.

"In 1963, Paul and I drove in here and saw these buildings with nothing but grass as tall as the truck around them," Lois said in addressing the faithful attending the worship service. "Paul said, 'Wouldn't it be wonderful if one day the CEUM could open a hospital here?' This was just a dream. We never thought it would be possible. Then, following his death, the government of Congo gave this place to the CEUM and in 1968 I was here to dedicate it. Look at what has happened here.

"I know you've been through pain, suffering and war," she continued, "but our God is a God of miracles and we praise him for these miracles and the faith he gives us. Dr. Paul could not have dreamed of this, but look what God has done. In my heart, I am at peace to see you and all that God has done here."

CEUM President Sanguma expressed appreciation to the Carlson family for coming and to Lois for her love for the Congolese over the years. He also expressed appreciation to ECC President Glenn Palmberg and Curt Peterson for making the special occasion of commemoration possible.

Today (Wednesday) the delegation was in Karawa where a special graveside service was planned to commemorate the martyrdom of Dr. Paul Carlson's 40 years ago today. The delegation is scheduled to return to the United States on November 27. To read earlier accounts of this visit and see additional photos, please visit the following stories:

• Covenant Delegation Warmly Welcomed in Karawa.
• Carlson Family Visits Former Home in Wasolo.
• Forty Years Later: 'Who Could Have Imagined?'.