The Words of the Jouan Family
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The Words of the Jouan Family |
Brazzaville, Congo -- During my two-week stay in the Congo, local UPF leaders and I met with Ambassadors for Peace and government officials to make plans to give one-day seminars about UPF's peace principles to local leaders and educators throughout the nation. I also gave an overview of UPF's peace principles to 150 legislators. Two mayors of Brazzaville received Ambassador for Peace certificates in a ceremony that was covered by the news media.
The content of the presentations was developed in consultation with Michel Ndolo, Secretary General of UPF-Congo; Maurice Adoua, Chair of UPF-Congo; and Julien Moufonda, Vice-Chair of UPF-Congo. We had personal meetings with the heads of the Senate, the National Assembly, and various government offices. We also had the opportunity to meet with H.E. Maurice Sassou Nguesso, brother of President Denis Sassou Nguesso, to discuss plans for traveling throughout the nation.
President Denis Sassou Nguesso has stated that he wants to turn the nation in a godly direction and away from war. There are not a lot of ethnic tensions, and I feel great hope for this nation.
From 1970-1991, the nation's government was Marxist, and top government officials studied at Moscow University or the Sorbonne, receiving an education based on Marxist principles. In my conversations with them I pointed out the main differences between Marxism and UPF views. Beginning with a discussion of dialectics, we introduced "dualectics" -- meaning not a conflict-type of relationship but a giving and receiving action.
Since they believe in God, they were able to understand the significance of a God-centered worldview. As a white man from France, the former colonial power, my desire was to share with them my sincere love for them and their country and repent for past injustices.