September 28, 2014 - Shelley

September 28, 2014

Well, spring has sprung!  The weather is getting warmer and there are some beautiful trees that are in bloom everywhere, sporting big purple blossoms.

I told Clark that I had a moment of almost feeling “local” when I bought eggs at the store that definitely had feathers and chicken poop on them – and I didn’t even flinch!  That’s better than my first trip to the grocery store here when I started to cry at that sight.  I found that it really does all come off in the wash!

We had an interesting couple of days this week touring local medical facilities.  We have a new mission doctor, Dr. Mikesell, an oral surgeon from St. George.  Our tour was conducted by Dr. Saban, who is the medical advisor over all of the doctors in Lubumbashi.

We are pictured here with the Mikesells and Dr. Saban (3rd from the left) and part of his staff.  One side note:  Dr. Saban said that he doesn’t like to stand next to white people in pictures because he looks like a black hole!  What is really funny is that he is standing next to Sister Mikesell who has a condition where she has no pigment in her skin.  She almost glows because she is so white!!  Dr. Saban showed us hospitals that would be acceptable for our young missionaries to go to – and two that have English-speaking personnel for the senior missionaries.  And he showed us others, as well – basically, the good, the bad, and the VERY UGLY!!!  He volunteers at a neighborhood clinic that services 20,000 people.  

In most hospitals here, a patient’s family must provide all food, laundry service – and sometimes medicine while the patient is there.  We saw one gal that had had a baby three weeks before but the hospital wouldn’t let her leave until she could pay the $23 they charge to deliver the baby!  It’s hard to imagine, but one clinic has a piece of equipment that was donated by Mohammed Ali’s daughter, but it isn’t used because no one knows how it works!  They keep it covered up in the “operating room”.  It’s truly heart-breaking!  I really have to admire Dr. Saban because he obviously has a good job and many privileges, but he still dedicates part of his week giving free service to the poor.

He expressed several times how worried he is for the rainy season to come – which, I think is at the end of October or so.  He said that in 2012, Lubumbashi had 7,000 deaths during the rainy season from cholera.  He said that

Above:  Technician with useless donated equipment.

many new people have moved here recently – mostly into the poorer parts of town.  It’s hard to tell from the photo

above, but about half-way up the street is a latrine.  Then about a hundred feet down the hill is a well where people are getting drinking water.  When the rains come, the unsanitary situation is compounded and disease is spread.  The water in this ditch is black – and there are children everywhere!  This is typical of many neighborhoods.

Well, on to more positive topics!  We have had pretty good internet this week – well, not as terrible as usual! I was able to reconnect with a long-time friend of mine, Janis Christensen, from North Ogden.  We have been friends since our first children were babies and we lived in San Francisco.  Anyway, Janis has a son with ALS.  I’ve noticed lately that there have been many ALS challenges on Facebook – so people are becoming more aware of this dread disease.  Janis said that KSL has done a documentary with her son, Seth, and others with ALS that will be aired at 1:30 on Saturday, Oct. 4, between the morning and afternoon sessions of General Conference.

One of our projects is almost complete!  

We are shown here with the work crew that is rebuilding the market that was burned down in August.  The first phase is complete and the second phase has started.  250 vendors were displaced when a fire started during the night.  These markets, or marches, are everywhere and sell everything from food to clothing.  The open-aired

stalls allow for customers to walk down the center of the structure in order to see all of the products for sale.  If I called it kind of a mall, that would be way too much of a stretch!  However,

it works here, and the vendors are very excited and grateful for the shelter.

Our mission office is in the midst of change.  Currently there are 5 senior couples in addition to the Mission President.  This week one couple, the Atkinsons, learned that they will be going home two months early because their assignment is completed.  They haven’t been home for five years because this is their third mission!!  And they are both younger than we are!  We have definitely met some very faithful people!  Then Sister Riendeau, one of the senior sister missionaries, decided to go home early because one of her sisters has terminal cancer.  So – before long, Clark and I will be the couple here with the most experience!  Now that is a scary thought!

We have been so blessed by others – both at home and abroad.  Our children and grandchildren have been great to keep in touch and to have us involved as much as possible in their lives.  Our ward family has been wonderful to our daughter Lindsay and her family who lived in our home until last week.  By way of info, we now have a new family living there:  Kevin and Megan Diehl and their two little girls.  Kevin and our son Andy have been friends since they were about 9 or 10 years old.  They met when they played the parts of Kurt and Frederick in “The Sound of Music” at our local Heritage Theater.  We feel thrilled to have the Diehls in our home!

We also receive inspiration from our friends who continue to serve, whether on actual missions or at home.  We had a big surprise last week from Barr and Nancy Cannon who are serving in New Zealand.  They called on Face Time!

I would be very remiss not to mention what a blessing it is to work with so many wonderful Congolese people.  Because of the nature of our work, we have gotten to associate with many of the local Church employees, government officials, and businessmen and women.  Many of them could work other places for more money – Dr. Saban, for example.  But they have chosen to stay here in Lubumbashi to try to raise the standard of living in their homeland.  It is not without cost – both in money and in personal conveniences.  The Congo is a hard place to live – for everyone.  

Much love,  Mom/Souer Davis

September 28, 2014 - Clark

Sunday, September 28, 2014

Let me share a couple of personal interest stories with you.  I’m beginning to realize that it’s not the work you do with organizations but the opportunity to affect individual lives that is important in our humanitarian service.  I have been concerned that most of our DRC budget has evaporated with bureaucratic red tape compliance.  Well let me share some positive experiences with you.

1. We have attended 9 orphanages, some multiple times, in Lubumbashi.  We have been trying to develop a project proposal for 3-4 of them.  At one of the orphanages we attended, we met a young lady by the name of Rose.  She had raised herself by her own bootstraps and was just completing her university studies.  Flavien, our translator who owns a print shop, recognized she needed help in printing her thesis for graduation.  She needed 6 copies of it.  Flavien gave her his contact information and told her to contact him.  She did this past week; he told her he would prepare it at no cost, but she offered him 10,000 Fc, about $10 dollars, a large sum for an orphan.  He was so impressed with her that he prepared 10 copies, provided her transport in his car and spoke with his family about adopting her into their family.  Flavien’s parents have 13 children.  Our limited thinking for help for her orphanage was to buy beds and mattresses.  You can see how advanced Flavien already is as a humanitarian missionary.
2. We’re starting a construction project to build a pedestrian bridge near one of the local chapels.  It will join two neighborhoods and allow school children to cross the Katuba River safely on their way to school.  Each construction project requires a site monitor to track the construction progress, take pictures, and keep a log.  We have been impressed with a young returned missionary we have met by the name of Steve Mutombo.  He is 24, engaged to be married and a counselor in a local bishopric.  We contacted Steve to serve as the site monitor.  You need to understand these are not glamorous positions and only pay $2-3 per hour and they only require maybe 10 hours per week.  He was so grateful because this will allow him to proceed with his marriage plans.  I told him that small things often lead to larger opportunities.  I told him exposure at the mission home will help with future potential employment opportunities.  Today at church President Thomas talked to Steve about another employment opportunity with the Mikesells that may develop this week.  The bridge project may have less to do with the neighborhood and more to do with Steve.  He’s the type of young man that could be a future stake president someday.  

We received some exciting and some depressing news in the same announcement this week.  Elder Brent and Sister Celeste Atkinson are going home two months earlier than expected.  Elder Atkinson has been part of a construction program where they train about 10 returned missionaries at a time in the construction trades while they are assisting in the construction of local chapels and stake centers.  His construction program was cut short due to building construction being put on hold or being cancelled.  The mission has used his skills in repairing everything in sight and he has assisted with the missionary apartments.  He and I participated in a potential project to repair water wells and they have lived in our compound.  The area presidency decided since his program had been cancelled, they would allow him to return home two months earlier than planned.  They are both excited and the rest of us are losing close friends and part of our support network.  We’re excited for them but will miss them tremendously.  Brent keeps our apartment infrastructure in good repair, fixes all of our unreliable appliances and takes me on stress-relieving walks in the evenings.  He also speaks very good French and we will be lost in meetings without him.  Mom and Celeste have also become good friends.  Celeste grew up in Brigham City and her father still lives there.  Mom has been working on a knitting project that she had planned on sending home with Celeste, but now it has an earlier deadline.  Every evening she is busy with the needles.

This week we spent most of the time with the Mikesells.  They do not have a car and no translator.  We let them use both; we became their drivers and Flavien became their translator for the week.  We visited local hospitals to determine what services they provide and what equipment they have.  We were introduced to Dr. Saban, who is the supervisor of all hospitals in Lubumbashi.  He introduced us to the vice mayor and his staff at the city office buildings.  He accompanied us to visit several hospitals and clinics.  It was a discouraging time for Flavien.  His complaint was that these nicer hospitals, CMC and Foundation, are not available to the locals because their costs are so high.  Obviously they were the hospitals with equipment and more complete service offerings.  

We noticed at some of the poorer hospitals, they had received second-hand equipment from well-intended donors but no one knew how to operate or repair the equipment.  It just sat there in the operating room with a blue covering gathering dust.  One operating room had lost the light over the operating table and had only natural light to perform surgeries.  I’ll try to send some pictures.  

Flavien has served notice, he is going on no more visits with the Mikesells and he wants to return to humanitarian services which he feels are much more worthy of his time.  We’ll take care of that this next week.  John and Marcia Dow from San Diego are coming.  They have spent the past week in Kinshasa and Brazzaville.   They travel the world visiting 3rd world countries as the church specialists in wheelchairs.  We will host them from Monday through Friday.  Monday and Friday are travel days and we will probably accomplish precious little, but we have the other three days packed with appointments.  The Ministry of Social Affairs has appointed Tabu, a person who is handicapped and requires crutches, to arrange for all our visits to handicapped centers.  He will also be responsible for all reporting of wheelchair placements.  We look forward to the week and hope to be successful in receiving approval for a wheelchair project here in Lubumbashi.  Prospects look promising.  Wish us luck.

The weather here has become warmer.  It’s just opposite of what you would anticipate because we are in the southern hemisphere.  We have been told that the warmest months of the year are September and October.  It ranges between 70-95 degrees in Lubumbashi and has been much more uncomfortable.  The heat isn’t extremely humid and so it is bearable, just uncomfortable from what we have previously experienced.  The composition of the mission has changed dramatically this past few months with the departure of President and Sister McMullin, then the Clawsons, now the Atkinsons and we just heard that Sister Riendeau is going home in less than two months.  Her sister has bone cancer.  I suspect she is also disappointed that President Thomas cancelled her French language lessons to the Sister Missionaries.  We’ve had the arrival of the Drapers and the Mikesells and we’re feeling extremely unprepared to be the senior tenured couple.  Elder Ngandu was sent to Ngandijika to finish his mission and Elder Lono has replaced him as an AP to President Thomas.  These are wonderful young missionaries with testimonies and scripture knowledge to match the best of them.   

Mom and I have recommitted to studying French because many of our crutches are leaving or have already left.  Sister Clawson sold us her Fluenz language program and we are trying to study daily (week daily) we are understanding more and yet still feel like first graders.  We have had better connectivity this past few weeks and look forward to our facetime visits.  We appreciate you trying to stay in touch as it lifts our spirits and gives us the encouragement to persevere.  Mom and I are doing well together but we needs some alone time occasionally.  The work can be frustrating but we do see changes in the lives of people, including ourselves.  For those of you familiar with Zions Camp, we feel this is often a similar experience.  The Lord is proving us to see if we will be faithful and we hope to measure up.   We’re surrounded by wonderful examples in the lives of other senior couples as well as local members and missionaries.  We’ve been reading in Heleman, chapters 13-15 on Samuel the Lamanite.  One good lesson we’re learning is not to covet our own property.  President Thomas discovered in the Swahili language there is no word for ownership.  The word translates into stewardship rather than to own.  Rennie Bott, my long-time friend and business partner shared a Boy Scout slogan with me written on a coin, “Leave a Legacy”.  We hope through our missionary service we are leaving a legacy of faith and stewardship for our children and grandchildren.  We love you,

Dad (Elder Davis)

September 21, 2014 - Shelley

September 21, 2014

It’s Sunday afternoon here.  Our weather has become hotter – in the mid-90’s, but our home is still pretty comfortable, even without the air conditioning that has spoiled us for so many years!!!!  Just a little fan!

Flavien Kot is our wonderful translator.  We attended his ward today.

It’s a humble, but clean, little building that is located in a poor area and is on a very bumpy dirt road.  The number of children to adult ratio has to be about 5:1 at least!!!  And they were unbelievably quiet and reverent!

This is Flavien with his wife Crystal, his mother Rosalie, and their three children – Octavia, Dan, and Brent.  Rosalie is the Stake RS President.  Some gal in the background must be trying to “photo bomb” the picture!  Haha  

It was a week for “farewells” as we sent the Clawsons home.  Sister C. has been the medical advisor and her husband was in charge of missionary apartments.

Here they are with the rest of the senior missionaries and our two office staff.  They were multi-talented people and will really be missed.  Consequently, the office has been pretty quiet this week as we have all been trying to see who will fill in the gaps.

One gap is being a driver!  Clark and I are the only couple who currently have drivers’ licenses other than the two office sisters.  They are both under 5 feet tall and prefer not to drive the mission trucks that have standard transmission unless that absolutely have to!  SO – we have had the dubious honor of picking up people from the airport and running errands in the truck!  Well, we had the unfortunate luck of getting pulled over TWICE this week by the police!  Lest we sound like the Congo’s Bonnie and Clyde, I have to say that the police are very under-paid and pull cars over to look for any possible tiny thing wrong with your car.  They wanted to impound the car both times, but we managed to survive without even paying a franc!!!!  It’s a long story.  Angels were watching over us for sure!

We attended a meeting with the American Consulate’s office from Kinshasa.  It was for Americans living here to tell them about their services for us.  It was mainly interesting to see the other people there because we haven’t met many.  Most of those who attended were associated with churches.  Afterward there was a little reception, and in the background there was a band playing soft, American music.  It took me by surprise to hear “The Tennesse Waltz” after I saw who was playing it!

The back porch of the mission office has been housing a large pile of boxes containing French BOM.  We’ve been doing some cleaning and rearranging of the supplies and found that the termites were loving those books just a little too much.  As President Thomas put it, “They are feasting on the good word of God.”  

I’ve mentioned several “champions” that we’ve met since coming here.  They are people with vision and know-how to improve the lives of those around them.  Well, we met another one this week.  Her name is Maggie and she started a school for children with handicaps in 1980.

She started with 8 children and now has 500 students on a 30-acre campus.  It’s a very diverse school – some with disabilities and some without.  Some live at the school and some commute.  Some are in a regular classroom setting with normal school subjects, and some are there to learn a trade.  It’s a very big operation!  And this Maggie is wonderful!  You can tell by the picture that the children all love her!  I especially like the look on the face of the boy who is sitting on the step.

One interesting thing that has happened to us is that we have basically had no church meetings while we have been here.  We go to church every week – but all meetings are either in Swahili or French – so we never really know what is being said.  Actually, it’s pretty hard to stay awake.  I need to learn Emily’s trick from Girls State for sleeping with her eyes open!!!  Just kidding, Em!!!  

We aren’t the only ones struggling with this.  So last week the new couple, Dr. and Sister Mikesell, suggested we meet each Monday night in a Family Home Evening setting to study the Sunday School lesson for the following week.  That way, we will at least have an idea of what they are talking about.  The lesson was on “standing in holy places”, which was especially great for me since that was a recent Mutual theme.  Just having that spiritual boost made a big difference to my week.   I feel a greater sense of responsibility to keep my thoughts on a higher plain  - including developing more patience for our work here, which seems to proceed at a snail’s pace!  I have a heightened appreciation for my church membership and for those who are such good examples to me.  And my thoughts and prayers have been even more closely tied to our children who trying tirelessly to raise their children in homes that are holy places and a refuge from the world.

Happy Birthday this week to Gray and Annabelle!!!  Much love,  Mom/Souer Davis

September 21, 2014 - Clark

Sunday, September 21, 2014

The week was different due to President Thomas traveling and Elder Atkinson and Emmanuel went to Kolwezi leaving me and Justin as the only two active drivers at the mission home.  Monday before Elder Atkinson left for Kolwezi on Wednesday, we tried to fix the well at the mission home.  It is a challenge because you have three separate decision making bodies involved in any decision: the mission, the FM group and the landlord.  Elder Atkinson assessed the problem after we pulled the pump but due to the landlord’s intervention, we couldn’t proceed with the repair until a full week later.  It seems to be a theme here and if you remember the scripture relating to being humble either by choice or by force, well the same is true for patience.  

We were sorry to see the Claswons return to the US on Tuesday.  They have both contributed significantly to the success of the mission and have covered a multitude of responsibilities.  I did have some excitement following their departure.  We have been driving for almost 3 months and I had yet to be stopped by the police without Flavien with us to talk his way out of things.  Well on Thursday and Friday we were stopped.  On Thursday, we were driving to the Lubumbashi Stake Center and were stopped about six blocks away.  We called Flavien and Justin for help.  The police were asking for the rose card or the vehicle registration.  The truck we were driving didn’t have a current registration card in the documents.  The police wanted to take us to the station which is the kiss of death, but Flavien came to the rescue again.  While we waited, he drove his car and picked up a military friend of his.  When the military guy appeared on the scene, he laced down the local metro cops and told them to let us go which they did.  It took us 45-60 minutes but we didn’t give them any cash.  

Cash isn’t the issue, but once they know they can extort money from you, you become a regular target.  I guess the military is well equipped and well trained and well respected and the local metro cops are not thought highly of.  The military can pull rank on them and that is something Flavien knew and arranged for our release.  On Friday, we picked President and Sister Thomas up from the airport.  When Tom is there it seems to work like clockwork.  We were pleased everything at the airport went so smoothly.  We must have been a little too smug because while driving back to the mission home, you guessed it, we were stopped again by the metro cops.  This time all the paperwork was in order although they always try to trump up some charge against you.  They told us our paperwork was out of date, but it wasn’t.  President Thomas speaks very good French and he argued with them for 30-45 minutes before we asked Justin to come and visit with them.  The President finally remembered a phrase Sister Riendeau had taught him.  He said “stare into my eyes, I’m telling you the truth when I say this couple has come at their own expense to your country and are humanitarian missionaries bringing your people clean drinking water.  They don’t deserve this harassment and he let us go again without paying any cash.  I just worry what will happen when we are without this type of help and we don’t speak the language.

Obviously my confidence has been shaken but I’m still driving.  It goes against everything you’ve been taught not to respect police authority.  I hate trying to evade them or disobeying them when they tell you to pull over or stop or come to the station with us.  I need to some hardening if I’m going to survive.  Elder Clawson was excellent but Elder Atkinson has been an easier target and I’m afraid I’m next.  When driving you try to look 200-300 yards ahead, you try to tailgate the car or van in front of you so they can’t step in between and you try to adjust your speed or timing so you aren’t easy prey when you stop at red lights.  The locals seldom obey red lights but that isn’t an option if you’re white.  Sorry to dwell so much on driving and police stops, enough already.

Another focus of this week has been preparing for Elder John Dow who is the worldwide expert on wheelchairs for the church.  He is coming next week to assist us in writing a project development worksheet for a wheelchair project here in Lubumbashi.  He is staying Monday thru Friday and we are arranging his schedule to accomplish a litany of preparation requests.  We are working with the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Social Affairs in coordinating the project.  We are trying to balance everyone’s egos and budgets and setting up appointments for his visit.  We look forward to it but it has taken a lot of our time just in lining up appointments. Wish us luck.

I mentioned last week that Elder and Sister Mikesell came last Saturday to serve as the new mission medical advisor.  We are their host couple and have spent considerable time together showing them around and trying to assist them in their transition.  We remember what a change it was for us and we’re trying to make life a little more bearable for them.  We had family home evening on Monday, we made arrangements for them the visit the Ministry of Health to arrange for visits to the local hospitals and clinics and we’ve driven them to all their meetings and took them to dinner last night.  This is their 3rd mission and they are so faithful.  He is 76 and just had double knee replacement surgery last February.  

The Area Presidency called a special adult meeting for two of the three stakes here.  Elder Hamilton of the Area Presidency flew from Johannesburg Friday to conduct the meetings yesterday.  They were each two hours in length and the primary focus of the meeting was to talk about the dote or labola.  Elder Oaks talks about this in his message called the Culture of the Gospel in the March 2012 Ensign.  It is an African custom to require a bride price (dote or lobola) be paid by the groom before they can marry.  This often is extremely difficult because of the exorbitant amount and the fact that employment is scarce here.  It causes many to delay marriage and can cause pre-marital problems due to the delays.  It was a frank and open discussion (all in French) and we’re not sure how much we understood but several members participated in the dialog.  Elder Hamilton is another French RM who speaks extremely good French.  I believe he is the only member of the presidency who has any French language skills.  

September is our busiest family birthday month with nine.  We have tried to make contact with each of you but apologize if we have not.  The same old excuse is the unreliability of the internet.  We have also had Joshua’s farewell and entering the MTC in Mexico City, and Emily and Scott’s anniversary.  We’re sorry to miss all the family events.  We also wished we could have been there to support Lindsay and Mike in their move.  I’m sure the family gathering was bitter sweet.  We believe it will be better having someone living in the home rather than leaving it vacant.  We’re grateful to have Kevin and Megan Diehl and their two daughters living in the home.  

We had an interesting experience mid-week.  We were invited by the US Embassy to a meeting for American Citizens at the local Park Hotel.  They had a live band, drinks, snacks, etc. and held a meeting for the 25 or so who showed up.  It was good to see other white faces and we discovered most of those who came were from other church organizations.   We met missionaries from the Baptists, Methodists, Assemblies of God and others.  They told us about the services available to US citizens, mostly dealing with passports and visas.  They have no office in Lubumbashi and you would need to fly to Kinshasa to receive most of their services, but it was informative.  I thought it would be about Ebola, but not even a mention.  It did provide a little excitement driving downtown at night.  The bottom line was “don’t lose your passport, because if you do, you’ll have to fly to Kinshasa to have it replaced and it takes 3 weeks.  By the way you couldn’t fly to Kinshasa if you lost your passport.  

Our project excitement has calmed down somewhat because we can’t recommend anymore projects until we have completed and closed the ones already approved.  It sounds like a good idea in theory but it really slows down the process as you have a difficult time keeping the pipeline full if you have to empty it first.  We spent time signing contracts, providing documentation to Johannesburg and we’re still waiting for our promised car.  Patience, patience.

I’ve tried to reflect on the spiritual highlights of a week that saw us doing many temporal mundane things.  FHE, dinner with mom twice, being released twice by the police, visiting a school for the handicapped, and spending time with other senior couples who have committed to come to Africa or wherever the Lord would call them. We also had a surprise facetime call from Barr and Nancy Cannon on Monday.  We missed being in attendance at Gayle Ivey’s viewing and funeral but have a testimony of the plan of happiness.  Their family has been such a fine example to us in the 18th Ward.   Many of our family and friends are participating in the Ogden Temple dedication today and we’re sorry to miss it.  

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)

September 14, 2014 - Shelley

September 14, 2014

It’s been a good week!  I heard that last week’s letter didn’t come through for some.  So sorry!  I don’t know what the problem was.  Is?  Me? haha

We have another new senior couple.  It is Vaughn and Renee Mikesell from St. George.  He’s a retired dentist and will be replacing Sister Clawson as the mission’s medical person.

It’s their 3rd mission.  They’ve only been home from Chile since November!  Such faithful people!  Renee’s sister is Kathy Andreason, a familiar Brigham City friend to many.

We heard that Peach Days was wonderful and that school has started successfully.  School began last Monday here.  It’s been so much fun to see the kids – all dressed in a universal uniform of white shirt and navy blue skirt/pants.  They look so darling!!!  One thing Africa has is an ABUNDANCE of children!!!  And they are beautiful!  It’s always amazing to me that people can walk out of a one-room brick house that has a dirt floor looking clean, pressed and polished.

This is the kind of iron that local people use.  Since electricity is never reliable and many homes aren’t wired for it anyway, this is the way people press their clothing.  Locals cook outside on a little hibachi-looking stove that uses “charbone”.  Charbone (sp?) is similar to charcoal briquettes except that it is made from wood that has already been burned.  The cavity of the iron is filled with hot coals from the charbone to make the iron hot.  And it works great!  I have learned that I have been way too pampered in my life!  I think of this kind of thing as being like the pioneers, but it still works!  I think my Grandma Gibbs used to heat an iron on her wood-burning stove.  I’m hoping to never have to try either of these things out for real!

One project I’m working on is to come up with a product or two that the sisters in the wards can make as they learn to sew.  I think I’ve already mentioned the maturation kits.  Another is a fabric doll.

This adorable little girl was the inspiration for a doll I have been sewing.  Luckily, the mission owns one electric sewing machine, so I’ve been having a great time making a doll to use as a sample.  

She has a baby on her back, as many women do.  The local gals will be able to take the pattern and put their own spin on things.

People always told me how wonderful it is to have clean sheets that have dried on the line in the breeze.  But honestly, I’ve never done it until now.  It is kind of a satisfying feeling to see them fluffing around in the wind – and they do smell and feel good.  I guess I’m just getting used to some of the simpler pleasures of life!

Well, our world of communication is unexplainable.  We have times when we can’t send emails or text messages or download anything – and then we have some miraculous times.  We’ve actually had several Face Time conversations this week that have lasted more than two minutes.  One of those was when we were downtown.  We had taken the Drapers to the grocery store.  Just as we were getting out of the car, the phone rang and it was our son Spencer.  He was calling on Face Time from his hotel room in Scotland!!!  And it was so clear!  We sat in the car and had a wonderful, lengthy chat while we waited for the Drapers.  It was just another example of tender mercies that are all around us.

I will end my letter with a picture of my handsome companion!  He is getting so tan – he looks like he’s played golf everyday all summer.  (He doesn’t quite look “local” yet, though!)  We love you and pray for you.  Our thoughts are with our two birthday people this week – Avery and Matt.  And, of course, with Mike and Lindsay as they travel with their cute family to their new home in Temple, Texas.  Yee-haw!  Much love,  Mom/Sister Davis

September 14, 2014 - Clark

Sunday, September 14, 2014

I remember Roger Low’s WWWWWWWW (work will work when wishy washy wishing won’t)  I have somehow become addicted to work and it isn’t always good.  I remember my father did not know how to relax and always had to be on task.  Well I’ve become my father.  Without Davis and Bott, without being the stake executive secretary, without a yard to work in, without cars and kids to care for, I’ve resorted to different forms of work.  I do the laundry, I do the dishes, I bake bread and rolls, I wash the floors and occasionally I repair water wells.  All in the name of work and it all seems to be fulfilling and make the time spent more meaningful.  The time passes much faster and somehow seems more rewarding than simply idling away.  I’ve been busy this week doing most of the tasks mentioned and enjoying it.

We welcomed another new missionary couple this week, Vaughn and Renee Mikesell from St George.  He will be the new medical advisor and this is their third mission.  They said when you’re a missionary you have a lot of uncommonly rewarding experiences and after you return, it’s not long until you long for similar experiences to return to your daily routine.  They have served in the mid-west US, in Chile and now here.  He is a retired dentist who lived in Sandy and relocated to St. George just a few years ago after retiring.  They are replacing the Clawsons who are leaving on Tuesday.  We had a farewell dinner for them on Friday night at the local favorite restaurant, Latte’licious.  We understand it is owned by the Governor.  Public office does have its perks; he owns several other local attractions, hotels, gas stations, multiple properties, etc.

With all the coming and going, we have been required to change offices this week.  We feel like we’re a man without a country.  Some mention that we’re not really part of the mission.  Our call was to Lubumbashi Mission but we report to Johannesburg, our budget is supported from humanitarian and we feel like the ugly stepchild at times.  This is one of those times.  We did however make some progress on our humanitarian projects this week:

1. The Katuba Bridge contract was signed and we are finally ready to proceed.  The problem is they will only approve 25% of the contract cost for mobilization and beyond that the construction needs to be completed before payment can be made to the contractor.  The problem is we have a 100% cash economy and the jobs are often 75% materials or higher.  This means the contractor has to have their own working capital to order materials and most do not.  This makes a 30 day project now a 120 day project.  More bureaucracy to adjust to.
2. Mapendano School Latrines was approved by Salt Lake City and we are ready to start 4 months after originally submitting the proposal.  Things seem to move so slowly and patience is not one of my many virtues.
3. Fire response in rebuilding the marketplace at the government owned site encountered some snags.  Elder Atkinson has supervised that job and they have struggled building on top of an old landfill or garbage dump.   No cooperation from the city on preparing the building site and they had some demands when we visited on Friday.  The head representative asked why they had not been given the money to repair their own site and now they want to send 2 representatives with our people anytime materials are purchased.  I told them no, we will buy all materials and provide them to our construction department and turn over to them the finished product.  Everyone wants to be involved so they can rake off some of the money for personal benefit.  Unbelievable, never a mention of thanks for what we are doing, just how can I personally benefit from this project.

We did spend the first of the week with Francis, the assistant DTA (director of temporal affairs).  We visited several of our on-going projects and he seemed pleased.  The project beneficiaries were pleased that we would bring him and they especially liked the fact that he was African rather than white.  He’s from Ghana and has worked for the church for over 10 years.  Working for the church is a peach of a job for most local members who struggle to find meaningful work.  Many work on their own in some entrepreneurial ventures but few have benefits and steady work.  Our translator Flavien has been approached by Desire to apply for church employment.  He interviewed a week ago and hasn’t received any offer yet.  We have grown extremely dependent upon his local knowledge and would miss him terribly but want what is best long-term for his family.  

The adjustment to full-time companionship has taken time and effort.  You need to remember I came directly from tax season where we saw one another a few hours a day at the most.  Now you’re talking 24/7 and getting reacquainted all over again.  Anyone who knows the transition that takes place following tax season can relate to the adjustment that requires without a change in culture and language.  Don’t get me wrong, there is no one I’d prefer to spend time with over Shelley but it hasn’t happened to this degree since we were dating.  We’re finding our way regarding strengths and weaknesses and who does what.  She is much better at documentation, organization skills, reporting and calendaring, however, I’ve been delegated all financial issues and proposal preparation.  I also have to take the lead in all meetings.  It’s surprising how our prior experiences have prepared us for our different roles.  We’re doing much better now and I believe I’m past tax season.  Everyday seems to have the same routine and the same weather, so I don’t know if I’ll recognize the return of tax season because I associate it with cold weather and winter conditions.

We have enjoyed teaching English to the missionaries.  Mom is the leader here and I try not to get in the way.  We started small with 6-8 elders depending on who was sick or out of town but with the latest revision of adding the sisters to the elders in our zone, we are now at 20 (12 elders and 8 sisters).  They used to come late or whenever they wanted, but mom started quietly rewarding those who were on time with a candy and for the last two classes we have almost perfect on-time attendance.  The sisters seem disinterested or maybe they are just more interested in the elders than English.  This does allow us to get to know their names and develop a personal relationship with the missionaries.  Their English is progressing faster than our French.  We are probably way too dependent upon our translator but it feels regardless of our language ability there is so much in cultural understanding we gain from our translator.  

We are supposed to have Saturday as our diversion day but we usually fill it up with work-related assignments.  The weekends are the most challenging because we are used to being busy from morning till night every weekday and so having too much time is a challenge.  We did some shopping for the Mikesells yesterday and went into the office so we could use our old printer while the Drapers were taking a P-day.  We are now the designated drivers and took the Drapers shopping.  Sundays are different because we don’t understand the language although French is much more recognizable now; it’s when they switch to Swahili that I’m totally lost.  We are having the Mikesells over for dinner tonight, so I have to dedicate some time to my now “famous cinnamon rolls” so we can send both they and the Atkinsons home with breakfast.  Have a good week, life is good for us here in Lubumbashi.

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)

September 7, 2014 - Shelley

September 7, 2014

For my family at home, this is the busiest birthday month of the year!  This past week the Congo drums were beating for Ashley, Joseph, Chloe, Mercedes, and Jacob – and for Maggie tomorrow!  We hope your days were as special as you all are!

This is an interesting experience.  Just when I think I’m getting accustomed to everything, something jogs the memory of my “former life”.  This week it was helping our new senior couple, the Drapers, find their way around.  Seeing Lubumbashi for the first time through their eyes caused me to remember how different it is than “home”.  Not bad, just different.  I have gained such a belated appreciation for newcomers to America.  Customs and food we take for granted must be such an adjustment for them!  Much more than I ever realized.

We had an unexpectedly touching visit to a “hospital”.  I call it a hospital, but that is a very loose interpretation of the word.  I always thought our son Nate was born in quite primitive conditions in a “rustic” hospital in Kahuku, Hawaii – but that looked like the Mayo Clinic compare to this!  When we arrived, the medical staff was conducting an immunization clinic for newborn babies.  Also, there were a half dozen or so pregnant ladies sitting on the porch waiting to be seen for their monthly appointment.  This hospital had contacted us with a “wish list” a mile long and we had gone there to make an evaluation.

This shows the immunization room on the left and the 3-room hospital on the right.

This is the delivery room.  It’s in a closet off of the 4-bed maternity room.

These are the nurses of the hospital.  I was very touched at the nurse on the right because she was wearing a Cub Scout leader shirt from the US that she had bought from a clothes bundle because she thought it was so cute.  These are all lovely people – trying to help others with very meager resources themselves.

We are getting approached more and more often by groups with requests such as this.  In order to qualify for humanitarian help, though, the group must show how they are helping themselves before we can do anything.  This group of hospital workers is asking each person from their neighborhood to donate one brick (22,000 + residents) to help build a new hospital room.  We hope to be able to help with new beds, but it’s a very slow process!!!!

These are the mothers and babies waiting for shots inside the small building.  I thought that the hanging scale was interesting.

I couldn’t help but shed a few when I saw the maternity room with four beds next to the delivery closet.  There were two patients – one mother with a new baby and one mother whose baby hadn’t made it.  Both were lying on beds with dirty sheets and mosquito nets. Having delivered children myself, I thought of how clean and sanitary everything has been for me.  It made me recognize my blessings even more.  Did I mention that this facility has neither power nor running water?

It has been a crazy week around the mission home because it is “transfer week”.  Just like other missions, the missionaries switch locations every six weeks.  The DRC is so spread out that this becomes expensive and difficult at times – especially when the airlines don’t cooperate.  There are no roads to connect the northern part of the mission to Lubumbashi so travel has to be done by air.  It’s too long to explain, but a dozen missionaries have been stuck in Mbuji-Mayi for two weeks because the airline discontinued that flight until last night at 11:00!  It’s hard enough to stay awake in church because we don’t understand the language, but after getting home at 1:30 from picking up elders at the airport, today was a killer!  Haha

Our first real project got underway this week.  Bukanda School is in a village about 15 miles from town.  The students have been sitting on bricks because they haven’t had desks, so providing desks is our project.  Before that could happen, the community needed to contribute something.  So we bought the paint, and the parents painted the six classrooms.

This is the parent committee – kind of like the PTA.  They did a great job of painting.  The principal is in the green sweater.

We just went out to see how they were doing – not to paint.

We invited the office sisters to go with us just to get them out of the office for a break.  Sister Riendeau and Sister Anthony are friends from Richland, WA.  I’m the TALL one!!!  (I just want my children to see that I can be tall in some crowds!)

You have to look very carefully to see this, but hanging to the right of the tree trunk is a 3-foot metal bar.  It’s the school bell!

Well, I’d be lying if I didn’t say we’ve been suffering a bit with homesickness this week.  Knowing that it was Peach Days, birthdays, and football season have turned our thoughts to home and family and friends.  Thank heavens for your letters and emails!  Thank heavens for Bishop Taylor and his play-by-play of the Box Elder Bees football games!!!!  Most of all I am thankful for my wonderful companion.  He knew what I was like when we started this journey – and he let me come anyway!  

Since I was unable to bear my testimony today in Swahili, I want to bear it now.  I have a testimony of the Restored Gospel and a living prophet.  I know that the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ, is for all of us.  Never before in my life have I “heard” the whisperings of the Holy Ghost as loudly as I have here.  Heavenly Father has guided our path and given us help in some of the most unexpected ways – almost always through other people.  It has really helped me realize that people may be waiting for me to answer their prayers, also – and I’d better be doing what I should to be worthy of that inspiration.

Reach out to someone who may need your hug this week.  We love you!

Much love,  Mom/Soeur Davis