December 25, 2014 - Christmas

Thursday, December 25, 2014

Christmas morning in Lubumbashi and my thoughts are turned to the orphanage activities we have had this week.  I want to record them before my memory fades.

Monday, December 22, 2014-Katimel is an all-girls orphanage that Flavien first introduced us to.  The origin of the orphanage started nine years ago when two Catholic nuns started a safe house for girls from the streets who were living in prostitution.  These are young girls; their current enrollment is 20  girls from ages 6-16.  These two nuns provided a place for the girls to sleep during the day and then they began feeding them.  They eventually introduced them to educational opportunities and a way out of  the lifestyle they were dependent upon.  The nuns would go out at night and try to round up girls on the streets of their neighborhood and for doing so, they were beaten by the men or the pimps.  Katimel is the name of one of the nuns who founded the orphanage who died in an auto accident about a year and a half ago.  The orphanage is located on the same street as Flavien’s ward building.

We have visited there several times in an effort to establish a friendship and a relationship with Fifi who is the current director.  Sister Riendeau taught art lessons here, Therese from Notre Dame School has made arrangements to teach sewing classes to the girls.  When all of the area initiative money was frozen for the year over 3 months ago, we felt it was important to develop a continuing relationship since we had no money to contribute to any of their needs.  We decided rather than simply giving gifts at Christmas, it be better to join with the girls in doing a service project.  We decided upon painting the girls rooms and we solicited the help of all senior missionaries for the project.

I need to tell you that preparing for this type of project isn’t like going to home depot.  You have to locate the stores where supplies are available.  The girls had requested 4 different colors and we made an executive decision to select only one (sky blue).  Brushes, rollers, paint, tape, rolling pans, ladders, extensions, etc. all had to be figured out in a foreign language without a perfect match in any category.  Nonetheless, we did the shopping and thought we had purchased latex paint only to realize while applying it that it was enamel and we had no thinner or cleaning materials for cleanup.  

The population at the orphanage fluctuates from day to day.  We had prepared for 13 only to find out a few days before that they were back up to 20 girls.  Shelley had to prepare the bags of clothing from clothing bundles we had purchased and had to redistribute the clothing.  Who knew about clothing bundles? They come from different countries and with varying sizes and quality.  We learned some lessons and can now give you pointers on where to buy, how to negotiate a proper bundle selection.  We thought we were prepared only to find out that when handing out the bags, we were one short.  Luckily Shelley had brought the surplus clothing in a separate bag so that everyone received something.  Sister Thomas added to the bags with items from the mission home: nail clippers, tooth brushes, floss, small wallet, stickers and a card.

We arrived at 9:00 and divided the senior missionaries into groups of four to supervise the painting in the rooms occupied by the girls. They girls had a vested interest in the quality of the work because they were painting their own rooms.  We spent a few hours together in a one on one situation.  Although Shelley and I don’t have many French language skills, we thoroughly enjoyed painting with Schola (14), Chouncel (12), and Benedict (12).  You never would have been able to guess the ages of these girls.  They were a lot of fun to work with and they adopted us as well.  Needless to say sky blue paint is much more dramatic on black skin than white and they seemed to get that enamel paint everywhere.  

After the painting, they entertained us with singing and dancing numbers.  They have no musical instruments, but with a few crude instruments like a bongo drum and a hollow tree limb, they made great music.  Their dancing is really modest and conservative but do they every have rhythm.  It is amazing how they can sing and dance and entertain.  I took some videos and several still shots as well.

We had ordered 15 pizzas from Pizza Inn in downtown Lubumbashi.  I made arrangements with the manager to call in the order and we had the AP’s pick up the pizzas.  We had to pay them off with their pizza selection.  They met us at the Katuba Stake Center to deliver the pizzas.  The timing was fabulous by Congo standards and we returned to the orphanage for a meal together with the girls.

None of the 21 girls in attendance had ever eaten pizza before.  They began with reluctance and started by politely picking off the toppings from the top of the pizza before Elder Draper showed them how to eat pizza.  After that the main word was encore (more).  We brought orange soda of course for the perfect meal.  They were so polite and well behaved.  We delivered our bags of clothing and goodies after lunch and shook hands with every girl before returning to the mission home.  

Something haunted me.  There was a girl by the name of Nicole who had not been on the list and increased the number from 20 to 21.  I knew I had seen that name somewhere before.  When we returned home that evening, I searched the prior pictures of Katimel and discovered that Nicole was the girl who painted a painting that Shelley purchased from the orphanage.  They do painting as part of their therapy to escape the street life they have lived in the past.  Nicole had changed her hair and were sorry we didn’t recognize her for her painting.  I’m sure Fifi had invited her to attend because of our connection and we failed to recognize her.  

Wednesday, December 24, 2014-Tumaini orphanage-Ruashi.   We had organized through Flavien a visit to Tumaini orphanage.  They have 26 boys and 26 girls who live here.  This is where Rose lives.  Rose was introduced to us by Esther, the director of the orphanage.  Rose is the orphanage star because she just graduated from the university with a 3-year degree in accounting.  Flavien’s family has befriended her with temporary employment and a home to visit and see LDS family life.  They have been having some civil unrest in Ruashi because they have not had electrical power for almost 3 months.  They apparently need a new transformer and there were people in the streets demonstrating. As we approached the turnoff for Tumaini, we saw at least 20-25 police if full riot gear with clubs, guns, shields, etc.  When we turned off the main road that was cluttered with rocks, we soon realized why as a crowd of 60-70 began throwing large rocks at our vehicles.  

The police told us to turn around.  We told them we were bringing relief to the orphanage and so they charged down the street making the crowd retreat.  It was really a hostile environment.  We had 4 vehicles and as we pulled into the orphanage compound, the police retreated and the unruly crowd repositioned themselves.  There is no security wall around the orphanage and as the protesters saw us unloading presents and chickens from our vehicles for the orphans, their hearts must have been softened because they ceased to harass us or throw stones at us.  When we left, Flavien went into the streets and told our story.  Neighbors escorted us out of town by way of the back streets rather than run any risks on the main road.

Flavien had  purchased all of the food for Tumaini: 10 live chickens, oil, rice, flour (all  traditional Congolese  food).  These things were brought for their meal on Christmas day.  The orphans had practiced their program.  We were welcomed by Rose who served as the MC.  They sang and danced for us but the most impressive event was their reenactment of the nativity.  All of the children from the orphanage participated in their roles.  They added Herod’s decree to kill all the male children under the age of two.  It was very creative and the portrayal of the angel was very touching.  The program was in Swahili and yet we understood this universal language of the Savior’s birth.  It will be one of those memories captured and remembered for a lifetime.  

We felt so good after the bags were distributed because both Steve, our translator, and Flavien commented that this needs to become an annual tradition of helping orphanages.  These two certainly caught the vision that can be shared with others.  

After our orphanage experiences, we’ve reflected upon the question, “have I done any good”?  We brought  presents, pizza and paint but will there be any lasting change in anyone’s life because we were there?  I suppose I have to turn to myself and say, yes, I was changed by being there and I hope the feelings last and can be refreshed with other acts of service.  For the orphans, I hope they felt of our love and concern for them in a way that will life their spirits and inspire them to press forward in faith.  I also pray that Steve and Flavien will continue in their humanitarian efforts long after we have returned home.  I have often felt these two priesthood brethren may be our most important humanitarian projects.