December 21, 2014 - Clark

Sunday, December 21, 2014

I’ll attempt to remember the entire week, but yesterday was a week in and of itself.  We had so many varied experiences and we’re already starting to worry about what we’ll do for entertainment value when we return home.   We started the day by spending the morning in preparation for our orphanage projects.  We plan on attending two orphanages this week; Katimel on Monday (23 girls) where we will paint rooms, order in pizza and present sorted clothing from bundles purchased, Tumaini on Wednesday (52 boys and girls).  First we put names on all of the bags we purchased and attempted to equalize clothing in each bag.  We spent part of the morning at Flavien’s home because he had also purchased a bundle from France.  We sorted with his wife, three children and Rose.  Rose is a 22-year old orphan from Tumaini that we met several months ago.  Flavien befriended her and hired her in his office.

Rose told us her story amid tears.  She is from the northern part of Congo.  Her mother died while giving birth to her brother.  Rose was seven at the time and her brother died a year later.  At the age of 9 her father moved with his 4 daughters to Lubumbashi to escape the armed conflicts up north.  He died shortly after their move and the four of them ended up in Tumaini.  Her older sister married as soon as she was able in order to leave the orphanage and her two younger sisters were placed in foster homes.   Rose chose to stay at the orphanage because they saw in her potential and her best hope of finishing school was to stay at the orphanage.  She completed her 3-year degree at the university in accounting just a couple of months ago and yet jobs are scarce and she is temporarily working at Flavien’s print shop as a receptionist while looking for a better job.

After returning to the mission home once again to equalize all the bags and account for all of the children’s names, we were returning home to our apartment when I had my first accident.  I emphasize first because by the looks of the cars and the nature of the traffic, it could easily be a regular report.  We were crossing the Zambia road or the road that leads to Kipushi.  We will often follow other cars who are trying to cut into the endless line of traffic.  The car in front of us started to pull out in the intersection and I followed, glancing back to the right to make sure I was safe on that side when unexpectedly the lead car stopped and I rammed into his bumper.  At this point, the senior missionary advice from Johannesburg is to flee the accident and report it to the mission home for notification of the police.  I felt impressed not to flee and to follow the lead car across the intersection and turn right to pull over on a side street.  The driver of the lead car was a Methodist Bishop and a national senator.  A member of the Kisanga Stake Presidency witnessed the accident and came running to my aid.  We politely exchanged numbers and he said he would call on Monday.  I’m so happy I didn’t flee and worry about the negative impressions I could have left on several people.  The reason the advice is to flee is because often crowds gather and beat the driver at fault if anyone is injured and sometimes destroy the car.  I didn’t feel like this was that type of situation and I just listened to the Spirit, I’m glad I did.

In the afternoon, we had the missionary choir Christmas program at the Kisanga Stake Center.  Matilda is the choir director for the stake choir.  There was a major cloud burst during the first 30 minutes of the program and the rain was so loud, you couldn’t hear the microphone or the public address system.  Following the program we had been invited to a marriage celebration for Solange, the public relations director for the Kisanga Stake.   She was a convert baptism of Elder Tshimpe, our current AP.  She has helped us with several activities and hosted several events we have attended.  The traffic was locked as Steve would say and we were supposed to be at the Katuba Stake Center at 5:00 for the wedding reception.  We didn’t arrive until 6:45, but then proceeded to listen to extremely loud music for 45 minutes before the couple arrived.  We were the only white people there and felt privileged to be invited.  People are so attentive to us and always make us feel like the guests of honor.  Following the reception, we took Matilda home and arrived home at 9:00 for another late-night dinner.  Just another day at the office.

We have spent most of the week with our orphanage preparations.  We had to buy additional clothing bundles and bags.  All clothing bundles are not alike.  We had two sorting days with the senior missionaries.  Clothing from France and Germany is preferred over other import locations.  Women’s clothing is almost always superior to men’s and costs more.  Originally we didn’t know if the orphans would just have clothing in common but we were reassured they had separate ownership and responsibility of their own clothing.  We felt it was important to give them separate bags rather than simply dumping a few 100-pound bundles on their doorstep.  We are attempting to get the stakes and local wards to adopt orphanages in the boundaries but it hasn’t happened yet.  Flavien thinks this could be the beginning of a tradition that can be carried on after we leave; we sure hope so.  Mom and I decided our contribution would be our gift to one another.  Wish us luck and I’ll report back on our two days at the orphanages next week.

Regarding projects, we spent much of the effort this week with Regideso, the government supplier of clean drinking water.  I explained previously that we are attempting with their help to identify neighborhoods where the water lines could be extended from the main trunk line at a lower cost than drilling new wells.  They had identified 5 neighborhoods.  4 of the 5 neighborhoods are located in Commune Annexe.  There are 7 communes in the city and Commune Annexe is larger than all other 6 combined.  The 6 are the center city and Commune Annexe is the area surrounding the city with larger land mass and less population density.  

We had met the Burgermeister of Commune Annexe at our bridge celebration where he cut the ribbon.  His vice-burgermeister had attended the promotional dinner for 10   last Saturday evening at the Grand Karavia.  I spoke with him there and told him of our water project.  He made an appointment for us with the Burgermeister and we became quick friends.  The Burgermeister showed us some property (his own) where a new water point was really needed.  The problem was it was 25 km from the end of the main line.  I noticed a marketplace located only 1.3 km from the main line.  He gave us a marketplace tour and I suggested this location had a much better chance of becoming a Regideso priority.  He called immediately and secured a promise that they would conduct a study and report back to him next week.

Our relationship with Burgermeister extended into Friday.  Apparently here there are different types of marriages.  One is a traditional or tribal marriage, another is a government performed and recognized marriage and then a temple marriage.  Many or most do not have a government-performed marriage because of the cost, however, you can’t get baptized or married in the temple without it.  Justin Mukuna, Katuba Stake President negotiated a discounted price for marriages with the Commune Annexe Burgermeister.  He then arranged for 35-40 couples to take advantage of the discounted price.  Shelley talked about this previously; original price = $70 plus one plastic chair, discounted price = $35 and no plastic chair.  Friday afternoon was the appointed time.  We attended four and a half hours- worth of weddings, all performed by the Burgermeister.

At the beginning of the celebration, the photographer for the Commune adopted me - a new-found friend.  I quickly became the wedding photographer.  There were many but he took me to all the special spots and gave me lots of coaching.  He was pretty drunk, so I’m not sure it was a compliment because I felt like I was the team photographer all over again.  It certainly helped to pass the time much faster and 326 photos later I was finished.  I’ll give them all to Justin to distribute or share.  It was fun.  It was also a chance to actively take pictures of these couples dressed to the nines and see a little affection.  There is next to no display of public affection.  Men and women often don’t even sit together in church, so it was great to see them share a kiss and an embrace.

I’m sure this will be a Christmas to remember.  85-90 degrees, rain every day, no tree, no decorations, no Christmas projects, no presents to buy or receive, no traditional Christmas foods and activities, but Hakuna Matata (no worries).  Absent the stress, but not absent the Spirit.  We love and are happy to be serving the Lord in hastening His work here in the Congo.

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)