January 24, 2015 - Clark

Saturday, January 24, 2015

Reflecting back on this week, I’m reminded of Joshua Chamberlain’s statement that the days seem like weeks and the weeks seem like days.  We were especially happy to be reunited with Steve Mutumbo, our translator.  We brought him some English scriptures and the Teachings of Ezra Taft Benson to assist him in his English studies.  Sister Emma Anthony had computer problems where her old IBM Thinkpad could never get past the boot-up stage and so she ordered a new computer that was delivered by Sister Cook when she came three weeks ago.  I told her that Steve repairs computers and she should have him take a look at it.  She did one better by giving Steve her old computer.  She removed the hard drive and it was pretty much left for dead, but Steve took it home and had it operational by the next day.

That day was his birthday and he considered it his best gift ever.  He majored in computer science in his educational program and when he took it apart, he found the problem in a circuit board when two contacts were touching.  He simply separated the unintended contact and voila, a new computer (8 years old, but new to Steve).   Shelley and I offered to take Steve and Matilda out for ice cream , but he chose pizza instead.  We went to Pizza Inn at the new Hyper Psaro Mall on the road to the airport.  We had two large, ate one and sent the extra one home with Matilda.  

Probably the most notable thing happening in the country this week is the political unrest in Kinshasa.  Apparently, on Monday there were some demonstrations in Kinshasa and 45 protestors were killed.  We don’t understand the whole political situation but the current president, Joseph Kabila, has served two terms as allowed by the constitution and is scheduled to be replaced in the 2016 election.  He would like to continue in office and there is legislation proposed to either change the constitution or to require a complete national census be taken that would allow the current president to continue to serve.  It is estimated that it would take 3-4 years to take a complete census.  You can probably read more on BBC News or Reuters.  

The impact on us is that all internet service has been cutoff throughout the country.  We have had a window or two of opportunity during the past 5-6 days, but we’re very unsure if anything is getting through.  We already felt like we had the worst internet connectivity in the entire church, but this was definitely a step down from that.  Can you believe that 10 years ago or so all of us lived without internet and without smart phones?  We become so attached to those conveniences that they serve as our lifeline to the outside world.  No lifeline this past two weeks because of being in South Africa the week before and none this week.  To add insult to injury, we are leaving this Tuesday through Sunday to visit Kasai Oriental Province.  

Brother David Frischknecht, our Area Director of Temporal Affairs, was scheduled to come and visit Lubumbashi this past week, but due to the political turmoil, he cancelled his trip.  We were disappointed because he was scheduled to visit several of our contacts and review our projects.  Also, Kenneth Mofokeng, the technical specialist in water was scheduled to visit February 6th through the 10th and now his plans have changed.  These visits are critical for our projects that need outside approval before we can proceed.  It reminds me of the story Spencer told at his homecoming about a man who was asked to push against the rock.  The rock didn’t move and the man couldn’t understand why he had been asked to exert all his effort in pushing if the rock was not to be moved.  He discovered that he became stronger in the process and although the rock didn’t change, he did.  Well, sometimes working with church bureaucracy reminds me of this story.  I’m confident we’re becoming stronger, but the pushing is very frustrating, with no movement.  

One of the reasons we decided to accept an invitation to travel to Luputa to deliver the ultrasound machine was because we are feeling at loss in the development of our water projects.  President and Sister Thomas, the Drapers, the AP’s, Emmanuel are going with us to Mbuji-Mayi on Tuesday.  We have been in touch with Serge Kalala from  FM in Mbuji-Mayi regarding Tshitenge water development.  They are now going to allow us to use FM personnel to assist with humanitarian projects.  We hope to visit Tshitenge and obtain 3 proposals for drilling a borehole.  The village chief and branch president has pledged the needed 10% local investment along with providing sand for drilling the well.  This may happen yet.  (Thanks President McMullin)  Emmanuel is going for the first time and will check on all apartments and also serve as our translator.  We’re excited (at least I am and Shelley is supportive).  

I shouldn’t whine too much about projects.  We met with the chief at Regideso this week and secured a commitment from him that they would obtain 3 competitive bids for our proposed water line extensions in five neighborhoods.  This is a concession because they operate as a monopoly and usually perform all the work themselves.  We also received 2 of the 3 contractor’s bids for drilling new wells in the Tabucongo quartier (sector) of the community.  The Indian contractor is the only one who has not responded.  We met with Dr.  Kitopi, chief deputy at the Ministry of Health, this Thursday and he treated us like his long lost brother.  In prior visits, he has brushed us off and spent no longer than 10-15 minutes with us.  This time was different; he included two other chief deputies and we conducted a two hour correlation meeting regarding all programs current and future requiring MOH coordination.  He could not have been better and suggested we should do this on a monthly basis.

Relationships are so important in any operation and we have found this especially true of our humanitarian assignment.  I know we don’t understand all the nuances of the culture but we have some excellent contacts.  My greatest fear is that there may not be another couple to replace us.  Our work would not continue and it should.  I realize it is not our work, but there is so much that can be done here in Lubumbashi and we have the priesthood support, the mission president support and the community buy-in.  I hate to think that all of these contacts would be lost if no one comes.  There is a desperate need for senior couples.   President Ferry if you have some recommendations, send their referral information to us so we can do some proselyting.  We’re finally to the point where we can genuinely recruit others.  We had to recruit ourselves for the first half of our mission.   There are 11 senior missionaries in our office and 9 of them were recruited.  We are the only two who were not.  If any of you know of seniors who have always wanted to come to Africa, send us their contact information.  Last Sunday in church we met the Claytons from North Carolina.  Mom invited them for dinner and FHE on Monday.  They are serving as auditors and are stationed in Johannesburg.  They had both served in the Paris France Mission and they perform all of the audits for the French speaking countries in Southeast Africa.  They chose their assignment by watching the want ads for senior missionaries.  They have also taught English in China for three years.  There is a program through the BYU Kennedy Center where people sign up for a year at a time to live in China and teach English.  They said it was like a missionary experience but they had to sign a commitment letter that there would be no proselyting.  

Mom and I have enjoyed reading our new books purchased in Johannesburg: “Congo” and “The Challenge for Africa.  Thus far we have enjoyed the rainy season. It never seems to linger, it either rains hard or not at all.  You have to choose mud and more moderate temperatures or dust and dirt and hotter weather.  We have grown really appreciate our Toyota Hilux diesel pickup.  It doesn’t have great acceleration but with 4-wheel drive, it can go about anywhere.  I can’t imagine why drivers here would have anything but a 4-wheel drive vehicle.  Off road is only a half block away in almost any direction.  

We celebrated our 44th wedding anniversary this past Thursday.  I can’t remember ever being closer and we’ve discovered we can survive with a 24/7 schedule of togetherness.  We marvel at how the Spirit guides our lives.   We’re certainly glad those physical attributes were there to bring us together originally, but as we have spent those years together, there is so much more that binds us together and makes life sweet.  In the words of Jacob 7:26, “the time passed away with us and also our lives passed away like as it were unto us a dream”.  Unlike Jacob, we are not mourning out our days.  Life is good, the gospel is true and we are happy together. (Turtles)

Love, Dad (Elder Davis)