February 8, 2015 - Shelley

February 8, 2015

In my letter last week, I gave fair warning that I still had pictures to share from our trip to Luputa, Mwene Ditu, and Mbuji-Mayi.  So here goes:

This is the famous bamboo grove in Tshitenge (a short distance from Mbuji-Mayi).  Church services were held here in this beautiful spot for many years, but it was a problem when it rained. The yellow building on the right is the home

of the village chief, who is a church member.  He built a different home and gave that one to use as a church building, but its use is limited because of the small size.  The chief has recently made several  improvements.  The bowery in the center of the photo is where church meetings are now held.  To sit on the benches and look out is like looking into a gorgeous jungle.  But the offices are what I consider to be clearly ingenious!

This view was taken from the back of the bowery, looking toward the “offices”.  As you can see, they are train boxcars!  A partition down the center of each car separates the car into two offices each, complete with desks, computers, and everything you would expect to find in a bishop’s office.  However, I can really tell that this man knows what he is doing because you can see the new latrines beyond the offices – AND there are two spots for men and THREE spots for women!  Now that’s a man with some vision!!!!

I just love this photo that was taken out the car window as we drove along.  It totally reminds me of a scene from “Where the Wild Things Are” (sans monsters!).

While in Luputa, we saw this young woman crushing leaves to make a

spinach-like sauce that is eaten with foo foo.  Other things can be added to it like dried fish, onions, and other veggies.  It’s healthy and the ingredients are abundant.  I’m fuzzy on what the name of the sauce is, but will try to find out.  Anyway, this is a standard, if not daily, dish even in Lubumbashi.  I tried a teeny taste – and that’s all I’ll say.  ☺

And speaking of food, Emmanuel went “shopping” while we were in Luputa.  He and our driver, Godefroid, came back with some yummy local cuisine.

Here is Godefroid diving into a big, delicious bowl of live termites!  I had to draw the line on taking even a teeny taste of that!!

Well, this week has had much less excitement.  We’re still trying to put together our future projects.  We made another visit to two of the orphanages we hope to help.  The one that really tugs at my heart – and yet, I hate to go visit – is the one that is run by Muslims.  I dislike going there because it is so filthy and stinky – but, of course, it’s not the fault of the children.  Our proposal is to provide bunk beds, mattresses, and paint.  The buy-in for the directors of the home is that they will do the painting.

This is the only bed in the whole house – and there are 30 children!

Here are three of the girls preparing fish on the back porch.

Another situation is one where we don’t quite know how to help.  It’s with the  handicapped community.  We made friends with Tabu Farrah.  Until recently,

he was employed by the Ministry of Social Affairs as a liason with the several handicapped communities within Lubumbashi.  He has helped us in organizing the wheelchair project, which will be in June or so.  I’m not sure but it appears that Tabu was born with legs that don’t function or else maybe he had polio.  Anyway, he has been able to walk with braces and crutches, but recently he fell and now is in a wheelchair.  We visited him in his home.  The photo shows him with his wife and four children.  He’s such a smart, wonderful man!  When we asked him what he needed most, he said that the Handicapped Association office needs office furniture – however, they don’t need it yet because there are currently four families living in the office!   Here’s a man who is out of work, he’s disabled, he has five mouths other than his own to feed – and he is still only thinking of the needs of others.

Well, there is no shortage of courageous, wonderful people here.  Most of them are living with very little in the way of earthly comforts.  I cannot complain.  

I want to end with a missionary story.

We call these gals the “banana ladies” because they sell bananas and other fruit on a street near us.  They’re cute and give us special treatment when we come.  Lately they have expressed an interest in our church – so Dr. Mikesell gave them Books of Mormon.  Then they wanted more for their friends.  And then more.  So Clark arranged for the full-time missionaries to pay them a visit.  He and I are not supposed to do any proselyting because it might look like we were providing humanitarian help in order to get church members.  But Dr. Mikesell, the mission doctor, is under no such restriction.  I don’t know how many Books of Mormon he has given out – but it’s a lot!  Well, we’ll see what happens.

Happy Birthday to our daughter-in-law, Kristen, this week on the 10th.   And Happy Valentines Day!  Be kinder than necessary to everyone this week – you never know what burdens they may be carrying.  Much love,  Mom/Soeur Davis

P.S.  After nearly a month, the internet and texting are back on!  Wahoo!