July 12, 2015 - Shelley

July 12, 2015

I have spent much of this week “observing” from the “comfort” of a plastic chair.  Our well repair project in the Kafubu Health Zone finally got underway.  The requirement was that any village whose well was broken needed to put about $300 into a bank account for future repairs – and we would repair it the first time for free.  They will then charge for water and put the money in the bank account.  This concept has been more than tough to implement, but finally there were two villages ready.  Pita Village had built a

nice hand-dug well to use while the other was broken.  As I have explained before, it is HARD WORK to pull water from a well and then carry it home in

20-liter containers.  This next gal still had

a smile on her face – plus she was carrying a large baby on her back!  These gals are simply amazing!

And there’s always a crowd of darling helpers!!

We’re hoping that this is another step in helping the villages to become self-reliant.

Imagine any kind of program you have attended where you knew none of the participants.  And it was in a foreign language.  Times the length of that program by five.  And crank up the sound!  That was where we were yesterday!

Odette, the owner of the Peage School (where the church donated sewing machines, etc.) invited us to her end-of-the year awards program where high-achieving students were going to receive certificates.  So the invitation said it started at 9:00 a.m.  Here’s Odette and some of the faculty.  We

politely watched students perform little plays, dancing, poems, fashion shows, etc. – and finally at 2:00 (I’m serious!!!) – after 5 HOURS – we said we had to go.  AND It was just when they started to hand out awards!  Odette was crushed!

If I said it was a torturous event, I would be being kind.  Of course, the children are so cute and so patient.  We were under a tarp, but most of them had been sitting out in the sun the whole time.  There were about 300 people there – mostly students and a few parents.  Of course, we were happy to see that the machines had been well-used and appreciated.  Odette and her students have made hundreds of school uniforms with them.

We had wangled Marcel and Gracia (our translator and his new wife) into going with us, so at least we weren’t alone.  Fortunately, Marcel had to be at his other job at 2:00.  This photo shows Gracia and a cutie that was sitting by her.  I hated to make Odette feel bad,

but this picture shows how we all felt!

The last 10 days or so has been another Operation Smile campaign here.  Once again, they were repairing cleft lips and palates and had flown in patients from distant villages.  I can’t say enough good about the organization.  As in the

other campaigns, the LDS involvement was to have volunteers deliver food to the patients and their families and to help with transporting patients after surgery.  The volunteer in the photo is handing out bukari (fufu) and sombe in one of the rooms.

There was a team of about a dozen LDS young men and women – most returned missionaries – who were the volunteers.  Clark and Dr. Mikesell sat in on several operations and we did some organizing, but the work was done by the volunteers.  It takes such courage

for these mothers to get on a plane for the first time and to fly to a large city where their language isn’t spoken!!!  The photo above shows a mom and baby before surgery.  The boy below has had his lip repaired and is with one of our volunteers.

There was a banquet held last night at the Grand Karavia Hotel for everyone involved.  The Governor of the Katanga Province where we live made some wonderful remarks.  He reminded us

that not long ago, babies like these weren’t allowed to live because it was felt that witchcraft had caused this trouble.  He also said that blame for any deformity was placed on the mother – and this was a large contributor to divorce.  He thanked everyone involved with Operation Smile for changing the lives of 96 children this week.  Just a sidenote:  He left his son’s wedding party to attend this event for a few minutes and shook everyone’s hand before he left.  He is loved by many people here – and it’s easy to see why.

One of our missionaries has a bad case of malaria and parasites.  Malaria is quite common, but it is usually very treatable.  But apparently, the combination was too much and Elder Vutulu has been in the hospital for a few days.  It’s quite different to be in the hospital here.  Dr. Mikesell has had to bring food to him everyday because the hospital doesn’t provide food.  If there is laundry to be done, the family (or companion) has to do it.  You will often see drying laundry spread out all along the bushes at the hospitals.  Elder Vutulu has stayed fully dressed in his street clothes because his room has both men and women patients.  And his companion has had to stay with him the entire time – acting as his nurse.  He

looks pretty chipper in this picture and will hopefully be sent home today.

In closing I wanted to mention about Relief Society today.  The lesson was about temples. I was so impressed with the teacher.  Even though I didn’t understand what she was saying in words, I could absolutely tell how she FELT about going to the temple.  She radiated in everything she said.  Our nearest temple here is in Johannesburg.  Since it is out of the country, a visa is required and the cost is prohibitive to most people.  A few years ago it was announced that a temple would be built in Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC.  This will be such a blessing because a visa won’t be required.  Below is the

RS teacher.  Isn’t she beautiful?!!!

We wish a Happy Birthday this week to our equally beautiful and radiant granddaughter, Elizabeth Chamberlain!

I can’t remember a time in my life when I have been more aware of my blessings!  Love,  Mom/G-ma/ Soeur Davis