August 16, 2015 - Shelley

August 16, 2015

What a difference a week can make!  We’ve had a major change in our mission staff as of the last few days.  Elder Draper has been suffering with a kidney stone – off and on – for about two weeks.  Medical treatment is a definite weakness here in Lubumbashi so the decision was made to send him to Johannesburg.  ** I’ve had to rewrite this part of my letter because the Drapers had been told in Johannesburg that they would have to return home to Canada for treatment.  He actually has 5 stones and she has one large one.  BUT as of a few minutes ago, the decision was changed and they get to have treatment in Johannesburg.  Canada has socialized medicine, and sometimes it takes months to get on a surgical schedule unless it’s an emergency, so the Drapers may not have been able to return to Africa.  Anyway, the rest of us are over-joyed because the Drapers are so valuable here.  He is the only senior missionary other than President Thomas who speaks French. President and Sister Thomas have gone to Uvira for 10 days, so “the kids are tending the store” so to speak -  and none of us speak the language!  We hope nothing big happens!!!!!  Haha  Anyway, we are all relieved for the Drapers and for us, too!

We began our week by returning to the villages where wells have recently been repaired using humanitarian funds.  It was gratifying to see them all being

used.  Immaculée is the gal from the Ministry of Health who is in charge of the cleansed village program.  She went

with us.  Even though the villages have started to collect money from people for getting clean water, the fee isn’t

enough to save for the next well repair.  She is trying to explain that in the photo above to the village chief (in blue).  For example, the village with the most saved money has $30 – and the repair we did of the well cost almost $1,000.  One village is charging 50 cents a MONTH to get clean water everyday.  It’s not enough, but it’s hard to understand.  They’ve never had to pay for water before, and dirty water from the river is free.  So far we have repaired 11 wells and have 6 more planned.

There is never an end to adorable children – and we are quite an attraction out in the villages where the kids don’t see white people often.  At least these cuties aren’t crying like they’ve seen a ghost, as sometimes happens.

Immaculée took the opportunity to do a little shopping while we were there.  Charbon, which is used as fuel for cooking, costs $18 a bag in the city, but sells for $4 a bag in the villages.  And

being the prudent shopper that she is, she loaded up.

Clark also talked this lady making sombe into letting him take a picture.

She is pounding the leaves into a sauce that will be eaten with foo foo.

Another day we awarded certificates to ladies in an alphabetization class.

This class, which teaches people how to read and write, is being taught at the church by Sister Mwinkeu.  Her husband is a counselor to President Thomas.

This little guy came along to support his mother when she got her award!

The last of our Days for Girls classes happened this week!  Now all three stakes have had the training.  As

in the other stakes, these ladies are sewing experts!  They are so good to

help each other and chatted it up like crazy all afternoon.  The other senior sisters have been really great to go with me and help out.

These two sister missionaries are from Madagascar.  Both speak a little English

so it’s fun to be able to get to know them a bit.  The sister on the left, Sister Randrianarina, remembers Ryan Forsyth when he was serving in Madagascar.

I don’t know if Helping Hands projects are supposed to be fun – but the project we helped with on Saturday wasn’t!  We suggested to Justin Mukuna, the Katuba Stake President who works in our office, that maybe their stake would be interested in a service project.  The Kamweneja

School, where we have spent humanitarian money putting on a new roof, needs to have the classrooms painted.  But before painting, the rooms need to be cleaned out.  The rooms were FULL of dirt and debris from the roof and ceiling repair.  Justin organized everything, and yesterday about 70 members from his stake showed up at the school to dive into this very difficult task!  These photos show some of the

stuff that was piled up in classrooms.

If I said that it was a dirty job, it wouldn’t quite describe it.  Sisters Cook and Vance helped out tremendously!

I’m not sure how old this lady is, but she

worked like a 20-year old!

Last night we hosted a party for Marcel,

Steve, Mwamba (translators), Mbidi Ilunga and their wives.  The other senior missionaries came, too, and it was really fun.  We served pizza, salad, and banana splits.  Then we played a few minute-to-win-it games.  The photo above was picking up noodles with spaghetti.  Below is Marcel with the

pantyhose elephant challenge.  And

Steve and Matilda with the cookie on the face trick.  (Don’t worry, David – no one can beat you at this!  ☺)

Happy SPECIAL birthday this week to our son Spencer!!!!  Love,  Mom/G-ma/Soeur Davis