November 23, 2014 - Shelley

November 23, 2014

Greetings from the land where EVERY Friday is Black Friday!  Haha

Every time I think I’ve written about everything here, something new happens – and this week was no exception.  On Wednesday, Nov. 19th, it was National Clean Latrine Day!  I’m not kidding – you can’t make this stuff up!  We have been working with a gal named Immaculee from the Ministry of Health.  Her job is to help provide clean water to small villages.  Immaculee received a gift of hand soap from a local grocery store, Hyper Psaro.  She distributed it to 50 local elementary schools who were practicing good hygiene – including washing hands after using the bathroom.  She invited us to accompany her to a nearby town, Kipushi, where she was presenting soap to two elementary schools.

The ceremony began with a woman demonstrating proper hand-washing techniques.  Then different dignitaries, including the village chief, handed out soap to individuals who had won some sort of contest (we didn’t ever quite understand that part).  ☺

They even let us give out soap and a poster to some winners!

The school principal (in red) is thanking everyone, and Immaculee is the woman in blue who is taking a photo.  Her husband is a doctor who works at a local hospital; however, doctors aren’t really paid very well here.

Part of the reason for the clean latrine campaign is to help reduce the problems with cholera that come with the rainy season.

As Clark mentioned in his last letter, I bought a sewing machine!  It’s brand new, but is a Singer treadle machine similar to one my grandmother may have used.  I decided against an

electric machine because our power is so erratic.  Fortunately for me, Sister Mikesell knows all about this type of machine, so she has been helping me get it set up.  I’m not very handy with it yet, but I’m working on it!

Several people have asked about our bridge project.  Even though this lady

is walking across it already, I don’t think she’s supposed to because it’s not finished.  The worry has been that

the river is getting too high where the people have to cross when the bridge is being worked on.  The rainy season has begun, so pressure is on to get the bridge completed.  Hopefully, this week!

Our grandkids keep asking about what the food is like.  I’d have to say that it isn’t terrible, but food that we would normally eat is very expensive and sometimes scarce.  We’ve had a joke around the mission office because I was telling everyone that we found cheddar cheese (not always available) – but that it had cost $45!

Sister Thomas, the mission president’s wife was rubbing it in that she had also found some and it only cost her $17.  Well, after she went back and looked at her receipt, she realized that $17 was the price per pound – and that she had paid more than I had!

For years, we drank whole milk at our house.  Gradually we have weaned ourselves down to 1%, but Clark put his foot down when it came to skim milk (he calls it “blue” milk).  Well, as you can see from the photo, things have changed.  He’s just showing off here,

but not only do we now drink skim milk, but it’s long-life SHELF milk!  AND it costs about $3.00 a quart!

One of our greatest joys here is teaching English to the young missionaries, as I have mentioned before.  We teach once a week.

This is the group we have had for the last six weeks.  There are some truly out-standing young people serving here, and we have grown to love them.  One of our “favorites” is Elder Tshimpe,

whose home is in Kinshasa.  He has been serving as an AP.  We asked in class for stories about the first time the missionaries attended the temple.  Elder Tshimpe told the story of how his parents both died when he was very young.  He was raised by his grandmother.  When he first went to the temple in Ghana (that’s where the MTC is), proxies stood in for his parents so that he could be sealed to them.  You would never guess that he had anything but an ideal child-hood because he is very confident, talented, and is a great leader.  He will be returning home right before Christmas and will certainly be missed.

Our thoughts are with you in the Thanksgiving week!  I think we’ve convinced the Canadian senior couples to celebrate with us, even though their day of thanks was in October.  Sister Mikesell even found a frozen turkey!  It weighed 9 pounds and cost $37!!!  We’ll each be getting just a taste, but that’s okay.  It’s part of the adventure!

We love you and so appreciate your words of encouragement and support!  Give your family extra hugs this week – and never, never forget what a blessing it is to be born in America!

Much love,  Mom/Soeur Davis