42. Missionaries

Missionaries

Lenore Murray 2013

 

Life offeres them the opportunity.

They are someone who bravely goes into those “dark” areas of the world to spread the Truth.

It takes great courage, stamina and endurance to answer the call.

It is a job that follows a narrow, rough, and often “rocky” journey.

Many times what they do is a lonely walk.

They see the faces of fear and sadness.

No one but them chose to take this specific journey.

Once they choose this path they never turn back.

Lives are changed – many lives-forever.

Their path goes on and on.

They stay the course in spite of “ wounds” and exhaustion.

As their life’s journey continues they may be weakened but not broken.

They may take only a few exhausted steps forward. But stop? Never!

Rested- they will always forge forward.

Their mission continues.

Then the day comes when a battle is won!

The battle for a soul is theirs!

They are filled with new energy.

They are one with the Spirit!

They go with new energy to show more The Way.

They are the living example of the Truth of their God.

Missionaries! 



Howdy!!

 Mexican Stack with Arab Bread used as Tacos went over very well.  All the bowls of other items to add  to the Stack were almost gone. The cooks were thrilled to get to leave 45 minutes early!  The cobbler from the Rose Apple tree was  also very good.
 
Apparently some of you thought something was missing from the container.We got it all and it is all in the halls and Little Conference room.  I guess my saying we sent one of our guys to guard it so it would not go missing was missunderstood the way I said it. Sorry for your heart attack!  So rest assured we got all that was supposed to be there. Inge had the packing slip and was checking off every item as it entered MPH. The tools etc are here in the apartment tool room. Heavy!

Have a great Sunday! Texas Tech won! Yea! Nervous with the A&M game. All we know is the score every so often. Surprised at Kansas State!

 Love ya! Me

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

No Countdown-Yet- But It Is Getting Closer!

 

“Bless Their Little Hearts!!” The older couple is back. They got in early last night - a little before 6 PM after an 11 hour trip by car with no AC and the first two hours on roads with deep holes and high sand.  When I greeted them they both hugged me and thanked me so much for getting them in earlier. Their driver offered to take them out to eat since they had told me they would not be here for supper. She looked at her husband incredulously and said:”You really want to climb back into that car, climb out to eat, climb back in to come home and climb back out again!?” They were beyond worn out. She was almost in tears with a headache and he was just worried about her and exhausted.  They finally just asked me for a cup of hot water for coffee in their room. After our supper I went to their room to check on them- about 45 minutes later. All lights were off and they did not respond to my light knock.  When they came in for breakfast they were still wiped out looking. Loved their first shower in ten days!! I asked them the best part of the trip- “The people.”The worst? …..”Sadly, the trip.” They admitted they should have never gone. Said the heat and humidity and nowhere or way to cool off was all but unbearable. Not even a fan. They stayed in Congolese “homes.” “The water for our tea was already darker than the tea we usually make! Made us both sick!” I asked if they could have flown. She still had some humor and responded, “We were airborne for most of the trip even though we were inside a car!” They still headed out after breakfast for their little morning walk together- hand in hand. Sweet!

From some of your notes to me on Face book and questions on email you know things are “hot” up in Goma still/again/whatever. It’s Congo!! Those folks have been doing this for years and blaming the other. When my MPH phone kept dinging with a message to go to the Embassy website it eventually got a little disconcerting this time! Especially since the other times I only heard from them the one time each day. This time it kept dinging about ever hour with a new message. But all folks here in Kinshasa at MPH are calm though they are considering giving some of their Congolese employees up there the option to leave. But they have family in the area who will hide them if necessary, so they will probably stay there!!  (My feeling- Mortars do not discriminate!) This is a way of life up there. So life goes on. It’s almost “The Boy Who Cried Wolf” for me- it’s always “up there.” I still go and look at the website just to be sure it IS up there! It’s Congo!

This Saturday Inge has asked me to do Mexican Stack for supper. From the back yard we had the gardne pick and will also get the cooks to make a rose apple (a tiny, pear shaped, TART, rhubarb tasting thing) pie-ish/cobbler dish. So once the cooks have all chopped and grated all for me and have the table all set and done etc. I will surprise them and then let them go early. I actually found two bags of Doritos- $7 each!! Then got two packages of Arab Bread (looks like flour pita pockets sort of deals) and will get the cooks to slice and butter them and then turn them into “chips” in the oven. Then layer on at person’s preference Taco seasoned beef, pinto beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, guacamole, Picante sauce, pilipili sauce, coconut, raisins, and grated Gouda cheese ( No Mexican cheese mix here!). No sour cream- it’s almost $20! I wanted to make Pink Salad but there are no ingredients other than Condensed milk. Bummer because that sweet with the Stack is so good!

I am busy getting the count of all the stuff from the ship container done. It will take several days. Then will begin to get all mattress pads on all of the beds changed to the new ones. Have to have empty rooms and remember where we still need to change them. Details are a pain!!!  Then old yucky towels out of commission and replaced with the pretty new ones. And BATH MATS!!!  Whee!! It takes so little to get excited over out here!! New dishes, wheel barrows, mops and squeeze mop buckets, fiber glass screening for our screen “walls” and that is all I have seen so far. It is amazing what we can and then again can’t get out here!
I am going to try to take this weekend off- other than helping coordinate Mexican Stack night. That is  probably be another way of saying “ All Heck will Break Loose here at MPH!” So y’all have a great weekend and enjoy football for me!!

Love Ya! Me

40. Time Marches On In Congo!

Life is funny. In walk three folks from Delaware – (no this is not a “Three guys walk into a bar story!!”)  I go out to welcome them at the reception desk. They pick up quite quickly that I am not from South Jersey! - Go figure! Turns out the lead guy- James Mosley is originally from Mississippi, his wife from SC- (Anderson and Cheraw) and from the family names and home town she is probably related to me. (It’s a Suthun’ thing!!) And Uncle Lamar, you were his professor in Richmond. He and his wife are both DCE folks. He knew to genuflex when I asked if he had been to Montreat. (He clogged with the Bannermans in the barn and when they performed!) And then he knew one had to walk around Lake Susan ten times on arrival in Montreat!! My kind of Southern Presbyterian boy!!

Had a huge thunder and lightning show and a nice gentle rain the other morning. Didn’t last terribly long but it finally rained here!! The trees are so dusty and thirsty! Now they are hopeful and spotted with mud drops. We have been warned to unplug everything when one of these storms hits because even a surge protector won’t necessarily protect!! Just ask my curling iron- I guess! They all tell me that this rain was nothing. The rains in rainy season will come down in sheets and the building will shake! So more excitement ahead!

College football starts this week and so I am sort of excited. Normally I have all the schedules ready and the games on TV all but memorized!!  We can get the scores off the BBC- at “dark thirty” during the night but that is not the same!  (If we could get it here for example the Texas Tech game starts at 1 AM!!) At least a lot of the exciting part of the last games of the season will still be going on when I get home the end of October. Then the Bowl games. The Manzell stuff made French Yahoo news on my French MPH computer stuff. Amazing! ;)

The ship container cleared customs yesterday so we are having delivery after delivery coming to MPH. Stuff for MPH and stuff for the Sthreshley’s house being built out back.  So the halls are full of stuff and then the boxes have to be opened to see what is in each and which stuff belongs to which place. New mops and buckets, riding lawnmower- the gardner will freak! - Towels and sheets (of course after the French have left!) new dishes and the list goes on. That’s all I have seen or heard of so far. It’s like Christmas!!  It just arrived!! Fancy, fancy John Deer!!! Grass man- AKA my house guy half a day during rainy season and all day Dry season is grinning ear to ear!!  As is Inge!! How many men does it take to lift it down!!  ;) Larry just called. Inge is headed back with one of our guys to guard the stuff while other stuff is brought here. Things have apparently been taken! It’s Congo!

 

“Funny”- long ago-story at breakfast from a missionary staying here. He got bitten by a rabid cat as a young boy. There was no rabies med up country. So they had to be sure he was not allergic to the vaccine here in Congo before they shipped up the meds for his 21 shots. Otherwise they would have to try to get him to Europe in time. A little plane flew over the station and dropped a tiny parachute of the test med over the station. His Dad and another missionary had already left and driven here to the big city area to search for the medicine. When he got the meds the Dad was flown back with it in the plane to help recognize villages and help the pilot get there. (Pre GPS.)  They got all turned around. So they buzzed and buzzed a village till everyone was outside looking up. Then they cut the engine and yelled out the plane the name of the station they where wanted to go. The villagers all pointed and off the pilot went! ;) They radioed ahead and his mom took him to the landing strip and he got his first shot right after the plane landed!! Amazing!

The man -of the little older couple- that went up country called me and he was so cute. “Lenore, please! You have got to help me! How much earlier can we return to MPH? “So the 14 days up country are 12 days too long like your wife was afraid it would be?” I asked.  “Yes, maybe 13 days too long!” So they are headed back and I will get the rest of the story of their trip for you!! It’s been fun to see which of my ramblings catch your attention! ;)

Another guest is from Norway and works with the Leprosy organization. I was telling him that I had been to the leprosy village nearish to Lubondai with my Dad. (I had to stay in the car!!) I always took my kittens to them because they would not eat my kittens! They kept them to hunt the mice and rats that nibbled on their extremities (that had no feelings) during the night as they slept. He told me they still like to have cats around!

Wednesday we tried to go to a “Sam’s type” store but it had closed. No advertisement. You just go and it’s either still there or closed. So shopping is always an adventure from week to week! At least our stores have a “Going out of Business” sale! So went to a much smaller one and it does sell some in bulk and was very nice, helpful folks, speak some English and clean and safe feeling.  They had cleaning stuff, meats, some canned stuff that we use a lot and dried staples in bulk- with prices on a chalk board. Inge was pleased with the prices. So it will probably be a regular stop. Then tried a new store to see if it was cheaper and it’s just like in the States- depends on the day- but by the time you drive around half of Kinshasa we did not save money on the groceries because of the gas for the van. For lunch we went to our favorite patisserie and I finally got my swan for dessert. It tasted just like I remember from 50+ years ago in Luluabourg/ Kananga!.  ;)

Have a great weekend! Watch some football for me. If you go to a game have a hotdog with mustard,a package of Pnut M & Ms and a Diet Coke for me!

Love, Ya! Me
 

Working at MPH Words": Continuous, Nonstop,Perpetual,Unchanging,and Never- Ending!" Hats off to Cindy and Clay!

 

39. After Three Months – I Have Discovered “The Working at MPH Words”: Continuous, Nonstop, Perpetual, Unchanging, and Never-ending" – Hats off to Cindy and Clay!!

I guess I could just have the Blog with this title and send it out to you and you’d KNOW the rest of the story!! ;)) However, I am the lady of “where does she find all of those words.” ;)) So, let’s see what I can tell you about this week here at MPH.

Friday we ate out with the Expats that are back from a month in the States. We went to La Pacine- which Ken and I love. Yep! Ken had sole again- fried this time instead of cream sauce. I had my usual steak with Pepper! The staff and owner greeted us like old friends and they gave us the same waiters! Called the chauffeur in and we were supposed to drop some guest off to meet some friends at a nearby Pizza place but the friends were not there. So we took them on with us to supper. They sat by Ken and visited all during supper. Well…now we have a Safari travel guide for our trip to South Africa and a free place to stay! Love their accents!!

Saturday Ken and I did the Murray Style Texas Chicken BBQ on the back patio.  Fixed food to serve 11 of us. We- Inge and I- invited five others. Only four came. All arrived late. Supper was at 6 and one group strolled in at seven – (We had already begun to eat – did not want to burn and dry out the chicken!) and she said to me, “The ----s don’t do a 6 PM supper. Well... Ok. MPH does it at 6 because the cooks are all still here and can help carry stuff out to and help set up the patio.The other guest was caught in Kinshasa traffic on the way back from the airport and apologized all over the place! The BBQ chicken was great and moist like Ken is a master at doing. It was done on an open barrel grill- very different charcoal from the States- and poor Ken nearly burned his arms off. Next time we will have some welding gloves for him because they want BBQ chicken at least one more time before we leave! (And Inge wants one of the cooks to stay over and learn from Ken exactly what to do. (He still won’t have that "Ken" touch! ;) )

I spent almost the whole day in a strange kitchen. I had a learning curve for the Congo ingredients and cooking in a HOT kitchen!! So before I could add milk- I had to make it!! Sugar is the brownish raw stuff here. Cokes are all in bottles unless you spend at least $1.60 a can at the store when there’s a sale on 24 pack for canned cokes!! I had had a returning missionary bring me the stuff to be able to continue the requested”Cook Texas stuff for us before you leave.” (Me- the girl from the Carolinas- go figure!!) So I got out the bag of Kraft Miniature marshmallows so I could make a Chocolate Coke Cake for supper. So here I am – making milk for several recipes besides the cake, getting the butter out of the freezer so I would be able to cut it. Finally go to add the butter and marshmallows and they have melted and the marshmallows have all stuck together in the bag- a gooey mess!. (Had to cut the glump out of the bag!!) Could not run go buy some more!! They did separate after I stirred them in the batter for awhile. I did not have to follow the direction part that said-“Melt the butter!” ;) So I guess one can cook faster here by eliminating steps! ;)  Then I made a triple recipe of Kentucky Spoon Bread requested by Inge – once she found out I know how to make it- for Larry. Three stoves but only one oven works and selected eyes. It’s Congo!!  The cooks were all saying, “Mama, use the computer magic and translate all of these into French. And, Mama, please put your name on the recipes so we can think of you and thank you again for working with us in the kitchen.” Then we made glazed carrots. They’d never seen that. “Mama salt and sugar??” “Yes, a little of one and lots of the other- and don’t get them backwards!!;))” They thought that was so funny!

Ken and I used the spray we got at Wal-Mart again and we were great. Everyone else was getting No-See-Ems and mosquito bites. Sat around until the bats were squeaking and flying around for supper- theirs not ours- but when green mangoes began to fall everyone  jumped up and headed in.“They really hurt when they land on you!”

Some future, very young, missionaries are here on their way in and out of the country - way up in the bush- to see it before they move here. They have 4 kids, ages 1,3,5,8 and only brought the two older ones. He is a Psychology major. He will teach and she will work with kids.  They just went to Nicaragua on their own for a year but that did not work out. They also fish Salmon up in Alaska during the thaw and run months. Before they can come they will have to find their own people and churches to support them and go to language school for a year. So it will be awhile. Speaking of STEEP learning curve!! Whew!! Oh, to be young and know so much again!!

Had a doctor here meeting some American doctors to take up country to share with folks some new medical stuff. They had their lap tops, I pads, and all the electronic ways to share. Hope the electricity is up! I asked him how the medical student’s knowledge here compares to the knowledge a graduating med student has in the US. The med school graduates here in Congo maybe know 45% of what they know in the US. I asked if Congo is that far behind. It is because America moves ahead by leaps and bounds. Congo has stuff and can do tests and x-rays etc. but the patients can’t afford the bill. So they won’t go to a hospital many times. They may go to a small clinic or often to a med student that flunked out. “So when did you come?” "1996 and it has gone backwards since." Wow!! But so much of the infrastructure has gone backwards! They use US. Dollars, have no mail system, and roads are deplorabel except the main Boulevard for the most part, no garbage collection, and the everyday things we are so use to don't exist. When we were here 50+ years ago the mission hospitals didn’t charge- as I recall but I might be wrong on that! I remember the families had to come and camp out back of the hospital and cook and feed the sick person- if they could eat- but I think that was our mission – to take care of them with no charge! I’m sure Congo Connection will correct me on that if necessary.

Wellllllll Sunday… Before my office mate left Friday she called the coordinator of the Sunday arrival folks and was told they would not be here before 18:00PM. “So, Mama, Kabanza and Jonathan can get all rooms done when the 9 guests leave and before the other 9 arrive late Sunday afternoon.” I tell her there is no way I can go to church with all of that going on. But she assures me it will all be fine.  The bell rings at 7 AM for Sunday Breakfast and we sit and have the blessing. Tap on my shoulder. It’s the sentry. “Sorry, Mama, but some of your guests with----- are here.” I about choke! So I get up and leave and head out to the parking lot. They are all piling out of a beat up, smoking, on its last leg/ tire vehicle and hauling out their luggage. (Let me pause and tell you about the Congolese luggage. Few have suitcases. It’s grocery bags, what remains of a Styrofoam cooler and baskets with the stuff taped inside with cardboard between the stuff and the tape. So this stuff is being unloaded at my front door. I tell them to stop that they are not scheduled to arrive until six PM and that they will have to come back. They may leave their”luggage” and can sit out on the patio for the rest of the day but the rooms will not be ready until late afternoon. They tell me that is ok they’ll just come in and take showers. I then tell them all of our rooms are occupied with guests still. Then the rooms will have to be cleaned. They mumble, unload and pile back in and leave. When one man returns later in the day to check in he tells me that his wife has arrived in town to “visit a sick relative” and he wants her to stay here with him.  When pigs fly!! I had been warned by Cindy that the Congolese men- whether ministers or educators at the university try that line or one like it to bring their “ Lady of the Night” or Hoe- as my Junior High kids called them in Texas- to stay here with them. So I smiled- maybe it was a smirk- anyway I told him that ____ had paid for his room and if he brought anyone in he would have to pay the difference up front and that I would let ____ know that he had brought a guest. He looked and me, took a breath, thought better of it and said, no that she could stay with family in the city. Then several tried to sneak in Smoked fish – I may wear glasses but my nose still can smell that horrible stuff- and bedia. So I had to tell them that outside food not allowed and they could either pay for our meals, order pizza each night since that comes cooked and takes none of our equipment or they could eat out. _____ did not pay for your meals. Just your rooms and breakfast that is included. So they probably “talked about my mother”( as the saying goes) - but better folks than they have done that in the past! So I did not make it to church to say the least.

Office mate arrives this morning all smiles to see how it all went yesterday. Welllll. Once I said the first group arrived at 7 AM and then told of the food and the other “guest” issues (and she agreed with me it would have not been his wife!) she was boiling. She called someone on the phone from ____ and ripped them a new one!! French at 1000miles an hour and at 10,000 decibels is amazing to experience! Wow!!

So let me try to add a couple of pictures and I will sign off.

Oops! Not yet!! Gigi just got "first day of school pics" from all of our girls!! So you get to be treated! They grow up so fast! Senior year for Callie!!

 

 

 

 

Have a great rest of the Day!! Love Ya! Me

38. Oh, Dear, What Can The Matter Be?"

38. “Oh, Dear, What Can The Matter Be?”

Security Message for U.S. Citizens - Fighting Resumes Around Goma

August 22, 2013

U.S. Embassy Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

The U.S. Embassy in Kinshasa alerts U.S. citizens that fighting between the Congolese army (FARDC) and the rebel group M23 has resumed near the city of Goma in the province of North Kivu. According to reports, FARDC, Monusco, and M23 have exchanged artillery and mortar fire in several positions near the city. Three explosions have occurred within Goma proper: one in Virunga quarter behind the Goma prison, one at Virunga Market, and one in the harbor area. The fighting is ongoing and the situation remains extremely uncertain and fluid.

The U.S. Embassy strongly recommends you avoid travel to the province of North Kivu., including the city of Goma. The U.S. Embassy currently reviews travel requests by official personnel to North Kivu on a case-by-case basis, and has currently withdrawn all official personnel from Goma.

Well, I guess Senator John and Cindy McCain and others won’t be going to Goma!  Always something up there but it is really far from here. So life is same ‘ole same ‘ole here!

 In the life of MPH- our life at MPH – this week the lights from the city have come and gone several times. No problem because we have a Generator that comes on automatically. The water has had an attitude a couple of times and Larry was able to deal with that. It must be funeral season- Uncles, Mother-in-laws, and brothers have died so different folks are missing each day. Then add to that the usual –“Mama, I am sick, child is sick, So-and-So is not coming,  I need to see doctor for a prescription for my malaria medicine”… etc. There have also been several funerals in the village behind MPH and those last days and they are quite loud at night.

If I recall this is the Montreat weekend gathering. We’ve never been- a tad far from Texas for less than 24 hours. Maybe some time- I think Marcia has gone. I told Dave Miller I don’t do Reunions anymore. (Two- one family and one not- were more “fun” than I like to mess with!!)  So have fun guys and enjoy Native food!! We are loving the Native food every day here at MPH for lunch!!

While I was out to get groceries on Wednesday my office mate agreed to let 9- yes 9!!- rooms empty Sunday morning and be all changed and ready by 6 that night for guests. Problem is we have no house help on Sundays! OOPS!!   I all but PITCHED both a hissie fit and a conniption fit when she told me. (Doing all of that on a Sunday–myself- is way above my volunteer pay grade! ;) ) Seriously-we got two of the guys to agree to come in for double pay and get it done. Don’t know if with all of that to get done whether we will make church or not on Sunday. Gurr!!

Have a cute little couple from Minnesota staying here off and on for a month. They are in their late seventies and she repeats almost all for him because his hearing aids don’t help. He preached several times with a translator. They have been able to see lots of friends from when they worked here 26 years ago. Now they are up country for two weeks in the area where they lived long ago- and as she left- by car!!- she told me she thinks this part will be about 12 days too long! ;) So anxious to see how they fared with no running water, Americanish accommodations or food. They are due back the 31^st!

On Facebook we have been thrilled with the pictures – of the “Big 5” from a Safari trip taken to Kruger in South Africa by some Lubbock friends.  Guys, please send me the name of the tour group etc. It is on MY bucket list and soon it will be my turn!! Thanks so much for sharing!!

Yesterday –after seeing how many cucumbers we have from the garden, I decided to head to the kitchen. I taught the cooks how to make Cucumber and Onion Salad with sugar and vinegar dressing. The guests all scraped the bowls clean at supper. It really turned out well. So I came in and used Google Translate and put the recipe into French. Well, the cooks were amazed I could do it. I finally fessed up to them how I did it!  “ Ah,Mama!!” Then Inga came in this morning and asked if Ken and I would please cook Texas BBQ chicken and the fixings for a BBQ on the patio tomorrow night. So here is the Menu! BBQ Chicken, Boon Tavern-Kentucky Spoon Bread, Glazed Carrots, Fruit Salad, and Coke Cake! May even try to work in some Sweet Iced Tea!!

Well, hope you all enjoyed Samson’s story.

Have a great weekend!

Love, ya! Me

37. Samson

Samson

He arrived this morning at the breakfast table and looked and smiled at us all. One instantly knew he could “see” deep- this giant of a man with the name of Biblical strength. He sat down across from me and next to Ken.

He looked at me across the table and gently said, “Lenore, what is your story that got you here?” So I told him the story of Ken and me and why we are here- this time. “Tell me of the other time,” he quietly asked and looked at Ken. Ken shared our past story. He then turned and eyed another table mate but …

“Wait,” I said, “tell us your story and why you are here!” He looked at me. “I have shared it before here at MPH. Don’t you know it?” Samson asked. “I have almost always been at another table or at the other end of the table from you,” I reminded him. I instantly just knew it would be a moving story. And so -here is the rest of the story.

“As you know,” he began, “I am from Johannesburg, South Africa. I am a Black South African. I am one of those four South Africans that you, Lenoree, have welcomed four times now with that gracious  American Southern hospitality, your big as Texas smile and those ”Yes, Sirs!” I have listened to you and Mr. Ken as you have talked to the guests at the table, in the Living Room areas and when guests checked in-when you did not realize I was listening. You are both Children of God! You are both Africans! You are both true!”

Well, now I wasn’t sure where this man was headed. I had asked for his story and he spoke of us. He seemed to be able to see very deep into my soul- almost- weird! I felt like a bug under a microscope. Pinned!

He took a deep breath and in a soft, South African, lilting accent he began.

“I was raised from birth,” he said, ”and trained as I aged to be a tribal Witch Doctor.” Well, that stopped all table conversation! “ WOW!” I commented as the table sat stunned. (What is the polite, gentile, “Southern hostess” response to that statement at a breakfast table? Don’t think even Bonka had a response for that one! ;) I surely had no training for it!!)

With a twinkle in his eye he smiled at me in the stunned quiet. I had responded in an honest fashion and he was not offended. So I muddled on.” Samson, how old are you?” I ask. Someone had to say something!! And that just came out of my mouth.

“Sixty–five” he responded. “However, I have been God’s man, Samson, for only forty years.” He then softly continued his saga. “When I decided to leave my birthright job I became a wanted man. I decided to leave South Africa for awhile- they only wanted me- or so I thought. I left my wife and children and went to work on my PhD in Canada. I told them they would be safe with me gone. The tribe was angry and tribal fighting ensued. The white South Africans also became involved in the issues. They were all mad at me and I was not there. I was across the ocean safe. I gave an interview to the University Paper in Canada about the issues in South Africa. The article was reprinted in South Africa. They thought I had turned on my country. Since they could not get to me personally they hit where they knew it would hurt me the most. A white farmer killed my only son.”

Well, if the witch doctor statement didn’t shut the house down this statement did. We all sat in disbelief. Even I was at a loss for words!

He continued with tears on his cheeks, “I had two models I chose to emulate -God and the loss of His only Son and Nelson Mandela.” And so I continued to live. I could not yet return home. My wife and girls were smuggled out of South Africa to me. But Canada was not our home. South Africa is. So I began to work on a return.

I contacted the farmer who shot my son and told him I did not hate him. I did not blame him. He had not killed my son- a system had. I then prepared to return home to Africa.

I had a dream of schools taught by Christians. Not a Sunday School type school but a school taught by Christians from that country and trained to teach within their country’s culture. But I didn’t want to just do my home land. I wanted a larger challenge. The whole of the African continent- why not!! So I divided the continent into 9 regions and began in the most receptive areas. The ideas are working – kids are learning from loving Christian teachers from their areas of Africa. Later this morning I am meeting with the Minister of Education of the Congo- at his request- to look at doing this model in Congo. It will take 180,000-200,000 Congolese teachers to change the education in Congo. The minister has already admitted to me that what they are currently doing is not working. So we have gotten a foot in the door of this largest country in Africa. So if all goes well we will need to get a core Congolese training team trained, train trainers, and then train the teachers. Then the kids can be taught! God is good!

“However,” he continued, “I realized my other life- my past life-still needed to be dealt with. So I returned, met, and forgave the white farmer. I visited Mr. Mandela. As I re-settled with my family in my homeland I felt an evil still stirring. It wanted me still. To them I am a man who knows too much. I am a non-practicing but fully trained Witch Doctor. What happens if I use my trade for revenge on them?”

 No one at the table is heading off to work or to their rooms. We are frozen in time. A time we want to finish hearing about but don’t. Even the kitchen staff realized we were in the middle of something big. They did not come in to clear the table. They got very quiet.

“As you Americans call it- I was put on a hit list. So my family and I had to only eat food prepared by my wife. We had to watch out for each other. But it wasn’t poison that took me out. In 2002 it was a bullet from a “friend.” I saw what was coming and got my arm up to shield my chest. That is why these last three fingers don’t work and stay curled. The bullet passed through missing my heart and lungs. I lost- they say- 60 % of my blood. My home looked like a war zone! I was all but dead for a long time and I remember nothing. My wife and girls talked and talked to me. I began to fight. When I came to I told my wife I had to see this ”friend.”I had to forgive him. “But why, Samson?” she tearfully asked. “He tried to kill you!”  I tried to explain that he was not an evil man. It is the system! For me forgiveness is it!

 I did meet him. He was terrified. He knew of my Witch Doctor “powers” or so he thought. He feared even making eye contact with me. As I hugged him I had to almost hold him up. His body was convulsing with true fear! He could not even speak. I kept telling him that he did not shoot me. The system did! I forgave him and he wept in my arms.

“So I am now going on. I have Africa to teach! I am still on a hit list. But I am doing the work of the Lord. What more can a man ask than to act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with his God?”

Silence.

"Hallelujah! Amen and Amen!"

36. " When The Roll Is Called up Yonder..."

My very first Tshiluba Thank You Note! Wow!! I’m pretty sure I got it all translated correctly by saying it out loud and then knowing what it said. The brain’s ear is an amazing thing. (I have also asked Marcia to verify for me! Just to be sure he wasn’t asking for a recipe!) ;)  Just heard from her. Yea! I got it right!! Whee!!

Tatu Ken ne Mamu Lenore, Anu meyi makesa bua kunuela tuasakidila bua mushindu unuvua batuakidila lumingu lushaala--tuasanki be! Me'muiiya ku Tshinsansa kabidi, nendala mu Tshilalabenyi tshienu tshia MPH!Kabidi, ndi musua kunumanyisha bua ne, mamu wanyi Jacky ne mulunda wetu Terri MacGregor nebafika ku MPH lelu'ewu. Nzambi ikala n'enu mu malu'enu onsu! Netumonangana.Ndi wenu,Tshiunza Daniel—

Father Ken and Mother Lenore, Just a few words to tell you thank you for the way you all welcomed us last  week --- many thanks (we are/were very happy/thankful)!  If I come again to Kinshasa, I'll sleep at your  guest house of MPH! Also, I want to let you know that, my mother Jacky and our friend Terri MacGregor will arrive at MPH today. God be with you all in all of your doings/activities! We will see each other again!

I am yours, Tshiunza Daniel     

 Congolese young man, born in Cincinnati and stayed with us last week here at MPH.  He loves football and sports like I do! So had fun visiting with him!! His Mother and a friend are coming in tonight for “two nights and especially hot showers” before they return to the US!

Then I got this forwarded by Ken to me in my office:

“Hi, Ken,

Clint is busy planning his promotion to Colonel ceremony. I think it'll be on Friday, September 27th. We'll invite Jon and family, Mom and Ron, Dad and Fonda. It's killing me that y'all won't be here for the one big promotion ceremony. Heather is going to sing the National Anthem, Dinah (the young preacher, not Donna the old one) is going to give the prayer, Sgt. Robles (the amputee that Clint has worked with for so long) is going to re-administer Clint's oath of office. It's going to be neat! I guess Clint will have to go on to be a general now so y'all will be here! But I haven't mentioned anything yet about the ceremony to Lenore. It'll make her too sad. But we'll have a big family Thanksgiving at the lake. And celebrate being together then!”

Bummer! ;(( Guess we can’t do everything! If I’d won the lottery I’d hire a jet, fly to San Antonio and surprise everyone and then fly right back here and finish up this assignment! But I didn’t, -so I won’t!

Lenore,
I recall going to Lac Fua with Bill Worth and Sid Langrall on a fishing and swimming trip. I believe Jim Miller and I went there with his dad as well. We swam. Uncle Johnny felt the story was probably to keep people from the diamond area.
Anyway, that's the story I told all my classmates. We took our 1967 TASOK senior sneak to Lake Munkamba and one day during the week we drove over to Fua, swam, and picnicked. Beautiful place! The water was much more clear than Silver Springs, FL.
The best spot was where that powerful spring rushed out in a rocky crevice. There were also the places where you could reach down through the sand where a small spring would be bubbling out. You could scoop up a whole handful of clear, small stones. Quartz? Maybe. More precious?Hmm, who knows.
Jimmy Shafe

Phyllis wrote: "Thanks for all your postings. I loved being reminded of jiggers and seeing the picture. We always enjoyed seeing Lake Fwa. I never swam in that water due to the liver flukes, but it was gorgeous. We went canoeing there though. It was good to see a picture of "Uncle" Mark Poole. My brother was named after him and we now have a Mark as well."

Sthreshley kids are back stateside. Michael left with the same mysterious sick deal Inga had a few weeks back. (Hope we dodge it since no one knows what it is and the fevers are 104!) He is all fine now and back on the Big Island in Hawaii. How could he help but be FINE if he is lucky enough to be in Hawaii!! Lucky young man! Miss having Lisa here because she was having the tailor make the neatest outfits for her. Very modern designs but Congo materials. Neat young adults. Enjoyed getting to know them!

Sunday we were invited to go to a Presbyterian church that does the service in Tshiluba.  The pastor was here Saturday after he found out who we were—he had heard about us from the Admin at the Protestant University. He said he’d send his chauffeur for us about 9:30 for 10:00 church. They arrived- he and the chauffeur- at 9:50- early by Congo standards!  

WELL… it was a tiny hatch-back trucky deal and the first entertainment of the day would have been to watch Ken and me get in and out of the thing two times!! ;)) Me in a dress and Ken in Sunday-go-to-Meetin’ clothes! There was a slight leak in the exhaust system or all the rear windows leaked because we were surrounded by the perfume of the exhaust!  As we squeaked to a stop to the angry horn blaring of folks who did not want to stop- about 10-15 minutes from here we turned left down an alley- no, more like a hallway! People had to hug the wall for us to pass. We stopped in a muddy area- they had sprayed water for us so it would not be so dusty.

Out we got and then began the shaking of hands with the preachers and elders. All lined up. Shaking hands and with the other hand holding their elbow area to show high respect. Wearing suits and ties with Italian -pointed toe-leather shoes, matching suits of various designs, non matching suits, invented suits with tennis shoes, a Tuxedo with a hot pink satin Bow tie!

We were given new paper hymnals with the Tshiluba words (with the names of the missionaries from 1903-1950s who had translated the American hymns into Tshiluba) and blue plastic porch chairs- to the left of the raised pulpit area. They rent the area for church. It is usually a small neighborhood bar and the raised area is for the band.  The area for church was divided off by blue and red curtains and smaller kitchen type curtains. The decorations were 4 golden Christmas type 15” fold out bells and a Japanese lantern with a light bulb above the “pulpit.” The pulpit was a mirrored glass display cabinet with red and gold trim. The display case faced the congregation and inside were some plastic carnations- pink ones. The church area was set up around the raised area. Opposite us was the choir of about 20 people. They had rattles carved into balls with seeds in them, Basket rattles, a guitar, electric piano, a neat tall drum (that -since church ran on sooo long -they had to take out and heat over the fire to tighten it back up so it sounded right! ) HUGE speaker sound system (I guess so the whole neighborhood could hear whether they came to church or not!!).

The congregation was all out front. Ages -new born on the breast-literally- to old!! Dressed in typical Congolese garb for the ladies to Modern clothing and jeans for the young ladies and gents. The little ones were in wearing everything -that looked like things from the huge containers that arrive weekly by ship for the “needy.” It was bitter sweet- two boys shared a pair of flip flops and several of the little girls could get their toes into a pretty pair of shoes but the shoes were too short. But they wore them with pride! The little ones- ages 2ish to 6 all sat alone together and were quiet as mice. Wiggled but quiet. But when the “watcher” deemed they were wiggling or changing seats too much – he came and picked them up and put them back on the wooden pew. Then one man’s cell phone went off and the “watcher” made him leave. Then another man fell asleep and he got wacked two different times and the “watcher” gave him a lecture before the old man finally stayed awake!

Then we sang. The choir sang. Then we all sang some more and the little ones just danced and smiled. The choir- mostly younger- got into the music and really cut loose as they danced around the drum. It was amazing for Ken and me as the words to the familiar songs came back to our lips in Tshiluba!  As did the Lord’s Prayer and the Apostle’s Creed. We- yes, even I did- got into the “swing” of the music. The pastor introduced Ken and me and asked Ken to speak. He did and then closed with a Bakete phrase that made them all go nuts!! (The pastor had warned us they would!!) As the kids watched us I waved at them- but forgot that an American wave means come here. (A Congo wave is side to side like the Queen) So one little boy ducked his head and the other came to me. I asked him if he wanted to sit in my lap and he did. So he was mine for most of the two and a half hours. His baby brother tried to get him to leave once and he refused. But near then end when the brother came again he left.

Also as part of the worship we had the treasurer’s report, minutes of the last Session Meeting, and a request for money for a mother and child who were hit and need help to pay for their broken legs. From this poor congregation they raised almost $60.00! Then a man came up from the congregation to share part of his wife and child’s funeral song. He passed around their picture for us all to see. After verse 15 the Lingala translator took the mike back and told him we would pray for him (No,I don’t speak Lingala but it was all translated into Tshiluba this time!) More visitors were introduced. Lots of folks did not arrive until 11 or after! (Smart folks! ;) ).

Then the talkin’ part of church began. First a sentence or phrase in Tshiluba and then translated into Lingala! When that began I knew we were in for a really long haul!  And there was no service after ours!! In America we are use to the “Stand up-Speak up-Shut up” sort of preachers and services! ;)) Each man up on the stage read scripture and preached a mini sermon. Then the main speaker was Mr.Pink Bow Tie! Between each reading and we would and say “Hallelujah and Amen!” and sing another song. All of this was done with mikes- LOUD!! Especially since our seats of honor were right by the speakers!

When it was really over -not just a pause to go again -we were escorted out and lined up with the preachers. Then everyone came to shake our hands and/or kiss us. Then back into the church for refreshments for us, the preachers and the Session. So the throats of the coke and sprite bottles were wiped for us with a Kleenex, lid removed and we were told to enjoy. So I hope some of the germs really do get wiped off by Kleenex!  Then the oldest men in the congregation were brought to us. We were again in the chairs. One began to tell Ken that he knew him. He described Ken’s Bulape home, Betty Lou's death and called her by her Tshiluba name and said he had been to her grave, called Marcia by her name, and then capped it all off by telling Ken he had held him as a baby at Bulape not long after they arrived from the US. Well, Ken LOST it! The little kids just froze! Of course all of this is going on in Tshiluba!

Then we visited some more, finished our drinks and fought our way back into the itty biddy trucky thing and were brought back to MPH. A GREAT time was had by two Murrays!!

So you are worn out and I will close. Now it’s picture fighting time!

Have a great week!

Love Ya! Me

35. Information and Memories From Y'all That I'll Share

35. Information and Memories From Y’all That I’ll Share

From Ken’s sister this morning:

“Yes, I remember swimming in Lake Fwa but it was before it was off limits. Ken, I'm not sure if you would remember it as it was before Betty Lou died. In fact, I'm pretty sure it was before the furlough in San Antonio. The Hotel there was still in use and we had drinks on the porch and ate there. If I remember correctly, we were with the Joe Rays from Mutoto and Texas. Jo Trent was about Amelia's age or a year or so younger and David was Betty Lou's age. There was a "kiddy's" area with kind of a stone/cement "wall" around it in the water and then the real swimming area on the other side with a big tree hanging over it with a rope to swing out on and drop into the water. I remember going out years later and seeing the buildings all going/gone to ruin and taking a canoe trip out on the lake. Parts of the wall in the water were still there (if I remember correctly). The hotel was all grown over and going back



Jigger- a sort of flea. Gets in your feet lays eggs and they eat on you once they hatch.
 As kids the Tatu's were better at getting them out of out feet than parents.
And we did not scream- as loudly for Tatu! ;) Found a picture on line!

Larry Sthreshley and I told Beth Schwaab about jiggers (sp?) "tubuasu". Well, I found one in my heel Sat. and my workers confirmed that that is what it was this morning. I hadn't felt it as it didn't itch when it went in (or if it did I just thought it was one of the usual bites I get on my arms and legs as I don't think to use my "off" until after I get bitten) and the only way I found it was feeling a "bump" on my heel. It must have been there a while to get so big. So, I'll have to get them to take it out as it is awkwardly placed for me to be digging it out!

Tatu Kangudi (cook) took my "kabuasu" out with a palm frond thorn like Tatu Shamba Bimwengi and Tatu Shamba Ngentshi used to (Tatu Kangudi said Peggy Rambo used to get them in/on her heels too). He got it all out without breaking the egg sac and it was a BIG one. No pain as my heel had a lot of tough skin it had gotten into. Luckily I found it before the "babies" hatched! Larry says "tubuasu" are only around where pigs are and there are at least 2 families of pigs that roam the station at will. They have not been in my yard since the fence was finished but they were certainly around daily before that. Pigs have been getting in the Fletchers' yard next door by digging under the fence (mostly the little babies) and ruined the garden they had started. I hope they don't find a way under my fence as it is more fragile (but smaller) than the Fletchers' and I have a much bigger garden area planted than they did. :)

Well, we had a big heavy rain Saturday night that lasted from 1:30 a.m. until almost 5 a.m. So, some people are saying dry season is over and others are saying no, not until after the next rain. Unfortunately, the rain just showed how poorly the roads have been fixed and how ineffective the drainage ditches they put in are. They are nothing like the pre-independence ones and look like the Kinshasa drainage ditches but they don't drain "into" anything! In fact they have built lots of deep holes but nothing connects to them! Also, in the villages, where there are houses the ditches stop for a walk way and then pick up on the other side. One rain and some of them are almost filled back up with sand and mud! As Lenore says "C'est le Congo!”

Guess my desire for a Southern Living Magazine fix got Gail North to send me the following. Now I am all fixed up with Southern “warm fuzzie-isms!”

"Suthnuhs"

FOR THOSE WHO DON'T KNOW THE RULES

Southerners know their summer weather report:
Humidity
Humidity
Humidity

Southerners know their vacation spots:
The beach
The rivuh
The crick
Southerners know everybody's first name:
Honey
Darlin'
Shugah
Southerners know the movies that speak to their hearts:
Fried Green Tomatoes
Driving Miss Daisy
Steel Magnolias
Gone With The Wind
Southerners know their religions:
Bapdiss
Methdiss
Football

Southerners know their cities dripping with Southern charm:
Chawl'stn
S'vanah
Foat Wuth
N'awlins
Addlanna
Southerners know their elegant gentlemen:
Men in uniform
Men in tuxedos
Rhett Butler

Southern girls know their prime real estate:
The Mall
The Country Club
The Beauty Salon

Southern girls know the 3 deadly sins:
Having bad hair and nails
Having bad manners
Cooking bad food

Only a Southerner knows the difference between a hissie fit and a conniption fit, and that you don't "HAVE" them, you "PITCH" them.

Only a Southerner knows how many fish, collard greens, turnip greens, peas, beans, etc., make up "a mess."

Only a Southerner can show or point out to you the general direction of "yonder."

Only a Southerner knows exactly how long "directly" is, as in: "Going to town, be back directly."

 Even Southern babies know that "Gimme some sugar" is not a request for the white, granular, sweet substance that sits in a pretty little bowl in the middle of the table.
All Southerners know exactly when "by and by" is. They might not use the term, but they know the concept well.
Only a Southerner knows instinctively that the best gesture of solace for a neighbor who's got trouble is a plate of hot fried chicken and a big bowl of cold potato salad. If the neighbor's trouble is a real crisis, they also know to add a large banana puddin'!
Only Southerners grow up knowing the difference between "right near"
and "a right far piece."
They also know that" just down the road" can be 1 mile or 20.

Only a Southerner both knows and understands the difference between a redneck, a good ol' boy, and po' white trash.

No true Southerner would ever assume that the car with the flashing turn signal is actually going to make a turn.
A Southerner knows that "fixin" can be used as a noun, a verb, or an adverb.
Only Southerners make friends while standing in lines, .. Put 100 Southerners in a room and half of them will discover they're related, even if only by marriage.
In the South, y'all is singular, and y'all is plural.
Southerners know grits come from corn and how to eat them.
Every Southerner knows that tomatoes with eggs, bacon, grits, and coffee are perfectly wonderful; that red eye gravy is also a breakfast food; that scrambled eggs just ain't right without Tabasco, and fried green tomatoes are not a breakfast food.
When you hear someone say, "Well, I caught myself lookin'," you know you are in the presence of a genuine Southerner!
Only true Southerners say "sweet tea" and "sweet milk." Sweet tea indicates the need for sugar and lots of it -- we do not like our tea unsweetened. "Sweet milk" means you don't want buttermilk.
And a true Southerner knows you don't scream obscenities at little old ladies who drive 30 MPH on the freeway. You just say, "Bless her sweet little heart"... and go your own way.
To those of you who are still a little embarrassed by your Southernness: Take two tent revivals and a dose of sausage gravy and call me in the morning. Bless your little heart!
And to those of you who are still having a hard time understanding all this Southern stuff...bless your hearts, I hear they're fixin' to have classes on Southernness as a second language!
Southern girls know men may come and go, but friends are fah-evah!
There ain't no magazine named "Northern Living" for good reason. There ain't nobody interested in livin' up north, so nobody would buy the magazine!

Now Shugah, send this to someone who was raised in the South or wish they had abeen! If you're a Northern transplant, bless your little heart, fake it. We know you got here as fast as you could!”

 

My grandmother, Bonka, used many of these as her usual South Carolina patois. Loved every moment I was lucky enough to spend in her wonderful company! Daily, I miss her wisdom about life! What a lady she was!  Thanks, Gail, for the memories!

Beth Reinhold Gold wrote:

“I loved the picture of the tents in the hall way. Seeing them lined up and remembering Lenore's discussion of the BLACK dust...reminded me of exercising in the hall way my junior year in high school '70. One of the exercises we would do was to sit down at one end and inch our way forward slapping our thighs and legs on the floor...at the end, our thighs would be black! and there would be streaks down the hall from where we went. If those walls could talk!! Thinking of you folks every day.”

Thom Mccutchen shared parts of his Mom’s journal as they fled Kinshasa after Independence. It involved the Murrray family as neighbors and was very interesting. Thanks for sharing Thom! We were mesmerized as we read it! Since it was a personal journal I did not share it here without your permission.

Our life at MPH is the same for the most part. Meetin’ and a Greetin’, Washin’ and a Foldin’, Cookin’ and a Cleanin’, Grocery Shoppin’ and a Eatin’ out!

 Have a GREAT weekend!  I’ve got a date with my guy Friday night at La Piscine - he wants the sole again!! Heard of a fondue place from the Indian Owner of the restaurant where we ate lunch after grocery shopping. Also while there we met a group of Embassy folks. His family had just arrived from Kansas. Girls will be going to TASOK across the street from MPH.  They are in 9^th and 12^th grades. Girls came willingly. Mom came kicking and screaming. She had found it better than she thought it would be- “so far.” Husband just smiled.

Enjoy hearing from all of you.

Love Ya! Me