33. Laissez le Bon Temps Rouler!

 

Grocery shopping had to be delayed because the substitute chauffeur had to go to the dentist. Hit the Kinshasa traffic at Spaghetti Junction (where 7 roads merge with no traffic lights or round-about or anything!) at 11:30AM – not a good idea ever again! Had to get lots of meat again and that slows us down. (And I don’t think it’s the hugs and kisses from Madame at the butcher shop!) New driver took a little longer too. Had to stop on the way home to get gas and had new instructions on how to watch the pump attendant and verify. So Ken went out to do it. We had a set amount of American money for gas so had to figure the exchange rate so we could tell him how much gas in francs!!  It was crazy till the magic question…“Does anyone here speak Tshiluba?” Yep. Another attendant was called in. Then he insisted Ken go to the office for the receipt. Well, everyone in there spoke Tshiluba. So it was old home week. Why are you here? Where in the Kasai did you live? And Mama too?  I’d begun to get worried when out walks my smiling–ear to ear- husband! So we got home later and beat. But I was not finished yet! Had to count everything and weigh all the meats into smaller packages. I had to verify. Then had to turn all receipts into Helene and get that checked out with the change to match what I spent.  Have I told you I don’t like math?? Ever counted 5 kilos of onions? At least we buy canned fungus- Champignons/mushrooms- so I don’t have to count those!

 Last night the MAF pilot came in after he had delivered some guests. He and Ken visited and it looks like Ken will get some flight and travel time in the baby planes. He was as giddy as a kid when the guy offered. So we’ll see how it all develops! Hope so for his sake. He is getting bucket list after bucket list all accomplished! Will keep you posted!!

Today Inge asked us to go back out and see if we could find a 40 cup coffee pot? (To replace the one the cook plugged in the wrong way.) Can you say “Looking for Chicken’s teeth?” I warned Ken it could be tedious but I was not going alone! So off we went. Six stores in a little over two hours in traffic! Then we went back to the first store to get it. (Men really love it when we do that! NOT!!) Some didn’t even have a house coffee pot. So came home with only a house 10 cup size and were happy to find that. Frustrating when I know Wal-Mart and Target would have been a sure thing!! But I’m “Not in Kansas anymore, Toto!”

The 14 Baptist left after lunch. They were so gracious in their thanks. One pastor took the time to look us up in the office. “I thought about this at my morning prayers, Mama. I don’t have anything to give you – no pineapple, papaya or chicken -to thank you for being so kind to us. Thank you for the wonderful place, the quiet for work and the wonderful food. So all I can say is Thank you and may God bless you and Papa.” Three of the 14 spoke Tshiluba and were amazed at us for still speaking it! We had fun with them all but especially those three. Just got a note from another missionary who hosted the guest who was in the  hospital. “I just wanted to thank you for your flexibility, grace, long suffering, compassion, etc. etc. for our mixed up time in Kinshasa. I have never seen MPH so busy, and I have never made things more difficult for MPH either. Hope things are settling down to normal there. Thanks for providing such a secure, welcoming place in the midst of the uncertainty of our travels. Blessings.” So these are the blessings I get for volunteering plus my bird’s songs in the early mornings! Sweet!

One of you asked for more about MPH. Here is Ken’s answer. “MPH stands for Methodist Presbyterian Hostel. When Central School was closed and they needed a place for Missionary kids to stay to go to The American School of Kinshasa ( TASOK), they built this place. Mennonites have one or had one here as well. Other missions did the same. They had 50 or more kids living here for awhile. There is no longer Presbyterian or Methodist school age kids after everybody was evacuated a couple of times. Upstairs are still the dorm rooms like in the 60’s when it was built. Downstairs have been turned into nice “Motel” rooms with Baths and air condoning. Have emergency generator that kicks in when electricity goes off. If City water goes off we have two big cisterns that can pump water if needed. Big campus with soccer fields, Tennis courts, Basketball goals, Gardens and a lot of big trees. Everything is walled in and very secure. Even have safe rooms in the building.

Shamba Ngantsche (correct spelling this time!) came back with two of his kids (ages 23 and 20). Boy had an attitude-obviously did not want to be there- and girl was just barely ok. The Dad of course wanted us to find him a job and then get both kids to America, get them into college and foot the bill. Ken and I knew those requests would probably come. It is Congo. We just had sort of hoped they wouldn’t. The more things change, the more they stay the same! ;(  Told him those were not things in our power to do but it was great to see him and meet the kids.

Tonight we celebrated Lisa Sthreshley’s (both Streshley kids in picture) 23 birthday at Limoncello’s- an Italian restaurant. Was excellent!! Third generation running it now. The family originally came in 1917 from Israel and has been here in Congo since. The man runs the front and his wife the kitchen. Ran like clockwork!! CLEAN!!! Most guests were very dressed up - we were very under dressed for the first time here in Congo. When we go back we will wear Sunday- Go–To-Meeting clothes! They even have wait staff that will take care and walk your baby if it is fussy so others are not disturbed! Inside and patio areas- fancy in both. Our waiter was from the Kasai! He brought two other Kasai staff to greet us! The owner came to ask if we needed help with the French and we told him no -that we had Tshiluba. He just laughed and welcomed us as Congo Family. They provided Tiramisu for Lisa and sang Happy Birthday! There were 10 of us and it was a lot of fun. You would never know that just outside and down the road is a Congolese restaurant in a metal container “shed” with a decapitated Goat hanging outside and slices are takes right off and cooked for you.  We haven’t braved that establishment yet. Emanuel, the Chauffeur, has told us there is a really good Congolese restaurant he wants us to try.( No hanging goat, Mama!) So we will.  Down the road a little further are garbage strewn streets. Amazing the contrasts in this city. Dirt poor- literally- to diamond mine rich! It’s Congo!

Woke up today to an exciting morning in the Hostel business. Got the sink in the Dining Room finally fixed. Baba used a part from the broken sink the lady washed her feet in!  Amazing- At lunch yesterday we had posted a sign in two languages that it was out of order. Two men went and washed their hands (before I could stop them) – with water running all over their pants and shoes and still continued to wash!! Amazing!!  I finally got a big plastic bowl and covered the sink. Then this morning two Kitchen sinks went nuts. Problem was a huge grease blockage- Not of the “15 ton London” proportions -but took awhile to fix. Meanwhile water was everywhere!! No “Call Rooter Rooter“ here! Call “Baba” and he fiddles with it and solves almost all we have asked of him so far.  Then the coke machine had bottles blow up because it was too cold and has a huge ice pack on several shelves. So we will turn it off tonight and back on in the AM. (Hope I don’t forget!!) Then one of the kitchen guys will need to wipe up the defrosted water. Whew!!

So now it is almost the weekend.  Got 11 rooms cleaned yesterday! Two arrive today and a bunch check out Sunday. Monday is busy with check outs and ins and it all starts over again with different faces – and different laundry!   ;) Also next week we have two Congolese day conferences here- three days of 30 each day and two days of 25 each day. One of the refrigerators is already full of fish heads. So I am forewarned this time. Maybe it will be served Wednesday and Ken and I will be out Grocery shopping and can eat elsewhere!

Interesting guest here for two days on his way home to the States. His parents are Congolese. They work in Cincinnati and he was born in the US. Speaks French, Tshiluba and English. He is working with a solar energy outfit. His grandfather was from Bibanga and has written two books of the history of the area and has names of all the folks there. He and Ken talked more about that as I was doing business this AM.  They also talked about some of the tribal issues in the Kasai that are affecting both the church and politics.  It’s the same the continent- or world–over!!

Hope you all have a great weekend!

Love Ya! Me