51. Forewarned is Forearmed -Where EverThe "Travel" Here in Congo!!

One of the ladies here at MPH went out yesterday by cab. She ate mid afternoon where we had eaten lunch earlier!! When she came out of the restaurant and was negotiating for a taxi back to MPH, she got mugged for her purse. She refused to give it up because she had just been to the U.S. Embassy to get her new passport and it and her old one- with all the visas in it-were in her purse. She won but she is sore. That’s why Ken and I use the Chauffeur and have made friends with and TIP all the security guys and police at every place we have been going- groceries and restaurants! Plus even though I dress American I wear no jewelry except a palm nut ring that I bought when we got here for my wedding ring finger.

Marcia has given us this info on traveling to Lubondai. “I have been thinking about the trip to Lubondai (or at least as far as Katubue only that probably doesn't have many memories for either of you). In theory, it is possible to do it in one day there and back. If one leaves Tshikaji at 6 a.m., one could hopefully be at Lubondai by 10 a.m. at the latest, then leave Lubondai by 2 p.m. to return by 6 p.m. So, the whole trip is done during daylight hours. Taking a picnic lunch and plenty of water and toilet paper with us, of course. If we have more than one flat tire, get stuck in the mud or have a tree or truck blocking the road that we have to cut a way around, it will take longer :)   Was just outside talking to the gardener, Tatu Bilolo, who is from Lubondai who says that it is about 105 km more or less to Lubondai and that they have really been working on the roads. The person in charge of roads is a big "commercant" in the area with big trucks that he wants to travel the roads quickly. So, they have been putting clay on the roads and you can go quickly these days! So, he says. He walked to Lubondai last January and he took 2 days. First day from 6h to 16h from Tshikaji to Mission Bunkonde and the next day again from 6h to 16h (50 km to Bunkonde from Tshikaji). He said the 2nd half of the trip the road was really good and they have been working hard on the road from here to Bunkonde recently.  Of course, we all know what rains and big trucks can do to even the best of dirt roads.:)”

Just got this from Thom Mccutchen –“Go now into the interior and experience the wonders of the Kasai we all remember and cherish. Drink the water, eat the food, find the sick and come home with so many microbes that they will crawl out the window of the lab at TTU before they can even be tested (copied quote). Enjoy Lubondai, Munkamba, etc. I'll have some questions when ya'll get back to PK.”  

The group of 4 from Canada is back before returning home. They too are out here for the first time since 1960. Up country was a long trip because every road had a bridge or ferry out and they had to take a “long cut” around, change tires, fix car, and ride sideways for 35 hours in a Land Rover People Mover between stops before they could get to a safe enough place to stay. Best part of the trip? “The People!” Seems to be the consistent answer! Luckily Ken and I will fly most of the way to Tshikaji and only the last part by car. Though one group this summer said that part was the “exciting” part! One of the ladies(my age) had her hair all done in braids all over her head. Her kids told her she was too old for that and to take them out before she came home! So she did! Enjoyed those folks!.

Got this about Lubondai from Jimmy Shafe:  Lenore ,Your writing makes me smile, and laugh, and grin, and tear up. It touches my soul and brings little wrinkles to the edges of my eyes. It is almost unfathomable to me that your blog will soon end. I will grieve. My bucket list included making my one return trip to Congo. Did that in 2006. Couldn't shake it off.
Lubondai –
*The church front has changed. No big deal.          *The Tshonda is laying on the floor in the little building next to the church. They clang on an old tire rim now. Big deal.·        *The CS campus still looks essentially the same - just deteriorated.  *Perspective - in 2006 Lilibet, Shruggy, Phyliss, Farris, Kathy, and I looked at the classrooms and were distressed at decay. A Fulbright professor with us who had never been there before was impressed that they are still being used. A colleague of his in Miami saw photos and remarked that what was on the board was advanced calculus.*Hospital – beds looked pretty good a year ago. New water tank put in a year ago (low). New deep well put in in 2007.*Dam – Johnny Metzel is working on getting hydro again.

So from all of you and even the Canadians- “It’s the People!” I am fine (So quit worrying!) and I will see it all with loving eyes and memories. I will get to see, hear, touch and smell my old Home Sweet Home! ;)

Well, here ends another ramble. Had the beginning of my final meeting with Inge on the turning back over the running of MPH. She and Larry leave for the US Tuesday the 24^th.  So it’s “ Just us chickens”  running this place! Marcia comes Monday the 23 and will spend until the 3^rd here at MPH with us- shopping and eating out. Then we all go up country together on the third. Stay with her until the 14^th. Back here until we leave for Brussels on the 20^th. Home to US on 25^th! Football games on TV on the 26,27, and 28!

Take care! Love ya! Me