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

 

 

34. Animal Kingdom at MPH

Well, apparently the cats caught something in the apartment and did not eat it all and it is decaying. (I have always stopped Tiger before she can get in with anything she has caught to share with Bella. So, it has to be an inside kill.) Have been dealing with the smell for three days so far. BAD!! We have moved everything in the Living area- where strongest smell is- and tool storage room looking for a dead body of something. No luck.  At least the bedroom is fine!

Fish Heads just 'a cookin'

Today began a week of conferences. My luck did not hold for Fish Heads to be served Wednesday for lunch while we are out Grocery shopping! It’s today- I hope the ONLY day! The smell of 60 frying fish heads has smelled up the whole of MPH. So now we have “parfume de carrion et tete de poison” (Perfume of Carcass and Fish Head) in the apartment. Really BAD!!

It is SO Congo! Conference for 8:30 AM sort of began at 10-because that is when 3 of 30 people showed up. The bell rang for requested 10:30 coffee break and no one came. They just asked – at 11+ish - if lunch can now be delayed until 1:30 or two. I told them no because it would ruin the food. So Papa put away the coffee break (and told the Conference they would have to pay for it) and they will still have lunch at the scheduled 12:00. Maybe they will get here on time the next two days. Probably not! ;) So hopefully Papa does not plan left over Fish Heads for supper!! ;) But guess what. ‘”To ask is not to steal.”… Is alive and well. They just didn’t come down till 1:30 and ate it cold!  Only 13 of 30 showed. Cold Fish Heads! Oh Well!

Lake Fwa

Lake Fwa! I remember the beauty of that Caribbean colored clear, clear water. My parents never let us swim in it because of “liver flukes.” But I wonder if it was really a story to keep people out of the area because of the diamonds? Did any of y’all swim there? (With or without parental permission?)

Remember going Crocodile hunting?  I was lucky enough to be taken by my Dad when I was a teenager and old enough to “enjoy “it and remember it! We left after dark with professional Croc hunters in a big flat boat with no real sides except up in the bow. (Uncle Johnny Davis and his boys use to go to on their own canoe rigged thing!) One man had a big gun, another a harpoon, several other hunters with guns and one who drove the boat. All of the men had lights mounted to their heads and kept scanning the banks looking for Croc eyes reflecting in the light. It blinds the croc for a few seconds. So once one was spotted it was all very fast precision. The driver had to get there, the gun man and the harpooner had to almost fire at the exact same moment so they got the crock before it dove for the bottom and they lost the skin! Then it was pulled on board and its head was smashed in. Meanwhile it is being tied up but it is not going quietly or peacefully. Its tail is very powerful so Dad and I had to be careful to avoid it in the dark. Even after being smashed in the head it resisted death. The jungle was alive with night noises and reaction to our boat motor and lights. Monkeys were giving the loudest warnings. It was years ago but I can still hear the noises and feel the adrenalin rush as we approached those eyes in the pitch dark of the river!

CS’ers- Do you still have your Congo History book that we all wrote in the 7^th grade? I have mine and my older grand-girls were amazed we had to actually write our own book to study about Congo! I remember buying the chocolate bars-with or without nuts- at Juke Joint that had the pictures or people, places, animals, musical instruments etc inside. Opening it and getting a picture I needed or a duplicate for trading was always fun. We all needed them for our books. Remember trading pictures? Remember using stamps as pictures too? Cutting up old Life magazines and National Geographic? Unfortunately many the countries I learned have changed their names. My Aunt Nelle Fraser has a wooden map puzzle of Africa in her Montreat home. When I took the grand girls to see her, she dumped it out and asked the girls to put it all together again. They were shocked. “Help us Gigi!”  “I don’t know their new names,” I told them and that they were on their own. ;) They got it done! (Thank goodness!!)

African Gray Parrots- they are all over here! We hear them in the evenings as they fly in to settle for the night. We see them in and out of cages as we go to different places here in town. Their eyes look so sad in the cages. I had one as a pet at Lubondai. It could say “HELP!!” in Tshiluba, French and English. It loved to climb out to the middle of the clothes line and yell for help until someone got tired of the noise and put him back on the ground! We got him from someone- I can’t remember who. Mom would have killed us if we had taught him that trick! ;)

Earlier I was busy at my desk getting budget ready. Feel something on my foot (I am in flip flops). Mind flashes. It is cold and slimy.  Heart speeds up! I slowly look down and it is one of those rear two footed mini snake deals- about the length of a dollar. I don’t scream on anything. Just sit there and ask Helene to come over to my desk. “Right now!” She comes over and goes wild! Screams for the sentry and he and two cooks come running. I am still sitting there with this thing on my foot. I remember Michael showing me a big one and that telling me that they aren’t usually poisonous. So I scoot him off with my pencil. She screams and the guys all laugh. N’zila carries him off in a dust pan.

So that is the end of this week’s Animal Kingdom! Have a great week!

Love Ya! Me

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

"Amazing Coincindences" Continue

32. “Amazing Coincidences” Continue!

Got up this morning with the leftovers- if there is such a thing- of a terrible migraine headache from last night. (Took my medicine and I slept 11 hours!) Our new friends from South Africa – staying here at MPH -were there to meet me as I came in for Breakfast. They wanted to thank me for treating them as a “friend and guest” instead of just a client of the Hostel. Then they wanted to invite Ken and me to come to South Africa and stay at their church guest house and from there go to a Game Reserve and to Victoria Falls-that we had talked to them about doing some day. So maybe in a few years – when we save a bunch of money- (this “Volunteering stuff” is expensive!) we will get to do that. My bucket list in Africa is a Game Reserve –where to quote them “we have the big 5.” Ken’s is to see Victoria Falls again. Guess we old folks never finish our bucket lists, do we?!  It’s something to continue to dream of doing amongst the daily things we have to do! (Never thought we would get to do Congo and look at us!! So maybe!)

Son of Ken's first Nanny/Tatu

I  was sitting in my office earlier when the sentry came to tell me that there is a man here to see Ken! Tells me his last name is N’gench.  As he is brought to my office I speak to him in Tshiluba. He tears up. Then I warn him that Ken will really cry. He did!! He had heard about us from the University Administrator I visited with a couple of weeks ago. (Guess the drums still work! ;) )This man looks just like his father!! He is the son of Ken’s Nanny at Bulape. (His father also came to see us in Kentucky and Clint’s baby book has a picture of him being held by Tatu Shamba N’gench.) We visited for about an hour. He is bringing his family back to see us on Thursday afternoon. He had a horrible looking and still very swollen- almost sort of  healed now- sore on his right ankle. It has been infected off and on for months- almost a year. He had to quit his job. Says it gets better and then abscesses again. It is all swollen about 1/3 of way up from his ankle to knee. It looked feverish to me but I did not touch it. (I told Ken at lunch I think it is in the bone-but what do I know!! I was a Social Studies teacher and I did not sleep at a Holiday Inn last night!!) Ken told him that infectious disease is Clint’s specialty and he works on things like that. Ken says he did say the doctor mentioned amputation! Sad!!  This other picture is of him in his mother's arms at Bulape!                                   
It’s a small world after all!

Poor cooks are still having trouble finding stuff in the pantry and putting it back where it belongs. “Mama Lenore, Ou est..?” (Where is..?) Inge arranged it so that it can all be seen at a glance and/or read in French in alphabetical order!  And there are at least two of everything- so matching to replace should be easy! Steep learning curve!! Seems so easy! But I guess not! Things still being put where they use to be stored. Then to top it all off they did not do an exit count for a lot of the week. So when Inge went in to count  this week, it was all wrong. One cook especially does not record- he can’t read!  So she is thinking of going to a kitchen manager and only he receives and distributes all food items. He and the two of us will have the only keys and combination. Then this morning  one of the cooks plugged in the major large coffee pot without first plugging in the transformer and did to it what I did to my curling iron. Two big conferences next week and no huge coffee pot! Oh Dear! Above my pay grade- thank goodness!

Thursday is Lisa Sthreshley’s B’day and a bunch of us have been invited to go out to celebrate with her. She calls us Aunt Lenore and Uncle Ken! Fun!  (Not Aunt George-so she’s not “in the know!) We are going to Limoncello- an Italian restaurant. Ken and I have not been there yet!  He is still talking about how good the sole was last Friday. The Sthreshley kids both head back to college this next Sunday. One to Emory to continue Grad school and Michael to his sophomore year at U. of Hawaii in Hilo. So Mom and Dad will be Empty Nester's in less than a week. ;(

I’m in deep depression (and not from malaria medicine!). Football – REAL football- not this soccer stuff! (Which is like watching grass grow- takes forever!!) -started last night! For the first time in 40+years I missed the Hall of Fame game! I will have to get up at 1-2-3 AM to check scores once the seasons (NFL AND college) start!! Thank goodness for 104.3 radio in Lubbock- we can get it by App!! Just wish it carried TTU. Anyone know an App that carries TTU?

Yea! The money the deposit slip says I should have and the cash I have in the safe MATCH! So I have that awful part done. It freaks me out every Monday for fear I will do something wrong!  I’d say that is my least favorite part of this job since Math was not my thing- ever! It’s all numbers to me! ;) My guys are busy as they can be cleaning a bunch of rooms where folks checked out today. At least we started with a completely clean laundry room this morning. I washed and dried 5 loads Saturday and Sunday to get us all caught up. Have 14 checking in tomorrow – just an iddy biddy number compared to the French! ;)    I guess it really is all relative! ;) Sentry just brought another guy in. He wanted a place to stay. So I used the trick question “ Why are you in Kinshasa?” “I’m here from Matadi to work and rest.” Buzz. Wrong answer! So I then explain we are a place only for missionaries and ministers and Church groups on way in and out of country. “Well, the guy that use to run it let me stay here.” Helene backed me up and said things have changed. So he smiled and left. Humm… Thank goodness Cindy had taught me that trick question before she left for vacation! I don't know who any one is that walks in or writes an email! So get I them in if I can and don't if I can't. So I can't be accused of bias!

When we get home every meal for a month may be Mexican food or BBQ!! Miss it so!! Folks ask around the meal table what I miss the most and my answer is,"My granddaughters!" The rest is all something I'll get back to. Five months is a lot of changes in the little ones- ballgames, dance recitals,  Emery's first lost tooth,little people birthday parties and those special "not at college yet" 17th and 15th Birthdays for the older girls! Sidney will begin Driver's Ed soon and Callie may have narrowed in on a college without one single question from Gigi! Wow! How will she manage that? :)

I head to the apartment at the end of the day and open the door and all three living 1creatures jump! Ken and two cats-who were in his lap- fighting for Ken’s attention, jump. Got a picture of one- Bella  jumped just before I took the picture! The three of them talk in the AM and leave me totally out of the conversation.  “When she does this,” Ken tells me, “it means she wants you to rub her stomach!” This from the guy that has never been a cat guy but cats have always loved him!

The 14 folks are recruiting seminary students. Several are from the Kasia so we spoke Tshiluba and hugged and kissed Congo Style. They are all very quiet and respectful . Even with MPH full again it is quiet. After supper a few sat around and visited and then went to their rooms and crashed- like Ken and I do!  Last night/this morning at 1:13 my MPH phone goes nuts. It’s a text message from a pastor who wants a $27 room for 4 nights and arriving early in the AM- and he did at 7:15!!. So guess who was awake forever! Lesson learned- silence the MPH phone at night!

Today while I have been working Ken has found some pictures of their old house and Shamba and other pictures from here in Kinshasa. So I'll share those with you as I have time.The other pictures included are one from our past that we thought you would enjoy seeing. No special order. Just fun Memories.  Also at the end of the Post is the MPH Granola Recipe. It is soooo good. From what the cooks tell me - it is from Mama Flo Sthreshley. The recipe I copied was in her hand writing in French! (I did translate it for you!!)Told Inga she needs to frame it and hang it in the Dining Room!! Folks ask for it all the time!

 

 

MPH Granola

 

4 cups oatmeal

3 cups flour or whole wheat flour
1 cup grated coconut – in Congo it is fresh of course!
1 cup small unsalted peanuts – already dry roasted without skins 
 t salt
½ cup water
1 cup oil
1 cup sugar
2 t vanilla

Mix dry ingredients
Mix wet ingredients
Mix wet into dry
Spread out on cookie sheet/sheets
Bake at 150* for one hour
Cool and store in moisture proof container

31. "There Will Be-There IS- Peace in the Valley!"

Well, it is peaceful. We had 45 for lunch and the French are now loading up and getting ready to go. I have tried and tried to tell them to go earlier this morning because it is a weekend afternoon and checking their bags in at the airport and going through customs, getting their $50.00 GO PASS- after they have boarding passes-to exit the airport by plane (Money for airport improvements) -for 24 people is a challenge in America and France- much less here! But they insist that three hours(quit laughing Montana group and Jimmy Shafe!!) before flight time is plenty of time to drive between MPH and the airport, do customs and checking in baggage and checking in and departure. OK!  So hopefully it works. We are full again here at MPH by six PM tonight! So no rooms in the Inn and we don’t have a manger for a bed to lay their head!!

So guess what the guys and I are now doing!! Yep!! Sheets and towels and turning rooms!  While they started the rooms, I went and got all of the tent and extra room mattresses down the halls to the storage closet area. They aren’t that heavy and I just pulled them. Then Ken unlocked the closet so Baba could put them all back in the closet after lunch. One of the two ladies-who is also staying in one of the dorm rooms-came to me this morning to ask when all the French were leaving. Their noise at night she told me only lasts about 15 minutes. But with 16 others trying to use three showers and sinks and toilets it is a big challenge – especially in the mornings when she has to leave for the evangelistic work she and her South African group are doing here in town right after breakfast. I apologized-because that is all I could do.

Today is Ken’s Birthday and we are going out to a Greek owned restaurant. Our Chauffeur is helping the guy- with the soccer balls going over the fence- Antonio Martinez- drive a Land Cruiser up country.  (Antonio will be working- through Myers Park Presbyterian Church in Charlotte, NC- on the redesign of Pax - in Kananga -into a better clinical use.) Estimated time for the trip ranges from 3 days to a month! It all depends on the minor roads off the beaten track.  (Found out they got stopped by the police yesterday. Antonio did not have the pink paper. It does not come on a new car for months but they had all of the other documents. They knew that but were hoping for a bribe. So Antonio and Emanuel were taken to several police offices and Antonio was calling Larry. With not much French I am sure it was a hoot- after the fact- ! But not bribe paid and a delay they were back on the road.) So our Chauffeur’s twenty-two year old son, Francie, will be our driver until Emanuel returns. Don’t know our plans for the rest of the weekend other than I am going to have to have a bit of down time before Monday gets here. I can feel the – my terminology- “chipmunks running in my head”- so I know I need a break!  The internet is so slow most of the time that I can’t get my Kindle (have been trying for two days so far to get it all done!) to download my August issue of Southern Living. I am sure a good Southern Living fix would do me wonders! ;)) So, I may just have to settle for counted Cross Stitch. (Yes, I find that relaxing!) ;))


Birthday Supper, in Ken’s words, was” Outstanding!” He had fillet of sole with white wine sauce and topped with crab, lobster and shrimp. I had Pepper fillet. Both were delicious! Service slow but great for Congo. I ordered a Greek Mixed sort of salad and it was sooo good. Chauffeur’s son is not as aggressive a driver as his dad but was a great driver in this horrible traffic. I’m sure he did not want to wreck the car on his first day out! The restaurant is called La Piscine (The Pool) and is where an old swimming club used to be. Now it is a pool with a restaurant around it. Not sure how clean the pool was but in the dark we could not tell. Water Fountain- in the old Kiddy Pool was really neat! Sprayed for mosquitoes before we left but felt none. The Spray the Health Department in NC told us to get for our clothes is awesome!! Ken is a mosquito magnet and with this stuff he has no problems. I will get some for PK when we get, a Congo Cat roamed up. It had similar markings as Dave the Cat at Possum Kingdom Lake only in Khaki instead of gray/black. So I told her about Cousin Dave at the lake. She said he sounded nice- and spoiled!

 Well, I am done for awhile. I am taking the rest of the day off- sort of. I am sitting in the Dining area and still on my computer. Will get this done and then some signs for the pantry for Inge. Getting my office cleaned, getting more sheets and towels washed. They are scraping the side of the building outside of my office so it is noisy. Found out at that Francie will probably be the day chauffeur for MPH. Looks like IMA will hire Emanuel as a full time chauffeur. Great news for him sad for Ken because they have "bonded." Have a great rest of the weekend.

Love ya!  Me