"More Rain,..Finally Quit, So Church & Sunshine!"

August 26, 2012, Sunday @ Station Katshungu, Congo

Church service @ Station Katshungu, Congo

 

                                             Tom, Roger, Pastor Masudi & Bible School Leaders

     Did you notice in the title that IT STOPPED RAINING!!!  PTL & PTL.  Breakfast today was kinda meager, as we were running low on supplies,..having sent most supplies on to Station Katanti via bicycle.  So, we had coffee, cheese, & a little bit of coffee cake.   Ezra came by and made a nice speech to thank our parents, and us, for coming to bring the Gospel to the Congo. 

     Since it had stopped raining the Pastors decided to ring the bell for church.  Great fun, worshipping with the 150+ who came out to the meeting.  Each of us "Bazungu,-white people),-were "presented" to the crowd, & then, we each said a few words of greeting.  Great fun!   A little of my Kilega dialect was returning to my brain,-so I was able to communicate a few sentences to the people,..in their language!  The church service consisted of 3 songs,-and their custom is to sing ALL of the verses to EVERY song used!  Announcements followed the singing, & then, the 1st of 3 offerings was taken up!  There was a Scripture reading, more singing, & a 'special' number.  Pastor spoke on the 'woman at the well'.  At the end, a closing song was sung,..& Tom closed with a prayer. 

     One big DOWNER!,...while we were at church someone broke into one of the Pastor's houses and stole a bunch of his belongings.  I'm sure I mentioned that theft here is rampant?    Usually, he had someone stay at his house during his absence,..however, his wife was not available, as she was at the hospital.  WOW.   One reason for theft problem is:  Prices!!  Example(s): a TINY bit of sugar costs $10;  a TINY bit of salt costs $5; Gasoline is between $25-$30 a gallon.  MERCY!!!  The "jeunnesse" took items & money from the Pastor's house....

     After church, we visited the burned out/trashed church,-wrecked in the last uprising,-&then, found Tom's Mom's(Betty) grave on a hillside.   Went to the hospital, since Tom hadn't looked it over yet,..and met a man from Station Katanti, who knew my parents.  He also remembered that he had played softball with me as a kid in the '50's!!  The hospital is run via solar panels hooked up to batteries and an invertor. 

     Following lunch, Tom worked again on Phillip's piki piki,..and got it running!   Since it is a long ride to our next destination,-Station Katanti,-we decided to stay one more night, & leave early the next morning.  Also, we made a deal with some local guys to transport us for $40 & 8 liters of fuel.  HALLELUJAH,..things are coming together!

Medical Records @ Hospital

     I asked about the absence of monkeys & snakes,..as when I lived here before, they were rampant & we often came across them.  Anyway, the monkeys have been hunted so much for food, that they are now 3 hours walk into the jungle,...for their own safety.  Snakes are not as plentiful as they used to be either,...yes,..people do eat some snake meat.  We talked a long time with Pastor Masudi,..then decided we'd leave the next day at 9am. 

     Went to bed at a decent time,......NO DAY is uneventful in the Congo,..so we need to be READY for the challenges of the upcoming motorbike trip thru the jungle to Station Katanti.........

Rogers, Banwamazi..