Trying to Explain the Unexplainable

Another two amazing days have passed in the Congo. Each day I think that it will be an ordinary day and it never is. The last two days are no exception. I wish that I could share every experience with family and friends and have you see it all and really take it in like we can,although sometimes it's overwhelming and hard, it also makes us feel a tremendous sense of purpose and we know we are needed most desperately.

First we took a trip 75 miles North to Likasi for a zone conference. There are six incredible missionaries and an African couple there. There are four branches and a beautiful building almost exactly like the one in Lubumbashi. They stand out so much in the surrounding ville. We spent time with our missionaries and loved it and then we went to see the couple Motshikana home, which is very, very nice by African standards. They are a great couple who work with the missionaries and the branches in Likasi. They are the first Congolese couple to ever serve. Their way is paid for by the church and it's worth every penny. Here in the kitchen you can see the water pump and the filters that create safe water. They are pumping water from the red bucket through the filter and into the tap. Ours goes directly to our tap.

Likasi is in a hilly area and the air is clearer and the contour of the land is interesting. It seems to be a little nicer to me, but is smaller and quite isolated. As with all the places we've been there is one main street in the town that is paved and the others are just dirt. This area is very, very dusty.

This big statue in the center of town was built to honor women.

The trip itself to Likasi was something I will never get over. This is the real story of Africa. It is devastatingly sad and overwhelming in its scope, when you realize that we only traveled 75 miles and there are millions living just like this all over the continent. There were probably 30 or more little villages along the way there. Most are without running water or power and they sometimes have to walk long distances to get to water and fuel. You saw them walking along the road all the way carrying water and cassava and every other thing they could have been carrying. These villages were filled with people who live in such poverty that we could not believe our eyes. It's rougher camping that we ever did in all our years of camping. If you have something to sell, you just sit by the side of the road and try to make a little money to keep your family going. If you don't you cook, clean or just sit or visit or whatever one can do with almost no personal belongings. We saw some children playing with a soccer ball made of strips of rags and some dancing. They cook outside on open fires made with charcoal. They eat mostly casava root which they mash by hand and make into a food like mashed potatoes, with a little stew of onions, and maybe peppers or tomatoes in it. There were a few chickens and a few goats. Some of the houses were open and you could see just dirt floors and no furniture inside. Most were less than 10x10 feet. Every two minutes I could have taken a picture like these. It was like that for 75 miles.

It's really quite an overwhelming site. We drove for two hours, on a pretty good two lane highway. When the pot holes get bad they just drive in the dirt on the side of the road.

Then we drove on about 6 miles of "teeth rattling dirt road". Just like four-wheeling! We totally got the giggles because we were bouncing around in the back of the truck. The picture below is the most interesting point in the road trip. This car full of stuff is a NOT very usual sight through the city and villages, but with cows and trucks added and driving off the road to avoid pot holes, it was a great mix of common sites in Africa.

Our friend, Desiree, who drove us this first time, wanted to stop and get some charcoal, which is how they cook. It's much less expensive out in the country then when the bicyclers bring it to town. So, we stopped for some charcoal.

After our long trip yesterday, we decided to find the the produce market in Lubumbashi today.
We got stopped twice by the police and each time they looked at Brent's badge and said "church" or "missionaries" and waved us on. One of them said "We are here to help you!" Africa is a place where spiritual things are important. It's a blessing to serve here. I want you to know that we are not afraid, except of the roads. They have pot holes that you could disappear into and never be found. But these people are warm and kind and very good to us. They are friendly and they appreciate every good thing they get.

These pictures tell the story of the African market. This market went for about a block down the street and a block back behind what you see here. We did find good produce and the people were so glad to have white Americans (muzungus) who will pay lots more than the African people. There were many tender moments-- the street kids who we gave $.60 for a bag for our food who went away smiling because of a big sale--the mother with her tiny baby selling peppers-- and especially the cute lady with pears who chased us down to give us one more pair for our money, which I'm sure was not a good deal, but was a sweet moment. Life is hard in Africa and we are people of great privilege. It makes me so sad and so grateful and so aware of all the work we need to do. We will go back to the market.

We were told that this mission would change us forever, but this trip did that. The light of the gospel needs to shine brightly here in Africa. It is the only hope for this land. I think it will take until the Savior's return to make this a place without terrible suffering. But if you see the light in eyes of the members you will see what real hope is. We are so lucky to share in helping them.