We have determined that Rule Number One is a powerful rule in the Congo. Simple, but true!
RULE NUMBER ONE
NOTHING IS EVER EASY IN THE CONGO!
NO PROBLEM! (Don't let things get you down!)
If you just remember that rule, you can be happy here.
Last week Katuba stake borrowed our generator for conference. NO PROBLEM! We had hardly used it since the power had been on most of the time since we got it. NO PROBLEM! They brought it back and hooked it up. NO PROBLEM! Yesterday the power went out. So, we cranked up the generator. NO PROBLEM!
It worked for 30 seconds and then black smoke came pouring out. NO PROBLEM? Two guys spent 6 hours taking it apart, putting it back together, trying it without success, taking it apart, putting it back together, etc. NO PROBLEM? They declared it fixed at 6:00PM, just about three hours after the power had returned. Then, the power went out about 7:00. NO PROBLEM! We ran to turn on the "repaired" generator. It lasted 20 seconds. There was more black smoke filling the air and no power. NO PROBLEM? Today the power is out again.
SOLUTION to all of the above:
Consult RULE NUMBER ONE
3 comments:
Pro de probleme . . . (murmuring)We are laughing - you two are well acclimatized. Now we ae in Uganda we realize here it is "No problem" much the same but different - love, love, love your blog each time we read it we don't know whether to laugh or cry but usually do a little of both for various reasons.
Not sure that rule is all inclusive to just the Congo! And if there is a 'second rule' would it be: don't pay the repairman until the generator works properly? We are enjoying your adventures, thanks for sharing!
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