The Binghams, our wonderful humanitarian couple, invited us to go the "the furniture store." They'd had a book case built and were going to pick it up. Here in Congo you can buy things already made and standing along the side of the road or you can order them exactly as you want them. The designs are usually quite a bit alike, but fabrics and dimensions can be specified. You can even just draw them a picture and they'll make it for you. The furniture store is about an hour from our house, but still in Kinshasa. It takes a lot of space for 10 million people to live in a city. A ride through Kinshasa is always an adventure.
So, we went along for the ride to "the furniture store."
There were many men working with only the most primitive tools, but doing some very fine work with just those few simple. I think it's amazing what they can do.
I found some baskets that I really liked. They were woven in a beautiful pattern with very fine reeds of two different colors.
When we walked deeper into the furniture market we saw the men who were weaving baskets. They called the man over who made the baskets I liked to "talk about the price." I just couldn't resist buying the baskets. I also couldn't resist asking the man who made them if I could take his picture. The picture is as a big a treasure as the baskets.
1 comment:
It's 9 August and I'm finally catching up with your posts. Life looks good in the DRC. We would love to share some of your experiences, but it's not our turn to serve far away right now.
Just some random thoughts - missionaries from Madagascar - the longest name in our mission was Randriampamonjisoa - she goes by Sister Randria. Some of those missionaries from Madagascar, Mozambique and even Uganda could speak no English when they arrived in the mission. What faith they have to accept the call of a prophet and go forward with no formal language training in the South Africa MTC.
Youth conference - fantastic. In ZA things were fairly well organized and such things were not being done for the first time. It is wonderful that it is happening in DRC.
Crossing the river to Brazzaville - what an adventure. Glad you didn't miss you plane to "Paris". 127 missionaries are blessed to have you there for them. When we left ZA, the Kinshasa mission was still the highest baptizing mission in the Africa Southeast Area - keep it up.
We have met with the stake president for our release, the High Council to report and spoken in sacrament meeting. This week we had our post mission physicals except for the TB skin test - their supply was out of date. we will go back to get them.
We are going to bicycle the Oregon coast beginning two weeks from today - not as much time to get back in shape as I need. We will then leave right after Labor Day for a long trip to visit kids throughouth the USA - catch up on how big the grandchildren have grown, etc.
Thanks for the blog and the pictures.
Love,
Rusty
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