Way to Go Scott!

Thanks to the wonders of the internet, camera phones, twitter,and a great son who shared with us, we were able to see and chat in real time with him at his ASU graduation. We are thrilled for him and so happy to have shared his graduation from half way around the world in Africa.

It was really touching to know that we were in his heart today as he was in ours. Thanks for sharing your special day and

CONGRATULATIONS SCOTTY! Way to go!

Zone Conferences

We just finished a round of zone conferences. It seems like six weeks really comes around quickly. It's always a big project. Lunch, talks, workshops and interviews with all the Elders.

But, what a great experience it is to be with these young elders and see their enthusiasm and dedication. They are so fabulous. You can just tell by looking at them that they carry an amazing spirit with them.

We do stand out in a crowd, don't we!

We held a conference in Lubumbashi and in Likasi. Here's our little army of Elders marching off to their areas after a great conference.

We took our Zone Leaders with us to Likasi. I would think that it's a little strange for Elder Kirongozi to go there because that's where he's from, but he seems to do fine with it. I can't imagine going to my hometown while on my mission. We traveled for 2 hours on that bad road to Likasi. It was raining and in one place the road in the village was totally flooded.

This time it almost seemed like there were less potholes and less dirt road. Brent says that he's starting to know where the major, gigantic pot holes are and he serpentines all over and off the road, just like the transport drivers. We got stopped by the police 7 times. It's our record high for one day! Some of them even have gotten to know us and are quite nice to us. One policeman by

the bridge stops us every time and always wants pamphlets. Brent asks him if he'll read them and he always says yes. I think that Brent's getting good at talking his way out of things with the police too. This time two police officers didn't really look all that intent on stopping us, so Brent just waved and moved on. The elders loved it. But then we got stopped down the street and the first officers drove up in a truck. We think that they just commandeered it from some passing person so they could chase us down. We were pretty nervous. But Brent just told them that he was new in town and thought that they were just giving him a friendly wave, and they let us go. We couldn't believe how blessed we were. Seven stops and not a penny poorer. We also gave out two church pamphlets.

I'm just sure the officer by the bridge is going to be a member of the church someday. He just has a good look in his eyes and is very nice to us when he stops us.

We had a good conference in Likasi and then we celebrated Christmas with our elders there since we won't see them again before Christmas. We asked what traditions they had for Christmas and acted like they didn't know what we were talking about. They all said that they stay home with their families, but have no traditions. Some said they have a Christmas tree, but they don't do much. We decided to play the "white elephant gift game" with them--only we put new ties all wrapped up under the tree and they got to choose a package or take a tie from another elder. We weren't sure how it would go over because these are very serious young men, but they seemed to have fun.

Then while Brent did interviews with each elder, I played the audio of the First Presidency's Christmas Devotional for them from my laptop. Scott had downloaded it in French and sent it to us. We don't do well with downloads, so he broke it into pieces. I think that some of the elders had never seen a laptop before. They stood by it and took pictures of themselves. I also think that some of them had never heard Pres. Monson, Ucthdorph or Eyring's voices before. You could have heard a pin drop through the whole program. They concluded every talk with a hearty Amen. It was easy to see that this was something meaningful to them.

As usual, when we go to Likasi, people had heard about our coming somehow and just showed up at the church to talk about things. So Brent had a very busy and stressful time after our conference. He had the District President, a Branch President, a prospective missionary and another brother who needed an interview all there vying for his attention and time. We also feel the pressure to get on the road so that we can get home before dark. So it made for a great deal of pressure on Brent. I just hung out with the Elders and have fun while he stresses. But it was a good day in Likasi.

We will do the same party on Christmas Eve day with our elders in Lubumbashi. We are excited to have a party for our elders. We're doing it in our home. We made invitations for them and gave them money to take a transport here. It amounts to less than a dollar per elder, but without the extra transport money it would be hard for them to come. They get their support from the church and we are all very careful with the 'Widow's mite.' They will work in their areas as usual on Christmas day because the Congolese people are not working and are at home with families. So they say it's a good day to find people to listen to their message. It will be a different Christmas, but we hope, a special time for us all.

Cakes, cakes and more cakes

I had many thoughtful birthday wishes come to the Congo this year. Brent went way out of his way to invite Frere and Soeur Monga to surprise me at dinner in a restaurant. He even found a gift. In Africa that is not easy! Jenna did some wonderful pictures of Eva. Isaac and Trevor made birthday cards and scanned and emailed them and sent a birthday video. I got 42 birthday emails thanks to good friends and family (and Brent and Corinne and a little birthday advertising.)

But the most remarkable thing was done by a good friend, Alan Swensen. His exceptional kindness and service made this a birthday never to be forgotten. He wrote this note.

Then he took it, along with a birthday cake and candles to each of our 6 children's families. He even had a nephew in Utah take one to Ryan's family in Draper, UT.

Alan must have spent the whole day before my birthday driving from his house in Phoenix, in the pouring rain, to our children's homes all over the East Valley.

Here he is delivering the Webbs' cake to Jameson.

Early in the morning on my birthday the Webbs called and sang an adorable version of Happy Birthday and blew out the candles with me. Then they told me about "the cakes!"

Then the cake pictures started arriving by email.

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This was followed by wonderful versions of Happy Birthday and lots of candle blowing and cake eating done on Skype as most of our children's families "ate cake" with us throughout the day.

Then there were more pictures with cakes.

It was so much fun for us all!

This thoughtful act of service will be remembered forever in the Jameson family and will cause us to "pay it forward" and be more thoughtful and giving in the future. What an extraordinary gift from a good friend. Thank you, Bishop Swensen, for your cakes, notes, candles and especially for your great example!

The Rest of the Story...

For those of you who are old enough to know Paul Harvey, now I will tell you ....

"THE REST OF THE STORY."

(That's especially for Stacy who had to hear P. Harvey every day on the way to Jr. High Band!)

When our camera was stolen I was too disconsolate to do more than mourn the loss of so many interesting and unique things to capture in photos, so many wonderful people to remember and how much I would miss blogging. But I did tell Heavenly Father that I needed to have a camera! It was just one of the conditions of staying in the Congo, like the internet.
So.........

• What are the chances that our mission president and his wife would be in S. Africa right now? You can buy anything in S. Africa and at reasonable prices.
• What are the chances that our mission president's wife would be a camera buff?
• What are the chances that she likes to shop?
• What are the chances that Pres. Headlee is in Burundi and she has a little time in S. Africa that she's willing to spend helping us?
• What are the chances that she lived in S. Africa for a year before coming here and knows where to find things?
• What are the chances that they would be coming to Lubumbashi in two weeks? (This will be their first trip here in three months)
• What are the chances that we would have enough cash on hand to pay for a new camera?
• AND... What are the chances that we will be will be getting a new camera for Christmas?
• Very good!

I don't believe that all these stars have lined up at once by chance. HE is watching over His missionaries. I guess I'm staying in the Congo!

SAD DAY

IT'S A VERY SAD DAY IN THE CONGO. OUR CAMERA WAS STOLEN TODAY. WE WENT TO SEVERAL STORES IN PREPARATION FOR ZONE CONFERENCE. IT WAS IN MY PURSE WHEN WE LEFT HOME AND GONE WHEN WE GOT HOME. WE HOPE THERE IS SOMEPLACE HERE TO BUY A CAMERA. WE KNOW THEY WILL BE VERY EXPENSIVE IF WE CAN FIND ONE. SAD DAY! THEN TO TOP IT OFF, THE POWER WAS OFF FOR 13 HOURS.

NOT A GOOD DAY! TOMORROW HAD BETTER BE A BETTER!

Babies on Their Backs

There is an African phenomenon that fascinates us. We can't figure out how this works, but it does. There are some things that we just should import!

One of the traditional dress styles in the Congo has a big fabric wrap that goes around a dress or skirt and blouse. Women tie this big scarf around their waist when it's not being used and it's very fashionable. Sometimes it's made of the same material as the outfit. Sometimes it's not. Sometimes it doesn't even match at all. But it's all OK because the wrap is the most practical thing in all of Africa.

You see women use it around their heads. We thought that maybe it was the answer to a bad hair day. But then we were told that wearing a head scarf is a sign of honor and you can only do it when you are a mother or are aged or in some other way have earned the honor of wearing it that way.

They use it to bundle things that they need to carry on their head or sling over their back.

They wrap up in it when they're cold, use it as a shade when they're hot, protect themselves when it rains or is windy and dusty. They use it to wipe off chairs before they sit down and clean children's messy faces with it.

BUT it's greatest purpose is for carrying their babies, who are too young to walk.

They have a most amazing way of carrying their children on their backs.

They just lean forward, put the child on their back, and throw the wrap around the baby. They tuck it in front at the top and then again at the bottom . They don't even tie it. Then they're set to go! We haven't figured out why the babies don't fall off when being wrapped, or how they stay tucked in and don't come unwrapped and fall out or squirm their way out while their Mothers are walking, but they don't. Actually, they just seem to be totally relaxed and are asleep most of the time.

This lady did a demonstration for me of how she wraps her baby and tucks in the fabric. I could not see why that baby didn't just tumble to the ground. But it was there all day.

Since African families are large, there are woman everywhere with babies on their backs. A family of 8-10 children is not at all uncommon. Sometimes I think that every woman of child bearing age either has a baby or is pregnant, or both. They walk around town with both arms full of things, something on their head, a child in each hand and one on their back. It's amazing!

Three little ones!

They work while carrying a child this way. The ladies at the toll booths who come to sell you things all have a child strapped to their back.

Even little girls carry their siblings on their backs.

It's just amazing, very practical and totally Congolese.

The African Broom

We have been told that the broom is something very typically Africa. It's seen everywhere in the Congo. The people sweep the dirt in front of their shops and homes with these little brooms every day. Even in the villages you see people sweeping around the immediate area of their home. We're not sure how they decide where their yards end and the other dirt begins, but you can see them sweeping, sweeping, sweeping.

Robert, our gardener/gate keeper is holding his broom.

These women fan out along the streets every day and sweep. They sweep the dirt back off the streets and they sometimes sweep the dirt paths along the sides of the streets. We think that they are trying to keep the dust down and remove rock from the paths.

Robert brushes leaves & debris from the flower beds regularly.

These brooms are made of stiff weeds that grow in abundance here. The weeds are bound together with leather cords or string. They come in several sizes and are sold from venders who carry them in baskets on their heads. We think that people sometimes just gather weeds and make their own. We have no idea why they use handleless brooms.There must be a reason. It makes our backs hurt just to watch them. But this is something very uniquely African.

Today we bought a big, new Broom for Robert ($2.20 each)

and one for us to display on our buffet, but definitely not to use!