Rain.....

From what I am told, the death toll from houses collapsing, due to heavy rains, is standing at about 12 - 15 lives. One set of parents lost all 6 of their children! Please pray for the many grieving families?

These events are taking place in a couple of areas of the city.....not close to us.

Heavy rainfall again today, but only for a short time, so I hope it did not cause further damage.

Dear Canada; I hope this makes the COLD a little easier to tolerate??

Rain.....

From what I am told, the death toll from houses collapsing, due to heavy rains, is standing at about 12 - 15 lives. One set of parents lost all 6 of their children! Please pray for the many grieving families?

These events are taking place in a couple of areas of the city.....not close to us.

Heavy rainfall again today, but only for a short time, so I hope it did not cause further damage.

Dear Canada; I hope this makes the COLD a little easier to tolerate??

This lady, packs up her baby and leaves home each morning to walk for 2 hours to come to class! I think we are going to pick her up on the way tomorrow.

I have been told that there are men walking 10 and 20 K (one way.....and yes they come and go each day)! It is hard for us to fathom, isn't it?

This lady, packs up her baby and leaves home each morning to walk for 2 hours to come to class! I think we are going to pick her up on the way tomorrow.

I have been told that there are men walking 10 and 20 K (one way.....and yes they come and go each day)! It is hard for us to fathom, isn't it?

Mudaka....

Today, after teaching pastor's conference, we shared lunch. If I had known there were to be no forks, I might have left behind the boiled potato and lengalenga (a spinach textured vegetable)! However, by the time I found out, I was committed. So I sat down and watched. As it happens, you push your thumb into the hot potato to break it apart,and then balance some lengalenga on top of a piece of potato, and pop it in your mouth. I felt quite at home in spite of the room full of locals all watching! Some of the food even made it to my mouth!
Afterwards, the senior pastor said "we were testing you to see if you would eat with your fingers." I asked if I had passed? He simply smiled and said "Yes! And tomorrow you will have a fork!"
(Do you think they noticed the food on my face?)
LOVE these people!

Mudaka....

Today, after teaching pastor's conference, we shared lunch. If I had known there were to be no forks, I might have left behind the boiled potato and lengalenga (a spinach textured vegetable)! However, by the time I found out, I was committed. So I sat down and watched. As it happens, you push your thumb into the hot potato to break it apart,and then balance some lengalenga on top of a piece of potato, and pop it in your mouth. I felt quite at home in spite of the room full of locals all watching! Some of the food even made it to my mouth!
Afterwards, the senior pastor said "we were testing you to see if you would eat with your fingers." I asked if I had passed? He simply smiled and said "Yes! And tomorrow you will have a fork!"
(Do you think they noticed the food on my face?)
LOVE these people!

And today the forecast is for.....RAIN......still or again?....I am not quite sure.....did it stop?....I can’t recall.....I may have missed that fleeting  moment......

The majority of people travel on foot everywhere, it makes for miserable conditions. Vehicles have trouble navigating through washed out roads and craters of gooey muck.

Leaving the city tomorrow to hold seminar with 60+ men and women, the roads to Mudaka are paved (one of the few), so we should be ok. Unlike the locals, I have not mastered the fine art of walking through sludge and keeping myself pristine! I thought walking was walking, but apparently not! I lack a certain flair! (yes, Mother,....I remember!)

The last time my shoes got entirely caked in muck, I went over to the grassy area to wipe them off. I noticed someone approaching rapidly. As I turned, I noticed she was carrying a machete! Running was one option, but before expending the effort I though I would see......she came over, took my shoe and proceeded to slice the mud off in layers. When she was done, she washed my foot and then repeated the process with the other foot!

Another time, I was sitting in the car after returning to the city. The lady of the house, a friend of the family, came out to chat with me. I mentioned that it was raining where we had come from. She was surprised. She asked for my shoes, and gave me her own (to wear while sitting in the car) while she went into the house to wash mine!

You see what I mean about these wonderful people?

And today the forecast is for.....RAIN......still or again?....I am not quite sure.....did it stop?....I can’t recall.....I may have missed that fleeting  moment......

The majority of people travel on foot everywhere, it makes for miserable conditions. Vehicles have trouble navigating through washed out roads and craters of gooey muck.

Leaving the city tomorrow to hold seminar with 60+ men and women, the roads to Mudaka are paved (one of the few), so we should be ok. Unlike the locals, I have not mastered the fine art of walking through sludge and keeping myself pristine! I thought walking was walking, but apparently not! I lack a certain flair! (yes, Mother,....I remember!)

The last time my shoes got entirely caked in muck, I went over to the grassy area to wipe them off. I noticed someone approaching rapidly. As I turned, I noticed she was carrying a machete! Running was one option, but before expending the effort I though I would see......she came over, took my shoe and proceeded to slice the mud off in layers. When she was done, she washed my foot and then repeated the process with the other foot!

Another time, I was sitting in the car after returning to the city. The lady of the house, a friend of the family, came out to chat with me. I mentioned that it was raining where we had come from. She was surprised. She asked for my shoes, and gave me her own (to wear while sitting in the car) while she went into the house to wash mine!

You see what I mean about these wonderful people?

More.....

more rain....
                 more houses sliding down the slopes of Bukavu.....
                                                                       many more  deaths!


Many houses are built quickly for shelter, and there is little attention paid to the foundations!
The results are tragic!

More.....

more rain....
                 more houses sliding down the slopes of Bukavu.....
                                                                       many more  deaths!


Many houses are built quickly for shelter, and there is little attention paid to the foundations!
The results are tragic!

Climate.......

Last night was memorable. There was a terrible storm. Booming thunder, relentless lightening, and torrential rainfall! It went on almost the full night. Sometimes it shook the house, and once it even rattled the windows. I awakened with a start at least three times.

Today we heard of a house that was washed down the embankment onto another home. It caused many deaths. Can you imagine?

The city is a little grungy today, but a few days of sunshine and we should be ‘right as rain’.....where did THAT expression come from, I ask you?

Climate.......

Last night was memorable. There was a terrible storm. Booming thunder, relentless lightening, and torrential rainfall! It went on almost the full night. Sometimes it shook the house, and once it even rattled the windows. I awakened with a start at least three times.

Today we heard of a house that was washed down the embankment onto another home. It caused many deaths. Can you imagine?

The city is a little grungy today, but a few days of sunshine and we should be ‘right as rain’.....where did THAT expression come from, I ask you?