Leadership Day Training

Today I rose to the challenge and taught 200 leaders some games and points about working with children. I had a day to prepare it all. I was a little nervous that I don't really have an African context for my information. I haven't seen a lot of teachers or leaders in action yet. Even though I think a few points dropped to the ground, they were good sports when i had them hang toilet paper from their pants and try to stomp on each others tails.

I'm all about the fun!

Esther translating for me.

Students learning a group game...
even though it looks like they are just very affectionate!

Finally in Goma!!!!!

Have you ever had a time when you knew you were exactly where you were supposed to be? That moment when you heart and your mind connect and you know it's for something much bigger than yourself? I'm having one of those moments..........

Just arrived in Goma today. Since I first saw it on CNN I knew I needed to come, but not sure what I would do. Anyways, the dream has happened and here I am. Many of you have heard of the horrid rape stories that seem to continue on and on. There are also thousands of streets kids and orphans (some of which I met even today). I have hit the ground running. I am helping to get ready for an Easter Party for 5,000 kids and counting. Through the week I'll give more details. My first task is to let my fingers fly and imput the 5,000 names into a database for this event. I was wisked from the plane today and visited the site of the party and invaded some little stores almost wiping them out of things we needed to put together for the 5,000 prezies.

The place I'm staying at is beautiful and reminds me a little of B.C. with the view from my bedroom window. It's now midnight and i'm under my moz. net. Better get some sleep for the big day tomorrow!

HOUSE ARREST!

Instead of schools being closed due to snow here in the Congo, they're closed because of shoot outs.
This has been a really weird week, starting with the broken down car and people frenzy now, the rival political party (who lost)
is allegedy seeking assylum in the S.African Embassy. Kabila, who is President is trying to dis-arm all of Bemba's men. There was talk of this last Thurs. and nothing happened. Well yesterday it started in the city. We went the other direction near Kinshasa University to visit Georgette and the kids.
As we were just about to leave we got a few phone calls telling us to get home now. Apparently there was lots of shooting downtown. The Turners had more gunshots outside their house. When we got home from Georgette's the electricity was cut so we were sitting in the dark listening to the occasional shots. I thought it was thunder but it turns out they had some kind of bombs.

We had sort of made plans for today...but when we woke up, we found out that 3 stores in town where we buy our groceries had been pillaged (I have to confirm how serious this was). We were told by many not to leave the house today and we could see a huge fire off in the distance. As we sat perspiring at home with our tuna sandwiches (sorry for the imagery) there was some excitement in our neighborhood as we heard shots and noticed the shops across the street close up and the security guys (with guns) were ordering people to get off the street. I took a funny picture though of some dude sauntering down the street listening to his tunes and the security guy yelling at him to get off the street. Sounded like shots coming from our neighbors 2 doors down. Anyways, we could hardly do anything today as we were exhausted from the heat and all the excitement of everything going on. We were passing out in the afternoon but finally the electr. came on so now we're able to cook tonight :) Our next door neighbor in the apartment is looking out for us and she speaks english. She was going to boil some hot water for us. We really have to invest in one of those cookers (like a camping burner) that the Congolese use.
That's all the fun for now. Of course I haven't been able to get to internet for awhile. It's pretty sad how cut off i feel. I'm so pampered! haha. Keepin' it real in the Congo!
Dude sauntering with walkman....
Picture I took downtown today...check out the windows.

GAWKER SLOWDOWN

Gawker Slowdown

Mar. 21 - What a Night,Day,Life!! Where to begin?...well the way back I guess.
Not to leave my readers hanging for too long I hope to awaken your senses with this painful story of patience, more patience and lions (okay maybe no lions!)

After an already long day of piercing french and gruelling heat..or maybe that's gruelling french and piercing heat....we (the 3 whiteys) began to make our way home around 7pm. Just for some background...this is a route that takes 15 min. with no traffic. With bottleneck, bumpercar, peoplefrenzy, crash'em derby traffic jam like tonight...um 1 hr. to move a distance of 1.5km I fell asleep at one point but when i woke up the gas station sign that should've been behind us was still off in the distance. Adding to this joy were the people tapping on our window, the double and triple lanes of cars trying for a quick bud-in. The worst point in this however was that tensions were mounting and cars were literally heading in all directions. 1 car even hit a cop - we thought for sure a riot would break out. If I was to draw a diagram of the traffic pattern with my keyboard it would look something like this L\T/l--
o.k. that doesn't quite do it justice and of course no camera to capture the moment. There were cars coming from all angles adding to the pandemonium, they were cutting across from a backroad shortcut. No rules, no control, no movement.

Finally after almost 2 hrs. like this we were able to stick it into 2nd gear. Then we turned the corner and watched the lights, people and noise vanish in the distance. As we bombed down the dark road with our new freedom, I looked at the front dashboard to see an orange light flicker on and off, the Surf jumped like a bunny and then everything went black as Krista pulled over to the side of the road. Great! So close, yet so far away. We began to call different people that we knew. Of course, phones weren't working, we only had a few minutes left on our calling cards and the people on the streets were trying to "assist" with the prospect of money. We were able to locate a faithful friend who was going to come and tow us. Meanwhile, condensation was building on the inside of the windows as we tried to gasp for air. Too many people kept banging on the windows outside to make it a viable option to open the door or check under the hood ourselves.

The vendors across the street were going to pack up for the night as it was now 10pm, but they came to let us know they would wait because it wasn't safe and people 'do bad things'. There was only one little light bulb on that whole street coming from their shack. Then they tried to move us and say they could help us...all kinds of things. I was trying to put it all in perspective comparing this to life in Japan. Not quite the same....in fact, it did happen to me in Japan and i was alone but somehow...there isn't the same sense of danger and also it wasn't at night. Back to my story..

Finally-to our great relief 2 whiteys came to our rescue. As they tried tying the rope about 50 Congolese (okay maybe 5) tried pushing while the e-brake was still on. Then of course, this brought people out of the woodwork and before you know it...we have successfully created our own gawker slowdown. The cars were piling up in both directions because they couldn't pass. Ooh la la. We made it home the rest of the way being towed & burning the rubber brakes. It was now 4 hrs. since we left our starting point 7km away. I almost want to end the story here because it's just too embarrasing to continue. But I'll suck up my pride to let you know that when we finally got it in the parking lot and had some light to look under the hood....a loose battery cable was discovered and VOILA - the engine started up. Ok ok, i know i can hear your groans but seriously, we couldn't see anything before in the pitch black! Next morning we noticed the Hylux tire cover had been stolen right off the back tire. Maybe today we'll drive by there to see if anyone is selling it on the road!

Georgette's Kids

4 sofas and a taxi

Yet again, another day where plans changed. The ONE thing that was stable (french class) now pulled out from under us.
1 French teacher sick with cold and now going to the hospital cancelled class. Hmm. Instead, on our way to the office we decide to check out the couches that have received our attention for a month. Of course, we tried to hide in the car so they wouldn't jack the price up when they saw the whitey's. No such luck-we were discovered. The price was too high. We decided to go park around the corner while our friend Florance got out, walked down a back way to another store directly across the street. Same couches, much nicer price and it was settled. THEN we drove back to sit on them. Nice. Then came the task of finding a vehicle to transport the 4 pieces. Florance has a friend with a taxi van and.......oh there he was passing us with about 15 passengers. We both pull over, she makes the arrangements. We go home for the money then meet at the rendevous point. You can see from the pictures below how it all went down. Pretty funny and pretty mind blowing for a thing that had become frustrating for a month. We finally had all 4 pieces in the front room within 2 hrs. of first leaving the house.
Another TyPIcAL day in the CONGO!

More drive by shootings (behind tinted windows!)

As promised...the road in front of our apartment!

Bus in the ditch!

A TAXI

Totally spoiled today§ just when i felt so weary from the heat, no electricity or water.....the workers decided to work today...and together....that means - AIRCONDITIONING for us...well at least in my room. we hauled the plastic table and chairs in brought our study books and everything else and hunkered down (what a word).
im currently across the street at the internet cafe where everybody knows my name...well maybe not my name but for sure my white face! i have like 5 min. left on this crawy fench keyboard; haha... i just saw qwhat i typed i cant go back to fix it though..dude is looking over ,y shoulder! ah...iùve never knoz such pressure;
it is not raining, nor is it sunny. we are literally hunkered dozn (thereùs that word again) in our apart,ent for the day as we were warned not to go into town as the opposing military force has been given a deadline of tonight ,idnight to get all of his forces out of the city. the uN has ramped up their forces and so we will see how everything goes tomorrow when people pop their heads out again and battle the ( lanes of traffic and potholes everywhere to get into town; i HAV4E to include a picture next time of the road that has been rapidly eroding outside our palce due to rain; somebody filled it with broken tiles that will for sure puncture any tire... AAAAAAAAAAAAAAhhhhh - ripping it up in the Congo :-)

Kid at Heart

The hot weather brought another torrential downpour in the middle of the afternoon yesterday.
As we were scrambling for buckets to catch the sudden flow of interior water, I heard a shout of glee (yes really)
As i looked out the back window, i saw the neighbor boy striped down to his yellow flip flops, dancing like crazy under the flow of water from his roof. It would have been a great soap commercial as he lathered up and danced around. I was just about to join him when i thought he may be embarrassed that i saw him. It looked like fun! Instead i slyly took some photos in the dark.
It was like Billy Elliott (busting out African style).

International Women's Day

"Yes to justice. No to violence against women."
Each woman had this inscribed on their dress uniquely made for this day.
As we talked of la femme noir et la femme Afrique I thought of:
strength, courage, resourcefulness and confidence.
My mind wandered to the plight of many of the women in the remote areas of this nation. Does anyone hear them?
Will justice be served? Violence beyond description continues today....I pray one day soon these women may have a voice or at least someone who will speak for them.

A Sketchy Night....

I think there is no usual or typical day here in the Congo.
Especially when you TRY to make plans - they usually backfire on you and then the complete opposite ends up transpiring.

So...today...started out like any other day - unknown. The weather proved to be a challenge to our un-acclimatized bodies. You could almost see the steam rising up from the dust in the market. We managed to stay awake through French class as our eyelids were heavy and the air stiffling. Our teacher joked about how we are not yet used to the weather and then he compared himself going to Canada. For some reason he was talking about Eskimos and icefishing. I told him I have never seen an eskimo myself. I found it quite amusing as he emphatically rolled his ''R'" as he exclaimed,"Il fait trrrrrrres, trrrrrrrres froid au Canada". He tried to imagine himself with a parka and boots. He thought he would probably die.

After class, we took a detour that actually led us downtown. We had to pick up a few things, which brings me to my story. We were downtown in the middle of rush hour which is anywhere from 5:30 - 8:00pm We hadn't eaten dinner and so decided to grab a bite. The restaurant was a diamond in the rough?!? The building is a 7 story dilapidated moldy looking apartment type thing. One could take the risk or stairs....7 flights in the dark....or the risk of an old style elevator manned by an operator. The elevator smells and can tightly fit 4 people...tonight being 3 whiteys and our operator. I could hardly refrain from laughing in the nervous silence of 4 of us touching side by side and we all gazed straight ahead at the operator's head. I thought this was quite amusing and should've burped or something just to add to the enjoyment. Anyways, we made it to the top but the restaurant wasn't totally open so we climbed the flight of stairs over boxes, as the owner's kids ran around the restaurant - we found our seats on the balcony overlooking the city. It is here that one might forget they are in the heart of Africa...or maybe not as you look down to the road and see garbage flying and people hanging out of doorways and fires burning in the road.

As we sat overlooking the city and eating our food we had a great view of Kinshasa and finally cooled down from the breeze as the piercing lightning illuminated the city for us. Helpful...yet as the winds began to pick up and our tablecloth and plates almost flew over the edge we scrambled inside as the windowpane shuttered. We made small chat with the cheerful waiter and talked about last night's storm and the sketchy elevator in the storm. Great. Our way down was even more exciting than our way up as the attendant almost stopped too late and we would have had to crawl up out of the elevator. (Mr. Monk's worst nightmare) Thankfully we made a normal exit.

With full stomachs we drove through almost empty streets as dust flew and the moisture was visible under street lights. Halfway home the heavens opened up and people were in a frenzy, darting in front of cars and ducking under gas stations (looked like 500 people under one awning) doorways and large tabletop umbrellas that blew inside out. We found the road into our neighborhood and drove down the deserted street which literally became a torrential river....maybe there is another reason our car is called a "Surf". We played chicken on the way with another car as the sudden river was rushing down the edges of the road and neither car wanted to move over. When we parked the car, I hiked up my skirt, grabbed my things and blasted like a banshee through the mud, lightning and torrential downpour to a dark apartment - no electricity. After closing all the open windows we grabbed buckets and lined them up down the hallway to catch the water from the leaky roof. Ahhhh.. home sweet home! What a great day! never the same!!
As i type this I hear thunder exploding like 10 cannons at once. - cool.

I see kids rise up in joy in spite of their circumstances....
I see a woman who gives all that she is to provide for 54 children
I see hunger in the eyes of the desperate.
I can see a glimmer of hope in those who refuse to give up.

I hear the rhythm of life in the Congo ebbing & flowing each day.
I hear voices raised in expressions of variety.
I hear a symphony of children's shouts & laughter piercing the morning air.
I hear the the sound of courage & hope rising in this place.

I feel the penetrating heat as it cracks the pavement & makes tin roofs dance.
I feel dirty little fingers and they clutch my hands and play with my hair.
I feel anticipation inside me for something greater, for justice to be served.
I feel joy arise as I stand up and dance to the rhythms that i find around me.

This is just a short update for those of you who are wondering "What's going on with the construction of the village?"

First of all, thanks for your interest. I will do my best to keep you all informed of the details of things on this end. Unfortunately, that means switching my mindset - to African time!! For those of you who know what I mean, enough said. Our project developer has met several times with the chief of the land. As well he has had the priviledge of being invited (forced) to a military camp on the top of the hill. They believed him to be a spy but thankfully, he left with the money he came with and all his belongings. While this was actually a scary event, it turns out that a relationship has been made and we just have to make sure to check with eveyone before we go ahead with things.

So the boundaries have been established for the land. Here in the Congo it is important to build something on your property soon after the purchase so someone else doesn't come along and build something. We may need to get a few empty containers in the future just to stake our ground.

Currently, Cammie is in Canada letting people know about the village and need for water, power, land clearing, and houses, etc. Once she returns in April, we will have a better idea of our time line....roughly speaking!

We hope to make a proposal for a well with the Canadian Embassy in April....stay tuned for the results.

Thanks for your continued support and interest! Keep the comments and emails coming :O