Getting Started

It is now Friday 5th March and we haven’t had the right combination of TIME, ELECTRICITY, and INTERNET connection to update our Blog! Life is not as we know it in the UK! At the moment I am typing, but will have to wait to send…whenever later today! Maybe soon, maybe not!


Our B.A. flight was good; the 13 hours at Entebbe Airport was ‘interesting’!! And the MAF flight to Bunia was amazing in a VERY small Cessna [1 pilot and 4 passengers!]. And it’s the first time we’ve flown with a pilot who said “I’ll just say a prayer before we take off”….no panic! Then 1 hour 15 minutes over incredible views of lakes, rivers, swamps and forests. Dr. Nancy met us, and helped us get a fairly speedy form filling completed in the immigration office.

The 15 minute drive in their 4x4 Land Cruiser immediately introduced us to DR Congo’s pot-holed dirt/mud roads! Pot-holes? Craters and deep ruts! It’s like being in an unevenly balanced tumble drier! The seat belts barely hold you down! And we were also immediately in the heart of REAL Africa! It is amazing!

The house is like an old colonial style ranch with a verandah, and surrounded by high bamboo fencing. The facilities are basic, but warm and welcoming. Power is very limited, and it is ‘shut down’ around 9 pm, so off to bed! Up at 6am, breakfast at 6.30 and out to the Nursing College, Clinic or Hospital at 7.15am!

Today we were taken to the large Brethren Church at 7.30 for a Nursing Students’ Service [Approx 240 students there]. Prayers, Ministry, and amazing, beautiful and emotional African singing by the congregation and various groups of students. We were also introduced and welcomed with cheering and applause!

We then went to the Nursing College, where Nancy was teaching a class of about 120 students, in a very hot and small classroom [Our U. K. Health and Safety would only allow a quarter of that number!]. We were shown round the whole complex, which is very basic, but in a lovely location! Then John started the process of having discussions to see how he can best assist the staff with their computer systems.

I’ve surprised myself with how much French I can conjure up when necessary! Conversing with the Wood’s 3 very jolly Domestic Staff [cook, cleaner/laundry and gardener] was hilarious when we were left at home to acclimatize ourselves yesterday! The gardener is also chief ironer! You should see the immaculate shirts etc. under his expert hands with the red hot charcoal embers in the open topped iron!

We will be in touch with more news and experiences soon, but bear with us if it isn’t as regular as hoped! Daily can be a problem!

Keep Praying for us, and for all the wonderful and dedicated work we are discovering here with Nancy and Philip and their Medical staff.

Janice.