Wednesday 27th February 2013 continued

Sunday Feb 3rd 2013


When, in our last Blog posting, we said that we probably would not be able to send any more Emails or post to our Blog once we set off on the WEC Centenary Prayer Walk Trek through DR Congo on the 4th February; we were right!! Even though our mobile phones were unpredictably active at some of these remote forest locations, there was definitely no internet, and the only electricity we had for lighting and for charging cameras and phones was from generators or solar panels, and that very limited.

In the morning of Sunday 3rd February Janice and Dr Nancy attended the French speaking church, CECCA20, and John and Dr Philip attended the WEC founded Swahili speaking (and other local languages!!) church, CECCE16 and we said final farewells to our friends in Bunia.

Monday 4th February.

We have enjoyed the hospitality of Mele and Rose Kiraire and their large extended family, and it was sad to leave them.

Drs Philip and Nancy Wood took us to Bunia International Airport (!!!!) to meet our 5 companions for the Trek off the MAF flight from Entebbe. We all took our luggage to Shalom University, Bunia, where we were to spend the night. Then it was off to CECCA16 church for a “Royal Welcome” and Service of Praise Blessing on our two weeks Centenary Trek.

Tuesday 5th February.

After breakfast at 6.30am we were due to leave for the1 ½ hour road journey to Nyankunde. We had been apprehensive to see 2 mechanics working on the old minibus the previous evening! It was missing one front wheel! They were still working on it in the morning!!

 Extra passengers meant 11 adults and 3 children plus all our luggage were eventually “shoe horned“into the vehicle for a very cramped journey on very bad roads!

At Nyankunde we had time to visit the hospital before an MAF flight to Nebebongo.  We flew for an hour over dense forest and landed on the grass airstrip where about a hundred people were waiting to welcome us with a large banner saying “Welcome to Nebobongo” in true MAF style!!

We were then taken to our accommodation in an MAF Guest House, and then to a meeting followed by a big Congolese “feast”!


Wednesday 6th February

The next morning we visited the Nebobongo Hospital wards, clinics and offices.

After lunch with Dr Jean-Claude, the Medical Director,  and his wife, Christine, we prepared for our road travel to Ibambi.  This was an exciting but gruelling   journey through the forest, again over very bad roads; in very crowded vehicles.

Thanks for your interest.  We will try to get the next installement posted in a day or two!!

Janice & John Franklin

Wednesday 27th February 2013

We have been back home for a week now and as you might guess there was a mountain of mail, both paper and electronic, to deal with. Fortunately none of it missed deadlines! That has now been dealt with and the household is just about back to normal, whatever that may be!!!


I have discovered that the last Blog posting was missing a large chunk which I had typed out but somehow was not included in the posting. That explains why you were surprised when the postings stopped as this chunk explained that we anticipated having no internet access for the rest of our Congo visit. So to keep you up to date here is the missing day’s posting. It will be followed by postings which will update you on the rest of our visit!


Saturday 2nd February 2013

Last evening Janice had a last minute request!! We had brought with us some redundant flannel graph teaching aids from our home church. These had been passed on to the Sunday School Superintendant at the WEC Swahili Church, CECCA16 here in Bunia. The request was, could she go to the church at 9.0am Saturday to teach how to use this material. She was anticipating language problems knowing that it is a Swahili speaking church but she is sure that whoever is there to be taught will find some way of communicating!! So that is where she is this morning.

John is at ISTM for a final session with librarian, Moseka. And to publish this Blog posting!!

This is likely to be the last posting as we have been told that there is no electricity and no running water on the trip!! In which case it is unlikely that we will find an internet connection unless one of the larger churches has a generator and the necessary facilities!! We have a busy Sunday, tomorrow, and then, on Monday, we welcome the rest of the “walkers” at Bunia Airport (weather permitting) and then move on with them.

Our itinerary is as follows:-

4th 2.0pm Meet party at Bunia Airport. Overnight stay as Shalom University.

5th 7.30am Leave Bunia by minibus for Nyankunde. Fly MAF to Nebobongo. Tranport to Ibambi.

5th to 11th Ibambi with special service on the 10th.

11th Transport to Isiro.

11th to 17th Isiro with special service on the 17th.

18th Isiro to Aru by MAF. Transport to Arua (Uganda). Night bus to Kampala

OR

18th Isiro to Aru by MAF and night in Aru.

19th Aru to Kampala by bus.

20th Fly back to Heathrow.

Our thanks go to all who have followed this trip so far. May the Lord encourage and bless you as He has us.

Keep checking the Blog because we will publish a posting if at all possible!!

Saturday 2nd February 2013

Friday 1st February 2013

More rain throughout the last night.  The vegetables, flowers and fruit in the garden are doing well, but the washing left on the line overnight looks in a very sorry state.

The vegetable garden.

Dr Mele and John went to ISTM College as usual. John spent the morning at the old campus with Christian trying to find a way to import data from Excel into the college “Sage” accounting programme, but with no success. At lunch time Moses, who was Nancy & Philip’s handyman when they used to maintain a household here and is now driver for ISTM, took John to the new Wood Campus and on the way picked up Janice from “home”. 

Thanksgiving meal!

The ISTM admin staff had arranged a special service of thanksgiving to show their gratitude for their work and gifts to the college. For example, the solar panel on the roof of the new and as yet only building on the new Wood Campus has meant that there has been power all and every day for operating the computers and the internet link.

This short service was followed by a Congolese meal for all concerned (some 15 people) which had been prepared by the ladies on the staff.


Janice & John with ISTM Directors and staff.



Friday 1st February 2013

Thursday 31st January 2013

Clear skies and bright sunshine this morning, so a better drive to ISTM for Mele and John. John was working with Moseka, the librarian again

As Mele and Rose were both out at work, and daughter Ruth was busy doing mountains of washing in the garden [prior to cooking exciting foods for at least 11 of us!!] I was appointed Congolese Mama and Baby Minder!! I think 3 month old Nehemiah is now learning English, because I get lots of smiles and ‘talking’ back to me!! I was also testing a solar powered hearing aid which is one of several donated for Proreso School by a Deaf Church in Canada, hoping there may be some deaf children who might be able to hear a little. Tests are being carried out .The amplifier holds a small solar panel which is left in the sun for 1 hour, and gives several hours usage. The photo explains it.




Janice testing a solar powered hearing aid.

When I mention cooking, this is done in the kitchen which is 20 yards from the house door in what would be like a garage attached to the house, and very basic, with a charcoal ring outside and another small calor gas ring in the corner of the dining room! Amazing lunch and evening meals of 4 to 6 dishes are served, and always on time! The children help to carry covered dishes into the house. At the moment there are 14 in the house with another family visitor. The children eat separately.




Ruth preparing food in the dining room



CLIMATE CHANGE in DR Congo?....it is supposed to be the dry season, but we suddenly had another rainstorm this afternoon lasting about 3 hours!! Driving back from the College at 6pm meant terrible roads again. Many students have to walk miles to get back home, and were waiting for it to ease! The families in little homes all around, put out every bowl, bucket and large utensil available to catch the rain. And many have to attend to leaks in the corrugated roof. We have only had rain here once in our 2 previous visits!

The "road" outside our Congo home!!