Update 9th February 2014

(John’s comments in blue!!)

Friday 7^th February

            I am sitting on the veranda typing this. It's 5.30pm, and in about half an hour it will suddenly get dark! Solar panel little lights should come on then...and mains electric ones later, if all's well with the power supply!

             This morning I attended the students weekly Worship Service

....with lots of singing by little groups ofstudents. (Picture from earlier visit) I had forgotten the tradition of introducing and welcoming a foreign visitor, so had to be nudged into standing up when the Pastor indicated [in French!] that now was the time!!!! Not sure what was said about me, but there was cheering and applause.....and I managed a few words of thanks in French, saying how happy I am to be here again! [At least, I hope that's what I said!!!....yes, I'm told it was good!!].

            I hope you like the 'stretcher bearers' carrying the huge lumps of rocks....they are trundling about all day long! All seem happy, and I get nice cheers from them as I go around photographing the progress every day, as part of my assignment! Today one man asked me if I was the Manager!!! Director Mele says I should have said yes!! I just said I was "part of the team"!!!

             

 

A woman in one area is employed to cook a daily meal for one group of men.....it could be the grey bricks/blocks-making group. All these are made by hand on site....I know 600 bags of cement have been used so far, and many more of bags of sand. (1 bag of cement + 4 barrows of sand = 30 cement locks)

           

            I am definitely going on the 4-5 hour car journey to Beni on Monday; and Rose and I will stay 2 or 3 days [I don't know which of the many relatives we'll be staying with!!...I know there are other places they want to show me in that part of DR Congo....and it is said I will find an Internet Cafe somewhere there!.....We shall see! So, you may or may not hear from me for some while. Life here can be one round of surprises!

Saturday 8^th February

            It is Saturday morning 11.am and I have been out and about with Dr. Nancy since 8.30am. We first called at a large Catholic Complex with Church, and Schools [day, and a Boarding school for boys, a girls boarding school is planned], where Nancy had a meeting with the Director [assistant to the Bishop!] to see about setting up a clinic for Nancy to check staff for Diabetes. 

This is Nancy's speciality, and she travels around to try and get people to come on a set day for tests. He was receptive to the plan. She has recently completed a programme of test clinics for many Pastors and their Wives from a wide area in this part of DRC.

            Congolese folk don't go to a Doctor until they feel really ill, and by then have often been treated by the local Medicine man/woman with stuff that has probably worsened the condition! Nancy tries to encourage people to come BEFORE they are ill, and be tested, then encouraged to go to a Clinic for treatment. Mild or serious they are encouraged to stick to a diet she gives them.....not all do, judging by their continued weight/size!

            We then went to do some shopping in the Market......an experience in shopping!! I love the atmosphere in all the markets and shops! 

            This evening I am out for a meal with Nancy and Philip at a family, Robert and Reta and children, who John also knows well. (Robert is a Director of the College and Rete is a midwife)

            

 After Church tomorrow morning it will be back home for lunch.....and after a short rest, I need to sort and pack for my visit to Beni.....needed to be done before the light fades at 6pm, and if anything like yesterday it could be VERY dark indoors because the electricity failed! The packing will be 'difficult enough' anyway!!

            We ate a meal by a little solar light, not much brighter than a candle! It is SO difficult following conversation in the half-light....all black faces, accents, and you can't see their lips moving!!!! By the way, those that know I got a hearing-aid not long before my trip here, mainly for meetings and/or group type gatherings, it is working VERY well!....

            The internet is VERY, VERY slow this morning.....it is now 11.30 [have had various interruptions!!!] and I may leave my Laptop plugged in here with Nancy if they haven't all been sent by the time I have to return 'home'. Nancy and Philip would bring it back when they collect me for this evening meal. I will close now.

Love and best Wishes,

Further news from Janice

(Blue text in italics are John's comments)

(As Janice hadn’t said and knowing that there can be problems I asked Janice how she had got on going through Customs and Immigration on arrival at Bunia Airport. This is her reply)

            A Christian friend of Nancy's was on duty in the Customs Office and he waved my luggage through!!! (Amongst other goodies she had a new Laptop for Nancy in her case!) Then Rose took me into the passport/visa office, and the lady there recognised me, and so I had no problem there either!

           

Tuesday 4th Feb

            This morning my alarm clock went off half an hour later than expected [it's old and unpredictable like me!!!], but I still managed to get to breakfast for 7am, and out to the college by 7.30...!!! [Help!]...It has dawned VERY hot this morning.  I practiced my French with "Je pense que c'est tres chaud aujourdui!"....!!! Also learning some new Swahili words to add to my limited knowledge!

             On the way to work I saw the most I have EVER seen on one motorbike...2 children in front, then Dad, then 3 children behind!!! On these terrible roads, no helmets of course, and the children looked 5 to 10 yrs old! (Only 2 adults and 2 children here on this old picture!!)

            We arrive for the early staff meeting, business and prayers. I'm not usually 'up and out' at such an early hour, but that's how it is here!

I will be taking some more photos of College staff and classes today. Yesterday's photography was successful, and covered both college buildings. The most hilarity was when I went into a 'packed solid' anatomy class where the 'body' was lying on the examination bed [a model!!]. I think they thought I might freak-out at the sight!! Students are always very excitable in greetings!

            Yesterday afternoon I had some leisure time with coffee on the veranda. The dog and her puppy came to sit by me.....and the children were home from school and out in the garden doing chores, washing up, staggering up and down the rough dirt pathway between the outside kitchen [which is like a garage attached to the house] and the water tap; and other 'family' members were getting things ready for meals etc.......this is the life, maybe!!!!

Wednesday 5th Feb

            Thanks to all who have sent ME little Emails....it feels great! Love you all! You know who you are, and I may be able to do a few individual Emails myself, sometime!

            My alarm was set OK this morning, so it wasn't such a rush to get out by 7.30am!! The rough dirt roads are packed with people on motorbikes, children walking to school, dodging lorries and motorbikes coming towards you on the same side as our car, all weaving to find the best bit of road to drive on between the holes and bumps!

            Great hilarity lining up the ISTM College staff after this morning's meeting for a portrait photo with Robert's help!!....much straightening of their attire to look tidy!  Visika did a very good job writing their names and status in capitals which I can actually read!! (Robert is one of the College’s Directors and Visika is one of the admin staff who I have worked with in the past.)

            I am being taken with Rose to Beni on 10th....to spend a few days with Mele and Rose's daughter, Ruth and baby Nehemiah [who featured when we were staing here at Mele's  last year]....and visiting umpteen other relatives too!  The road journey is about 4-5 hours!!!! (about 100 miles as the crow flies.)

Thursday 6^th February

            Good Morning/Bon Jour everyone......I have been in the office since 8am, and will soon be out and

about taking some more College photos! I spend about 2-3 hours at the college, and then hope to join Nancy in the house with the Wireless connection, and be able to send and receive Emails! And have further chats...and discussions re work, and the 2 album journals I hope to produce. Getting everyone's African names correct is mind-blowing as well as the French words for their various occupations! Their style of writing isn't easy to read either!!

            At home this morning, Rose was out on the veranda teaching 3 students from about 6.30am!! This is quite usual; and the students may have walked a very long way to get here!

            Just been reminded that the weekly Church meeting for the Nurse students is tomorrow, Friday and we need to be there by 7.15am!!

            At 10am I went for a walk around outside for half an hour, and photographed the building 

works.....you've never seen so many labourers, men and women, on one site; many seem to be working so close to each other you wonder who might chop a toe off!!![Dr. Philip Wood gets these sorts of accidents to operate on quite often!]  I am now at the house with the WiFi link, but it is only showing 'local use'......oh, now it's cut off altogether!! I'll be here a couple of hours more, so will hope and pray for a sudden reconnection!!.....

Nearly 1pm, my car will soon arrive [Ha! Ha! who am I kidding?!! This is Africa!!] I've been waiting, but no luck so far with a connection, so I will close and may not be able to send today, and who knows about tomorrow!!!

Janice's outward journey etc.

It is amazing that it is four days since I dropped Janice off at Heathrow, Terminal 5 for her flight to Entebbe, Uganda.

With the aid of text messaging she was able to keep me informed of her progress.

This is roughly what she said translated from her "text speak"!!!

Thursday               10.00am

Got through to the departure lounge OK. Nice helpful men here and there too!!  Gates open soon.

Thursday               11.05am

 Good choice of seat. Lots of leg room. No one next  to me.

Thursday               8.45pm

No escort yet, but nice man trying to contact him.  So just standing around in the vast transit area at the moment. Be OK, I’m not neglected!

 ( The "escort" need some explanation.  Entebbe does not have the "hub" facilities that major airports have so you need and "escort" to take you from baggage reclaim through to the departure lounge to await your outgoing flight.  This had been booked but for some African reason he wasn't there)

 

Thursday               10.10pm

Tracked Hassan (the escort) down via his mobile.  Good job I had his number. Be here in an hour.  Have had a laugh while I stuck to my story.  Totally on my own now (in the arrivals hall) and it’s hot! The BA flight was super.  

Thursday                10.40pm

Hassan has not arrived, but fun with some staff here!  Comfortable seat by the toilet!!  They are ringing him again. Don’t worry.  It’s all very African, I guess!

Friday                    8.12am

Tired but fine. Met other nice travelers to pass the time. The flight (with MAF) is at 2.00pm and Nancy knows.

 

Friday                    11.58am

There are several passengers but the plane is late.  Just been checked in.

Friday                    3.40pm. 

MAF arrived eventually with a lady pilot.  I was in the co-pilot’s seat plus headphones and flew the plane a bit!!  Dodging huge thunder clouds.  Rose & Nancy big greeting at Bunia. Family all excited here.

Saturday                3.40pm

I was out with Nancy this morning.  I got back at about 1pm and only the kids were in. No midday meal so I think they expected me to be out till this evening. That is what I expected too so I am sure they will be upset when they find me here already.  Nancy & Philip are coming to Rose & Mele’s for a meal this evening.  I saw a goat having its throat cut. It was shrieking!!  The kids have cleaned the intestine to be eaten and the dog is eating the feet!  Yuk!!! 

From the emails I have received, Janice went to church on Sunday morning and then out to lunch with Nancy & Philip.  Today, Monday3rd. She has been at the Nursing College taking photographs and trying to establish an internet collection there.  The emails sent so far have been via WiFi. from Nancy's residence which is adjacent to the Nursing College.

JOHN