Kevan Kingsley Clawson's Blog, page 26

A busy two weeks ahead

This week will be a busy one for us. Terri has been assigned to organize the next transfer of missionaries that happens next week: 15 new missionaries come, 11 leave, and over 80 get transferred! All of this must be organized and directed–so many moving parts. Hopefully a male missionary doesn’t get assigned to a female missionary, or someone sent to the wrong location, or someone forgotten or left behind…

I have three new apartments opening in Lubumbashi this week! We have to go and get the keys, then move-in all the furniture, pots and pans, etc.; then move the missionaries in. And do this three times. I also have to prep for the new missionaries coming–each missionary gets a ‘bag’ of stuff he will use on his mission: mosquito nets, emergency lights (lots of apartments have no power), water purification bottles, sheets, pillow, umbrella, and a blanket. They use them throughout their mission and can take them home. They also each get a phone.

Of course, then next week is ‘mutation’ or transfer week when 80+ missionaries will be moving around the mission. Lots of picking-up and dropping off and moving missionaries around. Also dinner with those leaving, and dinner and training for the new missionaries.

We could really use Elder and Sister Eastman back! Help!

I also have to negotiate a new missionary ‘compound’ for the senior couples. We are going to rent the small compound where the Wright’s are now living, which will give us two apartments and a small house for couples to stay in. We have 4-5 couples coming in the next few months (plus Atkinson’s will be moving to Lubumbashi from Likasi to work on new church buildings here). We have to find places for them to stay…

So it will be a wild couple of weeks. No rest for the weary…

Kananga / Mbuji Mayi Street scenes

Sister Missionaries getting a taxi ride to their apartment

              

Rainbow at the mission home

Zone Conference in Mbuji Mayi at the Diulu ward

Finally found bananas for the elders! bought them all–in fact, eventually bought about 200 (and they were all eaten!)

 

 

This is a great example of using a water tank to collect water from the roof, and using the height of the tank to gravity-feed the water into the building for use.

Little girl helping her dad at work: pushing the handcart full of goods

The two Assistants to the President riding in the back to the Airport…

Just a few items we are taking to missionaries…

 

Kananga Street Markets

Part of my duties in Kananga was to go out to find water, bananas, and drinks, etc., for the Zone Conference and the group meal afterward. We had a hard time finding fruit of any kind (other than pineapples–which Kananga is famous for, but are hard to eat without making a mess), so we went through several markets. Here are some pics of the local markets we went through searching for stuff.

Found some bananas–but they were plantains (which have to be cooked), not the eating kind.

 

This was the third market we found, which was out of the city center and just along a road

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mbuji Mayi and Kananga

 

Mbuji Mayi and Kananga 02/14

Mbuji Mayi

Last week we traveled to Mbuji Mayi and Kananga. We first flew to Mbuji Mayi and met Pres. McMullin there (he was holding a Zone Conference). While there I was assigned to check-out and drive a new truck that had been bought by the FM people for the mission (we may be sending a couple to Mbuji Mayi in the future). The truck ran well but had a few problems…one of which was a bad tire.

We were heading back to the airport to pick-up about 30 boxes of stuff we brought with us for the missionaries when the tire blew out. Cote-foi and I walked back to a major intersection, and then took motor bikes back to town to get another FM truck. This was my first ‘taxi’ ride in the Congo! Most of the taxis in Mbuji Mayi are just motor bikes (they have few cars here).

Once in the other truck we returned to pick-up the boxes, put them in storage, and then went in search of some new tires for the truck. While traveling back and forth we ran a few errands for people as well. We finally found some tires that would work—they were oversized (tall) so that it would lift the truck up a little higher and make it easier to travel the rough roads here.

Eventually we took the new truck to one of those famous road-side garages to put the new tires on the truck. While waiting for the tires to be put on I had an interesting experience.

I was standing in the shade of a tree when a family that lived in the home behind me offered me a chair to sit in. I thanked them, and sat down. Soon a blind man and his son came by, begging for money. It was clear that the man was both very old, and truly blind, and his young (perhaps 7 or 8) son helped him walk. I gave him some money, and they went on their way. Not much of a story…but what I didn’t realize is that there was a large group of people watching me: the family behind me, of course, but also there were numerous street venders that were keeping an eye on the white man in the hat!

Not long afterward and old woman came by begging. I felt prompted NOT to give her money (perhaps more people would continue to come by asking for money—and where does it end?). But she was persistent. Then something interesting began to happen. The vendors who had been watching me began to try to persuade me to give this old woman money. One young man especially got involved in trying to get me to give this woman money. So I began talking to him: Why should I give her money? If she needs money so badly, why don’t YOU give her some money? This went back and forth for a while, and all the time this poor old woman stood there hoping for money.

As the young man became more insistent that I give this woman money, I decided to test his own conviction. After all, they would know of her need more than I. So I told the young man that if HE gave the woman some money, so would I. That made the young man pause for a long time. He went back to his vendor station, and I was sure that it was all over. But then he surprised me, he turned around, put his hand in his pocket and pulled out a very old and torn 200 franc bill (about 20 cents), and gave it to the old woman. As soon as he gave the money to her, I pulled out 1,000 francs and gave it to her also.

I could tell that the young man felt good about what he had done, but the next event really surprised me! Almost immediately the family that had been behind me, and that had given me the chair to sit in, came up to me and started asking questions. In fact, the mother brought her chair and placed it right next to mine! Who are you? Why are you here? Etc. I told them I was a missionary and began telling them about the church. The mother immediately asked where it was and told me she wanted to come.

As the conversation went on, I eventually called the two Zone leaders over to aid in the conversation and to set-up a teaching appointment with the family. What a strange way to find investigators! As I pondered the reason why this family became so interested in me, I came to the conclusion that it was NOT because I gave money to the blind man and the old woman. That is sort of expected of white people in the Congo—they have money and should give it to the poor! I think what changed their attitude and piqued their interest was that I was able to persuade the young man to give money to the old woman. People in the Congo don’t give readily to others. Not because they are unkind, but because they have no money to give. So seeing this young man give of his own money to a needed woman was a true sign of something different.

The next day we toured the missionary apartments. I also met with the owner of a new apartment that we are opening, signed a lease, and gave him money for a down payment. It was just two days in Mbuji Mayi, but I was very busy the whole time.

Then we flew with the McMullins to Kananga.

Kananga

My purpose in coming to Kananga was to see the missionary apartments and to sign a contract for a contractor to begin work on a new apartment we found for the missionaries. The apartment needed some work prior to entering, so, with agreement with the owner, we hired a contractor to do the work.

In addition, I (as always) acted as an errand runner for the President. He has so many meetings, between Zone Conference with the missionaries and meetings with the local church leaders, that often he does not have time for other things. So I arrange for the food, water, set-up the rooms, etc., so that everything will go smoothly.

Like in Mbuji Mayi, we visited every missionary apartment. We had just installed two new solar panel systems on two missionary apartments, which previously had no power. The new systems were working well.

We spent three days in Kananga. Went to Church on Sunday and had a relaxing afternoon. On Monday we headed back to Lubumbashi. This will probably be the last trip we take for a while. We still travel to Likasi and Kolwezi (driving), but with new couples coming, and the Wright’s leaving, we will be in the office aiding in the transition.

We also celebrated our ONE YEAR mark on our mission. Six months to go! It will be a busy time. Transfers in two weeks, the Wrights leaving, several couples coming, the McMullins end their mission and a new mission president arrives… it will go fast.

Very busy time

We have been very busy of late getting apartments ready and traveling to Likasi and Kolwezi.

We have a new couples apartment opening in Likasi (about 1 1/2 hours from Lubumbashi) and have been traveling there to take up furniture and household goods to get it ready for the Atkinsons to move into (they move on the 28th, if everything is ready).

We have also been traveling to Kolwezi (about 4 hours from Lubumbashi) to open two apartments there for missionaries. We finally moved into the second apartment last Saturday. Since it is so far away we always stay overnight, or over the weekend.

This weekend Terri and I traveled there with a truck load of goods to get missionaries moved into the second new apartment. We arrived late Friday afternoon, got our hotel room, then ate dinner. The next morning we taught English class to all the local missionaries, and then while Terri stayed to see to medical issues and pass-off some missionaries on their English exams, I began the move into the apartment.

Eventually I took Terri back to the hotel while I continued to make trips back and forth to the new apartment. After I was done, one of the local members wanted some help moving some things into his new apartment.

Christian is a return missionary that has been helping us with finding new apartments and working with the owners, etc. He has been earning money so that he can move his wife to Kolwezi (his work is here). She was going to arrive the next day and he wanted to get everything ready for her. He had found a small two-room place and was moving a bed and some other things. Little did I know the adventure awaiting me!

We only had one trip to make, but it was over some rough roads (all Congo roads are rough, but this one was even better!). In two places we had to cross large wet areas–more like bogs–to get to his house. I put the truck into four-wheel drive and hoped for the best. We came very close to not getting out! While coming back the same way, I was sure I was going to end up in the middle of the soup with no way out, but the wheels kept churning and we slowing inched our way out of the bog. The others in the truck yelled and clapped when we finally made it through (they were probably aware they would have to get out and push if we got stuck!). It was very deep, up to the doors, and we were slanted sideways…but, what is the saying? All’s well that ends well?

We are home for two days, then are off again for a week. We travel to Mbuji Mayi and then to Kananga with the President. I have two apartments opening in Mbuji Mayi, and one in Kananga (we are still looking for another in Kananga). But this should be our last trip for quite a while. The Wrights will be leaving in about a month, and once they leave we will probably need to be in the office to hold down the fort.

We are all trying to prepare for the new mission president, who comes in June? We want to have things in place so that he will not have to do a lot, other than deal with the missionaries. Elder Wright has fixed the money issues, so now all missionaries get their money over their phones (a great way to do it), and I hope to have all the new apartments done so they will not have to find and open any new apartments for some time.

We have several new couples coming: two new couples for the mission, and one humanitarian couple. Not sure where they will be assigned, but I need to find places for them to live. Also, Atkinsons (who are in Likasi and working on church buildings) will be moving to Lubumbashi in June.

The work is going forward very quickly. We hand out between 100 and 200 Book of Mormons a week, not including all the pamphlets given out while teaching discussions. We order Book of Mormons by 900 lots (20 per box), and they go out the door about as fast as we can get them in.

We just got a shipment of water filters (I was really worried for a while as we were getting low on goods since we were opening so many apartments!), so we have enough to last for about a year. We send out a years supply to each apartment, then hold some in the mission home for new apartments, and emergency (things break, etc.). I had gotten to the point of asking for any and all parts and pieces of filters and pumps, and had a little repair bench so I could fix them when they broke. That lasted for a while, until I ran out of parts. But the replacements came just in time.

Our power has been pretty good lately (although we are on generator power today), and water has been good (but it is rainy season!). It is a constant battle with those two necessities here–power and water. We are lucky we have a well and a generator. Most have neither and just have to find a way to live by buying one or the other, or both.

Best pics II

Luputa street scene

Hospital ward, Luputa

Hospital Lab, Luputa

Birthing table, Luputa

Typical Congo Pharmacy

Morning at the local water station

Local gas station

Terri aided in this one coming into the world

Our great French teacher in the MTC: thanks!

Kasaba leaves: pound them, boil them, and eat them with Foo Foo

Perciany

        

Shirley Clawson, my mom

Typical Congo superhighway…

We didn’t think we would ever get out of this one!

Terri with a vocal group in Kananga

Women take this long, steep walk down and back up several times a day to get water for their families in Kananga

The luxurious, but empty, NGO housing project

Mortars that are used to grind Kasaba leaves and other plants for food to eat with Foo Foo

They cost about $10 each, including the long pole used to pound the plants

Best pics so far I

I thought I would put together a group of my favorite pictures that we have taken so far. Enjoy!

Misc odds and ends

Just thought I would put together a few pics for your entertainment:

Elders in Luputa have no water at their house, so they walk to the Stake Center to fill bidons and haul back for use each day.

The two drivers and two guests from South Africa and Kinshasa prepare for the long journey back to Mbuji Mayi from Luputa. We said a prayer for their safe arrival… and, well, they did arrive save, but missed their plane!

You never know who will show up at a church meeting in Luputa!

No truck travels the Congo empty. If not full of goods, it is full of people. This woman traveled to Luputa in the back of this truck and struggled to get out once here.

Terri congratulating an elder for passing book 1 English exam

This is a type of grain being grown and eaten in Lusuku.

This is a piece of steel from an armory in Mbui Mayi that blew up. Lots of people killed–some cut in half by the shrapnel that covered the area. My good friend Emanuel lived just a short distance from the explosion and had holes in his walls from debris. Fortunately no one we knew was hurt or killed.

Here are a few of the typical Congo churches. Most look the same: just post and beam with a corrugated metal roof. Some add corrugated siding. People bring their own chairs.

Yes, still alive and kicking! What more can we say?

OK, someone has to know where this tshirt comes from! We see it all over the Congo. Anyone?

Ngandajika has a memorial in the center of town: a man and a woman, martyrs, having their heads cut off–but holding them in their hands. They were killed by another tribe during a regional war.

Sunday was the day to sell clothes, it seems

Yes! The family that rides together….

The house was full and overflowing, with President mcMullin and the Stake President visiting the small? Ngandajika branch.

This is standard fare in the Congo. Mom carries the baby on her back…until the next baby comes. Then it is up to the sibling to carry the load!

This is why we serve…

The work moves forward

It has been a very busy time. Between missionaries leaving, missionaries coming (and being trained), transfers, etc., I have been in the process of finding and outfitting numerous apartments as the mission expands and missionaries are sent to new areas of the mission to work:

Lubumbashi: Munama, Plateau, Bongonga, Lubumbashi, Ruashi

Likasi: Likasi, Panda, Kakonda

Mbuji Mayi: Tshikama, Tshitenge

Luputa: Luputa, Lusuku

Kananga: Kananga

Kolwezi: Kolwezi, Diur

We are still looking for additional apartments in Lubumbashi (2), Luputa (2), Kananga (2), and Ngandajika. We hope to get all of these apartments up and running and settled prior to the new mission president coming in July. After that, he should not have to worry too much about ‘expansion’, just about managing what he has.

The Wright’s have fixed the financial mess here, as all the missionaries are now using M-Pesa (using their phones to get their monthly allowance) rather than dealing only in cash. It is safer, quicker, and easy to keep track of. The Wright’s will leave a lasting legacy from their work here!

We are all missing the Eastmans! Every transfer is a struggle as we all try to get all the moving parts in the right place at the right time. Sister Eastman was a master at this. And I am really missing Elder Eastman…too much to do and not enough help. You never know how much someone really does until they are gone, eh? fortunately he left me with great organizational tools: organizing the material depot, and providing me a notebook and guide so I could remember what I am supposed to do. I’m sure I forgot a lot, but I am glad I had time to be trained well by him.

Well, its back to the mission sweat shop for me!

A local school in Luputa was singing and doing exercises prior to school starting

The President took his own life in his hands by giving out some peanuts to kids

Zone conference picture: Luputa Zone

Packed like sardines in a small van over rough roads… I banged my head a few times going, and everyone laughed! But on the way back one of the missionaries broke my record– take that Karma!

The over-flow crowd at the small church in Ngadajika

  

Terri and a few of her friends in Ngadajika.

One of the fun things we do with the children is to take their picture and then let them see themselves. It is never-ending fun for all!

A woman being set-apart behind the small church in Ngandajika.

President McMullin having a little fun with the kids.

Sister Wright has taught many sisters how to knit plastic bags into purses. This woman made a small one as a gift for Sister Wright (Terri brought it back home with us)

 

Trip to Mbuji Mayi

Terri and I made our first ‘solo’ trip outside Lubumbashi– we traveled by plane to  Mbuji Mayi with the Kalalas (a local missionary couple who had been serving in Bujambura). Elder Kalala had some medical issues, so they traveled back to Lubumbashi, then to Mbuji Mayi where their home is. Terri was asked to accompany them to Mbuji Mayi just to make sure they would arrive ok. We left on Sunday afternoon and just went to the hotel for the night upon arrival. But the next two days would be busy ones!

As usual there were all kinds of other stuff we needed to do also, so it became a very productive trip. Terri met with all the missionaries for their medical issues, and I traveled with Emanuel (the local FM rep) to get a contract signed for a new apartment we are opening near the Tshikama ward. We also toured the new Tshikama ward building (almost ready) and a couple of other places.

In the afternoon we toured two hospitals–one actually had one of our missionaries in it getting dental work done! So Terri talked to the dentist, and actually helped him while he worked: they had one small 60 watt bulb for light, so she got out her super duper flashlight and lit up the room for him. Then we went to the main hospital where we send our elders for treatment, and the Kalalas just happened to be there also. So Terri toured that hospital and we had a chance to talk again with the Kalalas to make sure everything was going ok.

The next day we toured all the missionary apartments, checking their medical kits, water filters, etc., and had a long list of things we needed to get for them. That afternoon we flew back to Mbuji Mayi and got home about 5:30.

Here are a few pics from our trip:

Our two new senior missionaries: Sister Riendeau and Sister Anthony. They will be teaching the local sisters French, and working in the office.

Our hotel in Mbuji Mayi

The Kalalas before heading home to Mbuji Mayi (President McMullin and Elder Wright in the back, with Terri and I– just before our first solo trip!)

I thought this was great! On the in-flight magazine there was an article about Lubumbashi. There is a large slag heap not far from the mission home (the Congo’s only ‘mountain’), that is used in this article…well, read it for yourself!

The Kalalas’ family in Mbuji Mayi. They have four doctors in the family. Their son on the right just graduated.

This is a typical water strategy in Mbuji Mayi: gutters and a storage tank to collect rainwater

New chairs stored and ready for the new church to open

I love the makeshift scaffolding being used!

Notice the tools being used (a hacksaw was all they had to cut large wood boards)

 

 

Workers finishing the wood fascia on the chapel at Tshikama

 

The house used for classrooms for the new Tshikama ward

The new chapel for Tshikama Ward in Mbuji Mayi

The local police were too busy to try to stop us this time…

Well, it is rainy season after all…