THREE FOR THE FUN OF IT

Pardon the Iphone photo. I don't know why it distorted. I forgot my camera. We are at a Chinese Restaurant with our friend Steven Lu whom we met on the plane from South Africa. We asked if he knew a good Chinese restaurant and he told us of this place that usually only serves Chinese but he said he could take us there. We asked because the Sneddons wanted to find an authentic Chinese restaurant, having lived in China for a few years.

The Sneddons reading the photo menu. All items are in Chinese only. We were glad that Steven was with us. It was authentic alright. Some of it was very spicy, but delicious. The rice was very good and stanched the burn.

My brother Ron returning from their mission in Sweden met Ryan Daines of Westland Construction returning from Kinshasa for a home visit. Ryan saw the name tag. We love the encounters. They all have a purpose, little mercies.

NGALIEMA STAKE CONFERENCE, INTERWEAVE, MORE

Our Bishop's new daughter.

The innovative wiring done by the repairman when he couldn't get the original current source to work. He ran a red wire from the wall receptacle up to the wall breaker switch for the air conditioner then painted the red wire white before I could photograph the wire while it was still red.

Meeting with Micro Finance minister with personnel from Salt Lake and South Africa.

On our way to the airport thousands of spectators gathered on the median barrier, running across traffic to watch the cortege for a popular musician returning from Belgium where he died.

The new highway from Djili Airport to town. Traffic flows much smoother.

Interweave training session.

Olivier presenting Interweave concepts.

Tabo, Salt Lake person, and Russell at the Interweave meeting.

Interweave participants at the meeting.

On our way to visit an orphanage and a member who applies principles she learned at Interweave training.

Walking to the orphanage.

Charcoal for sale left at the gate of a home along the way to the Orphanage.

Entering the orphanage compound where they also sponsor a school for street children and the poor who cannot afford other schools.

Entering the compound over sandbags place to prevent flooding from the small stream behind that has flooded the sleeping quarters of the children. The bags were paid for my senior missionaries.

Entering the compound.

The school marquee.

This panel welcomes us to the compound. This woman's father had to fight to have her educated when it was not common for girls to go to school so she feels compelled to pass along his heritage. They both carried the name of Ka so the enterprise is named KaKa.

Greetings.

Notice the carefully swept yard.

The assistant had written a kind message on the chalk board -- Thanks to Interweave.

Kayiba showing some of her products, Cassava that she has milled to flower for sale in the village.

 

Sack of dried, processed cassava ready for milling. She wants help to buy a mill.

Grains that she has milled also for sale.

She also prepares meals that she sells at the prison or for social events.

Explaining her enterprise.

Flour she has had milled.

Attentive listeners.

Cheery little girl with water jugs.

Curious orphan.

Inside the school.

Hallway between class rooms.

Desks provided by one of the senior couples.

Images in the hallway.

Russell and Sue exiting the school.

Another area where sewing is taught to village women. But we hear the machines are broken.

 

Dinner cooking.

Two little orphans and a daughter who is preparing dinner.

In the office.

Kayiba seated at her office desk.

Articles and photos about her community service and the orphanage.

Larger view of the pinup board.

Woman who helps with the orphanage and school

Entrance to the orphan's sleeping quarters.

Bunk beds provided by senior missionaries in the past. A boy is reading in his bed.

When torrential rains come the room is flooded almost to the top bunk. A project is in planning to provide a barrier wall but the sandbags are a temporary fix.

Showing off the children's quarters.

Mosquito nets and beds.

Exiting the sleeping rooms.

The little boy obscured behind was abandoned by his mother because he has a deformed leg. He sang church songs from memory, on tune, and hobbles around, and when standing still stood mostly on his one good leg. The other is several inches shorter than the good one.

The visitors and hosts.

Some of the children, notice the little boy at the right on one leg.

Showing his deformed leg and burn marks that his mother gave him before she abandoned him.

A wake on the way to and from the orphanage where neighbors gather to mourn the dead. At this one there was preacher loudly sermonizing the assemblage.

Departing.

Saying goodbye.

We attended an African cultural experience sponsored by a local school managed by the wife of one of our American Embassy employee members.

The stage and drummer in background.

Sister Ellsworth director of the school announcing.

Drummers were loud and very entertaining. The whole thing was choreographed by Americans in the US to celebrate African cultural influence on America and has toured around Africa and other lands, I believe.

The day was hot and humid and the auditorium not air conditioned. Watching them dance with indescribable energy for two hours, dance after dance, from various African cultures. It is almost like a PCC program.

More dancing.

Grand finale presentation of dancers. At the end Americans danced showing the influence of African dancing on American popular dance.

At a going away party for one of the Westland Construction men, in their apartment. 

A close friend Norman who has lived in DC for many years where he fled from the war, came to visit. He told his conversion story. Stan Houghton's (owner of Westland Construction) son, went on a mission to DC and found and helped convert Norman and his family. Norman is the reason that Westland is in Africa. He told them that they needed to help Africa. Westland has build numerous chapels and some temples for the Church. When they were asked to help build in Africa they realized that their friend Norman could be a helpful contact. There are no random encounters.

The part goers assembled.

I thought the glittery carpet was interesting.

On the wall at the entrance to our building one evening.

Musicians, two keyboard and one flute, accompanying the choir at Stake Conference. It was truly energizing. I made a short recording.

The assembled congregation at stake conference.

The two keyboardists at play.

President Haboko and others on the stand.

President Cook conferring on the stand.

President and Sister Cook.

The "Chef du Quartier" and other community guests invited to Conference.

Assembled guests and investigators gathered after Conference for a question and answer session with the Stake President.

After the Conference we attended a baptism at another location.

Baptism candidates and family and friends.

The baptismal font in the courtyard of the rented church building.

 

A view of the rented building.

A little member with her umbrella, it was raining.

Babies ride in the back.

Adrien, friend, Stake Presidency counselor, engineer, NGO owner who drills wells and does spring captures, in company with his wife.