Orchid Blooms - Fabric Store

Orchid plant ready to bloom.

Orchid cluster.

Single bloom. They are about thee inches across, smaller than the hybrids, but I like this natural orchid probably collected in the wild.

The Lutex Fabric Store.

Sister Gates and Elder Smith in the Background.

Sister Johnson and Sister Sneddon.

The Smiths and Sue.

Apartment- Lubumbashi-Visit to Kapendas

Workers fixing the ceiling panel covering the condensation tubes for he air conditioners. A new panel replaces the old one. I watched and helped by providing a few tools they lacked, and helping to hold the panel while they attached the wires to the light fixture which was pre-mounted on the panel because it couldn't be mounted after installation. They work barefoot and use sophisticated step stools and and screw drivers work as spatulas to spread adhesive. The job got done but we await painting after two weeks.

Work progresses.

To replace the faucet washer the plumber pulled out a small sheet of rubber and cut a new washer with a thin two edged razor blade, freehand. He borrowed my pocket knife to dig out the old one from the valve stem.

To make the hole for the mounting screw he heated a nail on the electric stove burner and burned the hole, but also burned his finger. The repair works just fine.

Making cupcakes.

Splicing the wires to the ceiling light fixture. He borrowed my headlamp for light.

Mopping the flood in the Smith's apartment after the tub fixture ruptured while they were at the office.

Water, water, everywhere.

The building maintenance man helped dry the floor.

Vertical view of the building from the Smith's fifth floor deck.

View of the Gare Centrale from the fifth floor deck, overseeing the corner of our third floor deck, through the weeds in the Smith's planters.

Pausing during the mopping marathon.

The two maintenance men, one on the left of the photo is the plumber.

At the Smith's for dinner. She makes a great stew.

A few of us at the TA offices after listening to Conference. L-R Bybees, Johnsons, Sneddons

At farewell dinner for the Wrights returning home at the end of their mission, in Lubumbashi. President McMullin loves Indian food. It was a great meal. Best part is that it was on the Mission.

The group, L-R two Single Sisters, Elder Wright, President McMullin barely visible, Elder Bybee, Sister Bybee, Sister McMullin, Sister Wright, the Clawsons. 

We were warned that bird seed was the last course. It is a mixture of seeds, mostly caraway, and other assorted flavorful and sweet little crunchy things.

On the way out of the restaurant.

The servers and staff.

The room at the Hotel Lubumbashi where the attendees to the meeting for Public Affairs directors.

Hotel Lubumbashi.

Bathroom at the Hotel Lubumbashi.

Courtyard at Hotel Lubumbashi.

Facade of Hotel Lubumbashi.

Sue in Ilunga Mbidi's car.

The Chapel and Seminary and Institute building where we held our training meeting.

Mowing the huge lawn on the Chapel grounds with an electric lawn mower. See the blue electric wires stretched along the walk way. All the Church buildings are guarded 24/7. Guard services here are big business.

Visiting the Distribution Center in the S & I building.

Meeting the Stake President.

Chapel Sacrament meeting room.

Entrance to the Grand Karavia Hotel grounds.

Resting from the day's adventures.

We visited Mbidi's Ward meeting buildings.

Various buildings serve the congregation, Sacrament Meeting, Primary, Relief Society, Sunday School.

Sisters learning to read. Few women are sent to school here. A dedicated brother teaches literacy classes.

Picking our way through the rain soaked roads.

View through the fence of a chapel that we saw last year under construction, now finished, and awaiting landscaping. A recent rain flooded homes adjacent to the Chapel because the security wall blocks natural drainage patterns. Neighbors breached the wall to allow water to escape, but a permanent fix is necessary.

Water well fenced off in the corner of the Church lot.

Notice the workmanship of the iron gate and lock mechanism.

Neighbors use the enclosed well. When the property was purchased from the original owner the well came with it, but the neighbors complained that they would lose access to the water so the Church fenced it separately and gave access through a separate gate.

Classrooms.

Parking area.

View of buildings.

Courtyard.

Sparrow nestling fallen from a nest in the courtyard roofing.

The guard. We had to call the local Stake President before he would let us in. He is following orders, good.

Kids in the neighborhood using a heap of dirt and bidons cut in half for sleds.

Love to watch the kids make do with whatever is at hand.

The bidon sled.

We wanted to meet Mbidi's parents and stumble onto the father and a brother at a local chapel in the evening on our way back to the hotel. All seven brothers served missions, were assistants to the mission president, and the father and mother have served a full-time couple mission here in Africa, in one of the most difficult areas.

Activity during our Public Affairs training meeting.

All the Public Affairs training attendees.

Lubumbashi is located in Katanga Province, a world class copper producing area. The heap in the distance is a symbol of the copper mining heritage, waste from a copper mine.

On our way to visit the Kapendas we passed the local LDS meeting house.

The gate entrance to the Kapendas.

Peeking in after knocking.

The Kapendas seeing some photos of their grandchildren and their son for the first time. These were new to them.

A daughter-in-law and grandchild joined us. We tried to go live with Skype but failed inside the home when the Internet went down.

Outside on our way after the visit.

Together at the gate.

Street in front of the Kapenda's home.

This large truck hulk stands in the road immediately opposite the gate entrance to the home. Kids use it for a jungle gym of sorts.

Bye.

Local children.

Toys are homemade.

Whats on the menu?

Local Bishop's home.

Time Square.

Loading up for the airport.