Profitez, Profitez

It is the end (or is it the beginning) of another week here in Kinshasa. It is getting hotter but little rain. And miracle of miracles, we actually saw a truck that lays down asphalt. We know because the route we travel is called Justice Blvd. and that is the road that is being resurfaced. Talk about a traffic jam, it took us an additional 20 to 30 minutes to get from the compound to the PEF office each of the last three days. (As we drove to church this morning we were able to go the same distance in less than 15 minutes)  At times like this all the drivers "profiter" which means in essence "hesitaters wait and the bold move ahead". Again cars and trucks end up pointed in every direction. In the clip above, you see them using the sidewalk to move ahead. The most fun is when the car in front of you decides to make a U-turn, which can mean a 10-point turn and blocking all lanes from moving; there is no way to profitez, so you wait. When Frère Didier, our director, goes with Mark he makes sure that there are no hesitations, continually telling Mark, "profitez, profitez (in French it means take advantage - even two inches between vehicles is an opportunity to "profitez").

We enjoy working with the members seeking help from the PEF fund. Many want to learn English, a skill that can mean the difference between getting a job and getting a good job. Boris Kabeya works in our office as a paid volunteer, helping Lingala speakers as well as French speakers fill out the application. 

Bonanza for Boris - four sisters come in at once to apply for loans

He is also a great help for Elder and Soeur Smith. He has been applying for work and the fact that he speaks English has helped him get a job with USAID. He just completed a background check and will probably be starting soon. We will miss his help and his smile that reveals his great dimples. Boris learned English while serving a mission in Zambia. The other paid volunteer in our office is Dieumerci Kalongi Tshitundu. He served his mission in South Africa and had many American companions thus his English is really good. He is taking classes here, but plans to go the US to finish his studies. He wanted to go to BYU Idaho but it proved to have too many roadblocks so has applied to Snow College, Ephraim Utah. To study in the States, a student is required to have a sponsor who is willing and able to put out $22,000 to help.

We are always impressed with the beautiful South England scenery Tim and Patcee Powers post on their missionary blog, so we pondered what is it that would give you a sense of what we see as we travel around this city. There seem to be an abundance of structures under construction and de-construction, so we want to share with you some of these structures and the fences that are around the construction sites. 

It looks like squatters took up residence here.

A new couple arrived on Tuesday, Elder and Sister Sneddon from Providence, Utah near Logan. Elder Sneddon was a professor in Lincoln, Nebraska his whole career and recently moved back to Utah so Sister Sneddon could live around the mountains again. She was born in Provo and lived in the Pleasant View area (her ancestral home is now part of BYU). Her maiden name is Baird and I worked with her brother Wilf Baird at Provo High and Timpview High. As always, a small world in the Church.

They are adjusting to restrictions imposed on the missionaries but the food and water are always a challenge. We are getting comfortable with the filtered water, the bleaching of all fresh vegetables and fruits and wiping down all containers. Mark packed his Kangen water ionization system and has attached it to the filtering system provided by the Church, which has made our water safe and good tasting. The humidity and dusty air clogs the pores of the skin and affects the hair in bizarre ways. We have started using the ionization discharge water, called “beauty water”, to wash our faces and hair. It has worked wonders - now the hair behaves somewhat.

A glass of good water on the balcony looking at the Congo River

The three filters in the back with the Kangen machine attached.

The Senior Missionary couples have FHE (Family Home Evening) together once a month and Mark agreed to make crepes for the dessert. Sister Smith 1 will provide the sweet fillings. Mark is getting rather professional about the process.

We made roasted peanuts this week from raw peanuts purchased in the distributor market (very inexpensive.) We removed debris, then washed and roasted them in the oven. Delicious.

Another cooking breakthrough occurred when we found cream of tartar in the supermarket. Using our new food processor, and combining good lemons and cornstarch, sugar, and egg whites, we managed a lemon meringue pie.