SUNDAY 9-25-11

• UP AT 6:35 AM
• IT IS TO WINDY TO GO OUT AND SIT ON THE PORCH
• I READ MY BIBLE AND PRAY IN THE LIVING ROOM/KITCHEN
• BREAKFAST IS CHILI WITH BEANS AND CORN REALLY QUITE GOOD (MRE)
• AT ABOUT 8:10 DIDIER COMES WITH MY HOT WATER
• HE IS RUNNING LATE SO HE DOES NOT SIT DOWN, HE PLANS ON BEING BACK BETWEEN NINE AND NINE FIFTEEN
• I HAVE COFFEE AND THEN WASH MY FACE AND SHAVE WITH THE LEFT OVER WATER, I HAD A HOT SHOWER THE NIGHT BEFORE
• DIDIER HAS TO LOAD HIS FAMILY PLUS QUITE A NUMBER OF OTHER BEFORE WE LEAVE, PROBABLY ABOUT 9:35 BEFORE HIS VAN BEGINS TO MOVE
• AS SOON AS IT BEGINS TO MOVE I GO TOWARD THE VAN AND GET IN IT
• CHURCH STARTS AT 10:00 SO THERE IS NO TIME TO WASTE
• ON THE WAY TO CHURCH, WE HAVE TO CROSS A ONE LANE BRIDGE
• THE BRIDGE IS BLOCKED BY A PUSH CART WHICH IS BROKEN DOWN—THE DRIVER, PUSHER, OWNER WHATEVER IS WORKING ON WHEEL, (I THINK THREE MEN COULD CARRY OR PUSH THE CART OFF THE BRIDGE BUT I DID NOT SAY ANYTHING) AVOIDING BEING A KNOW IT ALL AMERICAN
• DIDIER SAYS “IF WE TURN AROUND WE WILL BE LATE, SOMETIMES IT IS VERY BAD TO LIVE IN THE CONGO.”
• HE TURNS AROUND AND WE TAKE A DIFFERENT ROUTE TO CHURCH, ARRIVING AT 9:55
• I PREACH FOR ONE HOUR,  PASTORS DIDIER AND MICKEY EXHORT THE CONGREGATION FOR ANOTHER 15-20 MINUTES, WISH I COULD UNDERSTAND FRENCH OR SWAHILLI—MAYBE THEIR EXHORTATION IS BETTER THAN MY PREACHING
• FOLLOWING CHURCH I PRAY FOR A SICK LADY, DIDIER SPENDS SOME TIME COUNSELLING WITH YOUNG PEOPLE
• THIS SUNDAY I AM SPENDING A LOT OF TIME TREATING MOSQUITO BITES AS I GOT 12 BITES ON FRIDAY NIGHT
• SATURDAY NIGHT I USED REPELLENT AND GOT NO BITES, BUT I MUST PAY THE PRICE FOR NOT USING THE REPELLENT ON FRIDAY NIGHT—PREVIOUSLY HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH MOSQUITOS/HAVE SOMETHING CALLED AFTERBITE WHICH TAKES AWAY THE ITCH.
• AFTER CHURCH THERE IS A SMALL AMOUNT OF FOOD SHOPPING, QUITE AN EXPERIENCE, MAYBE MORE ABOUT THAT LATER
• HOME ABOUT 2:30 HAVE LIGHT LUCH, THEN DIDIER COMES WITH ROUND BALLS OF FRIED SWEET BREAD CALLED DOUGHNUTS—DELICOUS
• DIDIER SPENT ABOUT AN HOUR EXPLAINING TO ME THE INTRICAIES OF CONGO ADOPTIONS.
• NAP TIME FOLLOWED BY FISH, FOO FOO, VEGETABLES AND RICE.