Things have been going truly well around here. It seems like we went a long time without having regular prayer meetings. There is a problem right now with rain. If it is raining people don’t come and church gets canceled. Also our pastor was super busy and things just kept conflicting. We finally started again last week and there was only me the Pastor and one other lady, Phani. So pastor Kabamba started asking us why we thought people weren’t coming. I said probably the most important thing that we can do is keep coming pray for laborers and share the testimonies of how much God is answering our prayers. I had a sermon prepared but changed it at the last minute (usually a really bad idea when you’re preaching in a foreign language you don’t know very well). The Holy Spirit was awesome and it went great.
So the next prayer meeting people randomly came out of the woodwork. We didn’t remind them or invite them but they just came. The pastor started laughing and Phani asked him why he said “Where did they come from?” God is so able to answer prayers! So we are really trying to rally the troops right now to be in prayer. We know God has a lot in store for us in 2010.
We were also praying for a woman named Alice. She has had a rough couple of years. A bunch of their money was stolen and her husband lost his job and everyone was sick. It just seemed like hard time after hard time for their family. Her husband hadn’t gone to church in 4 years. He was just discouraged about the whole thing. I remember sitting in their house about a year ago and telling the story of Joseph. I encouraged them to keep trusting in God and not allow themselves to fall into the temptations of stealing and cheating to get ahead as so many do here. I told them God hadn’t forgotten them and he promises to work things together for good. Now less than a year later her husband is employed again and making more money than before. The whole family is doing well. We went to see their new much larger house last week. Alice’s husband, Banza, was there and told us he believed all the good things that had come into their lives were blessings from God. He said he was flabbergasted by it all. He isn’t well educated and didn’t think he would ever achieve the salary he now has. He knows its God’s love and favor on their lives and said he was determined to start going to church again. After 4 years of not entering a church he showed up on Sunday with the biggest smile. He stood up with the visitors and said he had been absent for 4 years but he was turning his life around and fully committing himself to the church so we should expect to see him every Sunday. My heart rejoiced, especially for his wife. What a victory for her and an example of the fact that God does answer prayers.
Things are moving here. God just shows up and reveals Himself to those who are seeking Him. I would appreciate your prayers. Many people are sick this time of year. Also the harvest is about to come in but in the mean time people are running out of food and the price of food in at an all time high because of supply and demand. People are facing many trials but I’m confident as we pray God will supply all of our needs according to His riches and glory.
09 March 2010
02 March 2010
Justice
It has been an interesting couple of weeks here. I’ve actually been sick which doesn’t happen to me very often. I think I caught a parasite from drinking some bad water and it has manifested in all kinds of stomach issues. It’s been pretty inconvenient but I’ve found ways to continue ministering. Of course God is always faithful He gives me the ability to do all the things I’m called to do.
My recent illness is hardly why I am writing today. Something far more tragic occurred to a member of my church. A police officer who was 36 years old and a husband and father of 2 was brutally beaten to death in the Shituru section of Likasi. Gecca Mines, the government owned mining company here in Katanga province mining mostly copper, uses police or military for their security at the mines and the factories. Kalombo had been working security for a while at the Shituru factory where the copper is processed. One night a group of men came to steal from the factory and when Kalombo refused to allow them to steal they beat him until he died and left him there to be found the next morning.
It is a demonstration of how morally bankrupt people are here in Congo. Of course not all people are so heartless but there just seem to be far too many people who lack a moral conscience. Greed seems to be the driving motivator. Perhaps the hardest part for me is Kalombo is one of the few Congolese people who would actually stand for righteousness and justice. Most individuals in his position would have gladly been in on the thievery. He keeps his mouth shut and helps you break into the factor in exchange for a few hundred dollars. The difficulty is he won’t be given any respect for what he did and the lesson most people will learn from his death is doing the right thing kills so you might as well be corrupt and line your pockets.
The justice system in Congo is swift. They caught people they believe murdered Kalombo and those men will be executed. The government can’t afford to run prison facilities. They exist but hundreds and thousands die regularly because of lack of food and unsanitary living conditions. A prison sentence is usually a death sentence just in a much more painful manner. Another issue is the justice system is obviously corrupt like all of Congo. What if these aren’t even the right people? There is no drawn out trial with a jury of your peers or the possibility of establishing reasonable doubt as a means to protect the innocent. I’m not even sure if there is a trial at all. Where is the example or even existence of justice here?
Church on Wedneasday and Thursday was canceled. People here are very communal so instead of meeting at the church all members were encouraged to visit the homes of family members of Kalombo to encourage them or distract them or just be there as a form of comfort. The Bible instructs us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with those who are mourning. Some times going over to Kalombo’s sister’s house and distracting the whole family with a game of dodgeball where we laugh together and afterward pray together for God’s strength and peace looks way more like the church. There are certain things Congolese people do really well and community is one of them.
My recent illness is hardly why I am writing today. Something far more tragic occurred to a member of my church. A police officer who was 36 years old and a husband and father of 2 was brutally beaten to death in the Shituru section of Likasi. Gecca Mines, the government owned mining company here in Katanga province mining mostly copper, uses police or military for their security at the mines and the factories. Kalombo had been working security for a while at the Shituru factory where the copper is processed. One night a group of men came to steal from the factory and when Kalombo refused to allow them to steal they beat him until he died and left him there to be found the next morning.
It is a demonstration of how morally bankrupt people are here in Congo. Of course not all people are so heartless but there just seem to be far too many people who lack a moral conscience. Greed seems to be the driving motivator. Perhaps the hardest part for me is Kalombo is one of the few Congolese people who would actually stand for righteousness and justice. Most individuals in his position would have gladly been in on the thievery. He keeps his mouth shut and helps you break into the factor in exchange for a few hundred dollars. The difficulty is he won’t be given any respect for what he did and the lesson most people will learn from his death is doing the right thing kills so you might as well be corrupt and line your pockets.
The justice system in Congo is swift. They caught people they believe murdered Kalombo and those men will be executed. The government can’t afford to run prison facilities. They exist but hundreds and thousands die regularly because of lack of food and unsanitary living conditions. A prison sentence is usually a death sentence just in a much more painful manner. Another issue is the justice system is obviously corrupt like all of Congo. What if these aren’t even the right people? There is no drawn out trial with a jury of your peers or the possibility of establishing reasonable doubt as a means to protect the innocent. I’m not even sure if there is a trial at all. Where is the example or even existence of justice here?
Church on Wedneasday and Thursday was canceled. People here are very communal so instead of meeting at the church all members were encouraged to visit the homes of family members of Kalombo to encourage them or distract them or just be there as a form of comfort. The Bible instructs us to rejoice with those who are rejoicing and mourn with those who are mourning. Some times going over to Kalombo’s sister’s house and distracting the whole family with a game of dodgeball where we laugh together and afterward pray together for God’s strength and peace looks way more like the church. There are certain things Congolese people do really well and community is one of them.
16 February 2010
I'm Back
Tires screech to a halt and horns blow hysterically. These are sounds I’ve become accustomed to because I live right next to a main city street. Next came the murmuring of all the people around including the local market. Because after only 3 minutes the murmuring had died down so I knew without having to leave my house to see for myself that whatever had happened no one had to go to the hospital and the car or cars were still drivable. Car accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Some times the drivers are drunk, some times they are idiots, and always they drive way too fast on the newly repaired road. The biggest problem of course is lack of a judicial system. Anyone can get a drivers license even if the person has never even been inside a vehicle. Additionally the police will never fine someone for being drunk or driving hazardously.
It used to be wherever I went and whatever I did people called after me muzungu (white person). Now that has started to change. Whenever I take my motorcycle somewhere people get the realization that a woman is riding a motorcycle and I hear them behind me exclaiming mwanamuke (woman) in total disbelief. I guess being a woman riding a motorcycle is more strange or interesting than being white.
I found out my neighbor’s husband of over 15 years left her while I was in Zambia. I have no idea why and haven’t decided if it’s culturally a good idea to ask questions about it or not. For me it totally came out of the blue. They really seemed happy and are both wonderful people I would trust with my life. It is so sad how urban Africa is embracing divorce like we do in Western society. Unfortunately without alimony, child support, government assistance, or a value on education or careers for women, a divorced woman really suffers here. Luckily for my neighbor she is one of the few women I know who is employed. She doesn’t make much its enough to keep a roof over her kids heads and food in their bellies. The real test will be if Claude, their father, will pay for their kids to finish school.
It used to be wherever I went and whatever I did people called after me muzungu (white person). Now that has started to change. Whenever I take my motorcycle somewhere people get the realization that a woman is riding a motorcycle and I hear them behind me exclaiming mwanamuke (woman) in total disbelief. I guess being a woman riding a motorcycle is more strange or interesting than being white.
I found out my neighbor’s husband of over 15 years left her while I was in Zambia. I have no idea why and haven’t decided if it’s culturally a good idea to ask questions about it or not. For me it totally came out of the blue. They really seemed happy and are both wonderful people I would trust with my life. It is so sad how urban Africa is embracing divorce like we do in Western society. Unfortunately without alimony, child support, government assistance, or a value on education or careers for women, a divorced woman really suffers here. Luckily for my neighbor she is one of the few women I know who is employed. She doesn’t make much its enough to keep a roof over her kids heads and food in their bellies. The real test will be if Claude, their father, will pay for their kids to finish school.
06 February 2010
Back in Congo
I arrived at the Congo border and went through without any difficulties. I found a taxi and read a book as I waited for it to fill with people. I was surprised at how fast people came and soon we were off. Once we reached Lubumbashi we paid the driver. One guy in the back was in a drunken stupor. They tried and tried to wake him up and when they finally did it turned out he didn’t have enough money for the ride. I had asked the taxi driver to take me to a store first to buy some food then to the bus stop to catch a bus to Likasi. So I was the last one in the taxi with the drunk guy. The taxi driver went to the police station to try to force him to pay. I had to go in to be a witness. Chances are the police will threaten him with jail time and he will call friends and family and beg for the money which someone will probably give him. It all took time. Maybe 20 minutes but it put me behind schedule to arrive home before dark. I wasn’t able to get what I needed from the store (in Africa inventory management is an unknown concept). I did manage to get on a nice bus that filled quickly to go home with my luggage inside the bus which is important in rainy season. I arrived in Likasi around 7:45 got a taxi and went home only to realize there was no electricity. I used the light from my phone to get some candles and discovered there was water on the floor. I had anticipated this and had everything off the floor. So in the dark I was trying to sweep and mop at least a little bit put sheets on my bed and went to sleep. Luckily at 6am the next day the power came back on. I have got a lot of cleaning to do.
07 January 2010
The Holidays
Well I made it back to Zambia. I had a nice Christmas in Lubumbashi. I met lots of other expatriates. Christmas eve we celebrated with South Koreans, Christmas day we celebrated the Sabbath in with some Jewish friends, and The day after spent time with Lebanese and Belgian friends. On Sunday I went to our church and despite the rain had a huge crowd and was able to preach. Monday I started off for Zambia. In Africa buses leave when they are full not at any specific time. I unfortunately had to wait a long time and didn’t arrive in Lusaka until after 11pm but was thankful to have made it at last. On Wednesday I headed south to Kalomo on another slow bus but made it by 9pm.
Thursday for New Year Eve I went to the all night prayer meeting at our church here. It was wonderful in everyway! At least 300 people showed up maybe 500. We decided to do a joint meeting and invited all the other local churches to come. We sang and danced, prayed, and heard the word of God. It was a powerful night with many people being touched by the power of God and making decisions to commit their lives fully to God’s work in 2010. I especially enjoyed having a service in English where I didn’t have to strain to get the jist of what was going on. It was so wonderful to see old friends again. I realized how bad my Tonga has become. As people asked me questions I had to answer them in English because the only words coming to mind were in Swahili. I understood them so I realized its all in my head I just have to bring it back to memory. At about 5:15 when the last person was preaching I looked out the window at a gorgeous sunrise and couldn’t help feeling excited about all that is in store for 2010. I am thankful I had the opportunity to celebrate New Years in the traditional Zambian way.
The day after I got back twins arrived with their uncle hoping to come to our orphanage. We took them out to the children’s home and it was wonderful to see all of the kids again. I am looking forward to working with them in their reading and math skills. The kids English isn’t that good so I really need to brush up on my Tonga.
It is so nice to be back home in Zambia. More so than enjoying all of the luxuries life in Zambia provides I’m excited about seeing friends and being able to minister to people with more freedom. I should be returning to Congo the end of January. No doubt I will make the most of my time here in Zambia. Thanks for praying for my travels as anything can go wrong on African bus trips I always give God the glory for a safe trip.
Thursday for New Year Eve I went to the all night prayer meeting at our church here. It was wonderful in everyway! At least 300 people showed up maybe 500. We decided to do a joint meeting and invited all the other local churches to come. We sang and danced, prayed, and heard the word of God. It was a powerful night with many people being touched by the power of God and making decisions to commit their lives fully to God’s work in 2010. I especially enjoyed having a service in English where I didn’t have to strain to get the jist of what was going on. It was so wonderful to see old friends again. I realized how bad my Tonga has become. As people asked me questions I had to answer them in English because the only words coming to mind were in Swahili. I understood them so I realized its all in my head I just have to bring it back to memory. At about 5:15 when the last person was preaching I looked out the window at a gorgeous sunrise and couldn’t help feeling excited about all that is in store for 2010. I am thankful I had the opportunity to celebrate New Years in the traditional Zambian way.
The day after I got back twins arrived with their uncle hoping to come to our orphanage. We took them out to the children’s home and it was wonderful to see all of the kids again. I am looking forward to working with them in their reading and math skills. The kids English isn’t that good so I really need to brush up on my Tonga.
It is so nice to be back home in Zambia. More so than enjoying all of the luxuries life in Zambia provides I’m excited about seeing friends and being able to minister to people with more freedom. I should be returning to Congo the end of January. No doubt I will make the most of my time here in Zambia. Thanks for praying for my travels as anything can go wrong on African bus trips I always give God the glory for a safe trip.
22 December 2009
Joyeux Noël
It has been a Joyeux Noël (Merry Christmas) this year. It began with 3 days of meetings at the Shituru church plant. We met Sunday through Tuesday and the choir came from another church with their keyboard. Pastor Kabamba preached from Ezekiel. An interesting choice for Christmas but as he proclaimed dry bones would live the Holy Spirit came down and moved in power! The presence of God was so strong in our little bar we use as a church. People’s lives were touched as we cried out to God together for His will to be done in our lives.
I did a separate program outside with all of the children. Children is so not my area but the pastors said they were going to kick the kids out of the church because they would disturb the service so I felt I didn’t have a choice. I have identified some teenage girls who are great with the kids. Right now they are leading the children’s choir. I have ordered a curriculum for children in francophone Africa. Please pray that it arrives as mailing things to Africa is always a gamble. I think that with a curriculum those girls could do an awesome job of teaching the kids the word of God.
On Saturday we had a big Christmas part for the kids. It was quite the event. We had somewhere between 200 and 300 kids. The 70 orphans we have been working with plus the 50 other kids that come to our church showed up and so did every other kid in the area it seemed. We met on our land we bought to build the church which is a wonderful location with plenty of room for games. We began by explaining why we were celebrating and explained the story of Christmas. We sang and sang.
Afterwards we played games. We did three legged races, sac races, football matches, water games, jump roping, and some Congolese games I learned for the first time. The little kids colored pages from the Christmas story and we had a blast. I have been praying for some time that God would keep the rain from falling during our program. At 8 when I arrived the sky was gray with rain clouds and by 9 it had begun to sprinkle but God was faithful as He always is to answer our prayers and the sprinkling stopped and we had no rain until 5 after our program was over! It was a big miracle. After games we went to our church where the food had been prepared. We had bukari (in Zambia nsima basically thick grits or corn mush), fish, and beans, with popcorn, cookies, and candy. I thought some people might get trampled in the process though. Congolese people aren’t good at patience so they pushed and shoved to get to the front of the line. It was chaotic but we all survived.
I am so thankful for all the people who came together to help out. Mama Isa, our church administrator took over all the food. She assembled a team of women to cook the food, put her kids to work stuffing bags with candy. It was wonderful to not have to even think about that part of the party because I knew she had it totally under control. We had about 15 teenagers helping with the games and hauling water up the hill for our water games as well as doing crowd control during the eating time. Then the pastoral team was helping me with whatever I needed. I appreciate their patients with my poor Swahili as I attempted to explain the games and the concept of a rotation from game to game.
We also gave out noise makers which were a huge hit with the kids. In fact Sunday everywhere we went we heard kids blowing on them. I’m sure their parents love me. On Sunday countless children ran up to me and shook my hand saying “Da Sheri merci beacoup.” I couldn’t help but feel I was unjustly getting the thanks. So I pass it on to all of you now. Thank you for your support through prayers, encouragement, and financial contributions. A special thank you to the church who gave the money for the party.
I’ve recently found some other expatriates who live in this area of Congo. We got into a conversation about the street children and I passed on to them all of the information I had. They said they would like to do something for the kids for Christmas and I suggested buying shoes. We gave out 70 pairs of shoes to the street kids many who had previously been walking around barefooted. Every time I go into town they chase me down just to say thank you.
I also found out who the Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child representative is in this area and organized to get Christmas boxes for each of the almost 100 orphans Noah Ministries is working with as well as the over 200 street kids in Likasi. The boxes are being collected now in the US and will arrive here in March or April next year. I have worked with OCC in Zambia and know from experience how much joy it brings to children who would have otherwise received nothing for Christmas. It will be especially exciting here because I don’t think the street kids have any toys at all.
Hopefully on Wednesday I will go to Lubumbashi to spend Christmas with some other Americans. It’ll be great to have running water and internet for a few days. Speaking English is always a treat too. It’ll also be nice to go to our church their. One of my friends recently had a child I haven’t seen yet. If everything goes according to plan on the 28th I’ll go down to Zambia for a month. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends, working with the churches and orphans in Zambia, and of course speaking English and Tonga! Please pray for safe travel.
I did a separate program outside with all of the children. Children is so not my area but the pastors said they were going to kick the kids out of the church because they would disturb the service so I felt I didn’t have a choice. I have identified some teenage girls who are great with the kids. Right now they are leading the children’s choir. I have ordered a curriculum for children in francophone Africa. Please pray that it arrives as mailing things to Africa is always a gamble. I think that with a curriculum those girls could do an awesome job of teaching the kids the word of God.
On Saturday we had a big Christmas part for the kids. It was quite the event. We had somewhere between 200 and 300 kids. The 70 orphans we have been working with plus the 50 other kids that come to our church showed up and so did every other kid in the area it seemed. We met on our land we bought to build the church which is a wonderful location with plenty of room for games. We began by explaining why we were celebrating and explained the story of Christmas. We sang and sang.
Afterwards we played games. We did three legged races, sac races, football matches, water games, jump roping, and some Congolese games I learned for the first time. The little kids colored pages from the Christmas story and we had a blast. I have been praying for some time that God would keep the rain from falling during our program. At 8 when I arrived the sky was gray with rain clouds and by 9 it had begun to sprinkle but God was faithful as He always is to answer our prayers and the sprinkling stopped and we had no rain until 5 after our program was over! It was a big miracle. After games we went to our church where the food had been prepared. We had bukari (in Zambia nsima basically thick grits or corn mush), fish, and beans, with popcorn, cookies, and candy. I thought some people might get trampled in the process though. Congolese people aren’t good at patience so they pushed and shoved to get to the front of the line. It was chaotic but we all survived.
I am so thankful for all the people who came together to help out. Mama Isa, our church administrator took over all the food. She assembled a team of women to cook the food, put her kids to work stuffing bags with candy. It was wonderful to not have to even think about that part of the party because I knew she had it totally under control. We had about 15 teenagers helping with the games and hauling water up the hill for our water games as well as doing crowd control during the eating time. Then the pastoral team was helping me with whatever I needed. I appreciate their patients with my poor Swahili as I attempted to explain the games and the concept of a rotation from game to game.
We also gave out noise makers which were a huge hit with the kids. In fact Sunday everywhere we went we heard kids blowing on them. I’m sure their parents love me. On Sunday countless children ran up to me and shook my hand saying “Da Sheri merci beacoup.” I couldn’t help but feel I was unjustly getting the thanks. So I pass it on to all of you now. Thank you for your support through prayers, encouragement, and financial contributions. A special thank you to the church who gave the money for the party.
I’ve recently found some other expatriates who live in this area of Congo. We got into a conversation about the street children and I passed on to them all of the information I had. They said they would like to do something for the kids for Christmas and I suggested buying shoes. We gave out 70 pairs of shoes to the street kids many who had previously been walking around barefooted. Every time I go into town they chase me down just to say thank you.
I also found out who the Samaritan Purse’s Operation Christmas Child representative is in this area and organized to get Christmas boxes for each of the almost 100 orphans Noah Ministries is working with as well as the over 200 street kids in Likasi. The boxes are being collected now in the US and will arrive here in March or April next year. I have worked with OCC in Zambia and know from experience how much joy it brings to children who would have otherwise received nothing for Christmas. It will be especially exciting here because I don’t think the street kids have any toys at all.
Hopefully on Wednesday I will go to Lubumbashi to spend Christmas with some other Americans. It’ll be great to have running water and internet for a few days. Speaking English is always a treat too. It’ll also be nice to go to our church their. One of my friends recently had a child I haven’t seen yet. If everything goes according to plan on the 28th I’ll go down to Zambia for a month. I’m looking forward to seeing old friends, working with the churches and orphans in Zambia, and of course speaking English and Tonga! Please pray for safe travel.
10 December 2009
Buying a Motorcycle in Congo
When I was in America I was so blessed to receive the money to buy a motorcycle. Since August when I got back I’ve been doing my homework trying to find the best one. First I had to go to all of the government offices asking what I would need and how much everything would cost. Everything is a scam and corrupt in this country. The insurance government run program demands that you pay them but in the case of an accident wouldn’t give you a penny. In each office they wanted money before they would even tell me the price. Thankfully I pulled the missionary card and convinced them to tell me without a bribe. Then inevitable someone in the government office will ask me to marry them and that’s my queue to leave. One office I had the hardest time finding. It turns out that’s because it no longer exists. They changed buildings and then separated the division and then decided it was no longer necessary for motorcycles to have license plates.
The funny part about it all is most people in Congo never bother to get their government documents. The country is corrupt so there is a large police force whose sole occupation is blowing a whistle and then asking for money. So whether you have your documents of not they’ll demand you pay them money. I’m trying to do the right thing and follow what I can figure out about the system that supposedly exists but each step of the way I realize why so few others do.
Next I had to find places selling motorcycles. In Likasi there are maybe 100 tiny shops that may have one or 2 motorcycles for sale. It took days to go into each shop and discover who had what. Then I had to investigate the Chinese name brands to discover which ones were at least better than others. A lot of people have motorcycles around here so I would just ask them questions about theirs. They always thought it was hilarious and informed me that women can’t ride motorcycles.
Then it was time to haggle down the price. Some people see my white skin and jack up the price. They don’t think I need a discount because I am obviously a millionaire (and that’s why I live without running water because I have so much money). So some people get offended that you even ask them to change the price. Finally you find a reasonable person and I thought I had found my motorcycle. I went in to test it to be sure it worked then buy it. I had informed the shop keeper of my intentions a week before so everything would be ready. When I put some gas in to test it the gas spilt all over the floor. Definitely not going to work.
So I repeated the process time and time again one time the brakes weren’t connected properly and another time the battery was dead. My friends told me to buy in Lubumbashi. It’s hard to find the time to go there and then it is hassle because no one knows me there. Then if there is a problem with it I have to take it back. But I thought I was out of options so I planned to do it in January.
Then while walking through town one day I randomly saw a new one that must have just come to the tiny shop named Mattieu 6:33. The first day they wouldn’t negotiate the price. When I went back I haggled it down and tested it. To my amazement it actually worked. Then they even agreed to take it to a mechanic and pay the costs so I could be sure there were no problems. I went to each of the government offices where they asked for money and someone wanted to marry me, but left without adhering to either of their requests. They also all looked at me in total shock when I told them it was my motorcycle that I would be driving.
I keep trying to explain to these people that women are capable. This normally means don’t call women stupid and refers to the need to send your daughters to school as well as your sons but of course works for driving motorcycles too. The motorcycle may be bigger than I am but I am strong. I proved to a couple of my Congolese friends that I can lift the motorcycle if it happened to fall, I can push and maneuver it, and most importantly that I can (although barely) touch the ground while straddling it. They were amazed. And then I rode it which caused them to drop their jaws. Apparently they thought there is something so difficult about kicking gears up and down that women can’t do it. If only they could have seen me doing that on ATV’s when I was 6.
It was an experience buying a motorcycle in Congo. It’s such a blessing to have a means of transportation. There are so many ways I was limited before. Like I said on facebook I have a feeling my shoes are going to start lasting a lot longer.
The funny part about it all is most people in Congo never bother to get their government documents. The country is corrupt so there is a large police force whose sole occupation is blowing a whistle and then asking for money. So whether you have your documents of not they’ll demand you pay them money. I’m trying to do the right thing and follow what I can figure out about the system that supposedly exists but each step of the way I realize why so few others do.
Next I had to find places selling motorcycles. In Likasi there are maybe 100 tiny shops that may have one or 2 motorcycles for sale. It took days to go into each shop and discover who had what. Then I had to investigate the Chinese name brands to discover which ones were at least better than others. A lot of people have motorcycles around here so I would just ask them questions about theirs. They always thought it was hilarious and informed me that women can’t ride motorcycles.
Then it was time to haggle down the price. Some people see my white skin and jack up the price. They don’t think I need a discount because I am obviously a millionaire (and that’s why I live without running water because I have so much money). So some people get offended that you even ask them to change the price. Finally you find a reasonable person and I thought I had found my motorcycle. I went in to test it to be sure it worked then buy it. I had informed the shop keeper of my intentions a week before so everything would be ready. When I put some gas in to test it the gas spilt all over the floor. Definitely not going to work.
So I repeated the process time and time again one time the brakes weren’t connected properly and another time the battery was dead. My friends told me to buy in Lubumbashi. It’s hard to find the time to go there and then it is hassle because no one knows me there. Then if there is a problem with it I have to take it back. But I thought I was out of options so I planned to do it in January.
Then while walking through town one day I randomly saw a new one that must have just come to the tiny shop named Mattieu 6:33. The first day they wouldn’t negotiate the price. When I went back I haggled it down and tested it. To my amazement it actually worked. Then they even agreed to take it to a mechanic and pay the costs so I could be sure there were no problems. I went to each of the government offices where they asked for money and someone wanted to marry me, but left without adhering to either of their requests. They also all looked at me in total shock when I told them it was my motorcycle that I would be driving.
I keep trying to explain to these people that women are capable. This normally means don’t call women stupid and refers to the need to send your daughters to school as well as your sons but of course works for driving motorcycles too. The motorcycle may be bigger than I am but I am strong. I proved to a couple of my Congolese friends that I can lift the motorcycle if it happened to fall, I can push and maneuver it, and most importantly that I can (although barely) touch the ground while straddling it. They were amazed. And then I rode it which caused them to drop their jaws. Apparently they thought there is something so difficult about kicking gears up and down that women can’t do it. If only they could have seen me doing that on ATV’s when I was 6.
It was an experience buying a motorcycle in Congo. It’s such a blessing to have a means of transportation. There are so many ways I was limited before. Like I said on facebook I have a feeling my shoes are going to start lasting a lot longer.
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