Getting into the Swing of Things

As I write this it is 12:30 in the morning, Saturday, August 28, 2010. Of course, for those of you on the East Coast it is a mild 7:30 PM on a Friday night and those of you in the Midwest have probably barely finished supper by 6:30. Here it is past midnight and yet all is not still at the Elikya Center. Some of the sewing students and teachers are working on some items they will send back to the US with Jim Snyder and Kevin Kompelein, two visiting EFCA leaders who are flying out of Gemena tomorrow. Their sewing machines are busy. The generator is running through the night as well, to power some of the machines and enable them to see what they’re doing. And that’s why I’m writing now- so this computer won’t run out of juice.

I wanted to write in order to get you caught up on how things have been progressing here. In short, slowly but surely. Our EFL curriculum arrived with Jim and Kevin so we are now beginning to wade through the materials, getting familiar with them in order to start lesson planning in earnest. We will be using materials from the Ohana Foundation that are largely DVD based. This, along with the training we received in July, should enable novice EFL trainers like us to effectively facilitate the subject using a wealth of resources including songs, stories, video instruction, games and workbooks. Like so many other things, we’ll just have to wait and see. We are all excited about getting the classes rolling and hope to begin the third week of September. Until then we will be lesson-planning, continuing our Lingala learning and working in our garden.

Speaking of the garden, it has been one of our great opportunities here. It is an opportunity to learn more about Congolese life since so much revolves around the subsistence garden. It is an opportunity to get some good physical exercise and to toughen up our hands. My hands are currently covered with healing blisters (7 in all), proof that they have a lot of toughening up to do. Apparently, the local trick to the dilemma of soft hands is to do the following: 1) Rub palm oil all over hands, 2) hold hands over hot coals until they feel like they’re burning, 3) remove hands from heat, 4) hold hands over hot coals again until they feel like they’re on fire and 5) remove hands. The last step is very important. Sam and I tried this treatment out a couple of times and it seems there may be something to it. The specific activity that was causing our hands such grief was turning the earth with our garden hoes.

It is pretty hard, tedious and back-breaking work, especially knowing that it is to be done for every inch of the garden. And we had it easy; we only had to turn a small portion of earth since our garden is quite small. We also had helpers, which brings me to another great opportunity- the chance to meet people, work with them and practice our Lingala with them. It seems that every time we went out to work we would soon be joined by anywhere between 1 and 8 people. Our Lingala teacher, Guylain has been helping, Several of Mowa’s kids have helped, though Jeffu is barely as tall as the hoe he was using.

Eyenga and Kongba, two Global Fingerprints sponsored orphans have helped and some of the orphan students here at the Center have also chipped in from time to time. Right now we are trying to reclaim the pineapple, banana and plantain rows from the weeds that took over in our absence.

We are also constructing seed beds for our kitchen garden and will soon be planting vegetables, herbs and some trees that may be useful for soil building, living fences, charcoal or firewood and forage for livestock. We have really enjoyed the chance to get out and get our hands dirty. It has also been a good outlet for physical activity and its value as such will certainly be appreciated throughout our duration here.

Another good outlet for physical activity has again been soccer. But another sport that has joined soccer as a hometown favorite is the venerable tradition of Ngba ba. I should preface this by stating that Ngba ba is actually a real game. The first time we saw it being played we thought it was simply a game that Mowa’s kids came up with to play amongst themselves. But it turns out it is known throughout the Gemena region, though not much beyond that. The premise of the game is this: Players use sticks to try to hit a foam wheel onto the opposing team’s side. If they clear the field or if the lagome (the foam wheel) comes to a stop on the opposing team’s side, they get a point. It is actually both surprisingly fun and difficult. We look downright silly out there but we have a good time and the kids really enjoy it too.

Please keep us in your prayers as we continue to adjust after our first month in-country. Lingala learning is a constant effort. Pray that we are bold in seeking opportunities to use and grow it. We are preparing to teach a subject none of us have ever taught before. Pray for wisdom and discipline as we make preparations for the classroom. Also, we ask for your prayers concerning Michelle’s pregnancy. Pray that Michelle and the baby would enjoy good health and that all the necessary arrangements would be made for the delivery. The plan is that we will fly to Gamboula, in the Central African Republic to be under the care of a ReachGlobal mission doctor there when the time comes for the baby to be born. We are expecting to leave for the CAR either the last week of November or the first week of December. Once the baby is born we will fly to the capital city of Bangui where we will apply and wait for the baby’s passport. Then it’s back to the Elikya Center. As of right now, flights still need to be arranged as does our housing in Gamboula and Bangui. These plans are in God’s hands and we know that He will provide.

Finally, drop us a line if you think of it. We’d love to hear from you and we crave news from “back home” more than we crave roast beef and home-style mashed potatoes…And that’s saying a lot! So keep in touch and keep us in your prayers. Let us know how we can be praying for you as well.