Katanga fabrics

Here are the some of the boys 'modeling' some of the fabrics that I see everywhere, everyday.

Above is Ilunga with the black/tan/white. Below is Yannick with green and Jacque is holding the orange/yellow/white. Most of the women, and some of the men, where clothing made from bright bold fabrics like these. I love to look at all the colors & patterns they wear.

Before & After pics

Here is what they looked like when there were 12 of them.... 2007.

Now they are 30 and how they've grown!! God is good!!

Thank you Belgians!

Here are the 4th level boys with their teacher, Mr. Gerome. They are wearing sports clothing that the Belgians furnished money for. The boys love having outfits for physical ed & to wear to play soccer.

Belgian gifts.

Here are the boys & Michael with Samera, receiving the letters, cards & pictures that Samera brought them from Belgium. Samera's stepmother, Michele Dokens, lives in Belgium where she works for a private school. Because of her the ministry was the school's Christmas 'project'. The kids there raised money for school supplies and lots of other things, which Michele will have shipped to us. The boys were very happy & excited to get letters & pictures of the classes in Belgium. We're very grateful for Michele, the kids, their families, the teachers and the school for all they've done. THANK YOU!!

What THEY eat. WARNING: disgusting.

Sorry for any ill effects these pics may have on you. Just wanted to show a slice of life from here in Lubumbashi. The boys were happy & excited last week that these big fat catepillars were part of their meal. I could not look at them let alone give even 1 a try.

More cooking in Congo.

This is the kitchen. And that thing that looks like a wheel of a tire filled with charcoal is just that and serves as one of the stoves we use. In the back ground is bags filled with the charcoal that we use. It is made by a man who brings it once per week (more on him in the near future). Two of the boys work in the kitchen with the cook for 2 weeks at a time. It is has helped them to learn to schedule their lives as they have to haul water, start the fires, go to the bakery for bread, chop vegetables, etc..... And do all of this along with their school duties. It has been a humbling process for them also as males in Congo usually don't help with cooking at all.

What we eat.

The giant, wooden mortar & pestle thing above is to smash
saumbie (sp?) leaves; which are then cooked and then we eat them. One of the boys favorite greens.

This is Kambala doing the work of smashing and cooking.