Bongolo Adventures Continue

Saturday, August 8
Luke rode his bike without training wheels for the first time! He doesn't ride his bike in the rainy season so this was one of the first time out in months. The day before he had showed us how he comes barrelling down the 10 degree grade hill dodging all the pot holes while still using his training wheels.

Attended a double wedding ceremony at the Bongolo Church. The ceremonies were slated to begin at 8 am which was the civil ceremony with the mayor; this started at 11 am. Next was the nuptials which started about 1:30 in the sanctuary. Many of the same traditions hold in Gabon as in the US. Here, however, the wedding couple(s) "dance" into the church to a stroll with their children (yes, one couple had been living together for 21 years and had children); each couple was followed by 6 women strolling to the same beat. After two hours of many photos, we left and the wedding dinner began in the sanctuary which was turned into the dining hall. The meal was a feast of the local foods of manioc, bush meats, chicken, fish and sweet potatoes. Keir did return to the wedding feast for about an hour. The wedding guests were decked out in a bright array of African attire and so were we.

Sunday, August 9
Attended church service at Manjii which is where the Thelanders usually worship. The sermon was brought by Dr. Dave and translated by Pastor Pascal into Nzebi. Joanna lead the almost 60 Sunday School children's class in songs and Bible stories. Diann lead the children in "God is So Good" which they sang in English and in French. It was just amazing to see some 14 to 18 year old girls with their babies on their backs coloring during craft time. We sang "He's Got the Whole World in His Hands" as 6 students held up world maps and identified different countries. Dave pointed to the United States as we sang.

Family Movies Night delivered "The Sound of Music" complete with popcorn. Luke & Sarah were enthralled and it was fun for us to see again one of the first movies we ever saw together. L&S were amazed that the four adults knew so many of the songs!

Monday, August 10
Painting project continued with more of the yellow on the upper portion of the house. We watched "The Sound of Music" as a family (the second half) complete with popcorn and more singing.

Got a call that bottled gas had arrived in Lebamba. Joanna made a quick run into the village but alas! the line was very long and no gas was available for her. She did not like the looks of the long line, took a few photos, and turned around and headed home. She is down to the last of 3 bottles now.

Tuesday, August 11
Big news! Painting project continues with brown showing up on the lower portion of the house. Dave is working with Michele, Erich, Danny, Luke (sometimes) and Joanna (sometimes).

Afussa (misspelled in other posts) came to teach Joanna & Diann how to make red beans, white beans (which looked a lot like black eyed peas to Diann), red sauce and fufu (which is made from finely ground corn) and baked fish with garlic and ginger. The fufu is similar in taste to polenta; the fish was yummy; the red beans were delicious with the fufu was very tasty with the sauce on it; the white beans were ok but not great in our opinion- bland to our taste.

Dave and Luke touched base with the fish researchers again and found out that they caught a 26 inch electric cat fish. The locals who went with them tried to entice the white men to touch the fish knowing full well they'd be shocked. But the Cornell crew was was too informed to fall for that! Guess they all had a good laugh.

More later. Thanks for your prayers for us and our family.