Wednesday, August 5
Breakfast in the Triplex with Luke & Sarah and we played a few hands of Uno.
Rained again today for a while which is unusual during the dry season. Dave & Luke spent some time with the fish researchers from Cornell. Painting in the afternoon with Luke & Nathan working on the shutters.
Sarah & Grandma did some serious coloring. Keir attended the weekly staff meeting in the evening while we visited with Joanna.
It is great to be able to put Luke & Sarah to bed every night! What a blessing!
Thursday, August 6
The heavy duty painting resumed with Michele, Erich, Luke & Dave. Finished up the yellow on three sides of the house.
Dinner at the Barack Obama Cafe was a bust due to lack of bottled gas. Ate at the Coca Cola Cafe instead and dined in what Sarah described as "... cleaner than the Barach Obama Cafe..." We had the standard Thelander fare of chicken, fish, rice and this time we had French Fries too.
Stopped by the "basket man's" popcorn machine and bought what we call kettle corn in the States as we left Lebamba. We had to wait in line because he was doing a brisk business with his little table top antiquated device. The popcorn was yummy! We checked on the progress of our basket order and were told "... they'll be ready on Thursday..."
Friday, August 7
At 9 AM Dave, Michele, Erich, Luke and Joanna started painting the lower portion of the house (notice a theme here?) Joanna left at noon to help with lunch, Luke left at 2 to play with Nathan, Michele and Erich left at 3; Dave finished painting solo at 5 PM.
Efusa, one of Joanna's Muslim friends, stopped in while we were having lunch. Joanna served her the first peanut butter and jelly sandwich she'd ever eaten. Efusa declared "C'est bon".
Joanna, Sarah, Meladee and Diann shopped in Lebamba with stops at the Pink Store looking for tomatoes (none), the Island Store for apples, onions and garlic - no apples, Peter, the tailor, to check the progress of the ensembles for Independence Day (August 17); stopped at Ose, the tailor, to put in an order for napkins, adjustments on a gift dress of Diann's, and some gifts. Meladee & Sarah "talked" with the goats while they were waiting in the air conditioned vehicle; bought milk from France that has a shelf life till December, butter, powdered milk, pamplemousse and some canned tomatoes and tomato paste; at another store we bought baking white potatoes from Cameroon and yogurt.
Headed home to make dinner and get ready for the presentation by the Cornell fish researchers. About 24 missionaries and residents and spouses gathered at the Kellys for a great educational power point program. It is exciting to know that one of the recently discovered electric fish is being named after Bongolo! Chatted with folks at the gathering , had dessert and left for Thelanders about 9:15. Luke & Sarah quickly prepared for bed. We visited with Joanna & Keir till 10:30 pm and discussed the goings on in Libreville today with the 10,000 demonstrators and government officials.
We continue to be grateful that the Thelanders of Gabon seem content to be in this place at this time.
Friday, August 7, 2009
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Monday, August 2
Dave, Erich & Michele discovered that a portion of the house that had already been painted needed to be scrapped before they could continue with their painting project. The humidity and sun had caused the paint on the bricks to peel. That slowed down progress. Luke serves as Dave's translator with the workers but Erich has pretty good English.
Got an update on Deborah and Paolo's wedding and some details of the Sunday gathering at Deborah's home. Sounds like two lovely events with many friends in attendance.
Tuesday, August 3
More scrapping and painting for Dave and the work team. More food storage work for Diann - most of the foods in cardboard boxes has to be taken out of the box and put in plastic zip lock bags.
Notes on food: All the produce has to be washed in a bleach solution before consumption; many of the veggies are canned; all of the meats are frozen; pamplemousse (a grapefruit soda) is a favorite for both of us; chips are eaten within a two month period of arrival before they get stale; we always drink bottled water that has been through a clay filtering system; we cannot brush our teeth with tape water either - now that is difficult to remember! but realizing the possible consequences we adapt quickly; fruit trees on the property are banana, lemon, mango, papaya and there are star fruit and coconut on the station.
Wednesday, August 4
Exciting day in this corner of Gabon! The interim president, Rose Francine Rogombe, was in Lebamba to officially mark the beginning of construction of 32 miles of paved highway between Lebamba and Ndende. It was an unofficial holiday here. However, Keir worked all day and was not able to join us and at least 2,500 other people in the festivities.
The Gabonese workers at the hospital and on the station had the option of taking the day off and most did. Just as we were leaving the house Joanna's househelp, Evelyn, got a phone call with an update that Madame President had just left Libreville and was flying to Mouila and would take a helicopter to Lebamba and was expected to arrive at 11 AM. Most of the locals had been standing at the site since 8 AM awaiting her arrival.
When we got there, we were directed to park in a restricted area and were ushered under a tent erected for dignitaries and took our seats there - much to our surprise. Our group was decked out in our best Gabonese outfits and consisted of Joanna, Luke, Sarah, Meladee (the maintenance supervisor's wife) Amanda, Forrest and Emma Kelly (Short term missions directors - dad Tim and son Zach were in Libreville).
It three hour event was filled with speeches and more speeches. The Chinese construction company, Covec, displayed a huge Caterpillar Road Grader which Madame President started and posed in - thus cutting the ribbon. The Gabonese Military were in very visible as well as the Gabonese Secret Service.
The son of the late President Bongo who is one of the 23 candidates for president made the rounds in the crowd and warmly greeted Dr. Dave Thompson as he passed our group.
As we left we saw the 3 presidential helicopters leave the makeshift helipad and noticed that one helicopter flew over Bongolo Hospital.
It was a great fete for the people of Lebamba and for us as Americans. We felt privileged to have third row seats!
On the way home we purchased fresh tomatoes and fresh greens for cooking and for salads... all of which are just coming in season here.
Luke and Sarah had dinner with us at the Triplex and are sleeping over and will stay for breakfast through lunch tomorrow. It is so fun to be able to spend quality time with them. Tonight we had 3 desserts again (canned pears, a granola fruit bar baked by Joanna, and Twizzlers). L&S loved it. We each won a game of Uno! And we sorted some baskets from the basket man! What a joy to be with L&S!
What a day!
Dave, Erich & Michele discovered that a portion of the house that had already been painted needed to be scrapped before they could continue with their painting project. The humidity and sun had caused the paint on the bricks to peel. That slowed down progress. Luke serves as Dave's translator with the workers but Erich has pretty good English.
Got an update on Deborah and Paolo's wedding and some details of the Sunday gathering at Deborah's home. Sounds like two lovely events with many friends in attendance.
Tuesday, August 3
More scrapping and painting for Dave and the work team. More food storage work for Diann - most of the foods in cardboard boxes has to be taken out of the box and put in plastic zip lock bags.
Notes on food: All the produce has to be washed in a bleach solution before consumption; many of the veggies are canned; all of the meats are frozen; pamplemousse (a grapefruit soda) is a favorite for both of us; chips are eaten within a two month period of arrival before they get stale; we always drink bottled water that has been through a clay filtering system; we cannot brush our teeth with tape water either - now that is difficult to remember! but realizing the possible consequences we adapt quickly; fruit trees on the property are banana, lemon, mango, papaya and there are star fruit and coconut on the station.
Wednesday, August 4
Exciting day in this corner of Gabon! The interim president, Rose Francine Rogombe, was in Lebamba to officially mark the beginning of construction of 32 miles of paved highway between Lebamba and Ndende. It was an unofficial holiday here. However, Keir worked all day and was not able to join us and at least 2,500 other people in the festivities.
The Gabonese workers at the hospital and on the station had the option of taking the day off and most did. Just as we were leaving the house Joanna's househelp, Evelyn, got a phone call with an update that Madame President had just left Libreville and was flying to Mouila and would take a helicopter to Lebamba and was expected to arrive at 11 AM. Most of the locals had been standing at the site since 8 AM awaiting her arrival.
When we got there, we were directed to park in a restricted area and were ushered under a tent erected for dignitaries and took our seats there - much to our surprise. Our group was decked out in our best Gabonese outfits and consisted of Joanna, Luke, Sarah, Meladee (the maintenance supervisor's wife) Amanda, Forrest and Emma Kelly (Short term missions directors - dad Tim and son Zach were in Libreville).
It three hour event was filled with speeches and more speeches. The Chinese construction company, Covec, displayed a huge Caterpillar Road Grader which Madame President started and posed in - thus cutting the ribbon. The Gabonese Military were in very visible as well as the Gabonese Secret Service.
The son of the late President Bongo who is one of the 23 candidates for president made the rounds in the crowd and warmly greeted Dr. Dave Thompson as he passed our group.
As we left we saw the 3 presidential helicopters leave the makeshift helipad and noticed that one helicopter flew over Bongolo Hospital.
It was a great fete for the people of Lebamba and for us as Americans. We felt privileged to have third row seats!
On the way home we purchased fresh tomatoes and fresh greens for cooking and for salads... all of which are just coming in season here.
Luke and Sarah had dinner with us at the Triplex and are sleeping over and will stay for breakfast through lunch tomorrow. It is so fun to be able to spend quality time with them. Tonight we had 3 desserts again (canned pears, a granola fruit bar baked by Joanna, and Twizzlers). L&S loved it. We each won a game of Uno! And we sorted some baskets from the basket man! What a joy to be with L&S!
What a day!
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Congratulations to Deborah and Paolo Bini who were married today in Mendon Ponds Park. Join us in praying for a long and happy marriage for them. We are rejoicing that Aden has a father figure in his life.
Slept in a little this morning. Dave drove the golf cart down to see some of the soccer game between the residents and some nurses and other locals. Keir begged off soccer today in lieu of a round of tennis later in the day.
Yummy made by Dave pancakes with scrambled eggs and bacon (the pre-cooked type that requires no refrigeration and yes it does taste like bacon!). Unpacked some of the food order and helped organize the storage space in the attic for the year's supply of canned goods and paper products. How many rolls of toilet paper would you order for an entire year?
At 6PM we had dinner reservations at Marie Terese's. Dr. Renee and Nurse Karen went with us. Had a great dinner of manioc leaves, fried sweet potatoes, chicken and fish plus rice. The restaurant has one neon bar light, concrete floors, plastic white lawn chairs and no screens on the widows. As we sat solving some of the world's problems, Marie Terese came into the restaurant telling Keir that she had a call that he was needed at the hospital. The pharmacy warehouse was on fire! (Everyone knows everyone else's business and one of the nurses knew the Thelanders had dinner reservations there.). We immediately left for the hospital and drove quickly down the pot hole filled roads. We could see the flames as we enter the hospital grounds. We share Dr. Dave's email to friends with you for the rest of the story. He and Becki are 30 plus years missionaries here. God provided a slow rain/drizzle (the first since we have been here because it is the dry season). Pray with us that the fire does not reignite during the night. Photos tomorrow.
--------------------
Dear Friends,
At 7:30 pm tonight I got a frantic call from one of our nurses with the alarming news that our hospital warehouse was on fire. Becki called around the station for others to come while I raced to the hospital. When I arrived, about 200 people (mostly the local youth group, which was meeting in the church next door) were screaming and running around, trying to get into the lock building to put it out. I could see the glow of flames through the windows. Since it was dark, I parked my car with the headlights on the door.
I grabbed the fire extinguisher from my car and ran to the steel door with my keys. When I cautiously opened the door, I could see flames reaching to the ceiling from behind a six foot high stack of boxes--our most recent medicine order. The ceiling was already on fire, along with about 10 boxes. At the center was a refrigerator that was burning like a torch. I sprayed it with my car extinguisher, but it ran out after about 10 seconds. About 10 young men from the youth group and hospital crowded in, and I shouted for some to bring buckets of water and the others to form a chain to drag our medicines out. In seconds we had boxes flying out the door and buckets of water flying in--half the time colliding! What pandemonium! Above it all I could hear women singing praises and prayers to God!
Next to the fire, I was soon elbowed aside by younger firefighters who threw the buckets of water on the fridge and through the burned out ceiling and up onto the burning rafters. Keir Thelander arrived and took charge of that effort, so I worked on getting most of the boxes around the fire out of the building. Then I went outside and discovered the fire was spreading to the waiting area roof of our new lab, which is right next door. I got some good throwers working on that one and in a few minutes we doused it. The water coming out of the hospital faucets seemed like a trickle, but after 30 minutes or so, Keir and his team gradually got the fire inside under control.
We may have lost 10 to 20 boxes of medicines and supplies and a refrigerator full of we're not sure what. The roof has a huge hole in it and there is extensive damage to the ceiling and rafters for about 1/3 of the building. But we could have lost the entire building, with over $200,000 of medicines and supplies in storage! We praise God that the youth group was there and that so many volunteers rushed to help. And nobody was burned or hurt.
Praise God with us for protecting these precious medicines and supplies and helping us to get it out. Please pray with us that God will help us replace what we lost, and repair our warehouse.
Praising our Great Lord and Protector
Dave & Becki Thompson
David C. Thompson, MD, FACS, FWACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
PAACS Director for Africa
www.paacs.net
Slept in a little this morning. Dave drove the golf cart down to see some of the soccer game between the residents and some nurses and other locals. Keir begged off soccer today in lieu of a round of tennis later in the day.
Yummy made by Dave pancakes with scrambled eggs and bacon (the pre-cooked type that requires no refrigeration and yes it does taste like bacon!). Unpacked some of the food order and helped organize the storage space in the attic for the year's supply of canned goods and paper products. How many rolls of toilet paper would you order for an entire year?
At 6PM we had dinner reservations at Marie Terese's. Dr. Renee and Nurse Karen went with us. Had a great dinner of manioc leaves, fried sweet potatoes, chicken and fish plus rice. The restaurant has one neon bar light, concrete floors, plastic white lawn chairs and no screens on the widows. As we sat solving some of the world's problems, Marie Terese came into the restaurant telling Keir that she had a call that he was needed at the hospital. The pharmacy warehouse was on fire! (Everyone knows everyone else's business and one of the nurses knew the Thelanders had dinner reservations there.). We immediately left for the hospital and drove quickly down the pot hole filled roads. We could see the flames as we enter the hospital grounds. We share Dr. Dave's email to friends with you for the rest of the story. He and Becki are 30 plus years missionaries here. God provided a slow rain/drizzle (the first since we have been here because it is the dry season). Pray with us that the fire does not reignite during the night. Photos tomorrow.
--------------------
Dear Friends,
At 7:30 pm tonight I got a frantic call from one of our nurses with the alarming news that our hospital warehouse was on fire. Becki called around the station for others to come while I raced to the hospital. When I arrived, about 200 people (mostly the local youth group, which was meeting in the church next door) were screaming and running around, trying to get into the lock building to put it out. I could see the glow of flames through the windows. Since it was dark, I parked my car with the headlights on the door.
I grabbed the fire extinguisher from my car and ran to the steel door with my keys. When I cautiously opened the door, I could see flames reaching to the ceiling from behind a six foot high stack of boxes--our most recent medicine order. The ceiling was already on fire, along with about 10 boxes. At the center was a refrigerator that was burning like a torch. I sprayed it with my car extinguisher, but it ran out after about 10 seconds. About 10 young men from the youth group and hospital crowded in, and I shouted for some to bring buckets of water and the others to form a chain to drag our medicines out. In seconds we had boxes flying out the door and buckets of water flying in--half the time colliding! What pandemonium! Above it all I could hear women singing praises and prayers to God!
Next to the fire, I was soon elbowed aside by younger firefighters who threw the buckets of water on the fridge and through the burned out ceiling and up onto the burning rafters. Keir Thelander arrived and took charge of that effort, so I worked on getting most of the boxes around the fire out of the building. Then I went outside and discovered the fire was spreading to the waiting area roof of our new lab, which is right next door. I got some good throwers working on that one and in a few minutes we doused it. The water coming out of the hospital faucets seemed like a trickle, but after 30 minutes or so, Keir and his team gradually got the fire inside under control.
We may have lost 10 to 20 boxes of medicines and supplies and a refrigerator full of we're not sure what. The roof has a huge hole in it and there is extensive damage to the ceiling and rafters for about 1/3 of the building. But we could have lost the entire building, with over $200,000 of medicines and supplies in storage! We praise God that the youth group was there and that so many volunteers rushed to help. And nobody was burned or hurt.
Praise God with us for protecting these precious medicines and supplies and helping us to get it out. Please pray with us that God will help us replace what we lost, and repair our warehouse.
Praising our Great Lord and Protector
Dave & Becki Thompson
David C. Thompson, MD, FACS, FWACS
Assistant Professor of Surgery
PAACS Director for Africa
www.paacs.net
Friday, July 31, 2009
Lebamba, Porcupine and Painting
Tuesday, July 28
Shopping in Lebamba for food and supplies is always an adventure for us. Joanna purchased some "cabbage" which looked like collard greens to us. She also bought sweet potatoes which look similar to the sweet potatoes we purchase from Wegmans. Bananas were available and Joanna bought some since the bananas on their trees are not yet ripe. We saw Efusa, Joanna's shop-owner Muslim friend, who helped us purchase the above produce. Cecado which is the four aisle supermarket in Lebamba had butter this week so Joanna bought 5 pounds at $5.00 per pound. The Island store had brown eggs this week and Luke bought 1/2 pound of nails there too. Still no bottled gas but diesel fuel for their Toyota Landcruiser was available and Joanna bought some to replenish their two tank supply at a "full service" gas station which means they pump the gas; no self service available.
Saw many goats in the roads, many hens and chicks and lots of roosters running free. Joanna tells us that everyone knows who owns which ones.
Luke & Sarah slept over with us in our apartment in Triplex One. We had pasta with red sauce but no cheese (Aden, we thought of you!). Played a couple of rounds of Uno; had three desserts (1/4 Hershey Chocolate bar, twizzler, and a Gabonese fried dough ball) and went to bed late.
Wednesday, July 29
Slept in late. Had breakfast in our apartment with L&S. Began reading a couple of Luke's school books aloud with both L&S.
Checked in with the research fishermen again. Got a tour of their equipment and some of their recently caught specimens. They gave L&S 3 fish each to add to their tanks and a special Cornell lab tee shirt showing the electric fish including the one named after Bongolo!
As we continue to interact with the missionaries and the residents, we become more amazed at what God is doing in this place. By God's grace, lives are being changed; folks are coming to the Lord and people are treated for their diseases and injuries at the hospital.
Most nights after L&S go to bed between 7:30 and 8, we are able to spend some time with Joanna & Keir. It is a great time for us to share what is going on at home with our family, our church, our friends and with us personally. We hear stories about some of the joys and challenges they have been through. We treasure these times.
Thursday, July 30
The painting project has started! Dave, Michel, Luke and Joanna began painting the shed on the property. It ann the house will be a beautiful yellow on the top half with brown at the bottom. Four pints of yellow tint were required to change the color of 3-1/2 gallons of white paint... much more than anticipated. The sides of the house required a little more work as Dave endeavored to tape newspaper up at the windows to lessen drips, spills, etc.
Paul & Meladee invited us all for a dinner of bar-b-qued chicken on the grill. We enjoyed getting to know them. They are among the newbees on the station and hail from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Paul is the new maintenance supervisor.
Friday, July 31
The second truck arrived with the remainder of the food order from the container. Christmas in Bongolo in July! Most everything arrived including enough peanut butter to feed an army! Plus a recliner, a sofa, cake and brownie mixes galore, a table saw, a welder and some medical office equipment and of course, the canned and dried goods for all the missionaries for the next 12 months. The distribution went smoothly with the new system.
Back to the painting project! Dave, Michel and Luke painted in the morning. Dave has a new system for covering the windows and trim; he's using masking paper now that was left by previous short term missionaries.
Joanna, Sarah & Diann drove into Lebamba to purchase more yellow tint. Four stores later we had the required number of bottles to finish the job (we hope!).
Danny, the son of the hospital pastor, highschooler boy next door, rode home with us from shopping with his 50 pound bag of rice and a few groceries. We mentioned that we'd really like some lettuce and more "cabbage". He knew that Pastor Jean Marc had some. We stopped; Danny made the deal for us and even cut the produce fresh from the garden by the hospital. Later he joined the painting project.
In the afternoon, Jacqui came to teach Joanna & Diann how to prepare a porcupine. Fortunately, she had cleaned and cut it up earlier in the week and had frozen it. A lot of garlic and a two onions made the porcupine taste and smell delicious. Jacqui also brought mashed plantains which teamed well with the "cabbage" and the sweet potatoes. We had our first homecooked-in-the-Thelander-home Gabonese meal.
The Thelander house is a revolving door of folks coming and going with needs or just stopping to say hello. Tonight Keir got a call from the new opthamologist on the station, Dr. Wendy. She and hubby, Eric, have a rat in their attic pantry"...what should they do...". Someone else needs a repair on their computer and so it goes.
It is wonderful being here watching Luke and Sarah interact with their Gabonese friends and other MKs and with each other. They have matured so much since last year when we visited. Luke has lost 3 teeth and has a fourth one very loose. Sarah sings most of the day, just like her Aunt Deborah did at that age. They are a delight!
Shopping in Lebamba for food and supplies is always an adventure for us. Joanna purchased some "cabbage" which looked like collard greens to us. She also bought sweet potatoes which look similar to the sweet potatoes we purchase from Wegmans. Bananas were available and Joanna bought some since the bananas on their trees are not yet ripe. We saw Efusa, Joanna's shop-owner Muslim friend, who helped us purchase the above produce. Cecado which is the four aisle supermarket in Lebamba had butter this week so Joanna bought 5 pounds at $5.00 per pound. The Island store had brown eggs this week and Luke bought 1/2 pound of nails there too. Still no bottled gas but diesel fuel for their Toyota Landcruiser was available and Joanna bought some to replenish their two tank supply at a "full service" gas station which means they pump the gas; no self service available.
Saw many goats in the roads, many hens and chicks and lots of roosters running free. Joanna tells us that everyone knows who owns which ones.
Luke & Sarah slept over with us in our apartment in Triplex One. We had pasta with red sauce but no cheese (Aden, we thought of you!). Played a couple of rounds of Uno; had three desserts (1/4 Hershey Chocolate bar, twizzler, and a Gabonese fried dough ball) and went to bed late.
Wednesday, July 29
Slept in late. Had breakfast in our apartment with L&S. Began reading a couple of Luke's school books aloud with both L&S.
Checked in with the research fishermen again. Got a tour of their equipment and some of their recently caught specimens. They gave L&S 3 fish each to add to their tanks and a special Cornell lab tee shirt showing the electric fish including the one named after Bongolo!
As we continue to interact with the missionaries and the residents, we become more amazed at what God is doing in this place. By God's grace, lives are being changed; folks are coming to the Lord and people are treated for their diseases and injuries at the hospital.
Most nights after L&S go to bed between 7:30 and 8, we are able to spend some time with Joanna & Keir. It is a great time for us to share what is going on at home with our family, our church, our friends and with us personally. We hear stories about some of the joys and challenges they have been through. We treasure these times.
Thursday, July 30
The painting project has started! Dave, Michel, Luke and Joanna began painting the shed on the property. It ann the house will be a beautiful yellow on the top half with brown at the bottom. Four pints of yellow tint were required to change the color of 3-1/2 gallons of white paint... much more than anticipated. The sides of the house required a little more work as Dave endeavored to tape newspaper up at the windows to lessen drips, spills, etc.
Paul & Meladee invited us all for a dinner of bar-b-qued chicken on the grill. We enjoyed getting to know them. They are among the newbees on the station and hail from Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Paul is the new maintenance supervisor.
Friday, July 31
The second truck arrived with the remainder of the food order from the container. Christmas in Bongolo in July! Most everything arrived including enough peanut butter to feed an army! Plus a recliner, a sofa, cake and brownie mixes galore, a table saw, a welder and some medical office equipment and of course, the canned and dried goods for all the missionaries for the next 12 months. The distribution went smoothly with the new system.
Back to the painting project! Dave, Michel and Luke painted in the morning. Dave has a new system for covering the windows and trim; he's using masking paper now that was left by previous short term missionaries.
Joanna, Sarah & Diann drove into Lebamba to purchase more yellow tint. Four stores later we had the required number of bottles to finish the job (we hope!).
Danny, the son of the hospital pastor, highschooler boy next door, rode home with us from shopping with his 50 pound bag of rice and a few groceries. We mentioned that we'd really like some lettuce and more "cabbage". He knew that Pastor Jean Marc had some. We stopped; Danny made the deal for us and even cut the produce fresh from the garden by the hospital. Later he joined the painting project.
In the afternoon, Jacqui came to teach Joanna & Diann how to prepare a porcupine. Fortunately, she had cleaned and cut it up earlier in the week and had frozen it. A lot of garlic and a two onions made the porcupine taste and smell delicious. Jacqui also brought mashed plantains which teamed well with the "cabbage" and the sweet potatoes. We had our first homecooked-in-the-Thelander-home Gabonese meal.
The Thelander house is a revolving door of folks coming and going with needs or just stopping to say hello. Tonight Keir got a call from the new opthamologist on the station, Dr. Wendy. She and hubby, Eric, have a rat in their attic pantry"...what should they do...". Someone else needs a repair on their computer and so it goes.
It is wonderful being here watching Luke and Sarah interact with their Gabonese friends and other MKs and with each other. They have matured so much since last year when we visited. Luke has lost 3 teeth and has a fourth one very loose. Sarah sings most of the day, just like her Aunt Deborah did at that age. They are a delight!
Monday, July 27, 2009
Village Adventures
Monday, July 27
Pastor Serge and Jacqui lead us on a trip to the village of Lekindeu which is about 2 hours from the Thelander home in Bongolo.
Along the way we stopped at a pygmy village and met the villagers there. Many of the people were in the jungle hunting or gathering food so we saw only about 15 people. Most were old men or women or small children. Pastor Serge and Jacqui had purchased soap, oil and salt in the Dakar store (which is just outside Bongolo) to bring to their friends in the village. The pygmies were delighted with the gifts and were so thrilled to have their friends visiting again. The pygmies are shunned in the larger villages and are not welcome in the cities. Pygmies are not allowed identification papers in Gabon.
The roads have been recently widen and graded so we made good time except for the stretches of large pot holes (2'X4'X1' on average) and washed out ridges.
We had to check in with the military police who had the road blocked; Pastor Serge vouched for us and we were allowed to pass without even showing our passport.
When we arrived at the home of friends of Pastor Serge and Jacqui, we were allowed to visit the enclosed kitchen with open fires where our lunch was being prepared. Jean Paul had been hunting in the early morning and brought in the gazelle which Suzanne (who was 8-1/2 months pregnant with their 8th child) skinned, cleaned and cut into small bone-in pieces. She then cooked the meat over the open fire in oil and onion. After the meat browned, Suzanne added water and cooked the meat till it was tender in the gravy.
While the gazelle was cooking, we drove to the village chief's home and checked in with his widow who was happy to see Pastor Serge and Jacqui. It is a custom to report to the village chief just in case we encounter any difficulties while in his village. If he knows we are there, he can protect us - otherwise maybe not.
Dave asked Pastor Serge to stop the vehicle so he could take a photo of a monkey for sale on top of a 55 gallon drum which was along the side of the road. The man refused to allow Dave to photograph his bush meat.
It is appropriate to ask the folks in Gabon for permission to take a photo of them or their belongings including their home and grounds. Most of our requests have been granted but not always as was the case today.
Dave was able to photograph a live monkey on a rope near the road in a neighboring village. The villagers had captured the mother and had her for dinner and have kept her infant monkey for over a year as a pet.
Lunch of gazelle, manioc which is a root vegetable and sweet potatoes was delicious. We were served on a white cotton table cloth in assorted bowls and given a spoon and fork. The table and chairs were on earthen floor on the porch of the home which had one exposed light bulb and a partially screened window. The gazelle was amazingly tasty; the manioc was rubbery and bland to our tastes and the sweet potatoes were sweet.
Our trip back included a stop by a Bongolo Hospital Dispensary in Dzende. The buildings were newly constructed masonary white stucco and were not occupied. We stopped by the nurses home and she was in the jungle tending her crops.
The ferry over the Louetsi River is slow moving and carries two vehicles at a time. A pick up truck was ahead of our two vehicle caravan. Thirty minutes after arriving we had been ferried across the river by a non-motorized 25 year old unit. Keir had taken a photo of the ferryman 2 years ago and promised to give him a copy. Keir made good on his promise today when he delivered two copies of the photo - one for each ferryman.
Arrived back at Hou]se 4 at 5:30 pm(we left at 10 am) in time for Joanna to prepare another wonderful meal for us.
We marveled during our adventure that our God who created the beauty of the jungles of Gabon is the same God who created Niagara Falls. Pastor Serge and Jacqui were amazed at Niagara Falls in November 2007. We were amazed today by the villages in the jungle of Gabon near Bongolo.
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Pastor Serge and Jacqui lead us on a trip to the village of Lekindeu which is about 2 hours from the Thelander home in Bongolo.
Along the way we stopped at a pygmy village and met the villagers there. Many of the people were in the jungle hunting or gathering food so we saw only about 15 people. Most were old men or women or small children. Pastor Serge and Jacqui had purchased soap, oil and salt in the Dakar store (which is just outside Bongolo) to bring to their friends in the village. The pygmies were delighted with the gifts and were so thrilled to have their friends visiting again. The pygmies are shunned in the larger villages and are not welcome in the cities. Pygmies are not allowed identification papers in Gabon.
The roads have been recently widen and graded so we made good time except for the stretches of large pot holes (2'X4'X1' on average) and washed out ridges.
We had to check in with the military police who had the road blocked; Pastor Serge vouched for us and we were allowed to pass without even showing our passport.
When we arrived at the home of friends of Pastor Serge and Jacqui, we were allowed to visit the enclosed kitchen with open fires where our lunch was being prepared. Jean Paul had been hunting in the early morning and brought in the gazelle which Suzanne (who was 8-1/2 months pregnant with their 8th child) skinned, cleaned and cut into small bone-in pieces. She then cooked the meat over the open fire in oil and onion. After the meat browned, Suzanne added water and cooked the meat till it was tender in the gravy.
While the gazelle was cooking, we drove to the village chief's home and checked in with his widow who was happy to see Pastor Serge and Jacqui. It is a custom to report to the village chief just in case we encounter any difficulties while in his village. If he knows we are there, he can protect us - otherwise maybe not.
Dave asked Pastor Serge to stop the vehicle so he could take a photo of a monkey for sale on top of a 55 gallon drum which was along the side of the road. The man refused to allow Dave to photograph his bush meat.
It is appropriate to ask the folks in Gabon for permission to take a photo of them or their belongings including their home and grounds. Most of our requests have been granted but not always as was the case today.
Dave was able to photograph a live monkey on a rope near the road in a neighboring village. The villagers had captured the mother and had her for dinner and have kept her infant monkey for over a year as a pet.
Lunch of gazelle, manioc which is a root vegetable and sweet potatoes was delicious. We were served on a white cotton table cloth in assorted bowls and given a spoon and fork. The table and chairs were on earthen floor on the porch of the home which had one exposed light bulb and a partially screened window. The gazelle was amazingly tasty; the manioc was rubbery and bland to our tastes and the sweet potatoes were sweet.
Our trip back included a stop by a Bongolo Hospital Dispensary in Dzende. The buildings were newly constructed masonary white stucco and were not occupied. We stopped by the nurses home and she was in the jungle tending her crops.
The ferry over the Louetsi River is slow moving and carries two vehicles at a time. A pick up truck was ahead of our two vehicle caravan. Thirty minutes after arriving we had been ferried across the river by a non-motorized 25 year old unit. Keir had taken a photo of the ferryman 2 years ago and promised to give him a copy. Keir made good on his promise today when he delivered two copies of the photo - one for each ferryman.
Arrived back at Hou]se 4 at 5:30 pm(we left at 10 am) in time for Joanna to prepare another wonderful meal for us.
We marveled during our adventure that our God who created the beauty of the jungles of Gabon is the same God who created Niagara Falls. Pastor Serge and Jacqui were amazed at Niagara Falls in November 2007. We were amazed today by the villages in the jungle of Gabon near Bongolo.
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Sunday, July 26, 2009
We Made it to Bongolo!
Wednesday - July 22
Got an email about 10 am stating that our Royal Air Maroc flight had been cancelled due to strikes in Casablanca and we were re-booked on Air France through Paris arriving in Libreville 7 hours earlier. This was good news to us since we were a bit concerned about the RAM flight from the start.
After closing the lids on our 12 pieces of luggage (that includes our carry ons and our personal pieces) we were ready to begin our journey to Bongolo!
Dave & Coralie arrived at 1 PM as planned. Jeff and Aden packed the pick up truck. After tearful goodbyes and long hugs, we were off to the Rochester International Airport!
Left Rochester with no problem; arrived & departed JFK with no problem (filled out the H1N1 form soon after departure - no email yet about swine flu).
Thursday, July 23 - 7 AM
Arrived & departed Paris with no problem; arrived Libreville at 5:45 PM - 40 minutes late which was still MUCH earlier than our original schedule.
Had a delightful dinner with the Straw family at the Christian Missionary Alliance Guest House; slept well and late.
Knowing we could not bring all our luggage on the Gabonese Airline flight, we pursuaded Carl Hopkins and his Cornell team of fish researchers (who would have thought!) to bring two trunks down to Bongolo when the came on Friday. The rest stayed back till the next truck comes down with part of the food from the container that just came out of port.
Friday, July 24
Breakfast was croissant and pain de chocolat! Left Guest House at 11 am for our 1 pm flight from Libreville to Mouila. Arrived Mouila to the waves of Luke & Keir at 3:15 PM. Immediately left for the 1 hour and 45 minute drive to House One at Bongolo. The roads were graded this year and the travel albeit still very rough was much more bearable than before. Joanna & Sarah and many of the missionaries and residents greeting us after our long journey.
Lovely dinner and time to visit with the Thelanders of Gabon; slept well and late after putting our things into Triplex Apartment 1.
Saturday, July 25
Grandpa made waffles for breakfast.
Dave, Keir & Luke toured the recently organized and revamped Maintenance Shop with the new Maintenance Supervisor, Paul, from Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Sarah & Grandma played with paper dolls while Joanna prepared lunch and dinner. Grandpa and Luke cleaned some of L's tools that had rusted in the Bongolo humidity.
"Quiet Time" was a welcome period for us and we both took a short rest. The trip to Lebamba to buy bottled gas for the stove was cancelled because gas is not available. Speculation is that the folks in Libreville are hoarding the gas in anticipation of the upcoming election which may result in unrest and confusion.
Pastor Serge and Jacqui came for dinner at the Thelanders (Pastor Serge is the Bongolo Hospital administrator). It was fun to be with them again. They visited us in Rochester in November 2008. Pastor Serge has invited us to a village on Monday for a feast of bush meat and typical Gabonese dishes.
Must note here that our impressions of Gabon are still very similar to what they were when we first arrived in 2007. Beautiful people, beautiful landscape, amazing poverty and amazing wealth, devout Christians, friendly people, and Bongolo is very remote!
Sunday, July 26
Breakfast on your own (cold stale cereal, Welch's grape juice and toasted baguette or pumpkin bread). Attended Bongolo Church and witnessed the dedication of Petit Luc (the 3 month old son of Jean Claude and Christine - JC is a resident). Even though the singing, the speaking and the readings were in French and then translated into the local tribal language, we felt the presence of the Lord at the service. Note: We arrived after the service was one hour in progress and left after an hour; the service continued for yet another hour and 45 minutes.
Lunch with the Thelanders was Gouda Fondue with toasted baguette.
At 4 PM we celebrated with Jean Claude and Christine and Petit Luc and their friends and co-workers under a shelter at the Quadplex. Each of the residents spoke as did Keir and Dr. Dave, the 30 year surgeon here, and the pastors spoke as well. Great time of prayer and celebration including a power point presentation about the family. Great time of fellowship and refreshments including grapefruit soda.
After dinner L&S headed to bed after baths in their huge galvanized tub and the adults recapped the events of the day.
God has surely showed his mercy to us during our travels to Bongolo. Smooth flights, great connections, safety, and great Air France service for the longest leg of our flight.
We feel blessed to be here.
Got an email about 10 am stating that our Royal Air Maroc flight had been cancelled due to strikes in Casablanca and we were re-booked on Air France through Paris arriving in Libreville 7 hours earlier. This was good news to us since we were a bit concerned about the RAM flight from the start.
After closing the lids on our 12 pieces of luggage (that includes our carry ons and our personal pieces) we were ready to begin our journey to Bongolo!
Dave & Coralie arrived at 1 PM as planned. Jeff and Aden packed the pick up truck. After tearful goodbyes and long hugs, we were off to the Rochester International Airport!
Left Rochester with no problem; arrived & departed JFK with no problem (filled out the H1N1 form soon after departure - no email yet about swine flu).
Thursday, July 23 - 7 AM
Arrived & departed Paris with no problem; arrived Libreville at 5:45 PM - 40 minutes late which was still MUCH earlier than our original schedule.
Had a delightful dinner with the Straw family at the Christian Missionary Alliance Guest House; slept well and late.
Knowing we could not bring all our luggage on the Gabonese Airline flight, we pursuaded Carl Hopkins and his Cornell team of fish researchers (who would have thought!) to bring two trunks down to Bongolo when the came on Friday. The rest stayed back till the next truck comes down with part of the food from the container that just came out of port.
Friday, July 24
Breakfast was croissant and pain de chocolat! Left Guest House at 11 am for our 1 pm flight from Libreville to Mouila. Arrived Mouila to the waves of Luke & Keir at 3:15 PM. Immediately left for the 1 hour and 45 minute drive to House One at Bongolo. The roads were graded this year and the travel albeit still very rough was much more bearable than before. Joanna & Sarah and many of the missionaries and residents greeting us after our long journey.
Lovely dinner and time to visit with the Thelanders of Gabon; slept well and late after putting our things into Triplex Apartment 1.
Saturday, July 25
Grandpa made waffles for breakfast.
Dave, Keir & Luke toured the recently organized and revamped Maintenance Shop with the new Maintenance Supervisor, Paul, from Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Sarah & Grandma played with paper dolls while Joanna prepared lunch and dinner. Grandpa and Luke cleaned some of L's tools that had rusted in the Bongolo humidity.
"Quiet Time" was a welcome period for us and we both took a short rest. The trip to Lebamba to buy bottled gas for the stove was cancelled because gas is not available. Speculation is that the folks in Libreville are hoarding the gas in anticipation of the upcoming election which may result in unrest and confusion.
Pastor Serge and Jacqui came for dinner at the Thelanders (Pastor Serge is the Bongolo Hospital administrator). It was fun to be with them again. They visited us in Rochester in November 2008. Pastor Serge has invited us to a village on Monday for a feast of bush meat and typical Gabonese dishes.
Must note here that our impressions of Gabon are still very similar to what they were when we first arrived in 2007. Beautiful people, beautiful landscape, amazing poverty and amazing wealth, devout Christians, friendly people, and Bongolo is very remote!
Sunday, July 26
Breakfast on your own (cold stale cereal, Welch's grape juice and toasted baguette or pumpkin bread). Attended Bongolo Church and witnessed the dedication of Petit Luc (the 3 month old son of Jean Claude and Christine - JC is a resident). Even though the singing, the speaking and the readings were in French and then translated into the local tribal language, we felt the presence of the Lord at the service. Note: We arrived after the service was one hour in progress and left after an hour; the service continued for yet another hour and 45 minutes.
Lunch with the Thelanders was Gouda Fondue with toasted baguette.
At 4 PM we celebrated with Jean Claude and Christine and Petit Luc and their friends and co-workers under a shelter at the Quadplex. Each of the residents spoke as did Keir and Dr. Dave, the 30 year surgeon here, and the pastors spoke as well. Great time of prayer and celebration including a power point presentation about the family. Great time of fellowship and refreshments including grapefruit soda.
After dinner L&S headed to bed after baths in their huge galvanized tub and the adults recapped the events of the day.
God has surely showed his mercy to us during our travels to Bongolo. Smooth flights, great connections, safety, and great Air France service for the longest leg of our flight.
We feel blessed to be here.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Excitement is building around here! We leave on July 22 for Bongolo!
Thank you for your prayers as we travel. This year we are going through Casablanca which has mixed reviews. God is in control even in Morocco! We are trusting Him to keep us and our belongs safe there and elsewhere as we go.
Down to the Wire! Our packing is coming along. We have 2 trunks that weigh 70 pounds each and one that weighs 50 pounds and we are working on the fourth trunk!
Thank you for your prayers as we travel. This year we are going through Casablanca which has mixed reviews. God is in control even in Morocco! We are trusting Him to keep us and our belongs safe there and elsewhere as we go.
Down to the Wire! Our packing is coming along. We have 2 trunks that weigh 70 pounds each and one that weighs 50 pounds and we are working on the fourth trunk!
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