The Kinshasa Shopping Experience

Before we get to the shopping, let's begin with a sunset on the Congo River, and if you look very closely, you will see three pirogues with fishermen returning home after a day of fishing on the deepest river in Africa.

Here's an example of the beautiful flora we have the pleasure of seeing every day here. This is a single flower that evolves into two. It begins as the spiky light-colored bloom and expands into the coral flower.

Speaking of pirogues, here is one a little closer to the camera, serving as a bridge in Kinkole, a fishing village on the banks of the Congo River. The man waiting for Sis. B is going to charge her a toll for crossing his bridge. She doesn't understand what he is asking, so she smiles, says "Bon jour!" and keeps walking. On our return, he again asks for his payment, to which Elder B replied, "Sorry...we don't speak French."

Now to get to the shopping. Below is our produce "section" of our market.

Then we have the poultry case....

The outdoor barbeque section sells charcoal...and in the clothing section, the "pant rack".

But as of last Friday, a new market came to town -- a real store, a South African store that carries iceburg lettuce and broccoli and cauliflower ($13 - $17 per head). We couples just had to check it out.

Here is the entrance. Now this may not look like anything special to you, but we haven't seen a sight like this for many moons!! It was awesome!

We have actually been doing Humanitarian work here, too, besides visiting Shop Rite -- honest!!

We have spent all week with our US team doing Neo-natal resuscitation training. We just said goodbye to Elder and Sister Doucette from Arizona, who are our NRT specialists. They are real troopers, flying all over the world putting on these trainings with other doctors in tow. They were supposed to have been picked up at our apartment at 5:30 pm by the airport shuttle, to get them to the airport by 6:30 for a 10:30 flight out. But the shuttle didn't show up, the roads are being worked on, it looked like a good rainstorm coming in, and Elder B ended up driving them through all that to the airport (a good 1 1/2hr trip, the 2nd one today). Luckily, one of the other senior Elders offered to go with him, so here I am all alone at the apartment waiting for his safe return. He just called to say he was on his way back and the Doucettes will make their flight just fine. Every day is an adventure!!

Tomorrow is our Shelley's birthday....Happy birthday, daughter!

Have a wonderful week, and enjoy your families.

We love you!