If I were to describe today's Congo in 2 words,they would have to be 'Despair and Hopelessness'. In talking with Suzanne Lind this afternoon, this was confirmed. True relationships are hard to form because they are too often based on what you have to offer, which is usually financial support of some sort. I had a wonderful visit with Suzanne and she directed me to someone who can make my flight arrangements to Kikwit next Tuesday. That means I will be extending my stay in Kinshasa by a few days. I am meeting an amazing number of people involved in some sort of development project in the country. My favorite are some Swiss folk who arrived recently.I have also met some former MCCers from our era who served in Vanga, the Baers. We finally determined they were home in the USA on a holiday when Shami was born there, or we would have remembered each other.
  This evening, I will get together with a Bible School friend of Topher and Jeannie's. He works, together wth his father in construction here in Kinshasa.
  Tomorrow, I will attend the French MB Mennonite Church within walking distance from here. I will be meeting someone I have wanted to meet for years at home since he lives mostly in North America. He did get as close as Trinity Mennonite once a couple years ago for a meeting of some sort. His name is Paskal Tchamika and we worked with his brother back then in Kikwit.
  This morning I spent a couple hours sitting at a bar/restaurant just across the street just watching traffic and people. The ladies were busy preparing the food which would be on the menu later on. All the preparations were done outside with about 6 charcoal heaters going. Sixty cents for a full sized pop. After a while, a fellow came and pulled up a chair beside me and we watched together. We never said a word to each other but at least we weren't alone.As I watched, a missionary lady exited the guest house compound. She walked briskly down the street, looking neither to the right nor left. Her mind was focused on the task she had to perform and her intent was to perform it as efficiently as possible. Around her I had been watching the Congolese women walking down the same street. They seemed to gracefully 'flow' not only in one direction, but in all directions, stopping, starting, crossing the street, etc. It seemed obvious that the journey to them was just as important as the destination. Perhaps that, in part, explains our differences in worldview.