The days are following a routine. Ivette and I go to the market in the morning to buy the food for the day. I generally buy the meat portion. I think the whole family is benefitting from my eating with them because the meat in their diet has increased considerably. What might interest my Canadian Del is that I visited Madiangas yesterday. I went to their home and had a meal with them. Gratefully, my lucu stomach has returned and I have asked that rice be now cut from my diet. I think the family will be happy about that. Gi and some of the kids openly have said that they don't eat rice. For those who don't know lucu, it is a boiled paste made from Corn/manioc flour. Mama Madianga's son who was born while we were in Zaire, has graduated as a medical doctor. Unfortunately, the Congo graduates about 10,000 medical doctors a year and has very few hospitals so the vast majority never find work. Her son is one of those. You almost have to buy a job and that sounds like in the $1500.00 range. I was of little help.

I am accumulating gifts of fruit in my room, oranges, bananas and a piapia. I am also involved in arranging a feast celebrating my African Del's birthday tomorrow. We will go shopping for that in the morning. I will be buying her a Birthday gift yet before my departure.

Today an older Catholic lady crossed herself when we met on the street. Without thinking, I crossed myself in return. We both went our ways feeling Saintly.