Apparently a UN embargo on arms entering the DRC (except for purchases by the government) was renewed this week. But it didn’t limit itself to arms; it also includes two paragraphs on elections ((“Stressing the crucial importance of a peaceful and credible electoral cycle, in accordance with the Constitution, for Read more…
There are now three more mail deliveries before our trip should begin on Monday morning, and we still have no sight of our passports. The Embassy is not answering their phone, nor responding to Emails. To develop our next alternate plan, I called the travel agent (which we are required Read more…
I just finished drafting the line “good progress on dictionaries for each of the languages” for the newsletter we’re hoping to put out in the next couple days, and I realized I’m not sure that it is clear to all why that is a good thing. So here’s a bit Read more…
Today I started printing the posters I’m making for my trip to DRC at the end of June. They should be large enough to be seen by people a long distance away, so they can be used in large classrooms/venues. The last time I was in Nia-nia, they did some Read more…
Anna has been studying Ancient History in homeschool this year, including African history. She chose to do a month-long research project on the Zaire /Congo River. Today she will present what she learned, so I sewed her a new outfit. She chose the kitenge pattern.
James, Joel & Anna are still traversing the globe emotionally and socially. Physically we have lived in the same United States for over a year now, but only settled for six months and still missing what feels like home: Africa. Some days the red dirt and smiling friends are far Read more…
What do you call those little clips from your favorite show that catch you up quickly on important plot developments? They might be annoying to some, but useful to others. The reason you missed our plot developments from the past 4 months has been that we didn’t write them down. Read more…
I tread slippery bumps up the muddy hill.Dogding piles of washed up garbageDiscarded bagsA broken shoe.The road is messy, muddy and slick.It’s hard work.I feel ready to fall at any moment. But I enjoy the crisp morning air and bright sunshine. A woman ahead of me struggles under a heavy Read more…
It’s been a couple years since I chronicled an average day. This was yesterday: 3:32am Wake up coughing (between dust and charcoal smoke this isn’t uncommon). 3:45am Almost back to sleep when 2 shots ring out on main street a few blocks away. Probably the police keeping order. 4:02am Dive Read more…