Thank you to all of you who have been keeping up with our blog. Thank you for your supports and feedback; big thanks to mama Elizabeth, papa Douglas, mama Shannin, mama Barbara and Papa Paul and all their surrounding for their uplifting feedback and comments.
I got back to Lakeland/Florida yesterday evening; a long flight, 4 stops and lots of eating.
I am now busy trying to find some sleep and catch up with everything here. I am so grateful I did not fall sick, not even a feeling. I am yet to know if it will be the same now that I am back in US; so good to be back and feel clean and smooth of course. I must have lost some significant weight; I am feeling quite light, somehow empty and divided. This is part of the transition and I miss the kids and the entire Community of the orphanage. I managed to say bye without a lot of crying, but there were a lot of sadness on our faces.
My last days at the orphanage and my first day in US, a real marathon!
Towards the end of my days down there, instead of slowing down, I really worked myself to the bone. I managed to accomplish quite a lot and left a lot of unfinished projects (as usual).
I went to visit the piece of land we bought last year and talk to the chief. I then spent the rest of my time giving out presents, gifts and few special things from the container and from what I brought. Few meetings had to take place; had a meeting with girls only and it was fun; a learning time for me. Trying to invite them to serious moral responsibilities and getting them to watch over each other as sisters. I had two of their supervisors and they really helped me communicate with them and keep them under control. I promised to talk to the boys too, but could not make it. I arranged with the director to do it on my behalf.
Shopping for free was a great time for them and a headache for me. They got some new clothes, tooth brushes and pastes from Dr. Tom Fillner and her wife Lissa in Lakeland. Some school uniforms from our Parish school in Lakeland and gifts from friends and adoptive parents. Prayers cards from St. Charles Borromeo Cath. school in Orlando were well received and we prayed for all the intentions.
We've got a nurse and our small medical clinic is born and growing. However, we will really appreciate a dentist visit, even just for a week.
Again, thank you to all of you, our beloved family members and friends of Mercy for Children. We look forward to hearing from you and having you join us for the next mission trip. Keep us in your prayers and best wishes.
Parish work has been piling up at my door and I am already on it.
Great time spent, extremely fulfilling; good to be back here for my parish life and fellowship with all of you.
Blessings from above! See you around!
Fr. Gabe

stepped on a VIPER and killed it!

Three major reasons why we don't blog daily: frequent power cut, no connection and our very busy schedule.

Two more days left, we are really racing against time and we hope your prayers and best wishes are now tuning Fr. Gabe's trip back to US this Sunday.

If we can try to give the week's stuff all together, we will start with the viper (snake); one of our boys stepped on a big viper while playing with fellow kids in fron of their dormitory in the dark. He almost fell, but was not bitten. He then tried to find out what it was and saw something moving. Would you believe, these young fellows went after the viper and killed it: Heroes indeed!

Do not worry about the snake, again we could not reach Animal control. We are now busy with school, enjoying some nice desks. After we brought some school desks and beds on Friday, we went on organizing classrooms and dormitories. There is a lot of joy around here because of new extra beds and new desks. We are still working hard on few things.

The weekend went very well; we had our prayer service on campus and were able to enjoy most of the afternoon.

More will be posted tomorrow!

My days are numbered; speeding up!

Fr. Gabe wanted to make use of the vehicle today in terms transporting few boxes and other items from the container pile. He managed to load one medical examination bed and a water container of 500Lt. we bought yesterday.
When we got to the orphanage, we were told that two sisters, 7 and 10 were dropped by a stranger and advised to come to us; Miriam and Wivine are their names. They looked exhausted, hungry and really lost. We took them in first thing, a bath and meal. So far we have only heard from them. Looks like their step mother abandoned them recently after their mother and father passed away few years ago. They were left to fend for themselves and had to turn to the streets. A good Samaritan directed them to us after they have been going round and round. Miriam and Wivine were most likely going to be abused, accused of witchcraft and eventually crashed down as children. We rescued one girl few months ago after she was dumped by a relative. I will not mention the name of this one, a 10 year old girl. She went to a police station to ask for help and she was raped by two police officers. She is still being treated for related infections and trauma. Our hearts go out to these innocent girls and boys. Overwhelming, painful, we have to say no to some cases and we keep receiving alarming requests.
Fr. Gabe was also able to complete his engineering project for drinking water and some more water tanks.Talk to you soon again! Blessings!

We also spent a very busy day transporting desks and beds from the bridge to the orphanage since the bridge is stiiiiilllll under construction.

Let us hear from you too! Blessings!

Weekend a la Une! (Sorry, we are quite behind; frequent no power and no connection is back!!!)
“My sacrifice and pain, their joy!” It was a really busy and fun-filled weekend. We started Friday afternoon; got a vehicle and drove down with some boxes from the container stock. A quick meeting with parents and legal guardians, a meeting with the four teachers for the school year, starting Monday. Both meetings went very well; we officially put in place the 4th grade, agreed on who uses what classroom in the old building we are using so far as school only building, brought in a fellow who knows some English as English teacher for the kids and staff who are willing to learn; it is fun learning English here, lots of enthusiasm. We need sponsors for our English program. We also discussed on furnishing the classroom much better, creating a strong team spirit between the teachers and the orphanage staff, bringing in some few kids from the village to be part of our school without school fee. We are still trying our dream of free primary education under MFC hospices; counting on you!
Saturday morning, Fr. Gabe went for a rental mini-bus from the passionist missionaries and drove back with some more boxes from the container, mainly school and medical supplies. Then, made three trips to drop the kids, some staff and lunch buckets for the picnic. We took the kids to a nearby place with games and rides, you will not believe it! From 2:00 Pm to 7:00Pm, they were there playing and just having fun, very fist time. Fr. Gabe was extremely tired, but very happy for them. A small Disney world, nobody wanted to eat, nobody wanted to go home before the place was closed. Never seen them so happy! We paid quite a lot of money, sorry guys! We got a big discount and were given some special privilege as an orphanage. We paid $220 instead of $300 for all of us. A fellow from Lebanon just started this new place for kids and families few months ago, and he was nice to us. Bed time was quick because we were all tired.
We got in trouble by the way; Fr. Gabe got stopped by the traffic police and a big argument took place after driving half a mile with the two officers in the mini-bus. They wanted some money for no reason since this seems to be the way they make a living here. Traffic officers here are really a pain in the neck, and they are no longer ashamed to collect bribes from drivers, regardless of the reason they stop you for. This took place before getting the kids in. We sent them away with Fr. Gabe’s local license and drove off since we were running late. We went back the following day and met the chief who asked us to return the day after since he could not locate the nasty officers.
Sunday was Church service, few meetings with different groups and school supplies distribution; what a shopping day for free! Can’t satisfy everybody, but we managed to get basic school supplies to all and make some promises to those who wanted this or that because of this or that, not knowing exactly why they wanted more and more; some thoughts they were toys. We got some school supplies also from Unicef and were very grateful. 4th grade guys really felt nice about themselves since we gave them more than anybody else. 3rd and 2nd grade were kind of jealous towards 4th. 1st grade wanted more, but most of them did not know why they wanted more.
Fr. Gabe had to leave and go back to the main city for two meetings and a funeral; her sister Valerie lost a brother-in-law, a younger brother to her husband. Liver cancer and within a month he was gone; your prayers, please!
Monday was another busy day; school kicked off indeed! We also worked on our small medical room or dispensary. We are definitely proud of ourselves and extremely grateful to all of you. We got quite a lot from the container and our small dispensary or nurse station/room looks nice; we put in place few items and still working on. Will send you more pictures as soon as we get it done fully.
We also stopped by a neighbor’s house; she just gave birth to a baby girl, premature and under very poor and critical conditions. The mother and the baby seem to be doing fine, but without any medical attention or follow up. This girl was born 7months instead of nine and is only being covered with blankets and some sheets in small dark and dirt hut. We begged our nurse to start checking on the baby and the mother regularly. This is an unwanted pregnancy and the mother almost went for an abortion. The baby’s father seems to be showing signs of abandoning them; your prayers, please!
Blessings! Now, let us know how you are doing after you read this, okay?!

A Long Weekend for me

Hello guys!

I hope you are keeping up well with the blog and being very patient wit me since I don't blog every day. Where are you comments/feedback? Big thanks to mama Elizabeth, mama Barbara and the other moms who posted their comments and sweet wishes for the kids and myself.

Things are going on as usual, with all the ups and downs. Amazing, I am staying strong, not getting sick,upbeat! Maybe when I get back... I get tired, exhausted a lot, but quickly recover and ready to run.

Yesterday was an interesting day on the road; in a 5 seat car, taxi drivers here manage to get two more people: four in the back and two for the front seat. I found myself in the middle of three ladies of quite significant body authority (translating from my local language; I am not comfortable with the English way in Enlgish!!!). I really looked tinny in the middle of these three ladies and had to really sacrifice lots of my space for them. I got quite intimidated and humbled, and kept quiet all the way; I missed my camera for such!

Before getting into the taxi for the second part of my trip to the orphanage, I wanted so bad to go for a short call; no public toilets here in Congo; mother nature pays a heavy price, we all pay. I had to try my luck; went to a small residential plot near the main road and asked if I could. I was asked to pay 100 Congo Frank. I begged and was shown a real "Good Lord" WC. Coming out, I had the money ready for the toilet toll. I even had to look for the gentleman. When I saw him, I looked at him right in the eyes and said Thank you so very much. He just said "de rien"(not at all/no problem) and went on doing what he was doing. I left with my little money and really felt like a double win/bingo. God bless him!

Don't worry! when you guys come, will make sure you have access to toilets and rest areas. If you choose so, we can elect portable toilets in the vehicles or get you to wear dippers; what do you think?

Betty is doing fine and you can see she is being carried by one of our new staff (Laurette); Laurette is one of our youngest staff members with a BA in Social work.

We're still wrestling with chicken pox and staying on top of the game.

My first engineering products: you can see in the picture, I designed a round table with local bamboos outside for the kids to have some of their meals right there, near the kicken. They are having breakfast or brunch, mixed rice donated by Feed my Starving Children (came in the container). I also designed that white water container for drinking water; I mean we bought the container and I asked a local plomber to insert a tab (??). Kids were so excited, happy. We launched the two products yesterday. I plan to get two more for drinking water and they can drink any time.

Water problem has been solved practically, we plan to buy an extra water thank or reservoir next week.

Tomorrow, I will be there for a staff meeting and working on some container items, especially medical and school supplies. I am plannng to be there with them from tomorrow to Sunday; there is a play they have put together for me and they can't wait anymore ; will let you know.

Will also be working on desks, some extra beds and a meeting with teachers;

I AM VERY BUSY!

Keep us in your toughts and prayers! Talk to you soon again!

BLESSINGS AND BEST WISHES! To ko zonga.....!