Hot & Humid with a chance of Malaria
Sleeping with a mosquito net really isn’t that bad…after a while you kind of get used to it. I like to think of it as the iron curtain between the elements and me – even though there are holes in it the size of a fist. Yesterday a bat (presumably a fruit bat) just flew into our room while the door was open. After a few aerial laps around our heads it decided to jet back out the open door again. I’m loving this kind of wild!
We have been here for just about long enough to adjust to the heat and humidity (which is also, strangely, something I don’t mind) and walking around at night in darkness. Also it’s always a challenge adjusting to the language barrier – but I’m learning something everyday – aka learning how to say the same 5 words over and over to try to get your meaning across. My French is terrible (terreeebley) …and my Lingala is worse but the beauty of having a camera is that sometimes words aren’t necessary when a smile and a bonjour is more than enough to make a friend – I’m finding that the Congolese people are extremely gracious, fun, and all around happy people surrounded by hardships we Americans find hard to even imagine. A good lesson in in being content!
Im also learning about what all the programs that take care of the less fortunate people in one of the most unfortunate countries. We here to cover the GlobalFingerprints and TouchGlobal programs as well as the Elikya Village Project and are busy getting still and video images to take back to the U.S. We have been getting some great footage to eventually put together some really great and hopefully powerful material. From meeting the sponsored orphans and hearing them tell their stories, to touring the busy Elikya site and seeing the foundations for an amazing future – this is absolutely inspiring. Its the Congolese people enabling and creating opportunity for other Congolese people that really is great about these ministries.
Crossing the Congo
Same window, Same continent, Two very different worlds – Sahara Dessert/Congo Rain forest
There may not be as many days longer than the first day we crossed the boarder into Congo yesterday. This was the day to traverse across the center of Africa by land and by water from Bangui in the Central African Republic south 125 miles to Gemena, Democratic Republic of Congo would take 16 hours.
It started with an early morning in Bangui, had what is starting to become the morning ritual 3 pots of coffee, then piling cautiously yet happily into two dugout canoes skimming along the Ubangui River that runs as the boarder between the two countries and officially started our journey across the Congo. All of the 10 of our team with our hand luggage (the larger luggage pieces went in earlier canoes) made the trip across the open water to the other side to meet our trucks for the next (and many times more challenging) land portion of the trip.
We landed on the beach and walked up to the Congolese immigration ’shack’ and checked in our passports. We had our first meal of goat and rice and we hit the road. The older gentlemen and ladies grouped into the Land Cruiser – Nate and I jumped gleefully (and willingly) into the 5 ton 10 wheeled massively huge Tonka truck with all the luggage, and around 8 other Congolese men and two women who were coming to a pastor’s conference in Gemena with us. It was really great to join these men and women on this journey and to really felt like we were holding our own ….for the first 5 hours ….but the next five hours, is a different story.
If you have ever wondered what holding onto a steal re-bar for 10 hours feels like, try rubbing your hands with sand paper while trying not to be flung 15 feet to the ground off of a 5 ton bull. What a welcome to Africa! ha. After 5 hours we stopped in a village called Bao for some food and rest- just long enough for our hands to stop burning and our heads to stop bouncing. The food was a good mix of meats, fruits and veges (2nd meal of goat, bananas, rice and spinach) and we were off on the bumpy road again – but first we added a few more people to the back to join us – just to make it comphy.
Then nightfall came and there was nothing to look at other than what could be seen from our single headlight. No one really talked – in English or Lingala – and we were alone to our thoughts. I wondered what they were
thinkin
g about – if they were having the same thoughts I was having (good Lord, when will we get there??) …or if they have done this trip so many times that it’s second nature for them. The problem was we couldn’t talk with the language barrier and even if we could the engine of the giant truck would drowned it out. So I guess it was a good time for all of us to ponder about the past, think about the present and wonder about the future – whatever nationality we where.
We finally rolled into the compound around 12:30a.m. from a journey that began at 8:30 that morning – if this is how this trip will begin, Im excited to see whats next!
Dont drive in Paris at night! ….ok, do it!
On our way to Africa we got the chance to spend a few days in Paris (…I know, a rough layover right?) A great place to relax if you can find a seat (amongst all the tourists) and an absolutely amazing place to photograph (if you can get away from the tourists) We met up with my friend Faouza’s brother and sister who are the most welcoming hosts we could have asked for. We had multiple personal tour guides who showed Nate, Dave, and I around one of the most beautiful cities. With such a great and romantic history I was excited to walk the same streets of Nepoleon and the famous beheaded Marie Antoinette.
What really shocked me was the enormous size of the buildings. I didnt know you needed a building the size of a 17th century Pentagon to house some artwork – but if you are housing some of the most beloved artwork of all time…whose to say you cant. And that is the French way really, they will just because they can. For now, I think I will too…
I did get the exciting chance to drive around downtown for a night out seeing the Eiffel Tour lit up. I love driving in new cities for the excitement. Im sure it was just as enjoyable for the other people in the car! …and lets just say we made it home alive! Haha.
But for the last few days we were nothing more than tourists so here are a few goodies….
The Flash Player and a browser with Javascript support are needed..
Staind
All week I have been shooting video the Buckle this week during their national manager’s meetings. Clothing brand Affliction sponsored the main event – a private show by the band Staind. Affliciton managed to snag them fresh off a European tour and they seemed pretty exhausted but put on a pretty decent show (or at least the light show was pretty decent) for the 500 or so guests, managers, and Buckle staff. Check more shots here: www.mikenyff.com/photography/event/on-stage/
.