Ending Extreme Poverty in the Congo

The Effects of Urban Sprawl without Water

Water is needed even in some urban cities. Why? First, the water system maybe non-functioning. Second, the utilities did not follow the urban expansion.

Free Magazines for the Students

Paris! Ok, it's Charles DeGaulle Airport.

I am doing some last minute shopping. I have been carrying around 10 Great Britian Pounds since last September. Why? I kept forgetting to exchange it.

In exchange, I got 8 Euros. Immediately, they started burning a hole in my pocket. Also, I can't use them readily in Congo. So, I should spend them here.

I stopped at the bookstore to purchase something. Twenty-six Euros later, I walked out with 3 French-English Phrase Books and 2 Bars of Toblerone Chocolate. And I still have 8 Euros because I used my credit card.

Then, I got the bright idea to take some other reading materials to Bulape. I found a stand of free magazines. Three or four copies each are great presents for some friends and the library at the Bulape Cultural Center.

I bought an Expresso and a Raisin Bread for 3.50 Euros. I got more shopping to do!

Also, Visit http://www.whatswoodydoingnow.com for some lighter posts during my trip to the Congo.

from my HTC phone!

Choose Your Weapon, Smoking or Extreme Poverty

What do you want your cause of death to be?  If you smoke cigarettes, you are increasing your chances of dying from lung or throat cancer.  If you live in rural Congo, you are increasing your chances of dying from extreme poverty conditions (lack of adequate health care, lack of safe drinking water, etc.).

Smoking is a choice.  Living in poverty is not your choice.

When Peter saw it, he addressed the people, "You Israelites, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made him walk?  The God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, the God of our ancestors has glorified his servant Jesus, whom you handed over and rejected in the presence of Pilate, though he had decided to release him.  But you rejected the Holy and Righteous One and asked to have a murderer given to you,  and you killed the Author of life, whom God raised from the dead. To this we are witnesses.  And by faith in his name, his name itself has made this man strong, whom you see and know; and the faith that is through Jesus has given him this perfect health in the presence of all of you.

"And now, friends, I know that you acted in ignorance, as did also your rulers.  In this way God fulfilled what he had foretold through all the prophets, that his Messiah would suffer.  Repent therefore, and turn to God so that your sins may be wiped out,"   Acts 3:12-19

Bath Water is Not Clean Water

Would you drink you bath water?

 

Most of you would not drink the water that was used by someone to take a bath.  Even, if it was a bath for a small child, you would pass using the water for drinking or cooking.  Bath water is not clean water.

When you drink from an unimproved water source, you may be drinking water used by children taking a bath or used by a watering animal.  An improved water source is one that is piped or protected from contamination.

Curbing Our Use of Water

 

A picture of Congolese girls carrying water is a sobering sight.  The water became real.  The work of the getting the water became.  You instantly find ways to curtail water usage.  The water was destined for the Americans.  The water was brought from the hospital's cistern about a 20-minute walk away. 

We were a group of five adults.  We used significantly less than the typical American.  But we did exceeded the water use of our Congolese host.  We have to curb our appetite for water.

Congolese Girls Learn to Multi-task at an Early Age

A common scene in a Congo village is the picture of young girls taking care of their younger siblings.  But occasionally, you see young girls taking care of their younger siblings while doing their other chores.

Chores include getting water, getting firewood, grinding corn or cassava, and washing clothes.

With so many chores, these girls do not always have time to go to schools.  And if they go school, sometime they can not attend regularly because of those chores. 

These young girls learn from their mothers.  Congolese women multi-task routinely.  Doing two or three things at once can be detrimental to a young girl's education and future.

Motherhood is a Dangerous Profession for Girls and Women

Young girls learn how to be mothers and homemakers early.  They learn to carry water.  They learn to fetch firewood.  They learn to grind cassava roots into flour.  Of course, they learn to carry everything on their heads, too.  

Girls have fewer choices than boys.  Girls dropout of secondary school at a much higher rate than the boys.  Typically, many boys may even attend and finish secondary school.

Also, girls are more likely to die due to their chosen profession of motherhood.  One out of thirteen women die during childbirth in the Congo.  That rate is higher in rural bush areas like Bulape. 

Farewell to Dr. Joseph

We are losing our doctor again.  Actually, we losing both doctors at the rural Bulape Hospital.  We are lucky since they will be replaced.  Doctors are a rarity at most rural health facilities. 

The doctors assigned to our bush hospital spend two to three years before returning to city.  Being a doctor, at a rural bush hospital, is a hardship.  This is an example of the local "brain drain".  Young educated professional do not want to stay in the rural areas.

The Presbyterian Church of Congo, who manages the Bulape Hospital, has decided to replace both doctors.  The new doctors are typical fresh out of their residency.

Unfortunately, we are getting two new doctors at the same time.  I hope that there will be some overlapping to get the new doctors up to the task.  But, we can not complain because we are getting replacement doctors.

The Poor Gamble With Their Life Everyday

We all take gambles.  Sometime, it is for the fun or sport of it.  But sometime, it is because we are trying to get by with less.   

The Bulape Health Zone has a unique situation.  They have people dying from malaria.  They have insecticide treated mosquito nets, too.  So, what's the problem?

The nets are "for sale" to residents.  They cost just about $1.50 each.  So what's the problem?

The residents are too poor to afford the price of the nets.  Or maybe, they know the nets are preventative.  They decide to take a chance today.

When you are poor and have limited resources, you gamble and take chances with your health.  You hope that you will stay well until you have enough money to spare. 

So Stuff Is Relative

We all have stuff.  It is our homes, cars, and other possessions.  We have smaller items of stuff within those bigger places of stuff, too. 

Even the poor have stuff.  Some have table and chairs.  BUT some of the poor do not have stuff like meat to eat.  Some of them do not have clean water to drink.  Some of them do not have books for reading or can not even read.   

So stuff is relative.

Now the whole group of those who believed were of one heart and soul, and no one claimed private ownership of any possessions, but everything they owned was held in common.  With great power the apostles gave their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all.  There was not a needy person among them, for as many as owned lands or houses sold them and brought the proceeds of what was sold.  They laid it at the apostles' feet, and it was distributed to each as any had need.  Acts 4:32-35