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Can you believe there's a late model VW Beetle in Kananga? And it was still being driven. I could not believe it. The driver just drove it up to the gas station.
There are some lessons to be learned. Simple. Efficient. Durable.
Today, we talk about the sustainability of projects or models. The VW Beetle is a model to follow.
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I just completed the strangest trip to Congo ever! From the start to finish, it was unique.
One good thing to remember about the trip was a great porkchop dinner at Restau Visao in Kananga.
And yes, I saw them carrying a television on the back on motorbike.
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The Bulape Hospital's pickup car finally made it home. It took from Monday to Thursday to go the 170-mile trip.
The truck broke down about 40 miles into the trip. They waited on parts from Kananga for two days.
Traveling in rural Congo is an adventure.
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I went to visit a friend on the 4th floor of the highest building in Kananga. The building is just five stories high.
Haiti still dominated the news programs out of Europe. It caused me to compare Haiti and Congo. They are two of the poorest countries in the world.
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About two weeks ago after arriving in Kananga, I called my partners in Bulape. I told them would be ready to go to Bulape anytime after Sunday afternoon (January7). They finally left Bulape late Tuesday (January 12) due to getting needed auto repairs.
The trip from Bulape took four days. It's about a 170 mile trip. Normally, it takes 9-12 hours.
The four day trip was consumed by getting stuck and mechanical breakdowns. The two breakdowns required a mechanic to ferry parts on a motorbike out to the bush twice.
That was too much drama and too much potential adventure for this trip. I decided to stay in Kananga because of the lost time and the unfinished well. I will see if I made a wise choice.
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The drillers have reached 33 meters. In theory, they have about 7 meters to go for water. And they should finish late today.
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People are going home. It's the end of the day. Dusk is ending. In minutes, it's pitch dark.
No street lights, just a few vendors with candles lit.
A few bars with generators and TV have the African Cup (soccer) blaring. It's the Ivory Coast versus Burkina Faso.
I hope see the game before the gas runs out.
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The Mpandilu School is getting a water well drilled on its main campus in Kananga. The elementary school teaches about 130 deaf students. In addition, it teaches sewing and woodwork to older deaf students.
The school will not have to carry water from a water source about two miles away. Also, the well will be self supporting and may produce a small profit.
The well is being provided by the Wisconsin Division of Congo Helping Hands. Funds were donated by three Catholic Churches (St Rita, Sacred Hearts, Capcainus) in the West Allis area.
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Two little Congolese girls played a simple game. They ran around playing tag. After a few minutes, older saw the younger sister to run and do hand stands. The older girl was not too good. The younger sister did not care or worry that her sister was not an expert.
It did not matter! They did not have a worry.
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You can see the differences between the urban and rural school.
The urban schools require uniforms. The typical uniforms are white tops and dark blue bottoms.
The urban schools have painted white walls surrounding the buildings. The walls create a small campus.
Rural schools are different.
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