Day 10 - Pointe Noire, Congo - Wednesday, May 6, 2009

So I left you in a lurch a little. Didn't really finish Tuesday. Went back to the hotel and stayed in. Watched a little TV. Ate a granola bar or two from home and eventually went to bed after trying to talk to the Toronto DEVs over SKYPE from my computer. Worked for a while and could hear their voices but gave up eventually and then went to bed around midnight. Poor internet was a dream at Hippocampe. Here at MIGITEL and almost everywhere else at Congo hotels it costs $10 US an hour. Imagine if we had to pay that at home.

Found out Tuesday as well that Bishop Wiesel is going to bring some more $ for the remainder of trip in Sri Lanka and India. Thanks, Tim.

Wednesday, the committee was to meet me at my hotel room for 9:30 AM. Slowly but surely everyone arrived and we had our meeting with representatives from Brazzaville, Mouyondzi and Pointe Noire. All in all a good meeting where follow-up was made on projects given in 2008 and guess what? They were actually all well in hand.

A funny thing about Pointe Noire hotels. OK we only visited two but it's still funny. The suite I was in had two sofas and two chairs (6) + a desk chair. We were 10 so I asked if we could have three more chairs for our meeting. The answer was they are not available. Then I said I only have 2 glasses, could they spare another 6-8. Again, these were not available. I don't know if I asked the wrong person or they are overprotective of their stuff, but we had brothers sitting on arms of sofas and then one brother was asked to buy "verres a jeter", basically disposable cups. Around 12:30 PM, I packed up quickly and checked out and then we made our way to the airport to greet the Apostles arriving from Mouyondzi.

Close to the airport we ventured into a "roadside cafe" for a little lunch. Can you believe it? No baguette! Maybe baguette would have been good. Beer, roasted chicken, my saffous (mini-avocado aka African pear) grilled with pili pili, some manyok (sp? fermented foufou). The committee ate together and there we were greeted by several other brothers and sisters (mostly brothers) including Bishop Kouprino from Brazzaville who was in Pointe Noire managing the new church and office construction. Interestingly enough, I saw the church/office from the air when we arrived on Tuesday afternoon.

After several delays, the plane arrived ~ 4 PM. The concert tonight was supposed to start at 5 PM. A small choir rehearsed and entertained the locals until the Apostles exited the terminal to which the Apostles were greeted with flowers and song. It was good to see them again. Then a short 15 minute drive to the Hotel for the next two nights for me, Hotel Palm Beach. It's not Florida, it's not California, but it's beautiful. Not the hotel per se but the location and view. This is in an area where the Expat (aka Expatriate) is catered to. Many of the higher end restaurants (refer to previous note on "The Chinese Restaurant", "The Lebanese Restaurant", etc.) are not for locals but for expats and the richer gov't and elite of the city.

The area of Pointe Noire where all this is found is probably one of the most beautiful residences that I have ever seen; the Presidential Weekend Palace. This is only two doors down from the Hotel Palm Beach. You probably can "google" photos of this residence and you won't be disappointed. The waves on the ocean are amazing. Africa.....amazing!

We quickly checked in and settled in for a little with a selection of amazing (again) croissants, danishes and corned beef. Yes, corned beef. Reminds me of the old days in Kinshasa. If you couldn't stomach the local food or didn't want to risk it, you brought corned beef. Add the "wonderful" (LOL) baguettes and you have something from home. We didn't open the corned beef, not that night and not before I left Pointe Noire on Friday.

We do eventually make our way to the concert. A very well structured theatre, probably used for small plays or bands. Seating capacity of about 500. The other word for concert is "soiree" just as for social/fellowship it's "reception". Service = service. The concert was to be a precursor of what to expect for the "soiree" when the Chief Apostle is here in July.

It was an excellent program! A variety of pieces including a mixed choir of 300+, a small choir aka "demi-choeur" of about 30-40, a youth choir of ~ 50 and a children's choir of ~ 75. Some highlights of the evening;

• The children's choir was led by a young girl about 7 years of age. We encouraged all attendees to give her a standing ovation after her two pieces. She was cool as a cucumber.
• At two spots in the program there were "skits". The Africans and especially the DRC Congolese are famous for these. The first one was with a sister acting as a Queen, I didn't get the gist of this one and the other of 4 children describing the creation and development of the world in connection to the Plan of Salvation.
• The choirs sung TO the stage, meaning the special guests (~10) were on the stage and the choirs were in the audience. An interesting and very special approach.
• At the end of the program, I greeted the choirs in Kicongo (local language aka Monukituba sp?) "Beno ke nako yimbo mbote" - You sing well!
• Also made a "live" recording to help process a CD of choirs in Congo-Brazza to be used as a fund-raiser for their music program here in Congo. Have to get working on this when I get back and get it out ASAP.

After the hour and a half with our choirs, our group of 10 went out for dinner at the "Chinese Restaurant". Problem is that there are actually two (and I saw more) Chinese Restaurants in Pointe Noire. So we went to the wrong one first and then the right one. I was here before, at least once, with Apostle Degbia (Edouard) aka Apostle of Pointe Noire when I visited Pointe Noire previously. Very authentic. Very expensive. This was also a stomping ground of Bishop Jansen. He really loves the Salt & Pepper Squid here. We ordered three plates and just as we were finishing the last, we called him and passed the phone around the table for everyone to greet him. He is recovering from major heart surgery back home in "The Soo". I had a flambee banana for dessert after an assortment of spring rolls, SOUP, and Chinese dishes. Of course 10 people for dinner, you expect something "included" or "free" or "extra". Usually at this place they may give you sake or whisky. They didn't have any sake and only very little Chinese whisky left but what they had, they gave us. So about 5 shots were poured and......wait for it.....much to our surprise, in the bottom of the China shot glasses were "nude men". Since you will find out shortly that I will not be traveling to CAR nor Tchad, I will lose out on an additional "prostitute" story out of this trip. We'll see, I'll keep my eyes open. Since previous stories are not directly connected to this blog, you have to ask me about the stories from Bangui when we meet "live" or you can email me. So, the nude men shot glasses are the closest thing so far to the Bangui files.

The Apostles Dzur, Kabengele and myself stayed up until 3 and we finally decided that I wasn't going to Tchad as the rebels were approaching N'Djamena where I was to be from May 11-14. The ministers and friends we have there all advised us against any travel there for the time being. So, Thursday was going to be interesting in now trying to change my trip and still getting to Bangui (but I already gave away the ending). Good Night!