I’ll start by answering questions: We did not
get a new senior couple, in fact we won’t get one until, at best, April! So we
have been stock-piled with enough money to last that period. At our apartments
we have a water reserve (3 trash bins) that we fill whenever water comes on,
and then use throughout the week. When water isn’t on we take bucket showers. A
half a bucket for each person everyday. (much different from my 30-45 minute
routine at home haha). I prefer Pointe-Noire to Cameroon. I’m in the rich
sector so it’s less rough and tough. The people can be much more annoying in
the Congo. Overall it just has a softer feel up here. I guess my heart will
always rest in Congo!
Don’t worry too much about the money - I have
sometime and can get by with what I have.
Thanks for updating me on family matters, now I'll
give you some cool stories. This week I was on splits the whole week, so I
worked with Elder Hunt in my sector once.
Tuesday - Hunt was sick and so we stayed at
home the whole day while he recovered. I wish I did something cool, but I just
listened to Jack Johnson eating tortillas and salsa, reading old
Liahonas.
Thursday - I got to ride on a moto; a motor
cycle-taxi! I was with the zone leader and his investigator pulled up on his
moto and offered a ride to his house. How could we say no? We also got caught in a
massive thunderstorm. We walked home through roads and roads of mud. Its rainy
season here so every night it rains hard and is accompanied by massive thunder
and lightning storms. I’m talking "the-kind-we-used-to-watch-at-home-on-the-patio"
BIG! It’s a pretty awesome this time of
year.
How Many Can You Fit On a Moto Taxi?
Friday - we stayed up until 11pm listening to French
rap/dance music, eating biscuits and gravy, in candle-light (power was out,
again, nothing better to do)
Saturday - okay this is where the title of my
email comes from. After a successful baptism we went to go visit one or two
people. I bought a spaghetti-omelet sandwich and was enjoying it. Elder Hunt
and I were discussing our most embarrassing moments on the mission when,
PLUNCK! Into a gutter I fell, haha. My sandwich was ruined and my pride. A taxi
full of women laughed as they drove past. It was a scene, I am sure. But I
quickly jumped out of the gutter and insisted that I was fine. I had a cut on
my wrist but I am a man! So for two hours we continued onward. At home I
discover that somehow my pants and left sock were wet - not with sewage, but
blood! Removing my sock, I found a deep
puncture on my shin! (Before I continue, this same thing happened in the Congo
when I tripped over a parking sign almost 6 months ago. By the end of my stay here I may no longer
have a functioning left leg.)
So, my role as life-guard Johnson was
resurrected that night. I took a towel and filtered water washing it the best I
could. I found some gauze, fabric and hydrogen-peroxide and bound it up. That
night, my bed became like a hospital ward that might have been the best in
Africa at the time. Today I walk with a slight limp but am fine. Just waiting
for it to heal.
Upon review I think that accident might have
been an attempted answer to our prayers for a broken hip. haha. Maybe I’ll change my prayers a bit!
In closing, the last of my news is hunt is
leaving and I am getting an African companion!! I will let you know how it goes in the coming
weeks but Wednesday some things be changin' down here.
I love all you guys and am grateful to be a
part of this family. I am excited to hear of the developments in your lives
this week. Best of luck in all you aspects of life - love y'all!
Love - Doctor ie. Elder Johnson
PS - look up the song "Ele Me Dit",
it’s a French rap / dance song that I think you will like.
