On the "road"

On the "Road"

Transportation in DR Congo is always a challenge. We decided to travel up to Lubudi via the Diamond train,

accompanied by our friends Shabana and Arlette (and baby Taylor Ann). It took longer than scheduled, but we were prepared for major delays. The return was trickier-- the south-bound train return was cancelled, so the church leaders in Lubudi got very creative in finding us a way back in time for our flight!

riding the train to Lubudi

After dark, I was confused by how we seemed to keep stopping, moving backwards, stopping, moving fowards, etc. It turns out we had the little engine that couldn't; we kept rolling back downhill until they eventually separated the train and came back for us several hours later!

Passing the hours with conversations, Swahili lessons and Sodoku!

We didn't know it yet, but Arlette and baby Ann (above) were coming down with malaria!

Both recovered, but every case of malaria is scary.

Traveling by train is like being in a mobile village. Since nearly everyone going into the interior travels by train,

we saw several people we knew, including one of Shabana's former students (above). It's a great way to get/send news from/to people from all over the region.

As I mentioned, shortly after arriving in Lubudi we were informed that the scheduled

return train wasn't just delayed a few days; there wouldn't be another south-bound train until after we needed to catch our flight in Lubumbashi! The District Superintendent visited offices of various town officials (good thing many of them were United Methodists--or at least liked the U Meths) to find a solution. No one in town had a vehicle that could make the journery in the rainy season, and while shortening our visit and biking all the way to Tenke was considered (Dad did it ten years ago), a better option was found. The DS (along with the DS in Tenke, who spoke with officials there) got us clearance to ride in the engine of a south-bound freight train (standing next to the driver with our bags stacked against the windshield!) Sorry we don't have pictures of it--it was an adventurous midnight ride, and we didn't want to push our luck by getting out the camera (although, the DS of Lubudi insisted on escorting us to ensure a smooth voyage).

We arrived at the train station in Tenke around 4am, where we were greeted by the DS of Tenke and others.

We stayed at their house a couple nights, then they and the district lay leader (above) walked with us a few miles to where the road from the mines begins. We had great conversations while staying at their house (see more on the Tenke page), and the district lay leader retold to all who didn't already know the details of the adventure he and my dad had 10 years ago when they visited congregations all over the region by bicycle. Apparently, even those who never met dad have heard the "legend" of the American pastor who made pastoral visits deep in the bush via bicycle.

Upon reaching the main road, the church leaders convinced a passing bus driver (as in a US school bus that was used in Florida in the 1980s) to squeeze us into the already full bus. From there, it was smooth sailing down to Lubumbashi (except for a few stops to hammer the bus wheels back in place).

And, just when I was considering how I'd never been on a long school bus ride without a sing-along, a man stood up to give his testimony (very powerful one, in fact) and the bus broke out into praise songs!

Oh yes, and we traveled with my live chicken at my feet.

(I'll leave you pondering that one)

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