WOW! We are really here. Today we bore our testimonies in French! I don't know where to start.
First of all, a little about Pointe Noire. Our city is a "city" in that there are lots of people and lots of taxis and traffic. However, there are literally only about half a dozen buildings that are taller than 4 stories. There are a few main paved roads. All the other "roads" are made of sand and are very, very bumpy! (Like 2 & 3 foot deep wash outs). There are a few grocery stores (small) and everything else seems to be very small shops, from the size of our kids bathroom to the size of our living room. Things are stuffed into them!
The prices are usually very expensive (except for dried fish and rice, which the Africans live on.)
We have found OK frozen chicken (with bones and skin on), OK Orange Juice (no pulp), jelly, good butter and fabulous baguettes (long skinny loaves of bread baked fresh all day with a crispy crust that Dad loves). They don't have fresh milk, so we have the choice of powdered milk or something like a canned milk. I have gotten used to the milk, but Dad is still trying. The sugar & flour come in little 2 pound bags. There is good jelly. We had all the Elders over on P-Day to watch a temple movie, and for a treat we had peanut butter and jelly on baguettes. They hadn't had peanut butter for a long time, so it was a big hit.
Most of the people live in very, very, very humble homes. These photos are of the neighborhood 4 of the elders live in. They have one of the few homes in the area with water and power.
Most of them are smaller than one of our kids bedrooms with no electricity or running water. They have outhouses with a deep hole in the ground... and they carry their water from the nearest well. I haven't been in one of them yet, but when I have, I will give you more details. The homes are mostly made out of corrugated tin and some are cinder block or left over wood. They are built with a common wall. Absolutely no building codes here!!!
First of all, a little about Pointe Noire. Our city is a "city" in that there are lots of people and lots of taxis and traffic. However, there are literally only about half a dozen buildings that are taller than 4 stories. There are a few main paved roads. All the other "roads" are made of sand and are very, very bumpy! (Like 2 & 3 foot deep wash outs). There are a few grocery stores (small) and everything else seems to be very small shops, from the size of our kids bathroom to the size of our living room. Things are stuffed into them!
The prices are usually very expensive (except for dried fish and rice, which the Africans live on.)
We have found OK frozen chicken (with bones and skin on), OK Orange Juice (no pulp), jelly, good butter and fabulous baguettes (long skinny loaves of bread baked fresh all day with a crispy crust that Dad loves). They don't have fresh milk, so we have the choice of powdered milk or something like a canned milk. I have gotten used to the milk, but Dad is still trying. The sugar & flour come in little 2 pound bags. There is good jelly. We had all the Elders over on P-Day to watch a temple movie, and for a treat we had peanut butter and jelly on baguettes. They hadn't had peanut butter for a long time, so it was a big hit.
Most of the people live in very, very, very humble homes. These photos are of the neighborhood 4 of the elders live in. They have one of the few homes in the area with water and power.
Most of them are smaller than one of our kids bedrooms with no electricity or running water. They have outhouses with a deep hole in the ground... and they carry their water from the nearest well. I haven't been in one of them yet, but when I have, I will give you more details. The homes are mostly made out of corrugated tin and some are cinder block or left over wood. They are built with a common wall. Absolutely no building codes here!!!
I am so happy for your fun experiences! I love you guys! I would not have realized how expensive living there would be.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to hear the prices of things. Just to have and idea of it. also, pictures of the shelves in the stores. Little major parts of life that we take for granted.
ReplyDeleteKris,
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this...it's so easy for us to take our blessings for granted and not appreciate the luxuries we have. Thank you for being brave enough to give up all the things we take for granted and having the faith to follow where the Lord has led you. If you didn't know...I enjoy blog-stalking your family and I agree with Charise saying it is like Amazing Race...can't wait to see what you do next!
Julie Bostrom