Lubumbashi, DRC

I knew it would be exciting to leave Johannesburg and visit some of the other couples who are doing Humanitarian work, but I had no idea 

HOW MUCH I WOULD LOVE IT!

We just returned from a one week trip to the Democratic Republic of the Congo

The week was filled with new experiences for us.

We had no idea we would be sleeping under this!



We started out in Lubumbashi where the Davis's are serving a Humanitarian Mission. They took us to see some of their projects.

How could you not LOVE being surrounded by these happy faces!





This amazing couple started a school for girls. They currently have 350 girls. Our Humanitarian Program provided a Sewing Lab. The Davis's are working on a project to set up a cooking lab. So Elder Davis asked Terese if she would be willing to "pay it forward" and offer service to another needy organization in her community. She was very willing to help so we took her to a home for girls who have been brought in from the streets. We fell in love with the art work on the walls. The sweet girls gave me a beautiful painting to bring home with me.

This is the Terese, Sister Davis, and the Davis's interpreter. We are sitting in the art room.

I wish I could have brought this home with me. Love the story it tells.

When we entered the home for girls we found these girls all lined up along the wall doing each others hair

Terese just stepped right in and put her arms around the girls

I was heartbroken to hear that this girl had been set on fire by young men on the street. Our interpreter explained that young men will rape a girl and then set her on fire. So sad.

THE NEXT STOP WAS AT AN ORPHANAGE WHERE I MADE SOME INSTANT FRIENDS WITH MY CAMERA

I HAD FUN LEARING THESE GIRLS NAMES
THEY KEPT LAUGHING AT THE WAY I SAID THEIR NAMES
THE GIRL IN THE MIDDLE IS ESTHER, SHE HAD A BEAUTIFUL SMILE, THE GIRL IN THE BRAIDS IS FLORA

I WILL NEVER FORGET ESTHER AND FLORA

THIS LITTLE GIRL FOLLOWED US OUT OF THE COMPOUND AND SHE AND I SAID GOODBYE TO EACH  OTHER SEVERAL TIMES AS I WALKED TO THE CAR. SHE AND THE LITTLE BOY BEHIND HER JUST KEPT SAYING "BYE". IT WAS A TENDER MOMENT FOR ME.

I MET THIS BOY IN A VILLAGE NEAR THE CATHOLIC SCHOOL WE VISITED. HE ASKED ME TO TAKE SEVERAL PICTURES OF HIM AND HIS FRIENDS. I TOOK PHOTOS AND THEY LOOKED AT THEM AND ASKED ME TO TAKE ANOTHER SO THEY COULD POSE (HOWEVER THEY DIDN'T SPEAK ENGLISH) WHEN WE GOT IN THE CAR TO LEAVE HE FOLLOWED US, AS I LOOKED OUT THE BACK WINDOW AND WAVED HE GESTURED TO ME TO TAKE HIS PICTURE AS HE RAN BY THE WINDOW. LOOK AT HIS BEAUTIFUL SMILE.