Hiatt's in the Congo

Trent decided he wanted to have Corn Hole at the compound to give us something to do.  He had us bring back empty bean bags and then Cory brough home some wood and Trent made the frames.  He brough over the bean  bags and rice and wanted me to make them.  I had to hand sew them, as I don't have a sewing machine here.   Trent decided to have a BBQ Saturday night and wanted to play Corn Hole which meant I needed to get the bean bags done.  I spent most of the day sewing them so we could play that night!  It was so much fun!  Ragheb had never played it before and loved it!   While we were playing, Trent told me his driver accused is maid of stealing rice because it was gone and Trent laughed and told him it was at my house getting shoved into bean bags! Besides burgers, we also had Raghebs famous chicken to make Schwarmas!

 There are people begging for money EVERYWHERE here... they line the streets, parking lots, shopping areas. There will be teenage boys during the day that stand at busy intersections and will go out and stop traffic so you can get through or turn the corner and then put their hands out asking for money.   There is a store here called Top Market and of all the stores, it usually has the most items on my shopping list.  Saturday, Cory was wanting to make peanut butter bars but we didn't have powdered sugar so he wanted to go to Jambo.  Last time we bought some, it was at that store.  I told him, that means nothing but we will try.  We got to Jambo and sure enough, no powdered sugar.  I told him, if any store was going to have it, it would be Top Market so we headed into town to try it.  There are always kids and adults begging for money in that parking lot.  Sadly, I've gotten immune to it and ignore them.  This particular morning, I ...

 Leonie and Darius had everyone at the compound over for dinner.  Of course it was the day that EDILE decided to work late so dinner was changed to 7:45!  She made a yummy chicken pie with chicken, bacon sauce and mushrooms, (a special one without mushrooms for Cory) and salad. It was fun to sit on the porch before dinner and visit! I love having Leonie next door!

 We woke up to the most beautiful sunrise the other morning. We rarely have a clear sky with all the dust and smoke from burning garbage.  I had to grab some pictures to remember it by!

 I am never in a picture on the job site...never! I am always the one taking the pictures of everyone else.  Tuesday, I stayed at the office all day and went and did a job site walk with Cory, Trent and Ragheb.  I was on top of the temple, just getting ready to go down and Ragheb yells "Jessie, look at me", and he snapped the picture!  There have only been a handful of people in my life who call me Jessie, my nephews when they were little (aunt Jessie), my Grandma Lee, and now Ragheb!  I must really have a special place in my heart for him! Ragheb loves to take pictures, and our cleaner in the office, Tresor, loves to be in my pictures and see them hung up.  They were both so excited to take this picture and they both printed it off!

 Every couple of months, the design team comes up from South Africa for 3 days for meetings.  While they are here we usually go to dinner.  Last night we went to Tip Top and the food was amazing! We were there for over 3 hours, the culture here is dining out is an experience and it lasts for ever!  I must be getting old because at 9:00, I finally told Cory, I need to go to bed.  Some of them were going to go to the bar for a night cap...I just wanted bed!! As always I am excited for the leftovers...no cooking for a couple of days!!  They have the best virgin Mojito...love it! It's interesting because I hate anything mint flavored but I love the fresh mint in this drink! Cory calls it weed water! We got this cheesy garlic bread for an appitizer...it was yummy! Cheese and garlic are always good! I got the pork belly with mashed potatoes, veggies and coleslaw.  It came with a lemon butter sauce that I could have drank with a straw! Cory got the lasagna, a...

Life here has gotten into a repetitive groove.  It's not a bad thing, well sort of.  I do the same thing, every day.  I wake up, go to work, come home at 12:30, eat lunch, and then do something to keep me busy.  It can be cross stitching, diamond art, reading, scripture studying, reading conference talks, watching shows, baking, cleaning, laundry...but there is only so much you can do of all of that before you go crazy.  I have projects started all over the place. Here are some of them... I stated this tradition for Thanksgiving and Christmas.  I have table clothes for each holiday and I have everyone who is there sign their name. I then cross stitch it.  I have Thanksgivings here with me, because we celebrate it here! One of the books I'm reading, notice the book mark Leonie gave me! :)  She got it because it's pink, says Jesus, and she knows I love to read! I'm also trying a new Halloween cross stitch. I am a beginner, and this design requires a...

 I have gotten used to almost everything here...except the traffic.  There is no law and order here and I am baffled at the way they drive here.  We had 2 glorious months where school was out and traffic was manageable.  School started this week and my blood pressure is through the roof!  During those two months we could leave our house at 6:35 and be to the office by 6:45. During school, if we leave at 6:20 we can be to the office by 6:45.  Monday, the generator was having issues so we were a little late leaving and left at 6:30.  We didn't get to the office until 7:15. In this picture, the cars just create true grid lock.  No one was moving because of how they had woven themselves into  a mess and nobody wants to let any in or by because then everyone does and you can't move.  It is true chaos!!!  This photo is on Friday, the last day of our easy commute! I also think the red sun is quite pretty!

 It is so fun having Simi and Luan around to keep us entertained.  On Friday we had to stop at the Jambo.  I had finished checking out but Sisca was still busy doing it so I took Luan and we went out in front to go for a ride on the cart.  He saw the Micky and Minnie and wanted to give them a hug!  Later that night, I went to take something to Sisca and Simi came out with a head lamp on and was carrying her baby around trying to feed her.  They are so cute!