Bernt speaking to his wife in Sweden via Skype

The morning was started with fast e-mail contacts from the US to Congo, to Russia and back to Congo, back to the US and to Congo again. Bernt’s relative Barbara, who lives in Washington state wanted to support us, but concluded that you can only pay either in SEK or in € using the payment service on our web site. That would have been difficult for her, so she sent the question to us by e-mail if there was any possibilities to support us in US dollars. Her question was sent by 12.56 am, Congolese time. By 6.38 am, I had forwarded the question to our computer support, i.e. my son Aron in Moscow. His reply came 6.59 am, and I passed it on to the US by 7.00 am. At 7.05 am I received an confirmation from the US that the information had been received. And the answer to the question – what currencies will be accepted by the payment service on matadi.hakanson.se is: Any currency can be used. The payment service automatically converse the amount you wish to donate or lend into SEK. If anyone has any questions about the payment service on our web side, please write a comment on any of our blogs, or send us an e-mail. The e-mail addresses are found on the web page Contacts us.

Samuel and Muditu came to see us after breakfast and they wanted to talk about the trip tomorrow to Nsanda. Muditu is growing vegetables there, and we are going to have a look at his cultivations. We thanked Samuel and Muditu for letting us borrow the Youth House for three full days, but they just said that the house belongs to us too. It´s nice to be part-owner in the Youth House. The house is very good to use for the courses, except when the current is absent. We brought up this problem, and they promised that we will have a better power supply when we come next time. The first time we used the Youth House, there was current almost all the time, which was very good. We use the computer and the projector a lot in our teaching, if we have the possibility. But the reason for the absent current is of course a need to cut costs. And they choose to have no current in the day, so that the outdoor lighting can be used during the night to deter uninvited guests.

During the day, Bernt and I have read the accounts of the entrepreneurs, and studied their economic plans. When we go through their submitted work, we learn more about how to organize the teaching. We learn what goes home, and what is harder to understand. We will probably be able to accord 75% of the loan applications of this group. Seven out of ten wants to engage in trade. Their planned businesses are a pharmacy, a grocery, a general store, a clothes and shoe shop, a butcher´s shop, a fish shop, a spice and vegetable shop and a shop with automobile parts. Considering the Congolese car fleet, the need for automobile parts is probably immeasurable. One wants to open a dressmaker´s workshop, and the two last members of the group wants to expand their poultry farms. Four of ten are women. This group contains 100% more women than the last group. We hope that the share of women will continue to increase. There are some indications of them being more trustworthy than man. As you may remember, the savings bank in Luozi takes 10% interest of men, and 5% interest of women, probably a consequence of the level of reliability.

We are in the middle of changing banks. Yapeco has been to Ecobank and handed in our application for opening an account. We expect this bank to give us better service and more support than the former. Our resources are sometimes insufficient. This bank seems to be able to grant loans with reasonable terms and conditions. Some Congolese banks have a monthly interest rate of 3 – 5%. The annual interest is twelve times the monthly interest, and in addition, the repayment period is very short. All in all, the conditions are unreasonable.

Tonight, we experienced the best rain and thunder since the beginning of December. Everyone keeps their fingers crossed for a continuation. Several pundits have prophesied that next month will be very rainy. We certainly hope so, otherwise there will be disastrous drought.

Just now the current went away, and I thought I would have to do the final touch using a flash light. The flash light hangs ready to use on a sculpture of a Congolese women that I have on the writing table. But the current came back again, and that was lucky because my computer battery was almost empty.

Samuel Nkailu fighting with a big stone outside The House of Youth

Shortly after 8 in the morning, we came to the Youth House to start an extra class in financial planning with the entrepreneurs. We teachers hadn´t been able to explain the course material in a clear enough manner. Today, we repeated the part about economic planning with more examples and discussions. We talked about how to build a budget and how the numbers you use as building blocks in the construction of a budget must be anchored to the real world. We sorted out the issues “What is a budget?” and “How do I use a budget?”.

When we were done 4 hours later, most of the material seemed to have fallen into place. Nsumbu gave a thank-you speech and among other things, he said that only now had the material become clear to him. It felt good for us teachers, that he said things had been sorted out and clarified. The group seemed much happier today than they had been last Friday during the individual consultations, when we had cracked down on their first budget constructions. One of them had even believed that he had been disqualified to continue with the course. That unfortunate misconception was due to confusion of languages, and has now been corrected. They will all get their business loans next week if everything works out.

We have also met with the perception that the business loan is the most important part of this entrepreneurial challenge. We have tried to play down it´s significance, and described the proper proportions this way: The business loan is just like the starter in a car. The starter puts the engine in motion, but you can´t drive the car with the starter alone. You can only get the car to move when the engine works and pulls the car forwards. The engine in this little parable is the entrepreneur. This is one way we put emphasis on the fact that they themselves are their biggest asset. If they manage well their borrowed capital, it can make a profit and they are the big winners.

In the afternoon, we had a meeting with the teachers and the school manager of the Baobab Church. The pastor joined us too. We discussed the possibility of setting up a secondary school program in entrepreneurship. They school people thought it was a very good idea. Many young people are already underway with various kinds of business. If they could get an education in economy, they would become excellent entrepreneurs. We decided that the Baobab Church schools will appoint a committee that will continue working with the issue. Yapeco will be the contact between MSG and the Baobab Secondary School. In the Baobab Primary and Secondary Schools there are about 700 pupils.

At home with Yapeco and Augustine

Sunday morning was started with the usual scoop shower. So far, we have had running water only once. Unfortunately, Lisanga is falling into decay. There is a need for entrepreneurs who want to make a change. When will they get the chance? Today, the gruel had become porridge, thanks to Julienne. We were happy to get real porridge. Bernt fixed the milk. He takes two sachets of powdered milk, pours them into a mug with water and stirs. It tastes remarkably well, almost as good as the milk of an ordinary Swedish cow. Bernt easliy shifts from being the waterman, like the other night, to the milkman, at breakfast.

At 9.00 am Yapeco came to get us for the service in the Baobab Chuch. We were early, and we sat down outside in the shade, awaiting our turn. The first service ended by 10 o´clock and was held in French. The service we attended was in Kikongo. The chairman of the congregation, Damas Ngula, directed the services. Pastor Matthieu Diangitukula took care of the clerical assignments. Bernt was the preacher of the day, interpreted by Julienne. He talked about the necessity of being born again, and he based his sermon on Nicodemus´ discussions with Jesus. We must rethink and think again. We must leave the old thought patterns in order to create something new, we must leave that which prevents development. In this way, Bernt also delivered some truths about entrepreneurship from the pulpit today. When will regeneration come to our churches and our societies? Lack of money is not the big problem, the big problem is the inability to think outside the box.

The Congolese service has many items on the program. Five choirs sang, pastor Matthieu led the intersession and prayed in particular for those who had decided to tithe to the church. He talked about the importance of the friend churches and touched upon the things we can do together, Blidsberg, Hökerum and Baobab. He asked us mondele to come to the front of the church, and Yapeco introduced us to the congregation and gave them a thorough description of MSG. Most people recognized us already since this is the third service we take part in. And about a year ago, we were in the Baobab Church to show slides of a winterly Sweden.

Two couples came to the front with their infants for baby-blessing. The collection was done singing and dancing, and the offerings were put in three baskets. The contents of one of the baskets was specifically meant for the needy. The other two didn´t have taget groups, but one was used by the male givers, and the other by the female. Many people put money both in the basket benefiting the needy and in the basket of their gender.

There was also a communion ceremony today, and just like collection, it was done walking, singing and dancing. It was dignified, substantial and rewarding. After communion, the whole congregation stood up and they all sent their greetings to us and to Sweden by raising both their hands, loudly and cheerfully. I thanked them for the greetings with a “Tutondele” (“Thank you very much” in Kikongo) and promised to bring the greetings to Sweden. After the service we shook hands with a large part of the congregation, and there were pictures taken.

At 1.30 pm, Yapeco brought us and the pastor with him home in his four-wheel driven Toyota jeep. It is almost impossible to go to Yapeco and Augustine in a vehicle without four-wheel drive. At Yapeco´s house Damas Ngula joined us. Augustine had cooked dinner for us. She had prepared chicken, fish, different dishes with manioc, rice, beans and sakasaka. For dessert we had a fruit salad made of papaya, bananas and pineapple.

When we had returned home we took a much longed-for nap, and then there was miscellaneous desk work and preparations for the extra class tomorrow with the entrepreneurs on the program. When I was going to publish this blog the first time, my poor mobile broadband had packed it in. This is the third time it gives out during this stay. I have probably sent and received too much information. There are presumably limitations that I have yet to understand. In the early Monday morning, the broadband was unexpectedly working again. It had changed it´s mind during the time I had been asleep under the mosquito net.

The children at Lisanga

This day has been quiet. In the morning, we stayed at home and went through some course data. We discussed the extra class about economic planning we were going to have on Monday, and how to best explain the point of economic planning, the starting points of a budget and how budgets are used for managing a company. We´ll see if we succeed.

At 3 pm Yapeco came to pick us up for a meeting with the Global Group at the Baobab Church. The new pastor is called Matthieu Diangitukula. He started the meeting with a prayer and then he welcomed us. He comes from Luozi and he has been the manager of the CEC Church schools for 20 years. The other participants in the meeting were the chairman of the congregation Damas Ngula, Yapeco, Samuel, Piere, Mois, Bernt, myself and our interpreter, Julienne.

I brought up the issue of a common list of prayer requests. We have discussed this issue in the Hökerum – Blidsberg Global Group. The group was in favour of this, and I will get a list before we go back to Sweden. They also approved of the idea to read the New Testament in one year, and they wanted us to start by March 1. I handed out the bible reading plan. It´s just to get started to recruit interested members of the congregations in Hökerum and Blidsberg. I will get the names of the interested Baobab Church members before our departure on Thursday. We will continue to look into the possibilities of a joint project for the churches in Sweden and Congo. The Facebook group is interesting, and those with a computer will join the group.

For our cooperation to increase and deepen, we need a common language, tentatively English. Matthieu pointed out that English is necessary for international contacts. Judging from the response, an English course will probably be held at the Baobab Church. When we had discussed all the points on the agenda, we had soft drinks with unpeeled roasted and boiled peanuts. The Congolese peel their peanuts extraordinarily fast . When I had finished peeling one they were already on their tenth peanut. Julienne completed the gathering with a long prayer. Prayers are often very long in Congo, there is much to discuss with our Lord. As I am writing this, there is full speed ahead in the day room at the Presidential Villa. Bernt is preparing his appearance in the service tomorrow, the Church Superintendent Edi Diafuanakana is writing on his computer, Julienne is writing on her computer, the Church Financial Manager is watching television and Axel Biono, pastor and entrepreneur is entertaining us all.

The temperature today has been a modest 25 degrees. That´s nice for us mondele. It is very cloudy, it looks like there could be rain, but so far it has stayed away. The dry spell is tangible and will surely result in food shortages.

Yesterday evening, I went to bed before Bernt, for once. Half asleep I heard funny dragging noices outside my door. Today, I got an explanation. Bernt is a fixer and with his duct tape he mended the filling hose of the barrel in the bathroom. The increase in effectivity caused a decrease in filling time by 60%. When the repairing was done, Bernt had proceeded with some desk work, forgetting all about boosting the water collecting. By midnight, when he was about to go to bed, he became aware of his forgetfulness. The barrel was filled long ago and there was a flood in the bathroom, the corridor and the room of the sleeping CEC Church Superintendent Edi Diafuanakana. Bernt didn´t dare to knock on his door in respect for authority.

Bernt had an awfully tough job scraping the water into the bathroom, collect it and lift it to the floor drain in the shower tub. When he had finished the job and again was about to go to bed, he hears how the Superintendent wakes up and notices that his bed is surrounded by water. The Superintendent rushes up and starts scraping the water out in the corridor and onwards to the bathroom. In the morning, Bernt explained his good intentions to the superintendent and made a thousand apologies. Fortunately, the superintendent has a forgivning nature, and our good relation could soon be resurrected. Good intentions and deeds sometimes go to the blazes. But it is doubtful whether Bernt will get another entry permit to Congo, considering this incident.

After getting out of bed, I had my daily shower, a necessity in this hot climate. Today there was running water, a minor surprise. Then I made some preparations for today´s work, and then I breakfasted on missionary gruel, i.e. thin oatmeal porridge with sliced banana and powdered milk mixed with water.

On the agenda we had individual consultations starting 9.00 am. We managed to talk to all the ten entrepreneurs today, and by 6.30 pm the last one went home. Economic planning with budgets seem to be more difficult than we had expected, or maybe the tuition has had low quality. We are certainly not certificated teachers, but we have much experience. We will put in an extra class of economic planning on Monday morning, where we have an empty slot in our program.

At Ecobank's office, Matadi

In the afternoon we went to Ecobank, an African bank which operates in many African countries. The bank has recently opened a branch in Matadi. The managing director of the bank and his closest employee received us very well. We are not satisfied with the bank we use today, and a good bank contact is crucial to us. When our capital resources aren´t enough, we hope to have the cooperation of a good local bank. We believe that a good local bank can be a valuable asset to our enterprise.

Samuel is congratulating Bernt

The day started with running water in the actual shower for the first time since we arrived to Matadi this Monday. It was nice not to have to transport the water yourself up and above your head with a scoop or a bucket, to have your hands free to do the cleanup. Then I had some preparations for the morning meeting with the January 11 group to do. I printed quite a few documents with my joining printer.

Shortly before 9.00 am we arrived to the Youth House. I rigged the computer and the projector in the hope of having current, but unfortunately it stayed away for the duration of the meeting. Today, we managed to carry through the meeting in five hours. The whole group, except one member, was on time. We praised them for their punctuality. It is not the usual habit of the Congolese, but fortunately there are exceptions.

Yapeco held a short introduction and he prayed for God´s blessing. We started the day with going through the 30 points of our concept for entrepreneurs in Congo (see the website, under About us – Concept). Julienne took care of reading the list aloud, which relieved the group of hearing us doing it in Swedish. Suddenly, Julienne´s voice was drowned by a bunch of vociferously argumentative gentlemen outside. Because all our windows were opened, we could easily hear their agitated conversation. Yapeco ran outside and calmed the gentlemen down. He was so efficient, there was dead silence.

After this incident, we took a break to congratulate Bernt. Like the rest of us, he has a birthday once a year, and his birthday happened to occur today. Never before in his 69 years long life has he been congratulated with a birthday song in Kikongo. After Kikongo, we sang in Swedish and then we gave four cheers for his birthday, like we do in Sweden. Not only that, Samuel Nkailu entered with a hibiscus flower, which grows outside the Youth House, and solemnly congratulated Bernt.

When we managed to go back to the topics of the day, we went through the accounting system. It is a part of our new layout to disclose the records monthly. We really want to inculcate the importance of keeping track of what happens to the company. All business transactions must be documented in order to find out what is good and bad respectively in the business. The comprehensive documentation also forms a valuable historical account of the enterprise. We continued with budgets, and we emphasized that it is an important control instrument. It would have been easier to explain if we had had the use of the computer and the projector, but that came to naught, as things sometimes do. You have to make the most of what you get.

A little beside the subject, I did a demo of Skype and called my wife Kerstin in Sweden. Our daughter Hanna was there as well. It is amazing how easily you can talk to people anywhere in the world, and even see each other with no charge for the call.

Today, Christians from all churches in the Democratic Republic of Congo, were supposed to have demonstrated against the election that was held on November 26. They wanted to show their distrust of the election results. The Catholic church that had initiated the protest, had had 30 000 election observers during the election days. But the churches were not granted permission to demonstrate.The churches certainly has some influence in Congo, otherwise the demonstation would have been granted.

Today, we have also visited the ProCredit Bank in Matadi. We had a good talk with the managing director of the bank. We will continue our search for the optimal bank with a meeting with another bank tomorrow. We must have a good bank contact, a contact which also has got to be able to support our entrepreners.

Samuel takes a break together with Muditu and Julienne

The day began as every other day with the usual scoop shower and shave, but instead of oatmeal porridge we have been served oatmeal gruel since we got to Lisanga. On our arrival, we specifically asked for porridge for breakfast, but so far we haven´t seen any. Either they are short of oatmeal, or porridge is an unknown phenomenon to them. We haven´t made any further inquiries as it isn´t a problem. We mix the gruel with sliced banana and powdered milk diluted in water. It is an excellent breakfast that make our stomachs feel fine. We also fill up with plenty of water in the system, the bodily functions work much better when they have access to an abundant water supply. Therefore, we fill up with each meal.

At 9.00 am we came to the Youth House to review the work of the Demba group, which is one part of the October 10 group. Demba is the chairman of the group. He repays his instalments in a model way, he has been ahead with his payments all the time. Unfortunately, only Demba showed up for the meeting. We knew that Philippe wouldn´t come, because his mother in law had died, and the funeral would take place today. And Marie France had been transferred to Kinshasa, and we had already met her there. Pierre was still in Matadi, but he couldn´t take time off work at a flour factory. We booked a new meeting to 4.30 in the afternoon with both Demba and Pierre.

The other group was scheduled to come to the Youth House at 1.00 pm. But our dinner got delayed, and wasn´t served until 1. The staff of the restaurant had been on a meeting, and consequently, the usual dinner time had been shifted. At 1.30 pm Bernt and I arrived to the Youth House. Axel Biongo and Muditu had come before us, and Muditu was a bit annoyed that we weren´t on time. His irritation was justified. The rest of the group arrived at 2 and 3 pm, and at 3 pm we could open the meeting. We went through the repayments of each member´s loan, and we noted that some of them are good payers, while others are having difficulties. We spent some time on explaining clearly what will happen to the group if members don´t repay their loans. Everyone seemed to be aware of the consequences of unpaid instalments. Jean Pierre said he thinks our teaching is using the stick more than the carrot, and we had a discussion about the strengths and the weaknesses of different perspectives. Among other things, we talked about the benefits of long term planning as well as the benefits of being spontaneous and expressing joy. We agreed upon that there needs to be a balance, and using the stick and the carrot evenly is the best way to work with entrepreneurship. All in all, we had a good discussion.

In the afternoon, Demba arrived on time for the rescheduled meeting and waited patiently for Pierre. That´s the way it usually is in Congo, you have time and you aren´t that influenced by the clock. Anyhow, we had a good talk with Demba, he feels responsible for the group and is a reliable person. At 6.15 pm we gave up waiting and said goodbye with an ”au revoir”. Walking back to Lisanga, we met Pierre on the road and he joined us to our lodgings. What should have been finished by 3 pm, was finally ended by 7.30. We had a slow day, with other words. Preparations for tomorrow got compressed and I ran the risk of having to to night work.

Samuel Nkailu, our good friend, is faithful to the Youth House. This morning, he had already been there for an hour when we came. While we were meeting with the groups, Samuel moved stones outside with a wheelbarrow. He walked barefoot on the stones, and he must have very thick soles since he was working the hardest when the temperature was the hottest. In the sun, it must have been 40°C. I felt feeble just watching him.

Bernt and Yngve are inspecting the engine

Today we woke up in Lisanga, the CEC Church guesthouse in Matadi. There are many guests here at the moment, and we got a temporary room next to the restaurant when we arrived yesterday. Today we will be moving into the Presidential Villa. Given that name, the house makes a show of being something really special, but that is not the case. Anyhow, we are perfectly contented. I will get an office space here, which is essential considering all the desk work I do. We document every little agreement, thereof the need for an office.

This day was reserved for educational visits to members of the very first group of entrepreneurs. The educational visits are part of our follow-ups. We started with Axel Biongo. He invested in 120 chickens. They are now in full swing, laying between 90 to 105 eggs a day. Axel discussed two problems with us. The price of chicken feed has increased by 60% and the price of eggs have decreased more than he expected. Unfortunately, eggs are imported from other countries and they are cheap. But the import will be stopped according to Axel, and to the benefit of the Congolese chicken farmers. Two hens had died, and one didn´t lay any eggs. He has plans of buying new chickens to rejuvenate the poultry flock. In general, Axel seemed to be a content chicken farmer.

We made our next visit to Demba. He runs a general store. His enterprise is located in an area where there are plenty of shops, you can find all kinds of selling as far as the eye can see. It is a special experience to visit a market in Congo. The smells and the atmosphere are quite astounding. Demba puts in long hours. He opens at 8.00 am and closes at 11.00 pm. Sometimes his wife and children help him in the store. His daily turnover is between 20 and 40 thousand Congolese francs, which is the equivalent of $ 20 to 45. He has a general margin of 20 % on the merchandise, and he thinks he is doing well.

Our next entrepreneur is Jean Pierre. He is a lawyer and a teacher, but wants to be an entrepreneur as well. He owns a construction truck for transports to road construction and house building sites. The truck is in the last stage of an engine replacement and other repairs. It will be in business by next month. Jean´s driver came to start the engine while we were there, and it seemed to work just fine.

Next, we visited Philippe Nlandu. His first idea was to keep hens and pigs, since he owns a small property. But the animals got some disease, and he had to quit that line of business. He is currently trading with cement from the factory in Lukala, situated outside Kimpese. He has a stock of 12 tons, and he sells an average of 10 sacks a day. His purchase price is $ 12 a sack, and his selling price is $ 13.

Then we visited Augustine, who runs a poultry farm with 735 hens. Unfortunately, her business has been the victim of burglars who have stolen 200 hens. The hens lay between 620 to 630 eggs a day. Augustine sells her eggs to restaurants, buyers and grocery shops. She has also suffered from the increased chicken feed prices, but she is planning to start to produce her own fodder. She can get both a better quality and a lower cost through a production of her own. The hens consume 125 kg of fodder a day. When the hens are 18 months they are slaughtered. Augustine renews her poultry flock regularly. When we had inspected the poultry farm, we were invited to her house on a Coke. It was very much appreciated in the Congolese heat.

The last visit of the day went to Muditu. Our dealings with him have not been perfectly smooth. We had a good going through with him today, and we reached an acceptable solution. One of the concerns of our entrepreneurs is the tax you pay on all goods you buy, i.e. value-added tax (VAT). VAT was introduced only a couple of months ago in Congo and it is set at 16%.

Peeling peanuts for seed at Nsanda

Today, our awakening came about in a more orderly fashion than when we last time spent the night in this house. Then, there was a cock who took his night and morning walks outside our window, crowing at full volume. Because of this misdoing, he was put under arrest last night. He had been found guilty of disorderly conduct, a offense leading to custody here in Congo. That also goes for cocks.

After breakfast we talked for a while with our hosts, Nganga and Thresia, about the hotel and restaurant that they are building. They are very commited people, both to the community and to their church. They were retired recently from senior positions at the cement industry just outside Kimpese.

Yapeco and Nganga went into town to book a taxi. The taxi driver came to our address with his Mitsubishi van. We packed our things and left Kimpese by 11.00 am, heading for Matadi. Our driver Mbomba conducted his car calmly and confidently. At 1.30 pm we arrived in Matadi. In Matadi, we met with Curt Olofson and his group of five persons. Since the guesthouses were occupied, we got a temporary place to sleep next to the restaurant here on the Lisanga property.

After dinner, we detailed the next two weeks of our stay in Congo. We will spend much time on follow-ups, but we will also give some further education to entrepreneurs already in the business loan program. We had intended to meet the governor, but he had had to go away because of the airplane accident in Bukavu. If he returns while we are still here, we will try to set up a meeting.

Samuel Nkailu came to welcome us. We talked for a while about the progress of the Youth House. Right now, they have a sewing course for five girls, and they use the three sewing machines they were given in inaugural gift. They have four boy groups with fifteen boys in each group. Each group has a football of their own, and they play football every other week. Luthelo Muller, son of Matila, the chairman of the Youth House, has had political meetings in the Youth House. He and two others from Matadi have been elected to Parliament in Kinshasa. Samuel also has gatherings for the children of the pastors in Matadi, as well as gatherings for the pastors themselves. They are planning to have meetings for church leaders, with a focus on song and music. We will also be using the Youth House in our entrepreneurial course. A ceiling is about to come in place. MSG made a commitment at the inauguration, to contribute the material needed for the ceiling.

Happy children got Fanta and Coca-Cola

Today I got up at 5.30 am. Bernt slept for another hour, he usually sleeps more than me. Either he has a more evolved sleeping abiltiy than me, or a clearer conscience. Like everywhere in Congo, the Luozi cocks were starting their morning session. Judging by the volume of the crowing, you could be led to believe that the Congolese keep more cocks than hens. But the poultry world probably have some similarities to the human world, where the male part of the population is much louder than the female part. When it comes to poultry, it is the hen who does the work that we benefit from. In many respects it is the women who pull the heaviest load in Congo, and gets the work done. Except for the noise from outside, our morning chores proceeded as planned with a scoop shower and porridge, today served at 7.00 am. Today we were off to Kimpese.

We had arranged with Daniel Bimpe for him to come and pick us up at 7.00 am. He was going to his factory along the road to Kinshasa, and we would travel with him to Kimpese. He had offered to drive us for free, and we were very grateful. His wife Anny is a participator in our latest group of entrepreneurs. Maybe he has benefited from the course too and wanted to give us a service in return. He had to change a few tires before we could get started, and by 9.00 am we left Luozi. While we were waiting for Daniel, Robert Diyabanza came to pay us a visit and we had an interesting conversation about his excellent enterprise that I wrote about yesterday. We talked about the future of the company, and how it could continue to be the livelihood of many Congolese families. What Robert has achieved must not be wasted. We offered Robert to help him work on possible scenarios.

Daniel drives a big jeep, but anyhow we had to busy ourselves before everything was stowed into the car. One suitcase had to go on top of the car. We were six persons on this trip, three in the front seat and three in the rear. The jeep was certainly heavily loaded. We caught the first ferry of the day. Today they were using the old ferry, it is a bit rickety, but it works and everybody got to the other side safe and sound. The Congo river is 4 kilometers wide at this crossing, and this morning the ferry carried two cars and about a hundred passengers. Many women were going from Luozi to the market in Kimbemba with large baskets of fresh-baked bread on their heads. Others had brought vegetables, and one guy had a live pig on his shoulders.

When we came to the ferry stop in Kimbemba, our friends whom we had given bibles to last June met up with us. Their English teacher Alain accompanied them. When we met them last time, we had told them to write down things they needed and that we might get for them. Today we got a very nice letter with a wishlist.

At 10 am we began the journey south of the river. After 20 kilometers, the car stopped dead. The stop was caused by a broken belt, which in turn runs a hydraulic pump in the engine. A Congolese always carries tools and spare parts since everything can happen. Daniel had about 20 different belts in his toolbox, but none of them was suitable. He phoned home to Luozi, and they promised to send a courier. One hour later, a large white Ford jeep came along and stopped right behind us. A nice gentleman came up to us and asked what had happened. Daniel told him about our predicament. The gentleman who was called Eddy, went back to his car and made room for Yapeco, Julienne, Bernt and myself. We continued our journey with Eddy in his Ford which had air conditioning. He was a nice acquaintance and we shared experiences with eachother. He had lived in Germany for 30 years. At 2.30 pm we arrived in Kimpese, and two hours later, Daniel came with all our things.

In Kimpese we are well looked after by Nganga Diamfunisa and his wife Thresia. For dinner we had goat and chicken, rice and manioc. They have air conditioning and all the domestic comforts you can ask for. We will spend the night here, and continue to Matadi tomorrow.