The last three weeks leading up to Christmas, I have spent
at Kikongo (in The DR Congo). It has been great being with family and friends,
taking a much needed break. This time of year is peanut, corn, safu (a fruit native
to the Congo,) and mangosteen season, and… I have eaten my fair share of each.
We had a typical Kikongo Christmas, with a baptism down at
the river on the 24th, followed by Christmas play that evening.
Yesterday, we woke up to a bright and sunny Christmas morning, and headed off
to church for the Christmas service. It was only about 2 ½ hours this year. My Dad preached a message on the of
Christmas. We had our traditional rabbit
for dinner, and spent the rest of the afternoon indoors enjoying a large rain
that blew up.
Tomorrow, I begin my long journey back to CAR. If all goes
according to plan, I will be back in Gamboula by the end of next Monday.
Gamboula’s Garden of Eden supplied me with many seeds and
starts that I brought to Kikongo when I came. There are a few things that Eden lacks
though. Kikongo has a few plant
varieties that are higher yielding, and better quality, so I will be taking
them back with me. One of these plants is Chiya, or spinach tree. Since being
introduced here back in 2007, it has taken this entire region by storm, and now
grows in everyone’s yards and gardens. I can’t wait to introduce it to
Gamboula. 