A Day as a Congolese Women

As we were visiting our friends at the orphanage, only a few of the young children and most of the older children were home. The rest went to a ministry day for children at the church. The older children(about 6 of them) wanted to show us where they went to get their water. It was a thirty minute walk through a village and down a pretty steep hillside. Halfway down the hillside, my foot got caught on a tree root. In the midst of trying to catch myself from tumbling down the hill, both of my sandals broke. It was quite an experience to feel the ground under my feet. I have a profound respect for Congolese women and children who walk this path everyday with no shoes. It was amazing to see all the mamas and children at the water source. They were washing their clothes and dishes, and filling their buckets with water. We helped some of the children and mamas to carry their water back up the hill. I wanted to try to carry it on my head, but I was afraid I would spill the precious water they had come so far for. Once we returned to the orphanage, one of the papas and mamas there saw my bare feet and said, "Vous etes Congolese maintenant!" (You are Congolese now!) They were impressed! Tresor, one of the older boys of the group, wanted to take my sandals to get fixed. It was so sweet! When he returned with them about 15 min. later, they were like new! What a blessing! It was a great day!