Monday, October 5, 2009

Kisanagani Life

Kisangani life: the workers that CFM hires start at 1500 Francs per day, and average about 1800 Fcs/day. They also get lunch provided. And that's not bad wages for here. You get about 850 Fcs per $US, so that's about $2 per day. Of course, they can live off that here, but the difference is crazy.
Now get this: the workers, church planters, and pastors wanted to throw a special due for Keith and Tammy, so they each gave 2000 or 3000 Fcs to throw them a party. And many of them also gave a day of their time to decorate. I know I've got something to learn about generosity from them. They definitely know how to make celebrations worth-while: they're not quite as conservative as North Americans...I say that in a good way.

Most people here live in adobe houses. Many have high-centered, old-school pedal bikes. They haul huge loads on them - often they just to push them, because the bike is loaded about as high as they are tall. The old ladies are tiny but tough. They make backpacks out of palm branches that are as tall as they are, and use them to haul pineapples several miles into town.

Things are looking up for the younger generation here: they dress up in uniforms and go to school at about 7:00 weekday mornings. Some of them like learning language on the side too. They just might be the people we look up to 20 years down the road... as long as they don't have any more wars thrown at them.

No comments:

Post a Comment