Kinshasa part 5

Mbote from Congo. Today we had to go to the dreaded DGM - the Director General of Migration. This was the last department that could stall our departure - and I suppose they still could (they have another office at the airport just to make you nervous). So far so good...

Yesterday we went to meet the mayor of the commune ( the region ofthe city of Kinshasa where Joceline is from) and it was exciting to say the least. This was a visit orchestrated by the foster mother of Joceline who happens to work for the mayor - whose title is straight out of a kids xmas movie - Bourgmiester - to help stave off rumors she has beennselling children (she isn't). Julia and I had to go to this meeting alone as Teetee (the foster mom) was nervous about having her there.

So we arrive and after getting past the guard goat (no kidding here) we went to a waiting room filled with people. THe chairs were like school yard chairs (small), and suddenly a huge man walked and everyone leaped to attention...not one to buck the crowd, I and Julia joined the group...with both of our chairs stuck to our assess. Great start :-).

The Mayor was HUGE - a black Jabba the Hutt comes to mind - with a voice to match! He promptly dismissed everyone but Julia and I...then after saying hello told us he had three children for adoption?!?!? THere are days in this country where you really want to hit the reset button... When I asked him who and how old, etc, he said under 14, and we need to speak thursday???

So my visit to the Bonobo Chimps is off for the second time so I can go and hear about the orphans the Congo Jabba has:-)

We closed out the afternoon with another visit to Our Lady Of Joyful - and we brought the new members of the group - Molly and her brother Tom (Molly is considering adoption here and wants to get a sense first). This place could lift up a dead man's soul! We visited some more and brought them a soccer ball (something they have never had) - and I think it beats the bag of plasic garbage tied up with string!

I write this at the close of the evening - in the mosquito laden Procure - sipping a Primus...the only product I know of made here (by heineken). So, Off to bed for now!