Dinner and a Movie

This week was an historic one in Angola as elections were held for the first time since 1992 and only the second time in it’s history. There were many preparations in the days leading up to Friday’s election. Some things are universal, many improvements to roads and public services by the government are evident around the city. Last week the president came for a visit and there was an even greater flurry of activity.
There was some apprehension leading up to the election as the last time it triggered fierce fighting between rival parties that lasted for ten years. The actual day here in Lubango was one of the quietest days we have seen since we arrived. Everything was closed, even the outdoor markets, and the taxis didn’t even operate! When we went out later in the day the streets were almost empty.
We did venture out with our friend Dr. Steve Collins who has lived here for much of his life on what started out as a visit to see his home in the village of Humpata about 20 kilometers from here. After a few quick cell phone calls, we were on our way to see the house that the Holden’s are building, a very winding and rough road to a site overlooking the city. Next stop, after having taken on three additional passengers and a dog, was Steve’s home in Humpata where we got to see his small farm. He has about five acres that his guard/farmer looks after for him. He has many types of crops in small areas, wheat, corn, potatoes, several varieties of fruit trees, vegetables, carrots, onions, lettuce, broccoli and so on. It is all done by hand and watered every Monday by a series of ditches and little dams.
Next we proceeded on to Edson and Esther’s home just beyond Humpata for tea with Dr. Steve Foster and his wife Peggy and the visiting heart surgeon from Toronto and his wife. When they had left, we were invited to stay for dinner and a movie on the computer. Esther and her brothers Paul and Jonathan and Jonathan’s dog Rex were our additional passengers.
The plane was in Windhoek for most of the week to pick up Dr. Bently –Taylor, the visiting heart surgeon from Toronto. Basilio and I used that time to do some repairs on one of the Toyota trucks that we use for transportation here. We finished up in time for Basilio to use it to restock the diesel fuel supply here at the compound and to haul water to the hangar before election day.
Brent returned from Windhoek on Thursday with the Dr. and his wife, numerous boxes of medicines and supplies, some cheese for Barb (hard to find here at a reasonable price) and thirty kilos of grass seed for seeding the new airstrip at the mission farm at Tchincombe.
Monday we begin a 100 hour inspection on the airplane, so I will be busy at the airport most of the week.
Prayer Concerns: That all goes smoothly for the 100 hour inspection
Safe Return of the Goertzen family from Canada; leaving Monday arriving Thursday.