People of Kibungo

Yesterday, we ventured to the local market which is held every Wednesday and Saturday. There is no grocery store in Kibungo, so this is where everyone goes to get their food. As soon as we walked to the street from our guest house, you could tell it was market day. The street was crowded with people carrying their produce to and from the market. We are amazed by what they carry on their heads. We've been told that they like to have their hands free, so they put things on their head to carry. We have seen everything from backpacks on their head to a full bunch of bananas (plantains). The market was very colorful with people, produce, and clothing. There were many tomatoes, potatoes, beans, rice, flour, sardines, fish, pineapples, sweet bananas (like ours but smaller and much sweeter), meat, and live chickens. We enjoyed looking at everything and everyone checked us out too, as we were the only mzungos (white people) there. We bought some of the beautiful fabric that they ladies wear as wrap skirts, they cover their shoulders with it, strap a baby on their back, shade the baby, or wrap the fabric and wear it on their head. One of the girls, Jane, at our guest house wrapped the fabric on my head like the locals wear the night before. They thought it was very funny to see a mzungo with the headpiece on.

Last night, Nancy McCue who is from Fulton MO, had us over for dinner. Her cook Crementine cooked us pizza, which was quite a treat. It was the last night that the students were with us, so we had a celebration. Our friends, Valence (our interpreter), her gate keeper Jean Claude, and Earnest from the church joined us. The students were very sad to be leaving and have on many occasions said that the people they've met here are the nicest people they have ever met. They have grown very close to the people here and were very emotional last night and this morning when they left.

This morning, we went to the english church service where Nancy gave the sermon. We then said goodbye to Gina, Sam, Clayton and Scott as they headed to Kibungo with Eugene one of the drivers. All the children came out to say goodbye to them. Brad, Bob, Denise, and I then went to the regular service where there was lots of dancing and singing. Everyone was dressed in their best and having a good time. The children's choir sang, which was great, so I hope my video turns out. It was very fun and the singing was amazing.