After discovering the attempted break in, we took off for Uvira.  We knew the people there were anxiously awaiting President Thomas, and we were running 1/2 hour late.  As we arrived and they opened the gates to let us come in, what I saw brought tears to my eyes.  Remember the tent at Uvira that was demolished? Last we saw the chapel site,  it was just an area of red dirt.  This morning, lo and behold,  there was a makeshift tent made from tarps that were all strung together with rope and supported by some of the broken metal poles.  The linoleum, having been washed and smoothed out as much as possible, was spread out on the dirt floor.  Chairs and a podium were all neatly arranged in anticipation of the President's visit.  I knew how much effort went into what they had done, knew the amount of work and devotion that went into the preparations for his visit.  And there were the members, on a Wednesday morning, gathered together in their Sunday best to greet the Mission President and his wife.  Kind of choked me up.

And now a word about the traffic conditions in Bujumbura.  ARGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I HONESTLY THINK THE WORST DRIVERS IN THE WORLD ARE ROAMING THE STREETS OF BUJUMBURA.

It can be crazy busy, and there is not a traffic rule or traffic control device that exists here in Bujumbura.   On a 2 lane road you will have 3-4 drivers in a row, not a line, trying to turn left into heavy traffic.  Motos dart between cars and go down the outside of the road or down the oncoming lane of traffic.  It's sheer madness, a large game of "chicken" and Bumper Cars.  The situation on the roads is emphasizing some poor qualities in Gary's driving---he is perfecting the use of impatience and aggression!  Should serve him well when we get home! Not!

Anyway, last week we were backing out of a parking spot on a very busy, narrow street.  Traffic was totally stopped in one direction,  waiting for us to get out of the way.  Gary thought the traffic had stopped coming the other way, but the jarring crunch we experienced as he continued backing out told us otherwise.  We had backed into a bus.  The busses and transport vehicles are notorious for their reckless and insane driving.   Due to the heavy traffic surrounding us, (plus Gary was mad), we kept moving, going on to our next stop, an Internet provider.  When we finished our business there, we came out to find that the driver of the bus had tracked us down and wanted satisfaction.  (Read that as "money.")  We had him get in the truck with us because we were headed to Branch one with the Internet employee.  I was madly dialing Jean Paul to come to our aid, but no luck.  As we pulled in at Branch One, there was Jean Paul.   Thank goodness!  While Gary worked with the Internet guy, I had the privilege of standing in the driveway and watching as Jean Paul, Domine, and the bus driver went at it, verbally.   It was very animated, and in the end,  the driver settled for 20,000 BIF ( That is about $14. ) and Gary threw in a Church pamphlet for good measure.   That was the 3rd of our bumpers to get smashed in, and before I could blog about it, the remaining bumper got smashed in, too!   Two days later, as we were stopped in a line of heavy traffic, a guy in a motorcycle crashed into the back of our truck! UNBELIEVEABLE!

Add to the 4 crushed bumpers assorted dents and dings on the side panels.  We were in the truck for 2 of the major dents---one when a car ran into us and one from a motorcycle that got away as 2 guys were fighting over it.   The other various dents I have no idea where they came from.

NOTE;  ONE OF OUR LITTLE TURN LIGHTS THAT WE JUST HAD REPLACED WAS JUST STOLEN AGAIN!