Called to the Congo -- Elder Hillam: Week 29 -- Arrival in the Congo-- Welcome to the Jungle!!

This is gonna be a long one...

So I've made it to the Republic of the Congo!

On Thursday evening I went to President Hobbins's home to go see if the covid test I took on Wednesday was negative; if it was positive I wouldn't fly. There had been rumors of people getting vaccines and then getting a false positive on the test and since I got vaccinated on Monday I was a little nervous. President Hobbins and I pulled up the results and to my relief it was negative! I stayed the nights at President Hobbins's home and drove to the airport early in the morning on Friday!

I met up with Elder Jensen who was also flying out of SLC. We got on our flight to New York, and from New York to Paris, where we met up with 3 other elders who flew through Atlanta. We went to get on our flight from Paris to Congo, but they didn't let the 3 elders board who flew through Atlanta because their connecting flight before was delayed and there wasn't any time to get their luggage on the flight to go to congo. So Elder Jensen and I boarded the plane while the other 3 elders had to catch another flight later that night through Ethiopia.

Finally, after almost 20 hours of flying, we landed in Congo!

We went through security, we had to show our passports, visas, and negative covid tests. But I forgot one thing. My yellow fever vaccination card!😳😳😳

When the lady asked for it I realized I didn't bring it and I was about to not be able to get into the country. She told me to step to the side while she continued to let others through. Worried I wasn't going to be able to continue I said a prayer in my heart to be able to get through the security somehow. That's when a man named Jilson came up to Elder Jensen and me. He asked us how we were doing and we told him that I had left my yellow fever vaccination card. He went up to the lady checking the paperwork and talked to her, we then all went to a back room where Jilson handed her cash and where she forged me a yellow fever vaccination card. 😲

She handed me it and we went through the rest of security and got our luggage. We were greeted by President and Sister Magré and we got in a car to go to the stay with some other missionaries until the other elders who were stuck in Paris got to Congo.

We slept there Saturday night and on Sunday, I went with some of the elders to church. We hopped in a taxi to go to the building. There are no rules for driving here, other than don't hit anyone. Taxi drivers here are crazy. The roads are crazy here. Everyone honks and each other and the roads get packed. The roads are super bumpy if there is any asphalt at all. Often the roads are just dirt with giant puddles of water.

We got to church and were 6 confirmations which were awesome. The members are all awesome and kind. I can only say small and short sentences but I'm already understanding better. But I have a long way to go.

We went back to the apartment where the other 3 elders had just gotten back from the airport. Unfortunately, all their bags didn't come. That evening all 9 of us total slept in the main room.

Today we all hung around at the apartment. We go and get fresh baguettes from the boutiques. It's super cheap and they put chocolate in them or butter and sausage. Really good. I also love getting all the different fruit juices they have here. They have a special flavor of Fanta called Fanta passion. It's amazing.

Today we pretty much chilled at the apartment all day. We will be doing orientation tomorrow and I'll finally have a companion and an area! The reason I haven't done orientation yet is that the three elders who didn't get their luggage still haven't gotten it yet and they need it in order to go anywhere else.

The Republic of the Congo is awesome and I'm excited to spend 18 months here. I'm also thankful for the time I got to spend in Utah as well. I've learned a lot and been so incredibly blessed!

Au revoir,

Elder Hillam