The Independent-News, Volume 93, Number 37, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 8 February 1968 — Page 7

Mrs. Fenstermacher Tells Club Os Congo Experience When Dr. and Mrs. Eenst. i - macher went into th-- Congo as mi-si nines . irlv in 1960, he as the head <4 the hospital and a leper col< ns in Minga, and sh. as a teacher, it was their mtentii n to make this their lit* work. But we shall sec as the story unf I Is, as told by Mis. Fenstermacher, to the woman's Community Club on Friday. February 2, that this was not to be. In the short time the Fenstermachers were permitted to remain in the Congo they administered to anti learned much about the Congolese. Out of their experiences many little known facts concerning the natives were shared with the group. Part of this story was illustrated in slides. Os course it is well known that it was the Belgian Government who handled the affairs of the Congo and that the Catholic missionaries were th.- first to serve the needs of the natives. But what is not generally kn wn is that with the coming of the Prot* stant missionaries into the Congo it was thought wise to assign certain sections to each religious group. In so doing the natives would not become confused but would realize there was one Christ’s Church. C- ntrnry to popular be lief the Belgian C lonial Officials have always treated the Congolese with respect. Our speaker pointed out that the most feared people the natives ever knew Were the Arabs who trafficked in slaves. The inner Congo is primitive rarely does one find any modern conveniences. There are a few

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cars but much is to be desired in the ways of roads whose upkeep is the responsibihtv of rath village. lib Congo is about one third the size of the Cmted Sates or that ana east of the Mi ~l s -ippi. rhere is much sickness in this I,n 1 malaria. tub. n ulosis. sleeping .sickn ss and internal pa I isites. consequently the life bpan of the natives is short. There is a high mortality rate among the young and it may be this is the reason the Africans love their children so dearly. Conti ary to our widespread belief, is the fact the ( ongohse are a literate people. There are, however, too few college graduates. When ind. pendem e < ame in 1960 the country had leas than 30 university graduates; but things are gradually improving for today it has more than 2000. Ihe Africans are uncanny in th> ir ability to sense sincerity in p- pie. Today after sewn years of lineration the Congoles/ are still afraid the white man will strike at him and conversely the Eui' peans who remain in the Congo are uneasy. The diet of the natives consists of dj'ese, palm nuts, nee pineapple, coconuts and bananas 1 her.- is little meat because it i. not possible to raise pigs and cattle due to a parasite which gets in their bb <>d stream. Most of the wat. r is p Hut - d from natural infestation and then too, there is a parasitic snail in the stiearns which causes blindness in man. In the latter part of 1960 the I S. Gov t. ordered all the Am. ri<ans <»ut of the Congo because of political strife. This was at the time Congolese were seeking then ind. pendeme. Berause the order came so swiftly the evacuee's were able to take only that clothing which they had on

their backs as try were flown out to Souther^ Rh<siesta. All other possessions later tell into Hit hands of th.- i belt. While waiting in Southern Rhod. sia, with Ue hope of returning to the C- ago 1 n nstermacher worked for tw> months in the Washburn Memorial Hospital. it was during this time the E, n.stermachers took a two the Fcnstcrmaehers took a two w> ■ k vacation trip. Traveling in part the way of Dr. Livingston, but in far greater comfort they viewed much of the natural beauty that is Africa's. An outstanding sight was Victoria Falls. It is said when first view-d by Dr. Livingston, he saw the tremendous spray from the falls .nil inquired of his guide what it was, the guide replied “Smoke that thunders." Cpon their return to Southern Rh'desia the Fenstermachers learned that Dr. Fenst.-rmachcr, a niethodist bishop and 16 other m de missiona’ ies were to be permitted to return to the Congo. This return was of sh' rt duration for after three months all misslonari. s were again evacuated. In the meantime Mrs. Fensterniai her had r« turned to the states and was liter joined h.n by her husband. In 1962 the Fen>termachei , t — k an assignment as missi. naries to N me Alaska and remain. •! there until coming to Walkert n in 1967. The above talk w m giv n aft- r a delightful dessert lum hc. n served in the club r- 0m.,. The tables W'-ie d- ne ui a combinati' n theme of two president's birthdays and Valentine's Day. At each individual's place a tiny American Flag flew, set n a Valentine Heart. Mrs. M:|t n Gerry poured at the beautiful appointed Tea Table. Mis. Albert

_ FEB. S, 1968 - THE ISHEI’ENHENTAEWS

Wohlcmuth hostess chairman, and her a istants Mrs n irr> Colhn Mi . Er ink H- Ifr i. h and Mrs. George HHIi. br-m ht w irmth an ib. m’ 1 . i .a d -, th.-’ 1 ” Id । 1 blud,. > y ntd The next m. < ting -u tlie < 1 U ». will be on February 16 •• io t when we will m,v f- r th- T .■- gard« n Nu „mg H m-. H; mg i ■■ k lun< i. <>ut !i ■ the day will be Mi . i; r Oplinger and Mrs. Percy Selkirk. V nice Os The People Congratulation.-' to the I’rey Junior High (both 7th and sth graders) for winning th* ir Tourney< n Saturd iy. Januarv 27 1 would bk. to ci ngratulate Mr. Pom Gour ley, th* ir ro.o h, on the tremendous job he has d< ne with these boys. I would like to kn av whv there was no mention made of this in the Walkerton Independent > f February 1? S*.ms like nlv th*- John Gbnn Varsity bill pl.r. - ers of today warrant th*- publ - s r given them and the Jum. r Hi h wins a Tourn* y and brings h a. T\V<) trophic- and n thin: it d! IS said in this m wspapei I. • . give credit wh* ie i- du- I- . ' the editor of thi- n-w i ( • r.alize that the Junior H. h players of t'd.y WILL BE thJ"hn Glenn Varsity f th- v-ry n> ar future ” An irate Junior High Par* nt ' (Editor's Note SeV-a d rtf ;• were made by our iff • t : this information given us by the ■ school i n < > r i < t: I will not ie i- ponsii h f- t ? any d'-bt contracted by anyon* i other than my -< If. | Mr . Berth i Walker 1 atfiip 1 1

A - . . a II Hallmaik Valentinas FANNIE MAY CANDIES

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I JACOB ! I Drugsi i Walkerton p I

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