The Repair Man

The wrong part flown in from America

Rod returned on Sunday Evening after 4 1/2 weeks in America.  Before he arrived I sent him a list of all that needed to be repaired when he got back. During the 36 hours of his flying back my watch broke which I use for lots of useful things, like being on time places and timing my cooking and baking and my exercise routine.  (A friend is going to America next week and will be able to bring one out to me).  On Monday the pump went out on the washing machine.  So Rod has spent the past four days repairing things around the house as well as helping at the hanger and flying.

The equipment for repairing the air-conditioner.

My highest priority for Rod to fix before the washing machine went out was the truck air-conditioning.  Driving through Kinshasa traffic is always an adventure but having to have your windows rolled down adds to the adventure and causes an insecurity in my heart that I really don't enjoy facing.  Rod brought the parts back for the air-conditioner. One of the parts didn't fit properly but it was the part replacing the "unbroken" part of the ac so it was okay.  But last evening when he went to put the freon in, it leaked!  Rod said, "Like a sieve."  So here we are with new parts put in but it doesn't hold freon.

The washing machine was a different story.  We have a friend who was coming from America so we quickly ordered a new pump for the washing machine.  In the meantime we still needed to wash clothes so Rod began looking through washing machines left around our MAF homes to find a pump.  He found one and put it in but it leaks. So yesterday I was able to do laundry BUT I had to keep a towel in front of the machine to keep it from leaking all over my washroom and pantry. While Rod was repairing the pump he also repaired the water "intake" which means I now have water pressure in my washing machine.  Before I was running hoses into it and occasionally flooding the pantry when I would forget to turn it off.  Last evening our friend arrived from the states with the part.  We do hope this one will fit.

I have a house helper, Tata Oscar who helps me with the laundry and yesterday as we washed with the front off the washing machine he was over joyed to see the parts all work.  He kept saying over and over, "Bamondele bazali na mayele mingi."  "White men have so much knowledge or wisdom".  I tried to tell him that an African could have invented a washing machine too but he just wouldn't believe me.  I need to find some stories of African Americans who have invented different things and show him their pictures and tell their stories.

Other repairs Rod has completed and they have stayed repaired is the security light outside and the battery light switch. It is comforting to have my man back so I guess you can say my heart is better too.