Bishop Nonziodane, who is president for the protestant church in the province Orientale in Congo, paid Thursday October 8th, Moland and French a visit in the prison. This means a lot to them, because the bishop has status and influence and that will increase their safety.
During the time Moland and French has spent in prison in Kisangani several people from the local Pentecostal Church (CELPA) has been very helpful with buying food, water etc. for the two in prison.
The seaman’s priest Knut Lyngstad, who has Africa as his working field, has been with Moland and French a couple of weeks, but he goes home back to Norway at the end of the week. When the appeal starts several journalists and a representative from the Foreign Ministry will arrive. In the meanwhile the seaman’s priest can take a break before he goes back to Kisangani. The seaman’s priest has also provided food and other things that the boys need. He has often visited them twice a day, and he has been a good person to talk with.
Lawyer Morten Furuholmen had Saturday October 10th conversations with British authorities in Kinshasa, the capital of Congo. On Sunday October 11th he flew to Kisangani where he’s going to have several conversations with the boys and the local lawyer Likwela. Likwela is the lawyer who will handle their case in the appeal.
The boys are still weakened after their rounds of malaria. Especially Tjostolv was very sick. We in the families have sent them vitamins and minerals etc. with Furuholmen. Among other things we’ve sent folic acid which breaks down in the body because of malaria. There is also a big risk of developing iron deficiency when you have malaria often.
Kari Hilde French, October 12th 2009
