Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Magic of the Ordinary Meets the Epiphany....

The Magic of the Ordinary Meets the Epiphany

 5 For what we preach is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, and ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,”[a] made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ.
2Corinthians 4:5-6

“The magic of the street is the mingling of the errand and the epiphany.”
― Rebecca SolnitWanderlust: A History of Walking


This is the perfect quote for me.  I was going to the market today in Malakal, South Sudan.  I am still not quite sure how I ended up in Malakal, but that is another story.  This story is about the magic of the street.

I am new in Malakal.  I have been here two whole days now.  Yesterday I went to the market by myself for the first time.  There is just something magical about walking the roads in Africa to me.  We don’t walk enough in the US I am convinced.  When I go to a new place I love to walk.  I am eager and excited to get a sense of where I am.

that is how dusty the sky is here!
Each new corner I turn is an epiphany in itself.  Each face I see, each new person I meet.  There are extraordinary stories to be found in the magic on the streets.  I want to experience new places with all five senses.  I want see the sights, explore the people, I want to hear how the wind sounds when it blows, the sounds of the traffic, the people, the animals.  I want to feel the road pass by under my feet and I want to taste the air as I walk through it.  Is it heavy or light, clean or dirty, does it feel happy or tense or sad?  I want to talk to the people and hear their stories.  All rolled together, that is the magic we miss when we go whizzing by all wrapped up in our cars or our thoughts and don’t pay attention to the world around us.

Today I would have missed the man concerned for his village “back home”.  If I hadn’t stopped to give my greetings and shake his hand I wouldn’t know that he is concerned for the children there not having an education because there are no teachers that will go there.  And further on, I would have missed the laughter of little girls who tried to learn to skip with me as we made our way down the road or missed the wonder in a little boy’s eyes as he touched my white skin and looked at his finger to see if he turned white too.  The magic of the street and the mingling of the epiphany …

Yesterday I would have missed the wonderful taste and smell of the ice cream as the man shaped this with a smile on his face. beautiful pink and yellow rose bud on a mini cone and handed it to me with the flourish of a bow and said “Thank you, now the boy will have bread” as he indicated the ragged boy standing next to him.  I would have missed the laughter in the crinkled eyes of the old man as I tried to figure out what he was saying in Arabic as he laughed at my feeble attempts to hold up enough fingers to figure out how much he wanted me to pay for something.  I would have missed the wonderful rich smells and the pictures of the women cooking strange and exotic looking food under plastic tarps, on charcoal fires on the ground – food I had never seen before – the magic of the streets meets the epiphany.

The day before I would have missed seeing “finely minced meat in a finger shop” on a Chinese restaurant menu in Juba; I never did get to taste it, but it was funny to see.  I would have missed the “Returning Women’s Restaurant – best food in town” and a wonderful chance to see them at work, and smell the wonderful scents of traditional food being cooked and prepared over the open fires as they readied for the lunch hour – the magic of the streets meets the epiphany.

I could write forever about the epiphanies of the last few weeks.  Who would have ever dreamed that in less than three weeks I would have landed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, then flew off to Juba, South Sudan, taken another plane to Akobo, been in the middle of intertribal violence and been evacuated and landed up in the middle of a completely different place in Malakal!  Each step of this incredible journey has been a mingling of the errand and the epiphany.

Each place I have stopped along this incredible journey, I have met with wide–eyed wonder. I wonder if that is the same expressions the wise men and the shepherds had on their faces as they met Jesus for the first time and realized how special he was. 

I read the following article today, on this day we celebrate the Epiphany in our churches.  I won’t share all of it because it is long, but I will share what was important to me…

Epiphanies are made for sharing . . . . . . . . . Father Thomas Rosica, CSB
                                                                        Solemnity of the Epiphany, Year A, Dec. 25, 2010


     "The word ‘epiphany’ means ‘to show forth.’ Epiphanies, both large and small, tend to be private events – yet events with great significance for the public. Trying to share the details with another of an epiphany is fraught with complications. The words are never quite right, and even the most sympathetic listener cannot fully bridge the gap between description and what is was like being there. Most of us keep our personal experiences of the Holy to ourselves. Who would believe it? And who would really understand? The irony is that epiphanies are made for sharing, even as they are impossible to communicate fully.…

"Unlike the poor shepherds, the Magi had to travel a long road; they had to face adversity to reach their goal. It was anything but a romantic, sentimental pilgrimage that we often see in our manger scenes!…

     "The experience of the magi reminds us that all who make the tedious journey to the truth will finally encounter it and be changed in the process. They can never go back to a ‘business as usual’ way of life. When we meet Christ and see who he really is, we will never be the same – and only then can we hope to begin to share in his mission.…"

The first and second paragraphs really stood out to me in the aftermath of the last few weeks.  Especially the part about trying to share the details being fraught with complications.  It isn’t that I don’t want to tell the story and share it with you.  It is more, that I don’t know how to tell is so it can make sense to you.  And yes, it is a private event that could have great significance if it opens the eyes of others to the plight of the people in South Sudan. 

I think the quote I started with is the best description of the past two weeks.  I was caught up in the magic of the ordinary – getting settled into a new place, learning a new language, meeting new people and learning to live in a new culture, going to the market, cooking, cleaning – the ordinary and I was swept up into this incredible epiphany that ended with me flying from one end of the country to another.

The second paragraph also reminds me that no journey with Christ will always be easy.  The roads will sometimes be long and filled with adversity.  It has been that way since the first visitors came to meet him and it will continue to be that way long, long after I have left my footprints in the sands that follow him.  The magic of the ordinary meets the epiphany….

I wonder what God has in store for us next…


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

I Can't Pack, My Clothes are Wet!!

01/02/12

The reports are bad this week about the intertribal violence, so my life is a little different than planned...the days are pretty normal, the nights are a little different...the "go bags" are ready in case I have to go, I am packing up everything, every night, just in case this the night I have to flee or to be evacuated on short notice.




This is the story of my second week in Akobo. Sounds pretty interesting, doesn’t it? In a way, it is. It is definitely not the life I had pictured when I came here. 
Yes, I knew there was fighting between the tribes. I even knew some of it happened in this area and the possibility was there that it would reach me. But that was a long way away. I didn’t know the people then. I didn’t live among them. I didn’t walk and visit, and worship with them. They didn’t try to teach me their language and we didn’t laugh together over my blundering attempts.

Now, I walk the road and see the sorrow in their eyes. Now, I know that those 6,000 fighters have to come from some of their families – are their children, their grandchildren, their nephews, friends and relatives. I can’t even begin to imagine how I would feel if it was Alex and Aaron, for they are the same ages as most of the fighters, out there¸ armed with weapons, bent on the total annihilation of a tribe of people. Instead of reading about some far off story, I am living it. I wake up in the morning, stop several times throughout the day, and go to sleep at night praying for an end to the violence and the beginning of peace.

I go to sleep at night praying, “if this is the night they attack, please God, let us all be prepared”, as I line up my shoes facing the right direction to easily slip them on, pack up my computers so they are easy to grab in case I need to, put the food back in my light weight go bag in case I need to flee into the bush and make sure the water is easy to grab out of the big go bag that is there in case we evac by car or plane.

 And during the day, life goes on in its usual pace, walking to the market, meeting with the church leaders, playing with the children and my blundering attempts to learn the language.

This is the reality that has been my last couple of weeks. Do I think it is going to get easier or better? I think this battle is far from over. I fear we are only seeing the beginning. I think that it is vent to many years of hostilities that are building into one giant super-storm of killing and destruction. And I pray, that as a newcomer, I am very, very wrong!

 01/03/12 - I CAN'T PACK - MY CLOTHES ARE WET!!

This is getting more surreal by the moment. Who would have ever thought that within being on the ground in Akobo for less than three weeks, I would be packing again, not to return to the US, but for a destination unknown, on an unknown flight. The only thing I know for sure is that it has been recommended by the Commissioner that I leave before they cannot safely get me out. This is crazy! Insane!! I cannot believe this is happening! NEVER, in my wildest dreams could I have ever conceived the idea that people would be trying to get ME evacuated from somewhere.

Even with my wild, crazy, far-out there imagination, could I have imagined that anyone would go so far and to such great lengths, to make sure I am safe and well cared for! It is almost too big for my head to even be able to hold on to. It just doesn’t even begin to make sense to me. I am having a hard time comprehending it. It is completely overwhelming!!

This entire situation just seems utterly surreal to me!!
I am sitting here with a team of people stretched across at least three countries trying to get me out of a place I feel perfectly safe in and I look up to see a post from my cousin asking if I want more coins in my facebook game!

Side note:  I think sometimes it is the absurd that sticks out in the midst of the chaos swirling around you.  I looking back, I have to laugh.  I remember at one point being on the phone with Michael and he said, "Go pack!"  I stopped in the middle of the compound, looked up to see all my laudry dripping water on the ground where they had just been hung up to dry and telling him, "I can't!  All my clothes are wet."  I just remember a long pause and he started to laugh. In hind sight.  I realize how utterly rediculous it sounded!




This afternoon has been a whirlwind of emails, phone calls, skype conversations and conversations with staff on the ground in here in Akobo. I am sitting still and all this action is going on around me and I am not even sure I know what it is that is happening and that I know in the midst of it all God is in control and he is orchestrating every move that is being made.


I am going to try and make some kind of sense of order out of this…


I think this whole thing started yesterday when I saw the Save the Children staff leaving in their car with all their suitcases on top. It was lunch time and I asked Dr. Carlos if they were evacuating, He said yes. He had been to their compound and they told him it was a good thing he came when he did, they were leaving. It was unclear if they were leaving because of Pibor or they had been called to assist. I passed that on…
After many email’s back and forth, I received word that..






Rev. Gideon and Debbie decided last night that first thing this morning Rev. Peter and I would go to the commissioner’s office and get my un letter signed so I could be evaced if necessary. Instead of leaving with the letter, I left with his recommendation that it was best if I left the area for now, while it could be done safely.


WHAT??!!! Never in my wildest dreams did I expect that answer!! All this up to now, has been one great adventure, Yes, there is insecurity out there, but not close to me. I don’t feel unsafe! A million thoughts went through my head as I tried not to cry. I don’t want to leave!!




Next was the phone call to Michael – of course – it is the middle of the night in the US. The commissioner is doing what he can to make arrangements to get me out as quickly as possible, from what I can tell, besides Dr. Carlos and a couple of his staff people, I am the only international person left in Akobo, and since I was to begin with, I am still the only white person.


I guess there is a lot of truth to the African Proverb I read tonight:


Just because the water is smooth, don’t think the crocodiles aren’t there.


Just wish those crocodiles would go away! And very, very grateful for all the love support and prayers comng my way!!




01.04.2012 – Wednesday - "But sir, I really wrapped him very nicely, he won't get away"...


It is 1:43 pm I am sitting on a UN flight from Akobo to Juba South Sudan. It is hard for me to fatham the amount of work and effort that has gone into getting me here. I am not sure I will ever really know.


What I do know is that we arrived at the air strip this morning at about 9:30. It was a bittersweet walk for me. When we arrived we found the charter had come and gone. So we began the wait for the World Food Program flight. At about 10:45 we heard the first sounds of an approaching air craft as we watched it soar into sight.



I didn’’t know if I had made the manifest or not and so, we waited at the gate for them to call the names. They called the Chinese, they called the Kenyans and they began to call the locals. Rev. Peter told me to go talk to them, so I did. No, they did not have me on the manifest. I admit, I pulled “the” card. I told them it was for a US rescue and that the commissioner had told me to leave the area. I told them my understanding was my agency had been trying very hard to work through the UN and the US Embassy to get me out. He took my name and began to call on the radio, not an easy task using high frequency raido and radio talk to spell each letter, but mission accomplished. He was told he had a red-light for me – that means they cannot add me to the manifest.  He had two children that weren't on the manifest either and their mother was trying to take them with her.

He told me they had room and they would take me any way. I told him if it is a choice between me and getting the children out take the children. But he said no “If the “sh**” is going to break out, we have room and will take you all”. He explained their briefing said there had been another attack in Akobo County, not the village proper, last night. If they can save us they will. And so, I find myself on as an unauthorized passenger on a n UN flight from Akobo to Juba, as an emergency evacuation,, while I Jleave behind those I have come to care so much about.

 Side note: Another, in the midst of the chaos story:  I am standing under the wing of the plane talking to one of the pilots who was telling me to get on the plane.  I looked down, and there is the second pilot, standing by the cargo door with two boxes of dead fish.  He is holding one by the mouth and another is stretched out on top of a box.  He is looking up into the passenger seating area saying "Please sir.  I am going to have to ask you to remove the fish from your bag".  The gentleman he is talking to calmly replies, "But sir, I really wrapped him very nicely.  He won't get out".  To which the pilot calmly replies,"But sir, you really must remove him from the plane"  The man answers again"But I wrapped him very nicely, he won't go anywhere."  I don't know who won the battle, but I suspect, "he" didn't go anywhere.  I smelled dead fish all the way to Juba!

It was so hard to explain last night to my friends that all this effort to get me out isn’t because I am kawyai, white, that if they worked for out agency in the US, they would be making as much effort to get them out as well.

And, so I sit with tears on my face, tears of relief that my friends will not be in danger to protect m and stress tears of gratitude for all that has been done to protect me and keep me safe and tears of grief for those I leave behind.


01.05.12 – Thursday- "Finely Minced Meat in a Finger Shop"

 
On my way and Juba photos

I have made it to Juba. I don’t know what to do now, except walk and see what I can of this city by foot. And walk I did! I thought I knew the way to the market area, only I ended up walking about 45 minutes up the Ministry Road. Hot and tired I returned to the compound for a rest and cold drink.  

I didn’t find the market, but I did find some interesting things – a tiny little restaurantt, made from sticks. The sign out front said “Returning Women’s Cooking – the best food in town”. I stopped to eat. I walked around a barbed wire fence with razor wire on the top and bottom, and through a narrow gate to what looked like a stick building. After I made it down the rough pitted road and stepped over the remains of what looked like a bombed out building, probably a remnant of the war, I found several women.

They were sitting on the short stools that are common here, next to fires with various pots cooking on them. One of the women spoke broken English so we were able to talk for a few minutes. I explained that I was hungry and wanted to eat. It wasn’t ready yet, but they were happy to share with me what they were cooking and how. So, I didn’t leave with any food in my stomach, but I left with new recipies to try!

After my rest, it was off the the Juba market. It was everything I love about African markets – lights and sounds and colors and an amazing tapestry of scents and people from many places all swirled together. I walked one way up the road, beginning to end and turned around and walked the other way.

I found a Chinese restraunt, because by now I was starving. The menu read, "finely minced meat in a finger shop" so of course I thought I should try it! I ordered it, and I waited, but I never got it! I waited ofr almost an hour and I was starving so I left. I ended up with this incredible sandwhich cooked over an open fire on a metal disc that was made out of grilled meat, chopped tomatoes and onions and I don't know what else, stuffed into the soft chappatti bread. MMM!! I wish I had another one!

Friday through Tuesday 01/06 - 01/10/12 - God's blessings come in the ringing of the bells...
Malakal...here I am!

On the Road in Malakal

 There is too much to separate out into days. They are all blending together at this point. Just suffice it to say I am safely in Malakal with another Mission Co-Worker. Life is good, and I am finding some kind of normal in all this chaos. I am finding my way around, yet another city.

Malakal is much more of a city than I like, but it is home for now. There are wide roads and lots of cars and traffic, mixed with all the people on foot and the loreys that go rumbling by to the sound of donkeys braying as they pull their loads, driven by enterprising boys who have scrounged together old axels and tires and mounted either old metal drums or flat boards to create a source of income hauling merchandise through town.
There are vehicles from an untold muber of NGO's (Non-Government Organizations) rumbling through town. Some are stationed here and some come in from the far reaches of the country to restock and for R&R's and as workers return and leave. Malakal is home to any number of organizations.

There is a good size market here, only everyone sells the same things. But I am not complaining!! They have tomatos and oranges and apples and greens! I even bought bananas today! I am trying to figure out what I can leave behind so I can take it home with me.

Getting my internet has been a real challenge, so, if you don't hear from me on a regular basis, don't worry. I am fine. Saturday we walked to the internet store, no they don't have modems.

I should explain, modems here are not at all like modems in the US. They look like a big flash drive and have a sim card in them. You plug it into your computer and off you go. IF you can find one! There is only one company that provides internet here and only one store that sells them, and NO they don't have any!

So, I thought about it some more and I went back later in the day. I sat patiently in line, waiting my turn. That is how it works here. You sit and as the person in front of you gets waited on, you scoot up a chair. So, I sat. And nobody moved. More people came in the door and more people left, but nobody moved, so I waited and I smiled back at people who smiled at me. Finally, a man walked in who spoke English and asked what I wanted. I told him I was looking for a modem and I understood they didn't have one, but I was hoping he had a suggestion for me.

He did! He has a modem!! YEAH!!! It is a wireless modem that will support up to five computers. You know what? At this point I don't care! I will take it! Well, I was going to take it until I found out it was 140 ssp (South Sudan Pounds) more than the other one! I told him I couldn't afford it. He was sorry, but the "NGO will pay". I told him I didn't work for an NGO, they won't pay. I have to pay for it myself. I admit, I pulled "the" card again, and told him I was sorry, no I couldn't do it and I was even sorrier that without a modem I couldn't tell my mother I was safe and I was sorry she was crying because she was worried. His answer was "You pray. God will give you the money". I told him God had given me money for food, but he didn't give me the money for the modem, and left.

Well, it turns out God did give me the money in the form of someone who would trade US for SSP. So Monday morning, off we trot to the internet store. CLOSED!! It is a national holiday. So, a quickhop wander through the market, a stop at the printing shop and back home again. It only took us about four hours.

So, Tuesday I head back to the Internet store, bright and early, yes, they will sell me the wireless modem. Yes, it is still 340 ssp, but I am willing to pay it today. I dont' want to, but sharing a modem is difficult for Debbie. She has her work to do and she very generously shares when she can. Mostly, I stay up long after she goes to . I bought the modem, a stop at the bank and we headed back home. I was ready! I was going to install my modem and I was going to be able to catch my grandkids, when they are up, and catch up on email and facebook, and my blog.

Alas, it wasn't to be. No matter what I tried, I could not make it work. So, after my lunch of a delicious tomato and onion sandwhich, I trucked back down the road to the internet store, certain I would be hooked up and on my way in just a few minutes. Two and one half hours later, I started home, with my 340 SSP in my pocket, no modem, and a new friend who just happens to be a Presbyterian and goes to the church down the street!

In that 2 1/2 hours I had time to read something I had saved on my desk top a while back.  It was a quote from Oswald Chambers, "Whatever we may be doing,even eating, drinking, or washing disciples, feet, we have to take the initiative of realizing and recognizing Jesus Christ in it.


It was very hard to find Jesus in my not getting a modem that works, so I was contemplating that as I walked home.  And on the way I found Jesus...


I watched about a dozen, beautiful women all dressed in native costumes with bells on ther hands or feet, I'm not sure which, and bells perfectly lined down their backs, perform this amazing, song and dance, in perfect unison as their bare feet stirred up little whirlwinds of dust and they performed their way down the street in the setting sun. I didn't have my camera, but some things I think are just special and should be pictures on your heart.  It was the blessing of God taking the frustrations of the day and replacing them with joy in the ringing of the bells.


















Sunday, January 1, 2012

Week 2 - Christmas to New Years

Howdy everyone!!  I am trying something new this week, so let me know if you like it or not.  Under each day that has pictures to go  with the story, I have put a comment click here for photos, just click on that link and it will take you to the photo album.  That way you don't have to go to the photo page.  I will put the links of the photo pages later, but for now, it is a beautiful day, has cooled off to ohhh, perhaps 95-100 and I am going for a walk.


Have a blessed day!
Sharon




01/01/12 - HAPPY NEW YEAR!!


What a New Year's Eve celebration there was in Akobo.  It started sometime in the afternoon, perhaps around 5 or so.  That is when I saw the people walking down the street with their chairs on their heads - that's the way they do it here - if you want a chair - you bring it, or you sit on the ground!

There was a great amount of singing and dancing and praying coming from the church from the sounds of it, it sounded like a great celebration.   I know it lasted until the early hours because I still heard drumming and singing as the sun began to light the sky.

For me, it was a typical NYE.  I stayed home, played on the computer for a while and read my book.  Nothing to get too excited about.  I didn't go to the church because I didn't know what was going on and I don't know how the traditions work here yet.  I am usually told to wait and someone will come get me, only last night they didn't.  So I waited and went to bed.

I tried to adopt a new tradition last night, but I had a hard time concentration.  Dr. Carlos told me that in the DR Congo, he and his wife pray from 11 to 12 to pray in the new year.  I like that.  I think that I will adopt that plan for the future.



Sometimes I just have to laugh.  I know that there had to be a perfectly good reason for it, but here is what it looked like from my eyes...

Two grown men, elders, I think, monitoring the church service.  It is a great orchestra of movement.

One stands on one end and as people arrive waves his stick in the air and a whole section of people pick their chairs up and move right or left as he directs.  Then more people come in the other side, and the process is repeated, many times throughout the service.


What almost made me laugh out loud today was, one man was orchestrating the movement with his stick.  Another man was beating the drum with his stick.  The orchestrator walked by, looked at the other man's stick, took it out of his hand and disappeared.  A few minutes later, he comes back with a freshly cut stick, hands it to the drummer and each man goes on about his business.

I had to chuckle because it reminded me of two little boys, you have the stick I want so I am going to take it!



NY Day is extremely quiet.  Not much to report.  While you are munching away on that brisket Joey, that you so kindly told me about yesterday, I want you to think of my NY lunch - you got it - rice and lentils!

Happy New Year everyone!
12/31/11 – Saturday
It is New Year’s Eve in the US and it won’t be long before the day begins an people start their preparations for parties and special meals and/or just curling up and staying close to home, perhaps with a big fire in the fireplace or a bottle of champagne to toast the new year as the big apple drops.
I wish you all a very happy, safe and prosperous new year!!  May God be with you all until we meet again, my friends.

It was a somber walk to the market today.  It feels like all the joy has left Akobo.  There seems to be an air of dejected resignation in the air.  I am not sure I can really describe it.  Where last week, even up to yesterday, there were happy, cheerful greetings, laughter and smiles on the road and in the town.  All of that is missing today. 

It seems life has slowed down by half or three quarters.  Where people were walking quickly, with heads held high, they now move very slowly, like each step is a burden.  There is a worry and a sadness that I cannot convey in words.  Many seem to be just going through the motions and one older man I saw appeared to be on the brink of tears, and, another older lady, barely lifted her head in greeting, and when she did, the tears appeared ready to spill over.

There don’t appear to be very many people on the streets today.  They are mostly women about my age, who appear to just be going through the motions of daily living.   Where there are usually many at the water pumps, there was hardly anyone.  There were a few older men walking slowly, but not the usual number.  The teen and young adult boys that stood out yesterday are very obviously missing today.  There were a lot of younger, maybe early teen boys gathered at the school and there appeared to be some kind of supervised tournament going on.

The young children and toddlers who have been playing close to the road are being carefully watched close to their homes.  The girls that I’ve seen walking to and from the market, I didn’t see today.  Many more houses have cattle tied close to them, where normally I don’t see them.
I am sure it is all related to the news of the past few days about the breakdown in the talks to halt the Nuer from advancing on Pibor, and the increase in the UN troops and activity in the area.  I have seen the hopelessness and loss in the eyes of people on the news and in pictures on the internet¸ but I’ve never looked it in the eye.  I have never felt their fear.  It almost a sense of hopeless resignation of knowing what is coming and knowing there is nothing you can do to stop it. 
I went back to the market late this afternoon, I WILL find the plug I need.    Things seem to be a little closer to normal, more people on the streets, children playing, still not close to the road, but a little father from their doorsteps and several in large groups walking back from the river, either with dishes, laundry or dripping from swimming/baths.  The mood seems a little lighter too.

12/30/11 – Two weeks in Akobo!
Click here for photos

Funny, as it may sound, it is hard to remember I haven’t been here forever.  Life has become comfortable very quickly, and sometimes I am amazed by that, and others, it tells me I am exactly where God intended me to be.

It has become a routine of going to the market on a daily basis, not necessarily to buy anything, but because it gets me out on the road where I am meeting people and having a chance to practice what little language skills I have, besides, the kids are great fun, and didn’t really believe I could or would play ball with them.  It didn’t take long for the familiar phrase “Teacher, you play” to come back.

Today was a great day!  It started with an early morning trip to the market.  I found potatoes!  Now that may not sound exciting to you, but in the land of “rice and lentils”, it was very exciting.  And, I had said I would cook tonight.  I wish you could have heard the reactions to that!

“Are you sure?  You can cook?  But it is the wood fire?  Surely, you can’t cook on that?  Are you sure?”.

Well, I did cook on that, no one spit it out, so I figured that was a good sign.  And the ladies and I had so much fun laughing and “talking” as they showed me how to cook it. I felt bad because I didn’t stick around to help them clean up and wash dishes; perhaps another day.  I need to learn how to say “You teach me”.

People are waiting for news today about the Nuer/Murle conflict and how the talks turned out. From what I gather the news is not going to be good.  The church leaders and vice president have spent the night trying to convince them to lay down their arms and return home.  The last I heard is it remains a very volitle situation.  Many prayers are being offered.  I pray that God, in his wisdom and mercy, will bring this conflict to a peaceful resolution before any more lives, homes, cattle, property, etc. are lost.

I had an interesting conversation with Rev. Peter today when he came for a visit and to explain the church’s plans for me in case there is a serious situation.  He told me the history of the conflict, and how it has grown from men fighting men, to the Murle starting to take women and children, then the Nuer retaliated the same and began taking their women and children.  What broke my heart was his question, “you know I too have lost a daughter in this fighting don’t you?”  No.  I didn’t know.  The rest of the story is that in the conflict of 2009 his brother and his family were living in another village, as the Murle attacked the village, his brother’s wife was killed and their daughter was kidnapped.  “To this day, we don’t know what happened to her.  We don’t know if she lives or dies.”  What do you say to that???

For all the beautiful, wonderful things that happen here, there are those kinds of stories as well. Stories that we, as Americans, have never had to live or experience.  I was trying to think of a way to describe it that would make sense in our culture.  It would be like 6,000 youth(18-30 year olds) from Stephenville, talking up all their guns and knives and deciding to march across the countryside on a mission to kill every person that lives in Granbury, and completely annihilating Glen Rose, Bluff Dale and Tolar in the process.    

12/28/11 – Wednesday – A Hospital Visit
Today was a visit to a hospital like I have never seen before.  I had looked at pictures of the Akobo hospital on line before I came, even used a few in my presentations.  But those photos in no wy could prepare me for the reality of the situation.  As we were walking through, Dr. Carlos must have perceived a change in me or my attitude, because he quietly said, “Now you understand.  This is poverty in Africa.”

And you know, I know that this is not the worst of the poverty in Africa.  I am quite certain there is much more poverty in Africa for me to see.  And, much worse, but let me finish this story before I get too far off track.

As we entered the hospital grounds I am reminded that the hospital was closed for three weeks right before I arrived.  The soldiers came and shut down the hospital because one of the staff had been killed by a rival.  They were afraid of retaliation killings, so the soldiers came and took over the hospital.  All of the patients were forced to leave, to go back to their homes without treatment.  If I understand it correctly, the doctors could not practice so during this time there was no medical care except in the outlying primary health care clinics.

As we approached the hospital, Dr. Carlos told me the concrete areas in the front, that reminded me of cattle holding pens at home, are actually, where the people come for health education that happens every morning.  We walked through the first building that is used for outpatients and clinics, through a courtyard and into the hospital itself, through it and out a door. 

There, we found patients laying on mattresses on the ground.  They had been brought out for some fresh air and sunshine. 

There is an acute outbreak of malaria right now and many are suffering from it.  Some were alone, some had family members with them.  There is a water pump in the middle of the courtyard where someone was filling a bucket.  This is the same pump that supplies water to the operating room!  To one side cows are grazing and another, the goats are climbing.

We started into a ward and there is a tiny baby laying on the concrete on a blanket.  Her mother is a patient.  A few minutes ago, someone was with her, now she (I am assuming!) is alone.  We were outside the woman’s ward, where there were a couple of patients and one is recovering from a c-section that her family didn’t want done because they thought it would kill her.  It took a lot of convincing them that without it, she and the baby would both die.  Old tribal customs and beliefs are hard to overcome!

There was another ward with one man surrounded by family laughing and talking and celebrating.  I don’t think I will ever forget the smile on his face as he sat with his arm, or what had been his arm, wrapped in guaze a few hours after surgery.  The arm had become infected from gangrene when he suffered an injury and couldn’t get treatment because the hospital had been closed.  That is the reality of medical care in Africa!

As we walked through the wards, I was struck by the number of beds with no mattresses and no mosquito nets. When I was asked, I was told that the soldiers took them when they were living there when the hospital was closed.

It is hard to describe when I look through American eyes that are used to our pristine clean hospitals with the most modern, up to date equipment that money can buy.  What I am, is amazed and overwhelmed by the dedication of the staff and the healing that occurs in this place.

What I have to remember, is even though there is no running water to the operating room, even though the IV bags hang from ceiling rafters or are tied to window screens, there are no fancy machines beeping the latest stats to a computer that is being monitored down the hall, this hospital is no different than ours.

God is present in the sickness and the accidents and injuries.   God is in the healing, in the living and in the dying.  And, He is present in the suffering and the rejoicing.  And He is in the hands and skills and knowledge the doctors and nurses and staff that have dedicated their lives to serving here, when many leave family and friends far behind for the opportunity to serve here. God is here, walking these halls, laying with the crying baby in the courtyard, and with those seeking fresh air and sunshine under the shade of a tree, every bit as much as He is walking the halls of our hospitals.
God is here.

12/27/11 – It is Baptism Day!
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I was called to the church so I went thinking I was going to pick up a letter from Rev. Peter.  When I arrived, there were men sitting outside and they motioned to me to over my head.  Then, I looked through the gate and realized that it was a worship service!
So I rushed home, grabbed a scarf for my head and the table cloth I have been using for my lu-all, the pretty sheet the women dress in, and ran back down the street wrapping my hair.  I have learned you don’t go to church without your head covered or the women will gather around you in front of everyone and cover it for you!! 
As I was rushing down the road, I thought “Oh my gosh!  I hope this isn’t a funeral and I am supposed to dress in dark clothes!”  I had  my sparkling pink scarf wrapped around my head and was wearing my pink flowered table cloth for my lu-all.  I quickly came up with the story that we wear bright clothes to honor the life, just in case I needed one, and knew that God would forgive me.
Whew!  When I arrived it was a baptism so bright colors were ok.  I knew it was something special because they were using the inside of the church.  I can honestly say  I have never been to a baptism like this!
I tried to sit in the back of the church, on the very back row.  Rev. Stephen came and got me and told to follow him, so I did.  I was lead to the Pastor’s office and soon discovered, I was going to sit at the front with them!  I was glad I did, it was nice to have a front row seat.
Once the names were taken in the exercise books, the service began.  I don’t remember all of it in order, but what I do remember is the 10 Commandments.  Before they started, they asked if everyone knew them.  Two people raised their hands and were escorted out.  I was told that if you can’t recite them then you and/or your child cannot be baptized because you promise to live by and raise your children by the 10 commandments.  It’s a good thing no one looked at me!
Then came the blessing of the water.  Two large pots of water were brought into the sanctuary during the procession, covered in white cloths with three crosses on them. Once the water was blessed, they began the baptisms. 
The names were called, one at a time, and they came forward.  I was impressed that each baby, each child, each adult was baptized individually and privately.  It wasn’t a group baptism.  Each one was done with dignity and respect.  The pastors took turns so each one was able to participate.  As a group of about 10 was finished they would stop and pray for that group.  Each time a water bowl was emptied, they would stop, fill it and bless it before proceeding.

It was truly a special service and I was happy to be included and had the privilege of witnessing 158 baptisms!


12/26/11 – Monday

Language - counted 5 greetings and 10 other words/phrases I know, not bad for my first week, and I know there are more that I didn’t count
Learned there is no milk on this side of the river because there is no grass for the cows.  The cows on the other side have grass so there is milk. 
It was an interesting day! The meeting I thought was going to happen last Friday, we were summoned to today.  It was great!

26 women attended, ranging in age from young mothers to grandmothers and great-grandmothers;
It was facilitiated by Kabora, a consultant who had been working on a nutrition survey throughout the area for the past few weeks.  We talked about what the women know, what they’ve been told and what is important to them.

If I had set up a vision meeting it couldn’t have been better than this turned out to be and it wasn’t even my meeting! 
Of the questions asked the last two made my heart sing. These answers are the reasons I am here! 
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1.       Who is the best person/how to get message to women in the villages?

a.      If these women know they can learn
b.     You teach us, we will go to the village and train them (CHE!!  YES!!!)
c.      We can teach them best because we know their language and how to talk to them


I am here to teach them to teach others.  I am here to train them to go out into the villages and train others.  And I could have jumped off the chair and hugged all of their necks when they answered that question the way they did!
The other question will give focus to the work we will do together and help me plan the trainings and programs to help them best.
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2.       What would you like to know more about?


a.       Water management – how to make it safe
b.      Gender based violence – we don’t know our rights, we live like vulnerable people
c.       Education – adults

I had an opportunity to explain that what my job is here, and for the fisrt six months they would ask what I am doing here, but my job for this time is to learn their language so I can speak to them (lots of clapping) and to learn how to live from them. I invited them to come to get me, take me to your home and teach me how to make porridge, how to wash the clothes, etc.
I explained that we are building a house for me that will have an office and they are all invited to come and learn the way I do things.  I told them I would be cooking with the sun and they could come and taste my food (more clapping).  I told them together we will learn

It was a good opportunity to tell the women directly what I will be doing and why.   I was happy to tell them that my job is to train them so they can go to the village and teach and that what they said made me very happy and when the rainy season comes we will begin to work on planning our programs for the next dry season.  They were happy with that.

12/25/11 – Christmas Day in ‘Akobo
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The Christmas Offering...
It is my first Christmas and I am excited to see how the worship here will be different from ours.  It is not only my first Christmas, it is their first Christmas as a new country as well.  The service was held outside and the grounds were packed with people.  

What a beautiful, spirit filled service!!  All the choirs sang, and worship was amazing and I was mesmerized by the offering as I watched it grow!

It was extremely obvious who had new clothes and who didn’t. 
For the first time, I wondered about the wisdom of “us” adopting children in foreign countries.  Not about providing for their basic needs such as food and shelter, but in our enthusiasm to give, do we do more harm than good?  I know, this is the question that has haunted me throughout this whole holiday season, and I have struggled with it more than once, and drug you into the struggle with me.

What got me started this morning was the extreme contrast of looking out through the congregation and seeing the children sitting side by side.  Most scrubbed clean as you can be when your clothes are washed in river water, some with clothes that were old, some freshly ironed, others new and I know they were bought in the market here. 

But the one that really grabbed my attention and pulled at my heart strings was the little toddler girl all decked out in her brand new, frilly, lacy, snow white with red trim, full ruffled skirt, every American grandmother’s dream Christmas dress for their precious child.  It was a beautiful dress and she was a beautiful child, sitting next to the little boy, about the same age, in his freshly washed, holey T-shirt and that is all.

I could just picture how much fun the person who bought that dress had, and how proud she was when she packed it up and mailed it away to her special little girl in Africa.  But she didn’t see the little girl sitting next to the little boy and the look on his face because she had something new and he didn’t.  It is the way of life here, some are “chosen”, most, are not.  And for that, I am very sad today.

I didn’t do much the rest of the day, mostly took the day off, laid on my bed and read a book.  I cannot remember the last time I actually sat still long enough to read for three or four hours!  What a gift that was!!
I also spent a little time sitting by the river where my new house will be.  I try to spend some time there every day so the people will get used to me.  I admit, I was a little down, I thought perhaps, someone from the church would have invited me to spend Christmas with them, but that didn’t happen.  So I took off across the road, you know me, I am never down for very long!  When I arrived, I was sitting in my very, own, God provided, National Geographic movie!

I walked through the compound and on my left was a gathering of men and women with their things spread out on blankets, enjoying a picnic and a lot of laughter and fun.
Across from me, are the three tokuls designated for the displaced people.  The women  were gathered together near the cookfires in the dirt, and the teen age girls, were doing what teenage girls do best, sitting in chairs off to the side laughing and giggling.

I was sitting by the river watching an old man, slowly make his way along the bank with his hand carved paddle in an old dug out boat, that was dark, dark brown with age and water.  He waved as he glided by.

At my feet, about a half dozen little boys romped and played in the river near the bank, each one showing off for me so I would laugh.  They laughed and played, dove and swam, and every once in a while would come up the bank just to stare at me.

There were little girls making their way down the slippery river bank, water jugs in hand  When they reached the bottom, they very carefully filled those jugs and made their way back to the top where they disappeared into the houses.

Across the river, I watched the boys in the cattle camp – they are down to three today – I wonder if the rest went home for Christmas.  I watched as they worked together to build their fire and watched the smoke float across the sky as the cattle moved about, munching their dinner, stirring up the dust into a cloud of grey.

And before long, the girls couldn’t stand it anymore and I was surrounded by the little ones too afraid to come too close, the boys running in and out of the river and the girls who reached out and shyly touched my hair.  I pulled it out of my pony tail and you never heard such sounds of joy as the reached out and touched it.. It was hard not to laugh as they picked through my part, laughing and giggling and discussing something in great detail.  I am sure from the tiny clumps of hair they were pulling on it must have been all the colors in it.

I had been playing the head, eyes, ears, nose, etc. word game with the other kids when I said “mata”  (the word for hair) and those girls hands went to work!  I must have counted at least a dozen braid going all at once all over my head!  Little braids, big braids, in between braids, and so much laughter.  Then, as quickly as they started they began ripping them all out and put my hair back exactly as they found it and returned to their chairs.

All, in all, it was a wonderful day and not all that different than if I had been at home.  I would have had dinner with the family,  I would have gone by to see what the kids got for Christmas and played with them.  But, I still probably would have taken a nap, read my book and might have even sat by the river.  And I would have missed out on my “Great Christmas Adventure”….

About 5 Mothaman decided we should have something special for Christmas dinner, so we took off.  I didn’t know where we were going but, hey I had been close to home so I was up for anything.  Said a We headed down the road to the market and kept on going. On past the town center – nothing like you’re picturing – and on towards the airport.  Before we get there, we take a turn to the left towards a stick gate and find a boy ready to lock it up.  Mothaman few words and he let us in.  Turns out we were in a garden looking for pumpkins and tomams.  We ended up with a sack full of eggplants and promises of pumpkins tomorrow.  When we got back to the market, it was closed and the soldiers were out making sure they were closing.  We did find one place open and bought 6 soft drinks. And head back down the road.  It was a little spooky to me as it got darker, to be walking the road with soldiers, but we just kept to our side and made our way home without incident.

We didn’t get the eggplants until Monday, the dinner was ready when we got back, but those were the best tasting sodas I have had in a long time!

12/24/11 – Christmas Eve
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The speaker at the church has been going non stop since about three this morning.  I hear the constant ramblings of the man with the microphone.  He has been talking or singing since long before the sun came up  He is hard to tune out and makes it difficult to concentrate on anything else.  Be he has said a couple of things that have caught my attention –
We say “Mary Christmas” to honor the mother of Jesus…

Reconcile – If you have walked away from your mother, your father, sister or brother, or any friend or tribesman, turn around and walk back, extend your hand.  That is your gift to God for His gift to you.

Equality – is not just for me or you.  It is for everybody.  That means all of us including your mother, your sister, your wife.  You treat them the same as you treat you.

And something that I knew somewhere inside of me, but just didn’t jump out today –
This is our very first Christmas as a new country!  Let us celebrate!!

One of my new neighbors came to get me, very excited because she wanted to show me something…

“It is for the Kreesstmaasss dinner”!  They were butchering a cow or an ox and very proud!  I don't know if it was the offering from last week - there had been a cow tied to a tree - if so it fed the displaced people a nice Christmas dinner.






After it was off to watch the marching through the town.  I took some great videos and they all disappeared. The best I got was a picture or two…It was fun marching with them and seeing parts of Akobo I probably won’t be able to see again for a while.  It is hard to describe the marching; a hundred or more children, youth and adults, lined up in formation.  They were waving white flags with three red crosses, beating drums and singing hymns all through the town.  Children lined the streets, much like watching one of our parades, trying to join in.  Adults stopped what they were doing and smiled as they marched by, 

Most areas of town look much the same…
There just isn’t much green anywhere – just dry, hard, packed, deep cracked ground.  It is going to be difficult to find ways to make things grow here.  After dinner I was talking with Kabura,  a nutritionist working on a survey, in this area about an idea I had for planting potatoes and root vegetables in bags of dirt.  She was telling me in Kenya they are called gunny sack gardens and things grow quite well in them, require little water and little maintenance and take up little space, you just prop them against the house..  I am all for that!!

I didn’t make it to late worship.  Rev. Stephen said he would come get me and to wait.  Only he didn’t come and get me.