Yes, we are still here and still doing things! :)
We were so tired after all of our traveling and so far behind in work that I just had nothing left over to write on the blog. Sometimes trying to think of things to write is just so hard and other times I could post something several times a week. I know, you would like to see something several times a week, wouldn't you??
We took over as RL's just as a new Master Grant Agreement was taking affect with PCUSA and that really did consume a lot of our time. I think we have the Agreements figured out but now we have to figure out the new forms for requesting money. It is just hard for us old folks to change and you have no idea how much a dislike saying that!!
We welcomed the new co-worker, Bob and Kristi Rice to Juba on May 13. They were warmly welcomed by the folks they will be working with and were getting to know the city a little bit when Bob became sick enough that we sent him to Kenya for medical care. They are still in Kenya but it seems like the worst is over but we would still like prayer for their health and return to Juba.
I know you are hearing many bad things coming out of South Sudan and I don't like to say it but a lot of them are true. Juba is still safe and calm but the outlying areas are having a very hard time between, starvation, cholera, and fighting. There is a little hope that MAYBE, just MAYBE there will be a change in the future. There are new peace talks going on so we shall see what that brings forth.
There is hunger in Juba as well and no way to meet all the needs that are here. So many children begging on the street, sniffing glue and fuel to fight hunger, not going to school because their parents need them begging to get money for food. I admit, I don't like going out because of all the pain you see around. The crazy thing is I have started walking again in the mornings and people have been very friendly and encouraging of my exercise.
I had to laugh the other day when Lynn and I were trying to get our work permits. I have been asked several times what a typical day is like - well we don't really have a typical day. We left the apartment at 9:30 am to go and check on, and hopefully get, our work permits. We had been told not to come back, that they would call us when the paper work was done. Well, it had been about a month and I decided we would just go! We arrived and of course the paper work had been done 3 weeks earlier but no phone call. This means that our work permits are dated for 3 weeks earlier but we did not have them yet! So, we are given the bill and then have to go across town to the Central Bank to pay the fee and get a bank receipt, then back to the first place to give them the bank receipt and get one of their receipts! Then upstairs to the first office( that of course is now closed for lunch but the lady kindly came back in to help us) to hand everything over to them (all our documents and receipts) where we are given a sticky note with some numbers on it and are told to go to another office with the sticky note and, oh, yes, your receipt (they had to give it back to us) and in 2 days you can get your work permit. So down we go to this other office, hand in everything including the receipt and are told to come back the next day at 10am. We have NOTHING to show that we did all the work, paid the fee or anything. Lynn goes back the next day and guess what???......we are now the proud holders of a one year South Sudan work permit. The first day we didn't get back home until 3 in the afternoon and we were beat from all the walking around in the heat and standing in offices with no a/c or fans or open windows.
So, that is often how our days go - taking hours to do something that should only take maybe an hour.
