It is funny how when in Juba I don't think so much about how little green there is around but now that we are in the States at such a green time of year I realize how much I miss the green grass and beautiful spring flowers.
One of the perks of having to do all this driving around the US is that we get to see a lot of beautiful countryside and quaint little towns. We have been to Cauldwell, Sharon and Lancaster Ohio and have had such wonderfully warm receptions at each place! The more we visit these churches in small town America and realize how important they are to the world wide church and how in even a small way they make a big impact on the world, the more hope I have for our world. It was heart warming at the one church to hear a new high school graduate thank her church for all they had done for her through her high school years. There just is something really special about the church family and I think sometimes we forget the impact we can have on our young people at church.
The news we are getting from South Sudan is both encouraging and discouraging but I guess that is not anything new. The economic situation has gotten worse which means more people going hungry. There is still a sense of hope that the government will be able to do what it should to help bring this country up out of the mess that it is in.
It is funny how when I am here in the State it is so easy to forget how long it takes to get things done in South Sudan, that is until I get a letter from our co worker and I am quickly reminded of how slow things happen. In South Sudan you measure your successes in inches or moments. I like the slow pace of life but get frustrated when I feel the need to produce results that we can then show people.
Monday, June 6, 2016
Monday, May 23, 2016
better roads
Ok, I said I would let you know what our bump in the road did for us and I will try to do that over the next couple of posts.
For now I would say that we have learned to be thankful for our health and disappearing bruises. Lynn's neck seems to be back to normal and while the rib still doesn't like it when he sneezes or coughs, it is getting better. Me? I am fine.
We had one day in Louisville where people were wonderfully kind and understanding about our being kind of slow in movement and a little distracted. It was good to see a few people again but we were sorry to miss so many that were out doing other things.
On to Missouri to visit with my brother and family and to speak at the very friendly First Presb. in Warrensburg! Thank you for laughing at our lame jokes and for the interest in what we are doing. It was also fun to meet a couple who had lived in Kenya - what a great connection!
Then on to Florida where we have been able to catch a breather with another brother and then also go to Inverness and visit with the folks there at First Presbyterian. A big thank you to our host and hostess and, yes to the dogs and calf who did not wake us up! If you want a quiet get away in the boonies of Fla., call me and I will tell you about a wonderful place to visit! :) I think we met a dozen transplants from Ohio at this church and it was fun to make that kind of connection!
We will be heading back to Ohio later this week and are looking forward to meeting more folks and seeing more of Ohio as we travel all around the State.
Our time in the States is definitely not a vacation but it is a chance to meet so many people who support us in many different ways. It can be tiring but everyone is so nice and we get fed so well everywhere that we cannot complain. Besides, we can talk for hours about South Sudan - just ask our children!
We keep hearing discouraging things from South Sudan in the news but when I hear from our partners there they have hope. There is so much hope for the future and for peace. I ask for prayers as the people of South Sudan find their way forward. There is much work to be done and things are still unsettled and yet I find myself thinking that maybe this time there will really be peace.
Even here in Florida Lynn and I have found that we are not warm all the way through:) When given the choice of eating outside we take it just so that we can warm up! My poor brother has had to suffer through meals outside when he probably would rather have been in the cool air conditioning!
One other thing about time in the States - it makes you realize how connected you feel to the country you are serving in and I think sometimes we need to be reminded of that.
Look out Ohio, here we come!
For now I would say that we have learned to be thankful for our health and disappearing bruises. Lynn's neck seems to be back to normal and while the rib still doesn't like it when he sneezes or coughs, it is getting better. Me? I am fine.
We had one day in Louisville where people were wonderfully kind and understanding about our being kind of slow in movement and a little distracted. It was good to see a few people again but we were sorry to miss so many that were out doing other things.
On to Missouri to visit with my brother and family and to speak at the very friendly First Presb. in Warrensburg! Thank you for laughing at our lame jokes and for the interest in what we are doing. It was also fun to meet a couple who had lived in Kenya - what a great connection!
Then on to Florida where we have been able to catch a breather with another brother and then also go to Inverness and visit with the folks there at First Presbyterian. A big thank you to our host and hostess and, yes to the dogs and calf who did not wake us up! If you want a quiet get away in the boonies of Fla., call me and I will tell you about a wonderful place to visit! :) I think we met a dozen transplants from Ohio at this church and it was fun to make that kind of connection!
We will be heading back to Ohio later this week and are looking forward to meeting more folks and seeing more of Ohio as we travel all around the State.
Our time in the States is definitely not a vacation but it is a chance to meet so many people who support us in many different ways. It can be tiring but everyone is so nice and we get fed so well everywhere that we cannot complain. Besides, we can talk for hours about South Sudan - just ask our children!
We keep hearing discouraging things from South Sudan in the news but when I hear from our partners there they have hope. There is so much hope for the future and for peace. I ask for prayers as the people of South Sudan find their way forward. There is much work to be done and things are still unsettled and yet I find myself thinking that maybe this time there will really be peace.
Even here in Florida Lynn and I have found that we are not warm all the way through:) When given the choice of eating outside we take it just so that we can warm up! My poor brother has had to suffer through meals outside when he probably would rather have been in the cool air conditioning!
One other thing about time in the States - it makes you realize how connected you feel to the country you are serving in and I think sometimes we need to be reminded of that.
Look out Ohio, here we come!
Wednesday, May 11, 2016
"Bumps" in the road
Well, things never go as planned.
We arrived in the USA with no problems other than a 1 1/2 hour delay so I would say things went really well!!
It has been great to have time with family and to get some Dr. appointments out of the way. We have had 2 wonderful Sundays with our home church and reconnected with many friends.
We rented a car on Monday(May 9) to head to Louisville for 3 days of time with the head office folks. An hour out of Millersburg our car was rear ended and totaled! We are very sore from whip lash, and seat belts catching us but we are ok and for that I am extremely thankful. We were at a complete stop and the man who hit us never touched the brakes and was going 50 -55 mph.
Now we are dealing with how to get another rental (Enterprise will not rent to us again until OUR insurance pays the deductible) which means someone taking us to Canton/Akron to see if we can rent from someone else.
Bumps in the road. It has thrown us for a loop as we had finances all figured out for a rental and not flying so now we are trying to figure out the best way forward from here. We are alive, more or less unhurt, and have a warm place to stay so we are very blessed.
As we were sitting at the Fire Station waiting for Brandon to pick us up Lynn looked at me and said " lets go back to Juba where it is safe" LOL my how a persons perspective can change!!
Some bumps in the road send you in another direction and some just make you slow down and see what is around you while others just make you stop for a spell. I will let you know what this bump in the road does for us.
We arrived in the USA with no problems other than a 1 1/2 hour delay so I would say things went really well!!
It has been great to have time with family and to get some Dr. appointments out of the way. We have had 2 wonderful Sundays with our home church and reconnected with many friends.
We rented a car on Monday(May 9) to head to Louisville for 3 days of time with the head office folks. An hour out of Millersburg our car was rear ended and totaled! We are very sore from whip lash, and seat belts catching us but we are ok and for that I am extremely thankful. We were at a complete stop and the man who hit us never touched the brakes and was going 50 -55 mph.
Now we are dealing with how to get another rental (Enterprise will not rent to us again until OUR insurance pays the deductible) which means someone taking us to Canton/Akron to see if we can rent from someone else.
Bumps in the road. It has thrown us for a loop as we had finances all figured out for a rental and not flying so now we are trying to figure out the best way forward from here. We are alive, more or less unhurt, and have a warm place to stay so we are very blessed.
As we were sitting at the Fire Station waiting for Brandon to pick us up Lynn looked at me and said " lets go back to Juba where it is safe" LOL my how a persons perspective can change!!
Some bumps in the road send you in another direction and some just make you slow down and see what is around you while others just make you stop for a spell. I will let you know what this bump in the road does for us.
Thursday, April 14, 2016
Anticipation
We have been and still are anticipating many things in the next 2 weeks.
We had been anticipating the return of the Deputy Chairman of the IO forces on Monday. No one was sure what the reception would be like for him and as it turned out it was both good and bad.
We are anticipating the return of the Vice President on the 18th - or at least that is what the media is telling us. No one is sure if he will come back to Juba or not and if he does come what that might mean for the country. Overall people are hopeful that his return will be a good thing and that this country may finally be able to take a real step forward. We shall see.
We are anticipating returning to the States for 3 months. a time to reconnect with grandchildren and meet new grandchildren in person rather than just on Skype. A time to eat foods we have been craving, having long talks with people we have missed and of course a chance to shop for things to bring back.
We are anticipating meeting many new friends that we have gotten to know through email. A chance to put faces to names and tell about South Sudan in a more in depth way.
An update on Pochalla. We have not sent the builder back to Pochalla and now that the rains have started we may opt to try and find someone in Pochalla that can finish the work. We have been told that some materials were stolen (and the thieves caught so maybe the stuff will be returned) and that people are trying to rebuild their burned homes. The people of Pochalla want to move forward but need much prayer to overcome the anger that burns just under the surface.
This last Sunday we visited the Pochalla people who were brought to Juba for medical care. One was a little boy of about 6 who had been shot just over the hip bone on the side and the bullet was in his bladder. To see this young child with bandages all over his abdomen just broke my heart. His mother was killed in the same fighting. So much senseless killing and hurting. I also found it interesting that this little boy was being entertained by playing games on a phone:)
There is also the anticipation of having 7 new students going to Yei Teacher Training College in May! This is really wonderful as we were late getting the applications out and then Yei had to agree to a late start for these students. I admit to being grateful that these students are all from the Juba area so I won't have to try and arrange flights for them!:)
There is one thing I am anticipating that is not so much fun - jet lag. I already have trouble sleeping so who knows what that will do to me. I will be using jet lag as an excuse for anything silly I MIGHT do and I will use it the whole 3 months!! Stop rolling your eyes, family!
We had been anticipating the return of the Deputy Chairman of the IO forces on Monday. No one was sure what the reception would be like for him and as it turned out it was both good and bad.
We are anticipating the return of the Vice President on the 18th - or at least that is what the media is telling us. No one is sure if he will come back to Juba or not and if he does come what that might mean for the country. Overall people are hopeful that his return will be a good thing and that this country may finally be able to take a real step forward. We shall see.
We are anticipating returning to the States for 3 months. a time to reconnect with grandchildren and meet new grandchildren in person rather than just on Skype. A time to eat foods we have been craving, having long talks with people we have missed and of course a chance to shop for things to bring back.
We are anticipating meeting many new friends that we have gotten to know through email. A chance to put faces to names and tell about South Sudan in a more in depth way.
An update on Pochalla. We have not sent the builder back to Pochalla and now that the rains have started we may opt to try and find someone in Pochalla that can finish the work. We have been told that some materials were stolen (and the thieves caught so maybe the stuff will be returned) and that people are trying to rebuild their burned homes. The people of Pochalla want to move forward but need much prayer to overcome the anger that burns just under the surface.
This last Sunday we visited the Pochalla people who were brought to Juba for medical care. One was a little boy of about 6 who had been shot just over the hip bone on the side and the bullet was in his bladder. To see this young child with bandages all over his abdomen just broke my heart. His mother was killed in the same fighting. So much senseless killing and hurting. I also found it interesting that this little boy was being entertained by playing games on a phone:)
There is also the anticipation of having 7 new students going to Yei Teacher Training College in May! This is really wonderful as we were late getting the applications out and then Yei had to agree to a late start for these students. I admit to being grateful that these students are all from the Juba area so I won't have to try and arrange flights for them!:)
There is one thing I am anticipating that is not so much fun - jet lag. I already have trouble sleeping so who knows what that will do to me. I will be using jet lag as an excuse for anything silly I MIGHT do and I will use it the whole 3 months!! Stop rolling your eyes, family!
Friday, April 1, 2016
2 steps forward.........
Pochalla. What can I say? Lynn arrived back from Pochalla on the Tuesday the 15 and on Monday the 21st fighting broke out in Pochalla. The contractor and mason were there as well as many other people that we know. We had communication for about 2 days and then the one place that has internet the folks were evacuated. We have been told that in the first 2 days 7 people were killed and since then we have heard that more have been killed. Some people have fled to Ethiopia and others to the bush. Homes have been burned and the rains have started which means people are sleeping out in the open in the rain.
Today we received a letter saying that things are now calm and the people are pleading for aide groups to come back in to help them. We are not sure if the situation is actually safe for our people to go back in. It hurts to know that so many people are hurting and there is not much we can do.
We have been getting caught up on all kinds of paper work this past week. Lynn has things he needs to get done before leaving here so he has been at home on the computer - not the most exciting thing to talk about but it is a big part of his job.
For me, the Treasurer is gone again for about 2 weeks so I don't have a lot to do. I am taking this time to redo my program for keeping the project accounts and playing with the excel program and realizing that I have only scratched the surface on what it can do. Maybe I can find some time in the States to take a class on excel, or find some high school person who would be willing to work with me:) Or maybe I will just go with what I know!
This is a short post but I wanted to let you all know about Pochalla.
Today we received a letter saying that things are now calm and the people are pleading for aide groups to come back in to help them. We are not sure if the situation is actually safe for our people to go back in. It hurts to know that so many people are hurting and there is not much we can do.
We have been getting caught up on all kinds of paper work this past week. Lynn has things he needs to get done before leaving here so he has been at home on the computer - not the most exciting thing to talk about but it is a big part of his job.
For me, the Treasurer is gone again for about 2 weeks so I don't have a lot to do. I am taking this time to redo my program for keeping the project accounts and playing with the excel program and realizing that I have only scratched the surface on what it can do. Maybe I can find some time in the States to take a class on excel, or find some high school person who would be willing to work with me:) Or maybe I will just go with what I know!
This is a short post but I wanted to let you all know about Pochalla.
Thursday, March 17, 2016
Lynn is back guests are gone
Lynn left for Pochalla on March first and the plan was for him to come back on the 15th. I admit, I did not have much hope of this happening since our experiences with flying on the UN flights have not gone well. Lynn's plane was to get into Juba at 12:30 and I had laid down for a nap to get rid of a horrible headache at 12. At 12:02 my phone rings and I see that it is the Sat. phone so I know that it is Lynn and he is not on the plane! I really do not like seeing that Lynn is calling on the Sat phone cause it always means bad news. He was wondering if the flight had been cancelled and could I check it out and he would call back. Well, I tried making phone calls but of course the network was not working and I could not get through to anyone!! I went to a co- worker who I know uses 2 different networks and asked her to call for me which she did and then we had to wait for that person to call another person to call another person to get the answer. We wait and wait and I get no call back from Lynn so I am pretty sure the plane showed up and he is on the flight as I am waiting for a call. I finally get a text from Lynn saying they were circling the Juba airport! So, he is back as well as the other two guys who flew out the next day for the States and Kenya! We are back to normal ( yes we are normal!) but still busy.
I told you that the lorry was leaving the same day as Lynn and it did. It got there on the 10th! After flat tires, being robbed, bad directions and more repairs they pulled in very tired and dirty. Nothing was taken from the supplies but our two men, that were traveling with the lorry, got their cell phones and money taken.
While Lynn was gone I seemed to keep pretty busy for about 10 days of that time. Banking is an all day affair here and I was at the bank at least 3 days. Then there is paying bills - you go to the office of the place and of course there is no one there so you ask around and are told he will be there in 5 minutes. Well, I know what 5 minutes means - anywhere from 5 minutes to hours! I wait though cause if I leave and come back another day it could be the same thing. He did come in about 15 minutes so I was happy. Remember, our temperatures have been running 108 -115 and I am sitting in a cement block building with no air conditioning ( trying to get some sympathy here:) ) so is it any wonder that I get BAD headaches?
Ok, so now you know we are still alive and kicking.
Lynn did have a productive time in Pochalla and the foundation has been dug so things are moving along there. The hope is that the building will be done before we leave for the States. I learned about more places in Juba and had good conversations with the taxi drivers. I also learned that many of the shopkeepers like it when Lynn comes in because he talks to them and so when I show up the first thing I am asked is " where is the man?" Guess who gets to do all the shopping when he comes back!:) I do like it that they know we are together and they want to know where he is if I am alone.
Getting excited to see all of you!
I told you that the lorry was leaving the same day as Lynn and it did. It got there on the 10th! After flat tires, being robbed, bad directions and more repairs they pulled in very tired and dirty. Nothing was taken from the supplies but our two men, that were traveling with the lorry, got their cell phones and money taken.
While Lynn was gone I seemed to keep pretty busy for about 10 days of that time. Banking is an all day affair here and I was at the bank at least 3 days. Then there is paying bills - you go to the office of the place and of course there is no one there so you ask around and are told he will be there in 5 minutes. Well, I know what 5 minutes means - anywhere from 5 minutes to hours! I wait though cause if I leave and come back another day it could be the same thing. He did come in about 15 minutes so I was happy. Remember, our temperatures have been running 108 -115 and I am sitting in a cement block building with no air conditioning ( trying to get some sympathy here:) ) so is it any wonder that I get BAD headaches?
Ok, so now you know we are still alive and kicking.
Lynn did have a productive time in Pochalla and the foundation has been dug so things are moving along there. The hope is that the building will be done before we leave for the States. I learned about more places in Juba and had good conversations with the taxi drivers. I also learned that many of the shopkeepers like it when Lynn comes in because he talks to them and so when I show up the first thing I am asked is " where is the man?" Guess who gets to do all the shopping when he comes back!:) I do like it that they know we are together and they want to know where he is if I am alone.
Getting excited to see all of you!
Tuesday, March 1, 2016
Hot, Tired and Busy
Well, we really are not bored anymore!
Hot - well, I count 110 and higher as HOT! The nights don't cool down much, maybe to 80, so I am really happy that we have air-conditioning in our apartment. It is really dry and windy now too so keeping hydrated is a real problem and headaches are a daily thing. Can you tell I am tired?:) I am thankful for the wind as it helps to cool me off when I am out around the city but it also stirs up the dust and aggravates the allergies. It also requires a shower overnight or you leave dusty body prints on the sheets!
Tired - Well, yes we are tired. The heat tires you out more than you realize. Plus, we have had 4 people coming through Juba that we have been doing logistics for and while we do like having visitors it is tiring. It is a good tired though, a sense of having done something and maybe actually successed at doing things in a timely fashion. I have been to the police registration place so many times they recognize me now:) They are very friendly and helpful to me so the process, while long(up to 2 hours) does go smoothly and I leave with a smile on my face.
Lynn is tired for another reason though. He has been getting supplies bought for the school building in Pochalla and arranging for the trucking of these supplies. The lorry(truck) was supposed to go las week but we are praying it is going today. Lynn left today for Pochalla by air. The plan had been for the lorry to go last weekend and arrive about the same time as Lynn but now Lynn will have 3-4 days to wait for the lorry. Not all bad because he can arrange things for when the lorry gets there. He will be gone for about 2 weeks. He will also have some company in Pochalla this time as there is a co-worker from the States and one from Tanzania that will be going to Pochalla on Friday to work on a water project.
So, I think the busy part has been explained too:) Between taking care of visitors I have had numerous trips to the bank trying to arrange accounts to benefit the church here and the visitors that come needing money from the account for their projects.
Things are on edge here in South Sudan. The devaluation of the currency has become a real life threatening issue for many people. Prices have quadrupled in the last few months and it looks like that trend will continue. Many people are starving and crime is on the rise. There has been renewed fighting in several areas of South Sudan which means even more displaced people.
It all makes me feel a little guilty for being able to leave for 3 months and go to the States to see my family and so many of those supporting us.
Hot - well, I count 110 and higher as HOT! The nights don't cool down much, maybe to 80, so I am really happy that we have air-conditioning in our apartment. It is really dry and windy now too so keeping hydrated is a real problem and headaches are a daily thing. Can you tell I am tired?:) I am thankful for the wind as it helps to cool me off when I am out around the city but it also stirs up the dust and aggravates the allergies. It also requires a shower overnight or you leave dusty body prints on the sheets!
Tired - Well, yes we are tired. The heat tires you out more than you realize. Plus, we have had 4 people coming through Juba that we have been doing logistics for and while we do like having visitors it is tiring. It is a good tired though, a sense of having done something and maybe actually successed at doing things in a timely fashion. I have been to the police registration place so many times they recognize me now:) They are very friendly and helpful to me so the process, while long(up to 2 hours) does go smoothly and I leave with a smile on my face.
Lynn is tired for another reason though. He has been getting supplies bought for the school building in Pochalla and arranging for the trucking of these supplies. The lorry(truck) was supposed to go las week but we are praying it is going today. Lynn left today for Pochalla by air. The plan had been for the lorry to go last weekend and arrive about the same time as Lynn but now Lynn will have 3-4 days to wait for the lorry. Not all bad because he can arrange things for when the lorry gets there. He will be gone for about 2 weeks. He will also have some company in Pochalla this time as there is a co-worker from the States and one from Tanzania that will be going to Pochalla on Friday to work on a water project.
So, I think the busy part has been explained too:) Between taking care of visitors I have had numerous trips to the bank trying to arrange accounts to benefit the church here and the visitors that come needing money from the account for their projects.
Things are on edge here in South Sudan. The devaluation of the currency has become a real life threatening issue for many people. Prices have quadrupled in the last few months and it looks like that trend will continue. Many people are starving and crime is on the rise. There has been renewed fighting in several areas of South Sudan which means even more displaced people.
It all makes me feel a little guilty for being able to leave for 3 months and go to the States to see my family and so many of those supporting us.
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