On Your Mark, Get Set, GO!

Today was the Big Race.  "The Team" left around 7:15 this morning.  Aaron, Jacob and I left around 8:10.  We arrived around 9:00 to Freedom Square.  There were many people gathered.  30 to 40 wore the t-shirts that I had made in St. Joe...."Jonglei Freedom Run, 2011.  Saw Dr. Deng, saw Daniel, saw Macuech.  It was fun.  I am so proud of Ajak pulling this off.  There was a DJ there with music and lots of equipment as things got started.  All the kids running around, very festive.  At least 8 women were signed up to run.  The morning was beautiful, cool breeze and the sun behind nonthreatening clouds.  All the runners were so enthusiastic.  The moment came and off they went.  An ambulance lead the way.  One runner, a dinka bor took off at a sprint.  Wow, he won't last.  And then before we knew it, in they were coming - or at least one of them.  It was the dinka bor.  He won and was so far ahead of all the other people. Wow, sign him up for the Olympics.  Then number 2 came in then number 3.  Number 4 was one of  "The Team".  That was nice.  Then over the next hour, hour and a half, the runners came in.  It was so much fun.  Lots of cheering and clapping.  Afterwards, there was an awards ceremony.  Ajak spoke for a few minutes about the importance of being a country and having diverse people within the country that are all accepted.  He said this is what freedom is.  Dr. G spoke for a moment regarding how good it was to see so many participate in this first marathon.  Then we gave out awards to the first four places.  I put a whistle around their necks (like a medal), Dr. G. gave them a packet of money, and Ajak thanked them for participating.  A great morning.

The team headed back to Werkok.  Ajak, Deng, Aaron, Jacob and I went to Liberty and got cold pop and some chapati with eggs and onions.  It was really good.  It was good to be back there with those guys.  They make me laugh and be happy to be alive.  Deng runs Sudan Medical Corp.  They have 16 clinics.  He is very busy and  successful.  His wife and son are fine, doing well.  It was a nice early afternoon.  We left Bor after purchasing a few things in the market.

A container is suppose to arrive today.  It is the one that "The Team" put together.  It was suppose to be here earlier in the week, but you know in Sudan, it rarely happens on time.  The guys are really anxious about it.  But it will get here when it gets here. 

While I was sitting in the shade reading this afternoon, I looked up towards the borehole that the town uses and there were kids filling containers with water.  They were so cute.  Two of the boys were slowly getting their clothes off.  Talking, laughing, walking in their hands.  Then dancing, twirling and teaching each other dance steps.  So cute, then they poured water over their heads and washed up, grabbed their water containers, and headed home.