"The Team" is off! They left around 8:45 this morning. Aaron is in Bor with the blue truck to take equipment to the airport along with Ajak. The plane left here, goes to Bor, picks up Ajak and the equipment (our airstrip is not long enough to take off with all the equipment). Aaron will go to the market for some supplies and then head back here.
The compound is quiet, except for the chatter of the Sudanese, kind of a low hum all around. I am the only kawaja. Jon Jok and I will start clinic in a few minutes. One last cup of coffee. The night was peaceful, the compound was quiet. Peter told me story last night. He said the night before around 10 pm he was washing some clothes. Some of the team were out still talking medical stuff. The moon was bright. He looked over the fence and saw someone move near the trunk of a tree. He looked hard, he said, and the person moved back into the shadow of the tree. He said he called out and could see someone moving. Then the person ducked down into the grass and disappeared. Peter could no longer see him due to him being down in the grass. He is certain this was murle as this is how they operate. The case out a place, see if there are children and cows and then attack at night. Sections of the murle people have a very high infertility rate. This is why they steal children. Crazy land I am in.
Will write later. Oh, and the chickens are already out of their coop where they have been kept while the "guests" were here.
Aaron and I took Chol and Juma to Bor Town so they could then journey to their villages and continue their work in the clinics they run. Both are Dinka and they are CO's - clinical officiers - this is equivalent to physician assistants in the U.S. There has been some problems in the area of Chol's clinic and so many people have fled to the clinic compound for safety. He is wanting to get back there so he can see what is going on and hopefully be a reassuring presence for the people. I spent a lot of time talking to them about clinical officer education for Gabriel. They gave me much information which I have passed on to Gabriel, as I saw him in Bor today. I think things are progressing nicely on that front.
In Bor Town, we had to go shopping for the compound. We took Roda, one of the hospital Mama's, because it is better to have Dinka with us for good prices and Roda speaks Arabic, which many of the merchents speak. This was my first time shopping for the compound. Jon Jok made the list and put the prices down, so we knew how much to spend on each item. Roda drove a hard bargain on many things and we came home with money in our pockets. The market is full of people; mechants, buyers, customers, animals, kids running around,. I think I got some action photos of Roda and Aaron in action. Aaron also speaks Arabic.
After that, we headed south on the road to Juba. We were headed to S-com. This use to be Total Oil Company. Now it is "The Russians" or S-com. We heard there was diesel fuel cheap. We are nearly out and thought we could use a bargain. So off we went. About a 40 minute drive down the road. We pull up and ask if they have diesel fuel for sale. The guy says "come back at 2 pm, that is when we sell the diesel". So we had 45 minutes to kill.
We drove a short way down the road and pulled off, looking at the Nile sweep by. I was really beautiful. Several Mama's were washing clothes. Kids were jumping off the bank into the water. They all seemed very efficient swimmers, even with the current. It looked refreshing and both Aaron and I wished we could join them. Roda didn't want anything to do with it. Three boys, maybe 9 or 10 years old, came down to the shore. They started stripping their clothes off. And then they were all running and jumping into the water, jumping onto each other, dunking each other and laughing. Such a good time. No different than a group of boys on the beach in St. Joe. They were so cute and having such fun. If they splashed any of the Mama's too much, they would holler at them.
It was seven minutes before two and so off we go. Only the battery is dead. Yeeeesh. We had noted some Somolis when they pulled up near us in a big 18 wheeler truck. Six Somalis got out of the cab!! Of course this started a banter of "how many Somalis fit.......". When the car would not start, Aaron said, "no problem, I will just talk to the Somalis. They know everything about cars". Aaron walked over to the small "truck stop" that was near us and found the group of Somalis to help give us a push start. They would come help after they finished their meal. Sure enough, a few minutes later, out they came and they gave a push. Off we went to the Russian's for some fuel. We got there at 2:15 and someone directed us to the office. They made Roda stay at the gate. No Sudanese allowed, I guess. As we drove to the office (their compound is HUGE) I kept seeing short, stocky, kinda creepy guys with really big brows. And they all did it a double-take when they would see me. Ick. Aaron went into the office, I stayed in the car because we could not turn it off. I could not imagine the Russians pushing the car. Aaron came out 3 minutes later. They are out of fuel. He said there was a sign but he went into the airconditioned office anyway to ask. The guy answered fast so he did not get to stay in the airconditioning very long. You just can't make this shit up. So we went there for nothing. Poor Roda, just wanted to go home.
So we headed home. We stopped at a place on the way and filled up the barrell with diesel. The guy gave us a good deal because we are regular customers there and besides, he had really cold pop. A nice treat. So now we really are on our way home. As we drove Roda made some noise about something, I turn and look and there are all these baboons along the road. They were huge. I said "Aaron, stop I want a picture". So he pulled over and stopped. Rut row, Houston we have a problem, the eagle has exploded. You name it, we thought it. "Aaron, how are we going to push start the car?" Hmmmm, let me think about that. So first off we stopped a bota with three young men on it. They could not push the truck. Fuel barrel in the back made the truck too heavy. So off they went. Next we waved down a white land cruiser. It was Samaritan's Purse that was headed the other way. They were very kind and jumped out and gave us the push we needed. OK, no more stopping, no more pictures. As we went down the road, I saw many more baboons. I did try to get one picture, without asking Aaron to slow down. It did not turn out very well. Looks like a mound of mud. Oh well, maybe another time.
We made it home about 4:15. I was in the shower by 4:30. I started to write this before I forgot things and Quickcorn (Peter) came and wanted me to take pictures of the Mama's here at the compound, as they were winding down their day and gathering at the cook house. I took some, they are so good, and then Peter got into the pictures with them. He is looking like they are all his wives. I can't wait to add them here. They are hilarious.
I think this is enough for today. I don't want to bore people too much. It has been a day!
Peace,
C
The compound is quiet, except for the chatter of the Sudanese, kind of a low hum all around. I am the only kawaja. Jon Jok and I will start clinic in a few minutes. One last cup of coffee. The night was peaceful, the compound was quiet. Peter told me story last night. He said the night before around 10 pm he was washing some clothes. Some of the team were out still talking medical stuff. The moon was bright. He looked over the fence and saw someone move near the trunk of a tree. He looked hard, he said, and the person moved back into the shadow of the tree. He said he called out and could see someone moving. Then the person ducked down into the grass and disappeared. Peter could no longer see him due to him being down in the grass. He is certain this was murle as this is how they operate. The case out a place, see if there are children and cows and then attack at night. Sections of the murle people have a very high infertility rate. This is why they steal children. Crazy land I am in.
Will write later. Oh, and the chickens are already out of their coop where they have been kept while the "guests" were here.
Aaron and I took Chol and Juma to Bor Town so they could then journey to their villages and continue their work in the clinics they run. Both are Dinka and they are CO's - clinical officiers - this is equivalent to physician assistants in the U.S. There has been some problems in the area of Chol's clinic and so many people have fled to the clinic compound for safety. He is wanting to get back there so he can see what is going on and hopefully be a reassuring presence for the people. I spent a lot of time talking to them about clinical officer education for Gabriel. They gave me much information which I have passed on to Gabriel, as I saw him in Bor today. I think things are progressing nicely on that front.
In Bor Town, we had to go shopping for the compound. We took Roda, one of the hospital Mama's, because it is better to have Dinka with us for good prices and Roda speaks Arabic, which many of the merchents speak. This was my first time shopping for the compound. Jon Jok made the list and put the prices down, so we knew how much to spend on each item. Roda drove a hard bargain on many things and we came home with money in our pockets. The market is full of people; mechants, buyers, customers, animals, kids running around,. I think I got some action photos of Roda and Aaron in action. Aaron also speaks Arabic.
After that, we headed south on the road to Juba. We were headed to S-com. This use to be Total Oil Company. Now it is "The Russians" or S-com. We heard there was diesel fuel cheap. We are nearly out and thought we could use a bargain. So off we went. About a 40 minute drive down the road. We pull up and ask if they have diesel fuel for sale. The guy says "come back at 2 pm, that is when we sell the diesel". So we had 45 minutes to kill.
We drove a short way down the road and pulled off, looking at the Nile sweep by. I was really beautiful. Several Mama's were washing clothes. Kids were jumping off the bank into the water. They all seemed very efficient swimmers, even with the current. It looked refreshing and both Aaron and I wished we could join them. Roda didn't want anything to do with it. Three boys, maybe 9 or 10 years old, came down to the shore. They started stripping their clothes off. And then they were all running and jumping into the water, jumping onto each other, dunking each other and laughing. Such a good time. No different than a group of boys on the beach in St. Joe. They were so cute and having such fun. If they splashed any of the Mama's too much, they would holler at them.
It was seven minutes before two and so off we go. Only the battery is dead. Yeeeesh. We had noted some Somolis when they pulled up near us in a big 18 wheeler truck. Six Somalis got out of the cab!! Of course this started a banter of "how many Somalis fit.......". When the car would not start, Aaron said, "no problem, I will just talk to the Somalis. They know everything about cars". Aaron walked over to the small "truck stop" that was near us and found the group of Somalis to help give us a push start. They would come help after they finished their meal. Sure enough, a few minutes later, out they came and they gave a push. Off we went to the Russian's for some fuel. We got there at 2:15 and someone directed us to the office. They made Roda stay at the gate. No Sudanese allowed, I guess. As we drove to the office (their compound is HUGE) I kept seeing short, stocky, kinda creepy guys with really big brows. And they all did it a double-take when they would see me. Ick. Aaron went into the office, I stayed in the car because we could not turn it off. I could not imagine the Russians pushing the car. Aaron came out 3 minutes later. They are out of fuel. He said there was a sign but he went into the airconditioned office anyway to ask. The guy answered fast so he did not get to stay in the airconditioning very long. You just can't make this shit up. So we went there for nothing. Poor Roda, just wanted to go home.
So we headed home. We stopped at a place on the way and filled up the barrell with diesel. The guy gave us a good deal because we are regular customers there and besides, he had really cold pop. A nice treat. So now we really are on our way home. As we drove Roda made some noise about something, I turn and look and there are all these baboons along the road. They were huge. I said "Aaron, stop I want a picture". So he pulled over and stopped. Rut row, Houston we have a problem, the eagle has exploded. You name it, we thought it. "Aaron, how are we going to push start the car?" Hmmmm, let me think about that. So first off we stopped a bota with three young men on it. They could not push the truck. Fuel barrel in the back made the truck too heavy. So off they went. Next we waved down a white land cruiser. It was Samaritan's Purse that was headed the other way. They were very kind and jumped out and gave us the push we needed. OK, no more stopping, no more pictures. As we went down the road, I saw many more baboons. I did try to get one picture, without asking Aaron to slow down. It did not turn out very well. Looks like a mound of mud. Oh well, maybe another time.
We made it home about 4:15. I was in the shower by 4:30. I started to write this before I forgot things and Quickcorn (Peter) came and wanted me to take pictures of the Mama's here at the compound, as they were winding down their day and gathering at the cook house. I took some, they are so good, and then Peter got into the pictures with them. He is looking like they are all his wives. I can't wait to add them here. They are hilarious.
I think this is enough for today. I don't want to bore people too much. It has been a day!
Peace,
C
Thinking and worrying about you. When are you coming home!?
ReplyDeleteOn Friday was reading about a white boy studying baboons in Kenya, golf was on tv and they blamed poor shots on the Kikuyu grass named after its African origins. The baboon white guy just happened to be broken down roadside with a Kikuyu lorry driver. And my pop was also cold.
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