Doin' the Juba Hustle

Got up early, am glad I packed last night.  According to Nancy, the front desk, front run the show person at Mayfield, our ride to the airport would be ready in 5 minutes.  Yikes, no shower for me.  We (Aaron and I) got our bags outside and ready only to be told by the group going into Werkok that there was not enough room for us.  Hmmmmm, plan B (or C,D,E) goes into effect. We had two seats on the plane, so what we did was cancel our seats to make room for our luggage.  Then I purchased tickets to Juba at Jetlink Airlines.  We went toWilson Airfield to take our luggage and saw Pilot Jon Hildebrandt.  So good to see him again.  He has flown me into Werkok many times and I even stayed at his home in Loki once when we had a layover.  It was good to catch up on family matters etc.

Aaron and I then caught a ride to Kenyatta Airport and off we went to Juba, our original plan.  We were met at the airport by Jacob Gai's (he was in St. Joe last summer) cousin and were wisked through customs. He got us a cab to where we are staying.  It is SIL guesthouse.  It is OK.  Internet and a fan.  It is hot hot hot.  Juba is usually hotter than Werkok.  Aaron and I will venture out in a few minutes.  Off to explore and to go to dinner.  I remember a few restaurants from a previous visit.

It was amazing flying over South Sudan and seeing the Nile, which is right at Juba, from the air.  I instantly recognized the land I have so come to love.  How strange it is to have such a connection to this hot, dry, dusty land.  It was so good to see the people.  To see their markings, their height.  They are kind and hospitable. I feel nearly home.  I will be home when I get to Werkok tomorrow.

If I have a chance later, I will fill you in on the night in Juba.  Otherwise I will do it tomorrow.  Until then
C
Yes I have a chance.  Aaron and I went out exploring this much changed city.  When I was last here there was only one paved road.  It was about 100 yards long.  Now a major portion of the city, at least the main roads, are all paved.  What a difference.  There is not nearly as much red dirt flying around.  We got on botas, these are motorcycle taxi's.  It was fun. I remember being here in 2008 with Ajak and Deng and going on the botas.  It was totally crazy and life threatening.  I put my scarf around my face (due to the red dirt/dust) and screamed the whole way cuz the streets were in such awful shape.  I will try to upload one here.

We had a delicious dinner at Queen of Sheba restaurant.  One of my favorites on this earth.  Not too many people there, as I am sure that many of the people NGO's and GO's) are not back yet after the vote.  But I do expect that to change in the next week or so.  Hopped a mutatu to get back to SIL guesthouse.  These are little vans that go on a certain route for a price of 1 Sudanese pound. So I am getting the Juba culture down. I look forward to morning to see what the next adventure will be.
C

My bunk at SIL in Juba

Taking a picture while on the bota

Aaron up ahead on a  bota on a beautifully paved road

After din, contented and full - great night

Are You Ready for Some Futbol?

OK, so it is Superbowl Sunday.  Big soccer game on TV here.  I will get to that later.

The day is beautiful.  After breakfast I went outside to drink coffee.  It was so beautiful out, calm, peaceful, birds chirping and warm enough to be in shirtsleeves.  The music from the Nairobi Baptist Church, next door, was wafting through the air.  I was curious, and it being Sunday, I walked over and joined in.  The music was beautiful, songs that I knew.  It really was not all that different from the type of service I am used to.  No communion, but the creed, prayers, New Testament lesson (Mark).  And the people were so kind.  Like at St. Paul's, the announcements were long but important.  I think that no matter the denomination, no matter the city, no matter the country, churches seem to have the same worries and issues - is there enough money for a project, is there enough participation to keep a program going, what are we going to do about the leaking roof.  I think that Omnipotent being I call God, you may call something else, makes things not too easy.  Things you work for and learn from make sense after you get past the human pettiness of life.  Each of us can soar if we just listen to the lessons we learn - good and bad.

I went to the airport to pick up Aaron.  He arrived from Istanbul.  He had been there for three days.  He really liked it.  He also had a good time in Egypt, regardless of his last few days.  I think he has found that the world was much more informed and worried than he was.  I made the comment that if all you knew about Chicago was what was in the paper, you would never go there.  The media does get fixated on the problems and somewhat magnifies a particular problem that the people in the middle of may be aware of, but not nearly as bothered by as those outside.  I found this to be true last year when the World Court put an arrest warrant out for President Al-Bashir.  Really had no impact on us here in Werkok.

Tomorrow Aaron and I are going to Juba.  There is a slight chance that we will go with AIM Air straight to Werkok, but that does not look promising.  I will let you all know tomorrow what happens.  We went out for Ethiopian food tonight.  I have been to this restaurant numerous times.  It is great and I got my fix.. At the Ethiopian restaurant, I made a comment of the Superbowl being on as so many people were inside this restaurant watching TV, turns out that there was a huge "futbol" game on the TV - Not our kind of football..  Here I thought I was going to see the Superbowl.  We just have to get our fotbols correct.  It will be on here around 1:30 am.  I guess I will not stay up for that.  Will look at it online tomorrow.

Everything is fine.  I am just most anxious to get to Sudan.  I think tomorrow.
God bless
C

Driving Nairobi Style

My friend, Joe the futbol player, came and picked me up around 11:00.  Off we went.  The traffic is terrible and Joe just goes with the flow.  Again, I was amazed by the people noticing him and waving, honking, yelling.  At one point we were entering a round-a-bout (I just laugh a the ones in Benton Harbor) and a bus full of students were merging in on us.  One of the kids saw Joe and everyone on the bus runs to the side we were on all cheering and calling his name.  It came in handy when we went to an open market to get "stuff".  He was a great help with the price of things.  I will try to upload a pic of him that I took.  There is plenty of power in Nairobi at Mayfield.  Just like home.

Nairobi is a beautiful city.  It is large, lots of traffic but also has so much greenery, parks, flowers.  Often the air is filled with automobile pollution while you are trying to get somewhere.  Then it opens up into a beautiful street or boulevard.  There is a melting pot of people - primarily your black Afrikaners but also many muslim, middle and far East people, Europeans also.  Not too many Americans that I am aware of.I told Joe I would meet him in an hour.  Then I got lost and could not find the entrance we came in.  I had to ask a security guard if he knew where Joe, the futbol player was.  He took me to him.  Sheesh, I have just got to get a better sense of direction.  I lost it in Buffalo some years ago.  That is another story.

Hope all is well and the sun is still shining.

Joe and his taxi

 

My friend, Joe, and I

Now That Was Easy

I am in Nairobi at Mayfield House.  The drive to Detroit was uneventful except for that strange thing in the sky making it hard to see.  Oh, that is Sunshine.  I could hardly remember it.  All flights went very smoothly including getting through customs in record time.  I was met by Samuel who drove me to Mayfield.  I know him from being here other years.  It is always nice to see a familiar face.

I am tired.  Received word that Aaron will fly here on Sunday.  We will then leave on Monday for Werkok.  I am happy to be off the plane.  It is 2:00 your time.  But I don't know what day and if it is 2am or 2pm.  Slightly confused.  Nothing a good nights sleep won't cure.

All is well and peaceful.

C

The Adventure Begins at Home

With all the snow, I was not sure what to do about getting out of here.  Spoke to Delta the other day and they said to just wait and see.  No delays in Detroit for the entire storm.  Chicago is a mess.  I chose well.  The adventure seems to have started early.  I am sufficiently frazzled.

Aaron made it out of Cairo to Frankfort.  I understand he will arrive in Nairobi via Istanbul .  I will wait for him in Nairobi and then we will fly straight to Werkok via AIM Air on Monday.  So, a few days in Nairobi to shop and aclimate to Africa.

My friend, Matt Finch, is driving me to the airport.  Right now he is in my living room trying to get the 5 soccer balls into my overstuffed suitcase.  Such problems.

I thank each and everyone of you for all your support, love, hugs and prayers.  I am doing the thing I love to do and am so excited to see everyone again (hopefully I will not throw my back out with the luggage).  Oh dear, Matt is muttering.

Remember, I will not be able to put pics up until I get home due to the amount of bytes it takes.  I think that is the proper terminology.

I will be back after arriving on the African Continent.  Love to all.
C

Casting A Vote

This is a magical, frightening, wonderful week for the Southern Sudanese.  They are voting on whether they should secede from the North and become a separate nation - the newest country in the world!  This referendum was part of the peace accord in 2005.  They have had 6 years to prepare, create some sort of governing body and try to move forward after 22 years of war.  A daunting task.  Please keep them in prayer.  This is an amazing time in Southern Sudan.

1/1/11

Just have to write on this date. Happy New Year to all. Amazing.  Imagine if it were your birthdate.  So much to think about in this past year.  Travel, weddings, laughing, still employed.  Also passings, memories, some failures.

I look forward, I think about my trip.  How will it be different, who is still around, who has left due to the threat of war?  All of this will be answered soon.  I already know that things will be different but know that help is needed. I also have so many lists to make, things to accomplish and hopefully it will be done in a timely manner and not 24 hours before my departure (my usual behavior).

There will be a Prayer Service for Sudan at St. Paul's a week from today, Saturday, January 8 at 5 pm.  It will be short - maybe 45 minutes at the most - and it is on the eve of the vote in South Sudan for seceding from the North.  It is a historical moment in their history.  If you cannot make it to the service, I ask you to just take a moment to say a short prayer for the people of South Sudan.  They will need our prayers.

Thank you to all who stand behind me, support me, hold me up and send me on my way to do the work God has given me to do - to love and serve.

Happy New Year

Happy New Year to all my friends - here and there

C