I am somewhat surprised that this is the first real big gap between blogs so far this trip that is not due to internet or other complications. Just laziness, and as most of you who know me, it is these long gaps in communication that is more typical of me. Don't believe me, look at my blog from South America, pretty sure I only posted once.
That being said, here are a smattering of ideas, thoughts, observations from the last week and a bit.
Canada eh?
Would you believe there are quite a few reminders of home that exist here in Mundri. First one I have noticed is the existence of plaid and toques. It is wintertime here in Mundri, doesn't mean it is actually cold, but the people here apparently seem to think so. I have to constantly remind them that this is not cold, but it doesn't stop them from adorning their favourite lumberjack attire. Which actually makes my heart quite happy. It is not just for the Canadians and hipsters of the world after all.
Secondly, I have seen quite the number of hockey jerseys around here. I have seen at least 2 or 3 Toronto jerseys (insert generic anti-Toronto comment something along the lines of no one in Canada actually wants to be seen wearing them so that is why they have ended up in Africa), an LA Kings jersey, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and I think that is it so far. I have seen some Canucks Merch as well, which really made my heart happy.
Finally and maybe the most important, the other day I saw a Tim Horton's Timbits Jersey... mmmm Timmy's coffee.
Have I told you about my Bicycle
I might sound like a broken record now when I talk about my bicycle, but the other day had a nice adventure with it. I was travelling with Tata to go visit his sister who lives about a 20 minute bike ride outside of the main part of town. Once again my faithful steed proved to be not so faithful. On the way, the chain somehow got wedged in the gears. To pry it out I had actually bend back the chain guard (I am strong enough to bend the flimsy metal of this bike). Then finally when we reached our destination, we realized his sister was not there. Not really a big deal until we started to ride back and I heard the flapping and rubbing of a flat tire. The rear tire was completely punctured. Cue long walk back to town...
Football Tourny
Starting this past Sunday there is a football tournament in Mundri West County here. And would you believe it, somehow I cracked the starting lineup as a defender on one of the teams. I even was asked to join about 3 or 4 different teams. If I was a UFA in the NHL with that kind of demand, imagine how much money I could ask for... and give it all away to build a school and office in South Sudan. Time for a quick plug... starting in January ACEM is trying to start construction of an office and start the work on a Primary School here in Mundri. Since Christmas is coming, maybe you can consider giving to support some of the work here in South Sudan! My team Ocari won our first game and we play again Friday in the semi finals. Pretty excited and I kind of like our chances as long as we can find a goalie... our first game was way closer than it should have been due to a lack of a keeper.
My Family
So, I definitely have a great South Sudanese family. Paul's family is fantastic, I love living on the land with them. There are 6 kids living on the land, they are now all my brothers and sisters. The little ones will sometimes walk with me to school holding my hands. We will go to church together, and it more or less just makes me melt. I am a little softy for them. They definitely get spoiled by me, I always give them little trinkets and stuff. But they are just tooooo darn cute, and I love them.
Forgiveness
I had actually written a whole blog on forgiveness after a conversation I had, but I have decided not to post it basically because I am an outsider looking in on a situation with a horrendous past, and it is really hard for me to talk. But it definitely is a fascinating this forgiveness that we talk about sometimes. So here is a little exert from my long rant, about what I do know and what I have experienced.
I have never been in a place that has called Christmas Xmas as much as I have heard it called that here. Despite that, there is definitely a fervor that grows here in Mundri at this time of year. People are spending money buying new clothes for their family, and I have many friends going to Uganda trying to bring back merchandise to sell for xmas. I have yet to really get a grasp on what Christmas is going to be like here, but I know one thing for sure. It will be spent with people. I will either, as far as I can tell spend it with my family and friends here eating lots of food, or I might be heading into the bush to celebrate a more authentic Moru Christmas. Either way I am just as excited as everyone else! I am also excited for everyone back home. I have posted a youtube video that apparently is super choppy and poor quality, but I will give you the link anyways because meh, it is the thought that counts right (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZblytMX9MM&context=C2b67fADOEgsToPDskIvjGIkMmvWsEZx-AL7SvKW).
So in case I keep up my new trend of delaying posts, maybe I should wish you a preemptive Merry Christmas. Much love from Mundri!
Thomas
That being said, here are a smattering of ideas, thoughts, observations from the last week and a bit.
Canada eh?
Would you believe there are quite a few reminders of home that exist here in Mundri. First one I have noticed is the existence of plaid and toques. It is wintertime here in Mundri, doesn't mean it is actually cold, but the people here apparently seem to think so. I have to constantly remind them that this is not cold, but it doesn't stop them from adorning their favourite lumberjack attire. Which actually makes my heart quite happy. It is not just for the Canadians and hipsters of the world after all.
Secondly, I have seen quite the number of hockey jerseys around here. I have seen at least 2 or 3 Toronto jerseys (insert generic anti-Toronto comment something along the lines of no one in Canada actually wants to be seen wearing them so that is why they have ended up in Africa), an LA Kings jersey, Edmonton Oilers, New York Rangers, Detroit Red Wings, and I think that is it so far. I have seen some Canucks Merch as well, which really made my heart happy.
Finally and maybe the most important, the other day I saw a Tim Horton's Timbits Jersey... mmmm Timmy's coffee.
Have I told you about my Bicycle
I might sound like a broken record now when I talk about my bicycle, but the other day had a nice adventure with it. I was travelling with Tata to go visit his sister who lives about a 20 minute bike ride outside of the main part of town. Once again my faithful steed proved to be not so faithful. On the way, the chain somehow got wedged in the gears. To pry it out I had actually bend back the chain guard (I am strong enough to bend the flimsy metal of this bike). Then finally when we reached our destination, we realized his sister was not there. Not really a big deal until we started to ride back and I heard the flapping and rubbing of a flat tire. The rear tire was completely punctured. Cue long walk back to town...
Football Tourny
Starting this past Sunday there is a football tournament in Mundri West County here. And would you believe it, somehow I cracked the starting lineup as a defender on one of the teams. I even was asked to join about 3 or 4 different teams. If I was a UFA in the NHL with that kind of demand, imagine how much money I could ask for... and give it all away to build a school and office in South Sudan. Time for a quick plug... starting in January ACEM is trying to start construction of an office and start the work on a Primary School here in Mundri. Since Christmas is coming, maybe you can consider giving to support some of the work here in South Sudan! My team Ocari won our first game and we play again Friday in the semi finals. Pretty excited and I kind of like our chances as long as we can find a goalie... our first game was way closer than it should have been due to a lack of a keeper.
My Family
So, I definitely have a great South Sudanese family. Paul's family is fantastic, I love living on the land with them. There are 6 kids living on the land, they are now all my brothers and sisters. The little ones will sometimes walk with me to school holding my hands. We will go to church together, and it more or less just makes me melt. I am a little softy for them. They definitely get spoiled by me, I always give them little trinkets and stuff. But they are just tooooo darn cute, and I love them.
Forgiveness
I had actually written a whole blog on forgiveness after a conversation I had, but I have decided not to post it basically because I am an outsider looking in on a situation with a horrendous past, and it is really hard for me to talk. But it definitely is a fascinating this forgiveness that we talk about sometimes. So here is a little exert from my long rant, about what I do know and what I have experienced.
I know me, and I know the things I have done that have been a direct affront to God and have been wrongdoings against him (Psalm 51). Yet still, in my place as a sinner He came and extended reconciliation and forgiveness. While I was still a sinner (Romans 5:8) He came and died to take my punishment so that my debts can be cancelled. Even though I still do things that are wrong He is still forgiving. It is because of this that I can forgive. I cannot even begin to know what forgiveness means and how it should look if it wasn’t for the cross.X-mas Coming Soon...
I have never been in a place that has called Christmas Xmas as much as I have heard it called that here. Despite that, there is definitely a fervor that grows here in Mundri at this time of year. People are spending money buying new clothes for their family, and I have many friends going to Uganda trying to bring back merchandise to sell for xmas. I have yet to really get a grasp on what Christmas is going to be like here, but I know one thing for sure. It will be spent with people. I will either, as far as I can tell spend it with my family and friends here eating lots of food, or I might be heading into the bush to celebrate a more authentic Moru Christmas. Either way I am just as excited as everyone else! I am also excited for everyone back home. I have posted a youtube video that apparently is super choppy and poor quality, but I will give you the link anyways because meh, it is the thought that counts right (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ZblytMX9MM&context=C2b67fADOEgsToPDskIvjGIkMmvWsEZx-AL7SvKW).
So in case I keep up my new trend of delaying posts, maybe I should wish you a preemptive Merry Christmas. Much love from Mundri!
Thomas
No comments:
Post a Comment