There is a little boy here named Angelo . . . he's just a toddler or a little bit older. When he walks around he clasps his hands behind his back and sort of "waddles" with a big belly sticking out . . .
He reminds me of an old man taking a walk around his property - surveying all that is his - very cute. The first day I was here - he walked right up to me and grabbed me around the leg - I think he may have been marking me :)
This is the rainy season and I think it has rained every day (or almost every day) since we've been here. Everything is damp. It is by the Grace of God that the electronics work at all with this much moisture in the air. It's not like a Gulf Coast humidity since we are a long way from the ocean. They tell me in the dry season, everything turns brown, the leaves fall off the trees and it gets very very very hot and dry. I'm talking way past 100 degrees hot - like 115 or 120 on an average day. It doesn't get much cooler at night either. These days the sun usually does come out by mid morning or so but the rain showers come in the afternoon. It's a pretty typical tropical cycle I suppose.
Only a few more days and then we begin the trek back to Dallas. Hunter and I both have decided that two weeks in Sudan is plenty of time. You either need to stay longer or shorter.
The funeral really thru a monkey wrench into our plans - along with the Bishop not getting back until much later than we thought. I spent the day today wading thru the video tape of the three hour funeral for the Bishop’s brother-in-law, his wife’s brother. It was only a bit of a whuppin’ . . .
There is only so much you can do when you only have one camera pointed at the platform and another running around getting other shots and absolutely no idea what is going to happen next. I just tried to tidy it up a bit and smooth out the transitions were I could. I also was able to cut in several of the scenes that Hunter shot. All in all it’s a decent documentation of the service. It took the better part of the day to edit and then another five hours to compress to get it all on a DVD. Actually, because of the length I had to split it into two segments and put it on two DVD’s. Also given the length of the service I had to use a few pieces of software that I’m less familiar with - and that added to my anxiety a bit. But the last DVD finished up around midnight Thursday night and we hope all is well. We did get word that the Bishop and his wife arrived today. We will give them the DVD’s tomorrow when we video tape them on Friday . . . we will see, it's Africa you know.
You can't be wound too tight and survive over here. What structure exists is the structure "you" create for yourself. Trying to fit that into and around others is nerve wracking and a huge drain on your emotions unless you commit to making a plan that allows for lots of flexibility. I actually kind of like it . . . A thick skin and a “go with the flow” personality goes a long way over here.
We didn’t video tape much today. Hunter got some footage of Lance doing his thing. Just a reminder, he’s the son of Dennis and Lilly who started Harvester’s. Think Vin Diesel without the attitude. He’s been over here for some time and it sounds like he’s going to be here a while. Lilly is the most gregarious of the bunch. While Dennis and Lance don’t talk much - that’s because they don’t have time for all your jibber jabber - there’s work to be done.
It’s amazing as I look around Harvesters and soak in that every thing that is here, the housing for the staff, the clinic, the dorms, the kitchen/dining hall/meeting room, the schools and the workshop are all the result of the labor of these men. Sure they had help from local workers and the occasional building team from the state - but those come and go - Dennis and Lance remain.
All day long you see Dennis walking and working, walking and working. Today he was pouring a concrete floor in one of the houses under construction. Tomorrow it may be working on the electrical system. After that the plumbing might need some attention. Then one of the vehicles or the tractor may need work. Dennis is in his 50’s and has worked hard all his life. He and Lilly are looking for a younger couple to come in so that they can go and start another one of these somewhere. I feel pretty insignificant to say the least.
Yes, I know, we each have our gifts and mine is the whole video thing (along with this compelling need to share all this with you via Loud Loft - it’s either this or counseling I suppose) and my work just begins with running around the countryside with a camera. There will be many hours in the Loft slaving over a hot Mac turning all of these hours of tape into short, concise, compelling stories.
But, when I get hungry I will go down to the kitchen and get something to eat. When I get cold I will turn up the heat. When I get hot I will turn on the fan. When it rains I will watch it from inside a dry house. My family will be close by. My wife will be near. If I have to go somewhere I will get in my car (or on my motorcycle) and drive to the store and wander the aisles trying to select what I want from thousands of choices.
It hardly seems fair does it?
I bet that Dennis, Lilly and Lance don’t even think about what’s fair. Getting whipped, beaten and nailed to a cross wasn’t too fair either - but He did it anyway for you and for me. The least when can do is use the gifts and abilities we have been given to serve the needy - by doing that we serve Him.
There may only be one or two more posts from Sudan. There might be one Saturday morning before we leave here for the airport and I might post something during our layover in London. Who am I kidding - I can’t shut up - there will be more along with an epilogue at the end.
More to come . . .
Dear SMPH,
Can you just bring Angelo home with you? I am sure the cats would adjust fine.
Angelo could show them who is boss.
Love you-Lisa
Posted by: lisa buchanan | June 29, 2006 at 09:34 PM
Angelo is a sweety. However over here, adoption is looked at as "stealiing children" by the Sudanese.
Yes the cats would adjust - I don't think Angelo has ever seen a cat.
Posted by: Bill Buchanan | July 02, 2006 at 03:52 AM