Esengo: December 2008

It seems, this time of year, a lot of time is spent looking back. We look back on memories from years ago and we look back on the past year and, as is often the case, we are left to wonder how we ever made it to where we are at. As I look back on this past year, I am amazed by all that has happened and the strength that has been given to press on.
I am sure if you were to go back through my posts from this year you might begin to wonder if anything good ever happens in Sudan. I have experienced two destructive fires, a wind that blew the roof off our operating theatre, traveled through mud and dust over countless miles of ruts referred to as roads and had encounters with people who are at times more than frustrating to deal with. I, myself, have at times wondered if Sudan ever offers anything but calamity to those who live within its borders, and have spent many sleepless nights listening to the rats rustle through the thatch above my head while questioning how I ever ended up in such a backward place.
I am reminded, however, that the King did not enter a world that had its act together, but rather, he entered as light into darkness; as a breath of sanity in the midst of our insanity. We like to sing Christmas carols such as “Silent Night” and “O Holy Night” that make us think of Christ’s birth as the most serene moment in history, when in fact it, if some thought is given to the event one would be led to believe that it was most likely far from tranquil. The Author of creation, mother screaming in pain, came wailing into the world covered in birth and all that it entails, and like all new born children must have wondered at what an awfully uncomfortable place this was. Sure, there were shepherds, wisemen and angels, but there was also infanticide, a daring escape and refugee status without the UNHCR to hand out free food and blankets. Our King did not enter the world of storybook and legend, he entered OUR world; the world where we sit in the filth of our humanity, dripping with the wretchedness of our vain efforts to fix ourselves, in desperate need of a Savior.
I have had the immense privilege to be at home in Uganda with my family for Christmas. Christmas day was spent having fun in the warm waters of Lake Victoria but also came with the sad reminder of the fallen world we live in. We received news that our “home” village in Congo, Faradje, was attached by the Ugandan LRA rebel group. Our friends’ homes were burned down and many people were killed and abducted. This news has brought with it a strong mix of emotions. I find myself angry that such atrocities are committed and frustrated by my own inability to do anything about it. We do, indeed, live in a monumental mess of a world!!
This morning, a Congolese pastor friend mentioned that the story of David and Goliath has been a great encouragement to him as he looks at the troubles in Congo and his testimony has in turn encouraged me as I think of my work in Sudan and the continuing violence in Congo. The Israelites were afraid of the pagan giant and out of the bush walked a boy with a sling and some rocks to take him down. David didn’t see the giant, he saw the Great Shaddai (Almighty) and took up His battle cry. Our King entered our crazy world to give us hope and light. Sometimes it is daunting living in this world so full of darkness, but we have such a wonderful opportunity to face this darkness with the light that has been so freely given to us. May it be so.

Some of you, I am sure, have been wondering where I have disappeared to for the last little while. For those of you who have been eagerly awaiting my next post…I apologize.

A lot has happened since my last post, and you would think that it would give me lots to write about, which on one hand it does, but on the other hand it has meant that I have been super busy. Two weeks ago I got back from my R&R in Kenya where I was able to spend some time with my parents and cousins which was great fun. We went go-carting for my birthday and tried to crash each other into the tire walls. I was also able to go up to Rift Valley Academy, my former high school, where I spent a few days hanging out with two of my former classmates who are on staff as well as with some former teachers. It was good to go back and see how much has changed and to realize how much I have changed since my time there. It was also nice to spend some time in the pottery room working on some coffee mugs, which is something I really enjoy doing.
When I got back here there was a lot of work waiting for me. Angelo, our program manager, went to the states as I came back from Kenya which left me in charge. We are currently finishing up a building project at the hospital while also trying to start one at a school in town. At the same time we are also running our usual projects around town. A few days after I got back I had to travel north for an important government meeting as well as to purchase some supplies for our compound. When I returned our school had its closing ceremony which I needed to attend so that I could give a speech on behalf of our organization. The next day I was invited to give another speech at a neighboring school that was also closing. As you may have guessed, Sudanese love speeches.
The second speech day was also Thanksgiving. We were able to get a turkey from Kenya and I am quite proud to say that I successfully figured out how to cook it in our small gas oven. We had a few guests over to celebrate, and in spite of the speech giving, we were able to take most of the day off. I celebrated by taking a nap in the 100 degree heat in my hammock on the porch. I would have willingly shared some of my heat with many of you farther north suffering in the cold!
Last Friday brought about some big changes to our compound. I traveled south to our farm project and as I was returning I noticed a large column of smoke in the distance. It seemed to be coming from the direction of our compound and I thought that perhaps it was the hill behind our compound burning, because it still had a lot of dry grass on it. A few minutes later I received a frantic call from one of my colleagues urging me to get back to our compound as it was on fire. I rushed back as fast as the bumpy road would allow and arrived to see smoke rising from all corners of our compound. I ran past our burning fence and arrived in time to watch one of our tukols finish burning to the ground. I walked around a bit dazed for a few minutes and utterly overwhelmed; almost all of our fence was burned down, we had lost two tukols, three latrines, two storerooms and we had many fuel drums that burned for hours. We fought out the remaining fire on the fences as it traveled near to the tukols but stayed far from the fuel storeroom as it went up in a blaze of Av-gas, Diesel, Petrol and Jet-A One. At one point a cylinder of Acetylene, which is used for gas welding, exploded causing quite a stir among those of us watching.
As a team, my colleagues and I gathered to give thanks to our King that no one was injured. The fire had come with a fierce wind that was essentially unstoppable and in so many ways it was a miracle that no one was injured. We do not understand why things like this happen but we do know that God is in control. Throughout this ordeal it has been amazing to revel in the grace God has given me in dealing with this situation. He has given me strength and wisdom when I have needed them and provided patience and the will to persevere.

Below you’ll find some pictures of the fire. Most of them are from colleagues (David Bock and Sammy Muraya) who were able to get pictures before our compound was on fire and during the attempts to put it out. The pictures from the day after the fire are mine.