Sometimes I stop what I'm doing and I wonder to myself - "what am I doing in Sudan?" Sudan is such a far cry from where I have spent the last four years of my life that at times it is a real shock to my mind to see where I am now and think of where I was only a few months ago. Some examples of this: 1) I take my showers outside under the stars and often I have to climb up a ladder to put hot water in the tank so that its not cold and I use a pit latrine - a few months ago I lived in a nice suite (the beloved Polo 404) and shared a toilet and tiled bathroom with only one other guy. Also the floor was carpeted and I rode an elevator to get to the 4th floor. 2) Often as I drive along, sliding through the thick black mud, I come across half naked (and naked) children bathing in the puddles ...bathing and then sometimes collecting water for home. I'm not even sure I can begin to explain the many repercussions this has for their health but I will explain it in this way - When I walked through our hospital's pediatric ward 3 days ago it was full. A few months ago if I had seen a kid playing in a mud puddle - if they could even find one - it was because they were adventuresome rascals who would probably be scolded by their mother and their clothes thrown in the waste bin.
Why am I in Sudan? To be honest I'm really not sure except that my Father has brought me here. I love working with the people and getting to know about their traditions and way of life. War has ruined so much of "normal" life in this country that I think everyone is trying to come to grips with what it looks like to live in Sudan. Everyone longs for education but unfortunately there is only one secondary school in all of Blue Nile state and it is not even open yet. Why am I in Sudan? ...Because my Father has brought me here to love people. Sometimes I'm not real sure how best to do that - pray for me.

I hope you enjoy these snaps of life here lately.

My coworker David trying out a local instrument.

The guys playing a game that involves dominoes and a whole lot of shouting at each other.

"one more picture!... just one more picture! pleeease??"

...he forgot to wipe the chalk of his head - oops!

Girls Program graduation: Fletcher handing out certificates.

We had almost 400 girls in the program!! Yikes!

Our compound from far away. (at the foot of the green hill) The grass has grown about 4ft in a few weeks.

Landmines??!!

The two kittens I got for our hospital food storeroom. I need some vicious rat killers and this is what I got. I have affectionately named them George and Franky. Right now they aren't very vicious and they do a pretty good job of waking me up before I want to get up in the morning.