Monday (one year anniversary of the elections) went fine. There was no trouble that I have heard of. I was out some and didn’t see anything that looked different than normal. We are thankful that all went well and all are safe.
Tuesday will be my first telling of a story at our group. Ask that I remember the story. Ask that the truth is evident. Ask that a community forms among the group as we gather together. Ask that fruit will come from these meetings.
I realized something tonight. During the summer months we go from airport run to airport run. I’ll be there 6 times or so in the next two weeks. My first was Saturday; my second was tonight. I will go back and forth, picking people up and dropping others off. This is the beginning of the end. It will only seem like tomorrow and it will be my time to stay at the airport.
The thought is full of anticipation and nervousness. I love this place I love these people. I have built wonderful relationships with nationals and expats. And as you know at one time I wasn’t sure that would ever happen. It will be tough to leave. But at the same time I am excited to see what the next step of my journey holds. Who will I spend time with? What will I do? The future will tell.
Ask that I will finish the time here strong. Ask that great things will happen with the time left. Ask for guidance as I prepare for the future.
Also tonight there will be two people sleeping in my house. Eventually before I leave there will be only me. A week and a half from tonight, there will be seven. Ask for patience. Ask for wisdom as I again learn to live with new people. Ask for grace as we learn to deal with each others shortcomings.
Monday, May 15, 2006
Sunday, May 14, 2006
Elections...
Tomorrow (Monday) is a big day here. It is one year from the elections that began the chaos of the last year. There was once a time when a riot in this country stayed on CNN.com for a couple days. Now it is gone only a few hours after being posted.
In the last year we have seen numerous riots, city shut downs, and bombings. Riots often involve several killings and unbelievable numbers of arrests (both deserved and undeserved). The bombs have killed a few and the last several have begun to target local transport. Someone is trying to kill innocents. No one has claimed responsibility or given any reason for the bombings. City shut downs hurts the people. When people can’t work they can’t provide for their families. I think they forget this part when they try to do protests by not going to work.
Join me in asking that tomorrow will be peaceful. Ask that the people here will begin to find solutions for the disagreements.
In the last year we have seen numerous riots, city shut downs, and bombings. Riots often involve several killings and unbelievable numbers of arrests (both deserved and undeserved). The bombs have killed a few and the last several have begun to target local transport. Someone is trying to kill innocents. No one has claimed responsibility or given any reason for the bombings. City shut downs hurts the people. When people can’t work they can’t provide for their families. I think they forget this part when they try to do protests by not going to work.
Join me in asking that tomorrow will be peaceful. Ask that the people here will begin to find solutions for the disagreements.
Saturday, May 13, 2006
News...
I want to share some news with you. One item is personal and the other has to do with the city here. If any of you keep up with international news you know we have seen some trouble in recent days. Problems have been going on in the city for over a year. They started because of disagreements with the most recent election.
In the last couple months protests have turned to bombings. We have no idea who is responsible for the bombings, although lots of accusations are being thrown out. Apparently yesterday there were at least 8 bombs killing a few and injuring more. I am fine as are my friends and colleagues. We know however that this place is a ticking bomb all together. People aren’t happy and they have no way to deal with it appropriately. Please ask for peace in this city and safety for those of us here.
On a personal note, I am currently making plans to conclude my time here around the first week of September. Thank you for those who have continued to seek wisdom with me. I believe it has been made clear to this point that I am to make preparations to go. This is not set in stone. I still want to be open to his leading and may decide to stay and continue work here, but I don’t anticipate that at the moment.
Currently I am planning to go see my Mom and Dad and Whitney before heading back across the pond. Once I get back I have no idea what will follow. I’ll continue to seek his wisdom.
I also want you to know I was able to start a story group last week. We started 2 different ones last week. I hope to start another soon. We meet weekly to share and discuss a story from the scripture. This is a huge thing as it is a large part of our strategy. My group is an interesting one made of both family members and those yet to join us. Ask for wisdom as I tread the waters in between the two perspectives. (We also have three different religions represented.)
In the last couple months protests have turned to bombings. We have no idea who is responsible for the bombings, although lots of accusations are being thrown out. Apparently yesterday there were at least 8 bombs killing a few and injuring more. I am fine as are my friends and colleagues. We know however that this place is a ticking bomb all together. People aren’t happy and they have no way to deal with it appropriately. Please ask for peace in this city and safety for those of us here.
On a personal note, I am currently making plans to conclude my time here around the first week of September. Thank you for those who have continued to seek wisdom with me. I believe it has been made clear to this point that I am to make preparations to go. This is not set in stone. I still want to be open to his leading and may decide to stay and continue work here, but I don’t anticipate that at the moment.
Currently I am planning to go see my Mom and Dad and Whitney before heading back across the pond. Once I get back I have no idea what will follow. I’ll continue to seek his wisdom.
I also want you to know I was able to start a story group last week. We started 2 different ones last week. I hope to start another soon. We meet weekly to share and discuss a story from the scripture. This is a huge thing as it is a large part of our strategy. My group is an interesting one made of both family members and those yet to join us. Ask for wisdom as I tread the waters in between the two perspectives. (We also have three different religions represented.)
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Wedding, etc....
Last week I was able to go to a friends wedding. I put some pictures on the right. (Hope you know you can click on a picture and see an entire slideshow.) It was a good time with Teddy and his new wife Fasika.
They married five couples at the same time. There was lots of dancing and singing. Two priests spoke. I had no idea what was being said, but I did the best I could to take lots of pictures. When I hit the States I’ll have to let someone go through and pick the good ones out of the thousands I’ve kept.
It was interesting how different it was than the wedding I was just at in the States. There were a lot of similarities, but a distinct difference put in place by the differing cultures.
Teddy and Fasika did something really cool at the end. They went down to a covered walk at the end. Under this walkway were seated the super poor of the community. Teddy, Fasika, and their wedding party went along and gave a meal to them. It was very interesting to watch these who clearly had nothing wait for a plate of food. It made me wonder what that would look like in the States. Could Mark and Missy have walked right out on the street in Houston and shared some of the meal we at with the poor who would gather on the streets?
It made me think a lot about my own wedding. Of course I have to get a few things in line before that happens, like a real job, I probably should own a couple things, oh yeah I need to find a girl. But I wondered what would it look like to intentionally take the favorite things from my culture and my favorite things from this culture and blend them? Maybe we’ll find a way to invite the poor to the celebration. Seems to me it would be in line with what the master would do.
Things to remember:
Thanks. Sorry this is such a different format than normal. I don’t receive the satisfaction I once did from writing on this thing. Hopefully I will find some stories to share soon. A few of you keep coming and I want to honor that.
They married five couples at the same time. There was lots of dancing and singing. Two priests spoke. I had no idea what was being said, but I did the best I could to take lots of pictures. When I hit the States I’ll have to let someone go through and pick the good ones out of the thousands I’ve kept.
It was interesting how different it was than the wedding I was just at in the States. There were a lot of similarities, but a distinct difference put in place by the differing cultures.
Teddy and Fasika did something really cool at the end. They went down to a covered walk at the end. Under this walkway were seated the super poor of the community. Teddy, Fasika, and their wedding party went along and gave a meal to them. It was very interesting to watch these who clearly had nothing wait for a plate of food. It made me wonder what that would look like in the States. Could Mark and Missy have walked right out on the street in Houston and shared some of the meal we at with the poor who would gather on the streets?
It made me think a lot about my own wedding. Of course I have to get a few things in line before that happens, like a real job, I probably should own a couple things, oh yeah I need to find a girl. But I wondered what would it look like to intentionally take the favorite things from my culture and my favorite things from this culture and blend them? Maybe we’ll find a way to invite the poor to the celebration. Seems to me it would be in line with what the master would do.
Things to remember:
- Still trying to make a decision regarding staying here another year.
- My sister is headed to Tanzania. She will begin orientation May 30, two days after Mom and Dad fly out.
- They have found my grandfather has cancer. They are doing tests to find the damage and come up with ways to fight it.
- I’ve been talking for a while about story groups here. Two will start this week. I will lead one, while a colleague leads another. I hope to start a second shortly after this one.
Thanks. Sorry this is such a different format than normal. I don’t receive the satisfaction I once did from writing on this thing. Hopefully I will find some stories to share soon. A few of you keep coming and I want to honor that.
