Too Many Photos to Choose, Too Many Stories to Tell

Look-it's a photo of me doing work!

Over the past month and a half, I’ve traveled in several countries, moved houses, done a bit of work, and had a serious marriage proposal over the phone from a very eligible Chadian doctor who just called to say he “loves me and wants to go to America” and “you’re not married—you should be married. Do you want to marry me?” So, it’s been pretty eventful. I’m traveling again for another several weeks, so I thought I’d update the blog a bit before life gets exciting again and I don’t have to open my computer.

First I went to New Zealand to visit very dear friends from Sudan who have since moved back Down Under, popped out a beautiful baby and have one more on the way. We’ve planned to meet up in many other exotic locations in the past: Kenya, Namibia, Iraq, but none of them worked out, so I had to go visit them in their new home. It was really great seeing them until poor Bella got sick and had to go to the hospital. Overall, it was great and my terrible photos won’t do it justice, so I’ll only post a few and you should just go visit New Zealand yourself to enjoy rolling hills of sheep, volcanoes, lakes the size of Singapore, beautiful beaches, and nice friendly people with cool accents.

Please enjoy the following photos you could have found better versions of on the internet:

New Zealand volcanic sulfur lake

New Zealand beautiful beach

New Zealand snow-capped mountain

New Zealand field with sheep some where.

After New Zealand, it was back to work for me. I flew back to Africa, specifically to Uganda to spend a week with Repent and Loguya in Arua and Koboko, with a side trip to the Congo, which was accomplished by use of good connections and multiple languages. If you want to cross borders without following the formal legal process, it really helps to be able to talk your way in. I spoke French. David spoke Swahili. Loguya spoke Kakwa. Repent and I spoke Arabic when we wanted to talk to each other about how we were running out of small money for “tea” to give to everyone who would say, “we can help you with the paperwork, but it’s so cold! Please give us money for tea to warm our hands” (presumably so that their fingers could grasp the pen needed to sign the entry forms.

At the border of South Sudan, Uganda, and Congo

In front of the Congo flag on Congolese soil!
We made it!

Drinking "protected" spring water to see how it tastes.
It tastes like metal mud, if you were wondering.

This is what you eat when Amanda buys you lunch.

Also ice cream.

And sometimes even healthy food!
But that was because we were at Repent's house and he wanted me
to try his corn. If you are a Moru, you MUST have a garden. 

It was quite cold actually. In fact, this cold messed up our e coli tests, which were supposed to be kept at a minimum of 25C, but definitely went down to 20-22C. If you’re not familiar with Celsius temperatures, anything below 25C is basically the Dead of Winter. We did some practice e coli tests, but I’m worried they might not be entirely accurate. We will have to re-do at some point. The good news is that at least the team knows how to do the test and they don’t have to have me there accidentally dropping bits of the packaging into the test pouch. I’m reconsidering having a second career as a surgeon. I think I’ll just go back to my original second career plan: sky-diving ballerina.

Someone taking a photo of me taking a photo of a nice patient lady.
Sometimes when I'm out walking Joe, people ask to take my photo.
I always let them because the chances of them doing something nefarious with
the photos does not cancel out my debt of gratitude to people who let me
take their photos for my work reports.

We tested that water! But our results were suspect...

The metal thingy is the school bell. You hit it with the mallet
and it makes a really loud noise, even if you just want to tap it to
see how it sounds. If you do tap it, all the children will come running
and you will have to apologize to all the teachers and the principal.

Duck.

I have so many bits of stories floating around in my head, but the power went off at 2am this morning and I didn’t get much sleep, so I can’t remember which stories actually happened and which ones were hallucinations. I’ll post the ones with photographic evidence here.

Please enjoy the following photos of me with Repent's family. His kids are cute. His mother is cute. I can't choose which ones not to post so I'm posting all of them. Scroll down to the end for some adorable photos of Joe.

With Joy and Halina--I just love these ladies.

Reunited with Repent's mother, who he got out of South Sudan
once the fighting got too bad in her area. Her health isn't great,
and I really didn't think I would ever see her again.

So it was wonderful to see my Moru mama again,
and she was so excited and pulled me onto her lap,
and told me all about her back pain and blood pressure
and how if anyone wants to marry me, he needs to
pay them 30 goats and some cows.

Repent and Joy's new baby Hanna!
Just too much cuteness.

Coffee with Mama because she likes it, even if I don't.

African hipster. Repent doesn't need those glasses.
They aren't prescription. He just thinks they look cool,
which they do, of course.

Back in South Sudanese church in Uganda--drums instead of
piano/organ/guitar.

Passionate Moru lady giving a testimony.

Additional sermon from Repent.

Off on our traditional trip to buy toys and candy with our Ombonje (white person)

Traveling in a bajaj/rickshaw

Ok, yes, I let them buy whatever they wanted and the 3 boys and Halina
all bought noisy plastic guns. I know it's not the best toy for refugee
children fleeing violence, but let's be honest: that gun is not like
any they've been close to in the past since South Sudan is not currently fighting a space war.

Smiley baby! 

Chewing on my hair.

While I was in Uganda, I got to meet up with  Ms Ruth and her daughter Joyce.
They are the first South Sudanese people I ever met, and Ms Ruth is one of those people
who inspires and motivates me in what I do. I met her at university in the US. I was a lonely, introverted freshman,
who did not want to be in America. The beautiful and tenacious Rachelle insisted on being my friend
and threw me into her ministry, working with Ms Ruth and the local refugee population in Memphis, where I was in school. It became my favorite part of university--the only place I really felt comfortable as a TCK re-entering my country with all my own prejudices and insecurities. With the refugees, caught between two countries, forced to be somewhere they wouldn't have chosen, I felt like we could understand each other, though my situation was never anywhere as traumatic as theirs.
Ms Ruth, a refugee herself, worked tirelessly to help everyone in her community. She was always ready with advice, encouragement, and kindness. She came to my university graduation when my own family couldn't be there.
It was such a great feeling to see her in Africa and to realize that I've worked in her hometown and to speak Juba Arabic with her and to see Joyce all grown up and following in her mother's footsteps.

And Now: a Moment with Joe

How cute is he all cuddled on the couch my last night in that house?

I found this tooth in my house. I tortured Joe several times by forcing his mouth
open and making sure he had all of his teeth. He did. This isn't one of his.
General consensus is that it is a goat tooth,
but that begs the question: how did it get in my house??

Joe enjoying the temporary rainy season swimming pool in front of
my new house. He loves the yard and always jumps to attention,
and runs around busily barking and protecting the garden
whenever I try to call him in. He's a dog on a mission who
can't waste time sitting around inside...unless there is a bone to gnaw on.