Memories

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We had a busy morning, which was good because it kept our minds off the prospect of saying good bye to so many people we met this trip and previous ones. Today we again spent time with "old" friends Diantha Hodges, a missionary whom my church helps support, Libby Dearing, the creator of Grace Home for Children, and Drs. Lynn and Sharon Fogleman, the husband and wife team who are the recipients of most of the eyeglasses I brought (some were left behind in Terekeka).

Along with a team of twelve volunteers from Ginghamsburg United Methodist Church (the home church of Michael Slaughter, the author of "Christmas Is Not Your Birthday" and several other thought provoking books), we did a health screening of 130 nursery school students at Dar es Salaam UMC school in Yei. In addition to doing the actual screening, volunteers were kept busy entertaining the many, many students who were watching, doing registration, weighing and measuring, checking for skin conditions, and simply crowd control. I had a cushy inside job (it got warm, then rainy outside--so much for the end of the rainy season). I helped distribute vitamin A capsules, deworming pills (very much necessary) and mango juice. The "baby" class didn't know how to chew and swallow pills, so I demonstrated by chomping my teeth together; I think that and the taste of the pill motivated them to swallow and go! Only one refused completely to take the medicine, not even an Arabic speaking adult or the child's older brother could change his mind! One of the Ohio team is a PE teacher, and he managed to pack a huge, colorful parachute that attracted all the children like a magnet! There were also games and songs, including "Jesus Loves Me" sung to the tune of "Frere Jacques." The whole screening took about three and a half hours. Then we were treated to a typical South Sudan lunch of water, banana, and rolexes. A Rolex is made from a chipati (flat bread like a tortilla, which I have come to love, but would like better sprinkled with cinnamon) and filled with scrambled eggs. If there were a McDonalds or Burger King here, I am sure they would offer rolexes. My very favorite food from this trip is eggplant, sliced very thinly, dipped in egg and flour, and fried--yum!,

After a much needed rest, we all started the task of wrapping up and packing up. This has been my best trip here yet, for several reasons. I got to see the Nile River, along which so much history has occurred. I got to see parts of Juba, the capital city, including street lights, tall buildings, and traffic. Terekeka is a vision that is slowly evolving, and perhaps our training will help the teachers and students there and here in Yei. Harvesters here is also growing; the hospital that just had its grand opening this year is already expanding, and the vocational center we saw yesterday is scheduled to open in February, the beginning of the school year in South Sudan. The time we spent at Grace Home was awesome, especially hearing Libby talk about her dreams for it. While it may have been what triggered my shingles attack, substitute teaching on Friday was memorable, especially seeing/hearing how much those children knew about Jesus and who He is. Karen taught a song in Terekeka that always makes me smile because one of the lyrics is "boogie woodie," and the children giggled every time I laughed at that part.

I hope that you have enjoyed this journey with me and look forward to sharing more any time that you ask!

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