Wow a lot has happened since the last time I posted anything.....sorry. I am in Torit, South Sudan and living it up. The first term of school went along I taught Math to the primary 7 class and it was an interesting experience. The 2nd term has started and I was teaching English to primary 6 but I have after interesting discoveries been assigned to teach fine arts for the entire school.....so that will be an interesting experience i assume, i will start Tuesday with this new assignment. Art isn't that big of a subject here so it will be difficult teaching students something that they don't really care about but some are very good so hopefully there will understanding and some excitement for a class that is basically based on effort not really getting something correct. i hope that they start to enjoy doing art like i enjoy being creative.
So about home.....i live with a lady and her baby her name is Stella she is in her late 20s and Elma is a rambunctious almost 2 year old. it is interesting at times but totally always fun making a kid hyper and playing. We share a house with 2 rooms. A sitting room and a bedroom. so there we are 3 of us in a small bedroom with 2 huge beds and lots of stuff...you know ladies always have stuff :) i have recently built a shelving unit for all my stuff and packed the suit cases under the bed. it was an interesting adventure to build and only took a month of work here and there but it is done and i am quite proud of my not so straight shelf. we do have a bathing room in the house so i carry water into the house and splash around to get clean whenever i feel hot and sweaty....which is all the time. Torit is a very hot place we are in cool/rainy season and its 73 outside....a cool day. the only time it is cool is after the rain...which isn't that often. we share a pit latrine with the neighbors 4 other houses and so there isn't much of a line....unless you really have to go then there always seems to be someone else using it. However there is one being built in the yard right outside the house but it is taking much longer than we all expected...hopefully someday ill be able to use it and stop carrying toilet paper around. but there is no power or water at home at many houses so mine isn't any different. we get river water for bathing and washing from donkeys who cart it from the river and i have been drinking and cooking with borehole/well water from a reliable pump....its in someones house so i just carry containers over and usually have a ride home cause they are super heavy :) it has been working out well.
I was sick for a while who knows from what but after 2 different series of drugs and some crazy rash on my face and neck i am finally feeling better and look better as well. I have recently bought a solar light for charging my phone and having a light at home so things are getting brighter :)
The past 6 months have been rather uneventful...just working at school and settling into life here. some days are better or worse than others but overall things are good. it is difficult to make friends but slowly they are coming up and hopefully be mutual benefiting. There are a few missionary families which i have had the privilege of getting to know and building relationships with. without them this place would be very difficult. But when there is a bad day just a cup of tea and a listening ear is always a good thing.
I have gone to Juba for work permit issues and been blessed to fly there and not have to experience the 4 hour drive many times. It is always nice to get somewhere in 30 minutes and not sweat in the bumpy 4 hour ride...so thanks MAF (mission aviation fellowship).
Sorry it has taken me long to write....but some prayer requests i have are...
1. making friendships that are meaningful
2. school, i would feel like i am being useful and not just wasting my time sitting around a lot
3. home that the latrine would be finished
so until next time......xoxo
" I did not give you a spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of self-discipline" 2 Timothy 1:7
