Dear Friends,
Okay, something has become clear to me tonight, thanks to a friend of mine in Seattle. I Facebooked that some people are early and some people are late. She pointed out to me that this has to do with kairos time and not chronos (chronological) time. Kairos is more God time.
Living in a new way, a different way, different, different, different. The housecleaner woman came an hour and a half early this morning. I was in bed. The water people have not brought back the brand new water machine that broke the second day I had it. They picked it up on Sunday and this is Thursday, tomorrow is their Holy Day and they aren't going to bring it then. The woman who I was supposed to call after the housecleaning woman left so we could go do something had her cell phone off the hook all afternoon.
Oh Lord, I am trying to be a good sport about it all. People keep wanting me to be settled into the apartment. Having water I can wash vegetables with so I can cook is part of that settled in -- I need the water machine to get organized. I can't use the tap water even for washing the food because it might have guardia (is that the correct spelling for the little micro beasties?).
So I am praying tonight to come to love kairotic time and not demand to live on chronos time. Grrrr.
Blessings,
Debbie
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
The Earth is Slower Here
Dear Friends,
The traffic is mad and crazy here and people are always walking about, on their way to and fro, from somewhere going to somewhere. On the other hand, there is a sense of timelessness here and a different sense of movement. I am sure this is in part why it is taking almost a week for my brand new water machine to be repaired. There is not a Western sense of urgency here. Things will be done when they are done.
In chapel this morning at the college I was aware of what a privilege it is that this is the place to which God has called me. The men and women here are solid and they are on a path. I am at the margins of life, and this for me is where life is the most vibrant and full of color. By the time the margins reach the center there is too much to lose. The center has become the status quo and is invested in remaining the same. Here is Sudan there is hope for change. At this little college in Khartoum the students ARE the change.
I don't know how different the poverty would be in the country if the British had not colonized Sudan. My understanding is that colonized countries often struggle with the realities of independence for a long time after the occupying country has left their lands. Would it have been a different story if Great Britain had not come here in the first place? Of course the reality is that GB did come so that there is no way to know what things would have been like otherwise.
Wahiba drove me to some remote, dusty and impoverished areas of greater Khartoum today. In its own way in the dust, the brownness, and the occasional burst of green growth in the form of a tree, this place is beautiful. It is so different from the West that there is simply no way to describe it adequately. I am hopeful that some of the pictures which I took today will aid the descriptions. It is a land of donkeys, goats and cows. It is a land of women in tobes. It is a land of men in the long white gowns and coverings on their heads. It is a land of extreme poverty. It is also a land of hope.
I realized today with a chuckle that if I do not feel called to serve the wealthy it means that I am not going to be wealthy. I am going to be on the margins. But, I have known before that the margins have been for me where life is. And beauty. Brokenness and healing. Hospitality and love.
The African dresses that I will soon be wearing are in a sense the reflection of all that this continent is for me so far, and I believe that my awareness and oneness will only deepen and grow. The dresses are colorful, comfortable, not form fitting but still attractive, made for the hot weather that is here. A hot climate produces both dust and color.
Blessings,
Debbie
The traffic is mad and crazy here and people are always walking about, on their way to and fro, from somewhere going to somewhere. On the other hand, there is a sense of timelessness here and a different sense of movement. I am sure this is in part why it is taking almost a week for my brand new water machine to be repaired. There is not a Western sense of urgency here. Things will be done when they are done.
In chapel this morning at the college I was aware of what a privilege it is that this is the place to which God has called me. The men and women here are solid and they are on a path. I am at the margins of life, and this for me is where life is the most vibrant and full of color. By the time the margins reach the center there is too much to lose. The center has become the status quo and is invested in remaining the same. Here is Sudan there is hope for change. At this little college in Khartoum the students ARE the change.
I don't know how different the poverty would be in the country if the British had not colonized Sudan. My understanding is that colonized countries often struggle with the realities of independence for a long time after the occupying country has left their lands. Would it have been a different story if Great Britain had not come here in the first place? Of course the reality is that GB did come so that there is no way to know what things would have been like otherwise.
Wahiba drove me to some remote, dusty and impoverished areas of greater Khartoum today. In its own way in the dust, the brownness, and the occasional burst of green growth in the form of a tree, this place is beautiful. It is so different from the West that there is simply no way to describe it adequately. I am hopeful that some of the pictures which I took today will aid the descriptions. It is a land of donkeys, goats and cows. It is a land of women in tobes. It is a land of men in the long white gowns and coverings on their heads. It is a land of extreme poverty. It is also a land of hope.
I realized today with a chuckle that if I do not feel called to serve the wealthy it means that I am not going to be wealthy. I am going to be on the margins. But, I have known before that the margins have been for me where life is. And beauty. Brokenness and healing. Hospitality and love.
The African dresses that I will soon be wearing are in a sense the reflection of all that this continent is for me so far, and I believe that my awareness and oneness will only deepen and grow. The dresses are colorful, comfortable, not form fitting but still attractive, made for the hot weather that is here. A hot climate produces both dust and color.
Blessings,
Debbie
Out and About.....in Khartoum
This is a picture from the Khartoum International Church. Anybody can attend the church, including locals. If you look closely behind the pulpit at the back (which is considered the front) there is an awesome cross cut-out in the wall!
The Nile River.
The Nile River.
One of the bridges over the Nile River.Tuesday, October 27, 2009
I found out that I have to have a license for photographing so my Swiss friend took this picture of me in the souk. The man to my left is one of her friends that she buys produce from. The fruits and veggies are both available in the same place, unlike in China.
I took this picture just as the lizard bolted behind the kettle and out of view of the camera.
If you look down in the picture at the dark area which is the stovetop, the little beast scurried between that stovetop and the wall. I really don't understand how it could have become so small....
lizards, lizards and more lizards!
Dear Friends,
I'll try and and get another blog entry with the places that lizards have been in my kitchen today....they are too quick for my camera....there have been three sightings today. AND tonight I first heard the infamous "click, click" which is the sound of a lizard. I went cautiously into to the kitchen that is separate from the apartment and stamped my foot, causing the lizard to scurry from sight under the cabinets. Clearly I am going to have to get all of the food into airtight containers --- really soon!
I went to the souk (marketplace) today with the new Swiss friend who is moving now in two weeks. As wonderful as it is to spend time with Patris' sister, a native Sudanese, it is also helpful to see things from the perspective of another ex-pat. Her awareness is what it is like to be new here and tentative about many things. For Patris' sister this is totally home.
Well, I must say, the souk was totally overwhelming. In many ways it reminded me of East Jerusalem, the old city, the Arab Jerusalem, except that the old city is covered and this souk is not. The vegetable and fruit markets in China are separate, this marketplace had both fruits and vegetables.
Just as in China I realize it is going to take me time to figure out what to get where and to write a good shopping list for the long haul. We went to a grocer and I found some things there. Christine, my Swiss guide, said it is a good store where they do not overcharge. On the way home we stopped at a shop for freshly made bread that is similar to pita bread, and FALAFEL!!! This shop will be on my way home from the college....I see what my wonderful succulent dinners will taste like when I am teaching -- a feast!
Christine was good at helping me orient to the quadrant of the city where I'll mostly be. The street that the college is on is very long. At one end is the college and then at the other end are some small grocers and the pizza places. In between are furniture shops, a stationers shop, appliance shops. I can find various ways to get home from there, one of which goes by the fresh bread and falafel shop, others of which go through the souk. It will just take time to get used to a new place. We also passed a shop that does pedicures, haven't found a hair place yet....
I have seen soooo many donkeys today! The little beasts must be easy to keep because I've seen no horses or ponies. I think of Jesus each time, choosing the humble donkey for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I think the donkey was conveying a very specific message. A King is to be a servant, not an oppressor.
Blessings,
Debbie
I'll try and and get another blog entry with the places that lizards have been in my kitchen today....they are too quick for my camera....there have been three sightings today. AND tonight I first heard the infamous "click, click" which is the sound of a lizard. I went cautiously into to the kitchen that is separate from the apartment and stamped my foot, causing the lizard to scurry from sight under the cabinets. Clearly I am going to have to get all of the food into airtight containers --- really soon!
I went to the souk (marketplace) today with the new Swiss friend who is moving now in two weeks. As wonderful as it is to spend time with Patris' sister, a native Sudanese, it is also helpful to see things from the perspective of another ex-pat. Her awareness is what it is like to be new here and tentative about many things. For Patris' sister this is totally home.
Well, I must say, the souk was totally overwhelming. In many ways it reminded me of East Jerusalem, the old city, the Arab Jerusalem, except that the old city is covered and this souk is not. The vegetable and fruit markets in China are separate, this marketplace had both fruits and vegetables.
Just as in China I realize it is going to take me time to figure out what to get where and to write a good shopping list for the long haul. We went to a grocer and I found some things there. Christine, my Swiss guide, said it is a good store where they do not overcharge. On the way home we stopped at a shop for freshly made bread that is similar to pita bread, and FALAFEL!!! This shop will be on my way home from the college....I see what my wonderful succulent dinners will taste like when I am teaching -- a feast!
Christine was good at helping me orient to the quadrant of the city where I'll mostly be. The street that the college is on is very long. At one end is the college and then at the other end are some small grocers and the pizza places. In between are furniture shops, a stationers shop, appliance shops. I can find various ways to get home from there, one of which goes by the fresh bread and falafel shop, others of which go through the souk. It will just take time to get used to a new place. We also passed a shop that does pedicures, haven't found a hair place yet....
I have seen soooo many donkeys today! The little beasts must be easy to keep because I've seen no horses or ponies. I think of Jesus each time, choosing the humble donkey for his triumphant entry into Jerusalem. I think the donkey was conveying a very specific message. A King is to be a servant, not an oppressor.
Blessings,
Debbie
Monday, October 26, 2009
Khartoum International Church
Dear Friends,
Last night I went with new friends to the International Church in Khartoum. The couple is international, he from New Zealand and she from Switzerland. They have three lovely children, it is so nice to be around kids again!
I am coming to see now that probably most major international cities have International Fellowships or Churches -- and this likely includes cities in the United States. I really like the international churches because they are truly international. There were people from Germany, India, Switzerland, New Zealand, the states, etc. there. And the very best part is that this church is not for passport holders only, the Sudanese people are welcome to attend, worship and participate. That is very important to me!
I will still get to some other churches in the area, the services are apparently in English in other churches as well. Perhaps I will ultimately strike a balance of the international community two Sundays a month, and another church the others. It remains to be seen. I need to have a better balance here in Khartoum than I did in Nanjing. In Nanjing the majority of my friends were Chinese and it was a detriment to not be able to feed the part of me that needed my own culture. I don't want to swing the other direction here and have only international friends, I want a balance. I am NOT Sudanese and I need to value and respect that, on the other hand I am not here to insulate myself from my host culture and I need to value and respect that as well.
Springboarding off from these thoughts is the issue of Scripture and culture. In Nanjing I discovered that I did not know if encouraging children is Scriptural or Western. This is something I must find out more about.
Today I learned the lay of the land a wee bit more. Patris came with the water machine men. They took the water machine away to hopefully fix it and then Patris and I walked to the Western Union office and a small grocer. While I am a distance from the college (especially in the heat here in Sudan mind you) at least things are laid out fairly well. Western Union and the grocer are straight ahead about two blocks from my front gate, one to the left and one to the right. The college is to the right, straight down from the grocer. And the pizza places are to the left. I could hardly believe it but the one pizza place where I have been was closed today, but to the rescue there was another one across the street! Who knew? Two pizza places across the street from each other!
After church last night the family took me with them to get take-out. I am in seventh heaven! I found hummous and falafel. When I asked Christine how to get hold of lentils and hummous and falafel she told me that while I can buy them ready made it is really cheap to make them myself. I can get the ingredients in the souk (marketplace). So tomorrow morning she is going to walk me to the souk and introduce me to merchants and help me find the stuff I need. Oh Lord, I am going to have to learn to cook! But it will probably be worth it to be able to eat this good Middle Eastern food!
So now I am waiting for my new bookcase to be delivered -- but I am also learning here in Sudan that the norm is for things NOT to happen when they were supposed to. And I have got the music from Mamma Mia! running through my brain -- it is about driving me crazy! I am probably going to have to watch the movie for the third time in a week just to try and get it out of my mind!
Blessings,
Debbie
Last night I went with new friends to the International Church in Khartoum. The couple is international, he from New Zealand and she from Switzerland. They have three lovely children, it is so nice to be around kids again!
I am coming to see now that probably most major international cities have International Fellowships or Churches -- and this likely includes cities in the United States. I really like the international churches because they are truly international. There were people from Germany, India, Switzerland, New Zealand, the states, etc. there. And the very best part is that this church is not for passport holders only, the Sudanese people are welcome to attend, worship and participate. That is very important to me!
I will still get to some other churches in the area, the services are apparently in English in other churches as well. Perhaps I will ultimately strike a balance of the international community two Sundays a month, and another church the others. It remains to be seen. I need to have a better balance here in Khartoum than I did in Nanjing. In Nanjing the majority of my friends were Chinese and it was a detriment to not be able to feed the part of me that needed my own culture. I don't want to swing the other direction here and have only international friends, I want a balance. I am NOT Sudanese and I need to value and respect that, on the other hand I am not here to insulate myself from my host culture and I need to value and respect that as well.
Springboarding off from these thoughts is the issue of Scripture and culture. In Nanjing I discovered that I did not know if encouraging children is Scriptural or Western. This is something I must find out more about.
Today I learned the lay of the land a wee bit more. Patris came with the water machine men. They took the water machine away to hopefully fix it and then Patris and I walked to the Western Union office and a small grocer. While I am a distance from the college (especially in the heat here in Sudan mind you) at least things are laid out fairly well. Western Union and the grocer are straight ahead about two blocks from my front gate, one to the left and one to the right. The college is to the right, straight down from the grocer. And the pizza places are to the left. I could hardly believe it but the one pizza place where I have been was closed today, but to the rescue there was another one across the street! Who knew? Two pizza places across the street from each other!
After church last night the family took me with them to get take-out. I am in seventh heaven! I found hummous and falafel. When I asked Christine how to get hold of lentils and hummous and falafel she told me that while I can buy them ready made it is really cheap to make them myself. I can get the ingredients in the souk (marketplace). So tomorrow morning she is going to walk me to the souk and introduce me to merchants and help me find the stuff I need. Oh Lord, I am going to have to learn to cook! But it will probably be worth it to be able to eat this good Middle Eastern food!
So now I am waiting for my new bookcase to be delivered -- but I am also learning here in Sudan that the norm is for things NOT to happen when they were supposed to. And I have got the music from Mamma Mia! running through my brain -- it is about driving me crazy! I am probably going to have to watch the movie for the third time in a week just to try and get it out of my mind!
Blessings,
Debbie
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Fruit stands like this are prolific, often with five or six of them in a row.
Women sell tea at small tables on street corners and in parks. In this park there were groups of men and some women and children enjoying their tea.
There are many kinds of trees in Khartoum, this was a palm tree lined street. It was lovely!
Another beautiful kind of tree, lots of shade.
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