Teacher Training

thank you all for your prayers for teacher training. in many ways this particular training was all new for us. we had double the participants from various schools, two streams of classes, and a team from the U.S. coming to help in the teaching.

we had a great group of teachers, eager to learn and grow. they engaged in teaching strategies and learning styles. as a theme for the week, we discussed how Christ's love for us impacts our relationships with students.

the teachers spoke enthusiastically of what they had learned, and we had many requests to extend the next training to a few weeks. not sure we're ready for that, but i'm so thankful for our time with these teachers and excited to see how God will use them in their schools.

IndepenDANCE

july 9th was south sudan's independence day! it was exciting to be in mundri and celebrate the newly independent country with friends. 


here are some pictures to walk you through our day, beginning with a feast and ending, of course, with a bit of DANCING!

andrew and his family welcome us to celebrate with them.

i sat next to the tribal chief.

and ate corn on the cob.

bethany and i made some chocolate chip cookies. they were enjoyed by all.

especially the ladies :)

after lunch, we headed to town to join the crowds, just in time for dancing.

we moved from group to group, checking out the different tribal dances.

gaby had the best view.

Do It Again

as a kid, i remember my dad tickling me until i couldn’t breath. i would laugh and laugh uncontrollably, and with my last gasp of air beg him to stop...all the while wanting him to do it again.

(foto, pictured above, can’t get enough of heidi’s tickles :)

heidi recently lead our team in a night of worship and prayer. she encouraged us to share our “do it again” moments, those which we want to live over and over again. we all had different things to share... wonders in God’s creation, the familiar and predictable routine of family, or things that simply reminded us of loved ones. 

what one person would consider mundane, everyday rhythms are sometimes extraordinary treasures to another.

(though he can’t quite reach the seat, martin pedals like a pro, riding a bike for the first time.)   

one reason i loved working with preschoolers was their ability to see the world through fresh eyes. they would point out the tiniest insect or an intricate spider web that i would have normally overlooked or even found bothersome.

what God reveals to one may not be obvious to his neighbor. sometimes we need a little help (from a child or from a friend) to see the blessings around us.

(bethany and i model the ever-fashionable paper disguises.)

i’m thankful for my day with foto and martin, who remind me to be childlike. and i’m thankful for the gift of teammates, sharing in our differences, bringing attention to our daily joys, and together giving thanks for God’s goodness.

Kotobi

this was my second week teaching at kotobi teacher college. since english is now the official language of the new south sudan, teachers are required to take courses as part of their training. and i get to help! 

they are such a fun group, eager to learn and ready to participate in my activities. pray for my relationships with these teachers, that they would be encouraged in their studies, and that God would be growing them as leaders to impact their community.

Time of the Season

as rainy days are more frequent and the heat of the dry season is behind us, it’s planting time here in mundri. everyone is busy in their gardens, tilling the soil and planting seeds.

mary shows off her newly sprouted garden.

children head to school, hoe in hand, ready to dig in their school garden.

even liana and i have embraced our inner farmer, sowing flower seeds behind the new school house.

i love this season. the long rains. the cool mornings. all things new and hopeful. it’s refreshing to see beautiful mundri, covered in green again. 

Run It

juba was hosting their first-ever race last weekend, so our team took the opportunity to participate in such an event. the 5 hour drive to the big city was not exactly pleasant. forging along the never-ending dirt road through miles of bush and nothingness, crossing rivers, weaving around potholes. we keep our spirits up singing flashbacks of the 80’s and 90’s, until finally... a smooth, paved road is ready to greet us in juba.  

the morning of the race, we arrive at the stadium and take a moment to survey the small crowd. an almost equal representation of nationals and ex-pats, some dressed in serious runner attire, stretching and jogging in preparation. and here we are, the hillbillies from mundri... a force to be reckoned with.

heidi and i were the designated cheer squad, supporting our fearless teammates and documenting the event. it was a hard job, but we did it.

and off our runners went, dodging traffic through the streets of juba, pressing on through the merciless heat. and championing over the finish line. so proud.

a trip to juba wouldn’t be complete without some food indulgences. i can't explain our zeal to see oranges and apples on the side of the road. and of course, a must when visiting juba...ice cream!

sunday morning bethany and i boarded the mundri “express” for what proved to be...let's say...entertaining. 

we arrived at the bus park sunday morning only to find our bus was, in fact, missing some tires. slightly concerning, but still, we are optimistic and manage to depart only an hour late. 

only a few minutes down the road, we are certain this will be an interesting journey back to mundri. 

to say we were jostled about would be an understatement. our bodies were in constant bouncing motion, and we became airborne more times than i could count....seriously, i mean, bottom out of the seat, almost hitting our head on the luggage rail above. good thing we brought a good sense of humor with us. 

a few hours later, our engine began to overheat, so we stopped at every borehole to pour water on the engine, or whatever they did. sometimes this was every 5 minutes. at this point, we were hoping to just make it home before dark.

needless to say, we formed a bond with our fellow moru passengers. bethany sat next to a woman who was rather persistent in hopes of arranging a marriage between her and her brother.

8 hours later, we arrive in mundri...with laughs and fond memories of mundri "express."

My Boys

what a blessing to be home for a month! 
this is camden, my newest nephew. 

born april 10th, weighing 6 lbs. 9 oz.

i spent my days cuddling and rocking him, kissing feet, squeezing cheeks, giving baths, taking an obsessive amount of pictures, and doing all the things an auntie is supposed to do.

a few days later was dominick's first birthday. man, has he grown!

walking everywhere, into everything, and needing help from no one, he is all boy. he prefers to be outdoors, is fascinated by squirrels, and can play with a pool noodle for hours.

such a sweet time with both of my boys.

although my weeks at home seemed to fly by, it was time well spent with family. grateful to see everyone and play auntie for a while.