Ok so some people have noted that I have not mentioned God a lot in my previous blogs. This is not accidental but entirely intentional. This blog is a shy bit more revealing than other blogs and I may live to wish I had withheld some of what I am going to say. But I have tried to keep this blog honest, and live like a relatively open book. And seeing as most of our younger generations don't really read many books, a blog seems to be the sensible medium.
I am having a very difficult faith journey here in Chad. I had previously thought that coming to Chad would be about all I need to do To strengthen my walk with God, and that he would then seize everything here in my life and use it to touch me and change me and open my eyes to his will. Though I have been touched and I'm moving all the time, I don't feel as though I've really come to know God any better than I had when I was in Canada.
Part of the reason, if not the entire reason, I came to Chad was to challenge the faith I had and try to allow it to mature. See as many Christians I was raised in a Christian home, and have been hearing Bible stories for as long as I can remember. I heard stories about Santa, and cautionary tales to dissuade me from eating apple seeds on threat of a tree growing out of my chest. At some point we are responsible to analyze things and assess their validity.
And so I look at the world around me, I know that when I look at the earth and the creatures that inhabit it, I am looking that the intentional and wonderful creation of God. I cannot deny the evidence of his hands. And so I believe in God.
I then ask myself about what kind of God is he? Is he a God of anger and wrath? Love and mercy? Does he demand animal sacrifices? personal sacrifices? or is he content with my love and belief? I cannot humor the thought that I could confidently eliminate any of these traits from this list. Although I do believe that I am not expected to make animal sacrifices and that Gods greats qualities are his love and mercy. Which lead me to His son Jesus and the Holy Spirit. And This is where I start to lose my footing. See I have grown believing that Jesus is my soul salvation and that through his love we are made clean, and in that grace we are able to know God.
But lately I have felt a lack of clarity on many of the fundamental pieces. I came to Chad because I believe that we are most able to hear God when we are silent. That when I am not playing video games or vainly attending my Facebook, I may better hear Gods whisper. And so I removed myself from these comforts, that once grouped together create a static buzz that occupy my mind all thought the day. I also believe that God is most audible when we are made vulnerable, when we are poor in spirit and needing his water to quench our thirst. And so I have come to a desert. I feel very isolated at times, and am ill more often than not.(I am of course exaggerating, but I'm on a rant, let me run with it a bit) That is to say that much of my time here is spent in a poor spirit(Not all of my time, not even half of my time, I have found great joy here as well, this fact just doesn't help my train of thought).
So why do I not hear God. A better question is what does hearing God look like? I don't expect to hear a deep set voice in the wind. I don't expect flaming shrubbery, so what should I expect. There have been some fantastic people that have helped me struggle with this question. And I think the most rational response is to look for his love through his actions. I have seen action, external events of divine grace, as well as internal personal changes. They man not live up to divine by many standards but I find great significance in them. But I also feel that there is enough literature to suggest that I will come to know Gods love for me personally. That there is an overwhelming grace and love that the Holy Spirit will fill me with. I cannot honestly say that I now know this love, and it is this love that both drives me towards Christ and also away.
See my biblically informed self tells me that I am looking for God in the wrong way, and that I have brought expectations for God to meet that God may not have planned to meet for me right now, and that perhaps he has other things he is trying to show me. It is very possible that I am simply overlooking these lessons, that I am missing his love while I wait and cry for him to show me some other self-serving lesson. Like how do I find energy in him. On one hand I have learned many things during these past 8 months that I did not expect to. I had so many lessons planned out for God to teach me, and knew exactly how I would grow. Turns out I knew nothing. That each lesson has been on a entirely new perspective (and yes I will expand on these lessons later) than what I had expected and that these lessons have changed me in ways I had not anticipated. So how can I be discouraged by God's deviation from MY curriculum. On the other hand, I feel that what I am searching for is not some grand lesson that one finds after incredible exposure and thorough insight, but rather the most integral aspect of faith. I feel that this love should be something I know without doubt and can share with joy. I have been told knock and the door shall be opened, I feel like I’m searching for a secret knock.
These are my struggles and I appreciate any encouragement or feedback you may have to offer.
Thursday, 5 April 2012
Friday, 24 February 2012
Where did February go?
So I was told that my blog has been a bit slack lately, here is my remedy. First I want to share a memory, I don’t know if I put it in an earlier post, If I did, please just bear with me. It’s the memory of my first test here, first of all writing a test for students is a new feeling. Trying to capture what we’ve been working on together and thinking about who will be strive where and who will struggle on other parts is all a new feeling. But the bit that was really interesting was when I tried to hand them all out to my class. I did it at the very end of the day, noob mistake, didn’t review it in class, just stood at the door with all of the 50+ copies in my hand. Well it was a stampede, there were students climbing over desks to get their exam, it was mass hysteria and completely hilarious. I’ve now changed my methods, but part of my wants to see the chaos again. Pretty jokes. My classes have been getting pretty good lately. I had a day the other week when I was feeling completely without energy. I walked into my class and they were all yelling and not ready to start class, usually I’d run in there, guns-a-blazzin but I had no guns, I could not blaze. I just stood there sizing up the anarchy and wondering how I would tackle it. I just stood at the door, far beyond a moment’s hesitation, I just stood there. Then it donned on me that some of the students were settling very intentionally. I was pulling the “I’m just going to wait until you’re all ready” attack without knowing it. So I decided to fully commit to it, and put on the appropriate face and tried to make eye contact with the louder students. It ended up as one of my quieter class. All this goes to teach me that sometimes doing nothing really IS a valid option. Haha I’m sure that will help me out again in life.
I also had an amazing class with my oldest age group. I sometimes feel that the curriculum here tries to cover too many grammar points in a year meaning that the students forget what they’ve learned very quickly. I feel like I have taught the same “simple present” to each of my classes like it was the first time. But that is a relatively uninformed opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. But the other day we were working on the Simple Past, John walkED to school. He did not walk to school. And other similar activities John has done in the past. ( I know I should use names that the students can relate to more easily, but I just think of all the stories of John I learned, how can I rob the student’s here of hearing the heroic tales of John (could also be that I’m too afraid of misspelling local names on the board)) It was a review before their exam this Saturday, and I just reviewed the essential points, and gave a few exercises. Normally I have a ton of issues getting the students to work, have to walk around and tell like half the class to start and stand over a few shoulders. I also have an unbelieveable problem with students talking in the classroom, but this class was different. Learning was in the air, like an incredibly contagious fever it took hold. Yes there was a lot of talking, but almost all of it was about the work, and the students were really applying themselves, and they were asking me questions and asking me to review their work and explain what they had done wrong. By the end of the class I was laughing with joy in the middle of class, which sounds nice, but I realize was really wired, I’m not sure how I would respond if my teacher just started laughing looking at my work…
I’m in the process of organizing a visit from my parents, and also confirming return flights home. Last month I was really feeling like I’m just living here and not looking at the end of my stay here, but in the few weeks with all of the planning I realize that my stay here is not a long one, and that my time here to really experience Chad and know the people here is going to end sooner than I will be ready for. So as of late I’ve been making more of an effort to build relationships with the people around me. It’s not been easy, who knew I was so awkward lol. But I’m trying to find someone my own age to talk to. It has been a fruitless mission so far. I’m not sure why that is, there was a time that I could blame my linguistic limitations, but then I think of a friend from high school, he was Korean and his English was practically perfect, but every blunder he made was awesome and became part of his charm. I’m hoping that I’ll soon be the foreign guy who is kind of charmingly new to the language instead of just dumb.
I think my life here is getting to feel routine which is why I have not blogged lately, it’s like when somebody you haven’t seen in a while asks you what’s new, but you look at your life of late and it all feels so routine, you can’t think of anything to mention. I feel like that, like I’ve already exhausted all of the cool stories and now just have my basic medical and emotional updates to share. And do you really want to know how erratic my emotions have been of lately? Some days I feel like I’m in grade nine again and my own mind feels like a strange place, that I’m in a new school and everything is new, all the rules have changed. Every experience is so susceptible to my mood and perspective for that day I am hesitant to draw any finalized conclusions about anything. I don’t want to give the impression that I’m like this all the time, there are just days every once in a while that I look back at and have to laugh at. Yup, so I’ve got some serious laundry to get to, some bed sheets that need to be washed, looks like my day is BOOKED. Thanks for reading.
OH WOW, need to tell you about my nature weekend last week… can’t believe I almost let that slide, what a knob! Yeah so I’ve been spending some time at a missionary hospital here that is a little bit out in the bush. I have heard tales that they have seen chameleons on the grounds but I had only seen one on the road months ago. It was an awesome sight, but I wanted to see one again. The last few trips I’ve taken a walk around trees looking for one. One of the maintenance crew gentlemen saw me looking up in the tree and came over and chatted with me. Turns out this guy has the eye, I was staring at this bush for like 15 mins and saw nothing. He then told me he saw one and it took me a full minute of staring at one spot that he was pointing at to actually see my green friend. It was so well camouflaged I fear I’ll never spot one again without the aid of a far more attentive eye. But yeah, we got him out, which he was not happy about initially, but he warmed up to us. We got some great video of him climbing the tree and other fun pictures. We named him Boy George. When we put him back on the ground by the tree he changed from a lime green-yellow to a solid green with really strong dark highlights all along his back. He changed so quickly too. It’s all on video. That night I was sitting with some of the staff enjoying some post dinner conversation when I saw it on the screen. I tell you I could only see the underbelly, but I knew. He was about 4 inches long and had a bizarre form. Yes, it was a camel spider!! (I’m thinking of the lady from my big fat greek weeding “yes, it was my twin”) If you have not seen one, go now, and google that bad boy. It will haunt you. I went outside to investigate but was too terrified to catch him. (I was such an intense blend of sheer joy and terror, I’m told my reaction was a sight to remember) That night me and Rob McAlister went to his house and watched “last of the moheekens” (yes I butched the spelling, but if you sound it out you know what I’m trying to say, anyhow great movie, loved it) as we were cleaning up, we me Laurence, Little camel spider about an inch long. We captured him built him a little home in a coffee tin with a looking glass lid engineered by Rob. I’ve been told that one day this week during feeding, Laurence made a daring escape, but I am not distraught, for Rob has captured Laurence 2.0. His body is an estimated 3 inches landing him around 6 inches from creepy leg tip to creepy leg tip. I wasn’t going to go to the hospital this weekend, but I think that I have no choice now. I must meet the new instalment to our family. K I have to get to these sheets. Much love!
I also had an amazing class with my oldest age group. I sometimes feel that the curriculum here tries to cover too many grammar points in a year meaning that the students forget what they’ve learned very quickly. I feel like I have taught the same “simple present” to each of my classes like it was the first time. But that is a relatively uninformed opinion, so take it with a grain of salt. But the other day we were working on the Simple Past, John walkED to school. He did not walk to school. And other similar activities John has done in the past. ( I know I should use names that the students can relate to more easily, but I just think of all the stories of John I learned, how can I rob the student’s here of hearing the heroic tales of John (could also be that I’m too afraid of misspelling local names on the board)) It was a review before their exam this Saturday, and I just reviewed the essential points, and gave a few exercises. Normally I have a ton of issues getting the students to work, have to walk around and tell like half the class to start and stand over a few shoulders. I also have an unbelieveable problem with students talking in the classroom, but this class was different. Learning was in the air, like an incredibly contagious fever it took hold. Yes there was a lot of talking, but almost all of it was about the work, and the students were really applying themselves, and they were asking me questions and asking me to review their work and explain what they had done wrong. By the end of the class I was laughing with joy in the middle of class, which sounds nice, but I realize was really wired, I’m not sure how I would respond if my teacher just started laughing looking at my work…
I’m in the process of organizing a visit from my parents, and also confirming return flights home. Last month I was really feeling like I’m just living here and not looking at the end of my stay here, but in the few weeks with all of the planning I realize that my stay here is not a long one, and that my time here to really experience Chad and know the people here is going to end sooner than I will be ready for. So as of late I’ve been making more of an effort to build relationships with the people around me. It’s not been easy, who knew I was so awkward lol. But I’m trying to find someone my own age to talk to. It has been a fruitless mission so far. I’m not sure why that is, there was a time that I could blame my linguistic limitations, but then I think of a friend from high school, he was Korean and his English was practically perfect, but every blunder he made was awesome and became part of his charm. I’m hoping that I’ll soon be the foreign guy who is kind of charmingly new to the language instead of just dumb.
I think my life here is getting to feel routine which is why I have not blogged lately, it’s like when somebody you haven’t seen in a while asks you what’s new, but you look at your life of late and it all feels so routine, you can’t think of anything to mention. I feel like that, like I’ve already exhausted all of the cool stories and now just have my basic medical and emotional updates to share. And do you really want to know how erratic my emotions have been of lately? Some days I feel like I’m in grade nine again and my own mind feels like a strange place, that I’m in a new school and everything is new, all the rules have changed. Every experience is so susceptible to my mood and perspective for that day I am hesitant to draw any finalized conclusions about anything. I don’t want to give the impression that I’m like this all the time, there are just days every once in a while that I look back at and have to laugh at. Yup, so I’ve got some serious laundry to get to, some bed sheets that need to be washed, looks like my day is BOOKED. Thanks for reading.
OH WOW, need to tell you about my nature weekend last week… can’t believe I almost let that slide, what a knob! Yeah so I’ve been spending some time at a missionary hospital here that is a little bit out in the bush. I have heard tales that they have seen chameleons on the grounds but I had only seen one on the road months ago. It was an awesome sight, but I wanted to see one again. The last few trips I’ve taken a walk around trees looking for one. One of the maintenance crew gentlemen saw me looking up in the tree and came over and chatted with me. Turns out this guy has the eye, I was staring at this bush for like 15 mins and saw nothing. He then told me he saw one and it took me a full minute of staring at one spot that he was pointing at to actually see my green friend. It was so well camouflaged I fear I’ll never spot one again without the aid of a far more attentive eye. But yeah, we got him out, which he was not happy about initially, but he warmed up to us. We got some great video of him climbing the tree and other fun pictures. We named him Boy George. When we put him back on the ground by the tree he changed from a lime green-yellow to a solid green with really strong dark highlights all along his back. He changed so quickly too. It’s all on video. That night I was sitting with some of the staff enjoying some post dinner conversation when I saw it on the screen. I tell you I could only see the underbelly, but I knew. He was about 4 inches long and had a bizarre form. Yes, it was a camel spider!! (I’m thinking of the lady from my big fat greek weeding “yes, it was my twin”) If you have not seen one, go now, and google that bad boy. It will haunt you. I went outside to investigate but was too terrified to catch him. (I was such an intense blend of sheer joy and terror, I’m told my reaction was a sight to remember) That night me and Rob McAlister went to his house and watched “last of the moheekens” (yes I butched the spelling, but if you sound it out you know what I’m trying to say, anyhow great movie, loved it) as we were cleaning up, we me Laurence, Little camel spider about an inch long. We captured him built him a little home in a coffee tin with a looking glass lid engineered by Rob. I’ve been told that one day this week during feeding, Laurence made a daring escape, but I am not distraught, for Rob has captured Laurence 2.0. His body is an estimated 3 inches landing him around 6 inches from creepy leg tip to creepy leg tip. I wasn’t going to go to the hospital this weekend, but I think that I have no choice now. I must meet the new instalment to our family. K I have to get to these sheets. Much love!
Saturday, 14 January 2012
bring it on 2012
So I put this off for a while, seems like a fair amount of significant events have passed in the last little while, and writing it all out seems intimidating. I don’t want to overstate or belittle anything. So begins my attempt at and interesting and accurate account of the last few weeks.
BAPTISM. So before I mention the actual baptism you must know of the events precede the event. I had 30 hours of a baptism class, in French, in the heat of the day, rounding my Sunday up to about 6-7 hours at church. It was pretty intense, the subject matter was well organized and not incredibly difficult but again I state that it was all in French which is exhausting. After completing this there were several interviews to evaluate my clarity of mind and biblical knowledge. Again in French and again made for an exhausting day. But after experiencing the actual baptism, I know that it worth it. The baptism was said to start at 6, which came to about 9 or so. The event was attended by an approximate five thousand with around 430 people being baptised. Crowd control was the Chadian boy scout hitting with sticks to drive the crowd back… awesome. They called our names and sat us in columns for rapid deployment. After everyone was seated we had a service. There were 23 church bodies represented, all of which had a representative come up and say something or lead a song. (the next day revealed an awesome sunburn restricted to half of my face) They then filed people out in groups of 20 out to the water, the host pastor said a quick word and all dunked at once. Then it was a pretty quick loud and high energy process, people singing clapping. It was incredible. Path through the crowd to a mass changing area(rice sacks sown together, 20 guys SO tightly packed, it was insanity), I sincerely doubt I’ll ever forget that walk. After changing came the pictures, a lot of people said I was the first white guy to be baptised there, I remain sceptical, but people were really excited to see me do it. A lot of pictures. Then to one church for a service/dance party. Then to our own churches for communion. Lots of people walking with us, it was the closest to celebrity status I will ever be. Then a bunch of people came back to our house for food and song until late at night. I slept like a champ that night.
CHRISTMAS So it was not Christmas. It was a lot of fun and I’m so grateful for the experience I had, but it was not Christmas, I straight missed it this year. Not a complaint! So Christmas here is awesome, not a gifts thing, it’s a family and community party bonanza(pronounced banan-za like part banana… you should be told) Christmas day was basically a 12 hour party starting at 5 pm through the night until the sun began to brighten the sky. It was a ton of singing songs and playing games. They play a lot of follow the leader style songs, they stand in the middle and the circle follows. Lots of reactions games, but all musically oriented. Very cool, very inclusive, very difficult for newcomers who don’t speak the indigenous language… It was really a lot of fun. They bought and killed a whole cow, we ate all night. It was a delicious jovial celebration the way I imagine much more appropriately celebrates Christ’s birth.
VACATION I’m so lazy, I don’t want to write anymore, but if I don’t, I risk forgetting details when I’m 30 (if you know me it’s likely I’ll start forgetting major details in about a week) and international assault from my mother. (if you’re in my mother’s home church group you should talk to her about her rage issues. now mom, read how many people have read this and now think you’re scary). So me and the amazing MCC team my new home town Chad and our team from Burkina Faso went to Benin for “a week”. Our airline cancelled three times. Once delaying our departure and two days adding another 5 days to the tail end of our trip. It was a really nice trip. It was wonderful getting to see the other people working in similar situations. We ate ice cream that almost brought a tear to my eye.(be it actual quality, or the “food tastes better when you’re hungry”) We spent some great time just hanging out, taking it slow. I can’t overstate how nice it was to see everyone. We did take a few day trips to take in a little history, we saw one of the major ports in the slave trade. Saw things like old tree’s the sold slaves would have to walk around as a sign of cleansing( the tree had medicinal elements to it used for cleaning wounds) their lives of Africa. It was pretty shattering. We have a pretty messed up history, and I always wonder what I would I have done if I was there, and what will my great grand kids look at in my life with disgust. We spent new year’s there, which was fun, we spent the whole time on our balcony watching all the little firework demonstrations around us.
GOAT…. I killed a goat. I won’t go into details other than a feel like a little of my inner child has died, but I feel like I’m one step closer to that ever elusive standard of “man”…. Maybe at least I’ll grow in some of the patchier areas of my beard.
Summation: Chad is great; I’m starting to really find some of the charm here. I still find things that make me double take, but I was talking to my mom on the phone and (and after one of her usual screaming fits in which she told me she was going to sell our cat just to upset me) I said that it is starting to feel like I’m living here. Not like I’m spending time here until I go home, but that I need to prepare an exam for my 6eme(one perk of teaching high school in the French system is that everyone calls me prof, I feel important) class and I want to see some of the people i would almost call friends. (I haven’t had the “define the relationship” talk yet, but soon…. Soon.) It’s good, thank you for all of your prayer and support.
BAPTISM. So before I mention the actual baptism you must know of the events precede the event. I had 30 hours of a baptism class, in French, in the heat of the day, rounding my Sunday up to about 6-7 hours at church. It was pretty intense, the subject matter was well organized and not incredibly difficult but again I state that it was all in French which is exhausting. After completing this there were several interviews to evaluate my clarity of mind and biblical knowledge. Again in French and again made for an exhausting day. But after experiencing the actual baptism, I know that it worth it. The baptism was said to start at 6, which came to about 9 or so. The event was attended by an approximate five thousand with around 430 people being baptised. Crowd control was the Chadian boy scout hitting with sticks to drive the crowd back… awesome. They called our names and sat us in columns for rapid deployment. After everyone was seated we had a service. There were 23 church bodies represented, all of which had a representative come up and say something or lead a song. (the next day revealed an awesome sunburn restricted to half of my face) They then filed people out in groups of 20 out to the water, the host pastor said a quick word and all dunked at once. Then it was a pretty quick loud and high energy process, people singing clapping. It was incredible. Path through the crowd to a mass changing area(rice sacks sown together, 20 guys SO tightly packed, it was insanity), I sincerely doubt I’ll ever forget that walk. After changing came the pictures, a lot of people said I was the first white guy to be baptised there, I remain sceptical, but people were really excited to see me do it. A lot of pictures. Then to one church for a service/dance party. Then to our own churches for communion. Lots of people walking with us, it was the closest to celebrity status I will ever be. Then a bunch of people came back to our house for food and song until late at night. I slept like a champ that night.
CHRISTMAS So it was not Christmas. It was a lot of fun and I’m so grateful for the experience I had, but it was not Christmas, I straight missed it this year. Not a complaint! So Christmas here is awesome, not a gifts thing, it’s a family and community party bonanza(pronounced banan-za like part banana… you should be told) Christmas day was basically a 12 hour party starting at 5 pm through the night until the sun began to brighten the sky. It was a ton of singing songs and playing games. They play a lot of follow the leader style songs, they stand in the middle and the circle follows. Lots of reactions games, but all musically oriented. Very cool, very inclusive, very difficult for newcomers who don’t speak the indigenous language… It was really a lot of fun. They bought and killed a whole cow, we ate all night. It was a delicious jovial celebration the way I imagine much more appropriately celebrates Christ’s birth.
VACATION I’m so lazy, I don’t want to write anymore, but if I don’t, I risk forgetting details when I’m 30 (if you know me it’s likely I’ll start forgetting major details in about a week) and international assault from my mother. (if you’re in my mother’s home church group you should talk to her about her rage issues. now mom, read how many people have read this and now think you’re scary). So me and the amazing MCC team my new home town Chad and our team from Burkina Faso went to Benin for “a week”. Our airline cancelled three times. Once delaying our departure and two days adding another 5 days to the tail end of our trip. It was a really nice trip. It was wonderful getting to see the other people working in similar situations. We ate ice cream that almost brought a tear to my eye.(be it actual quality, or the “food tastes better when you’re hungry”) We spent some great time just hanging out, taking it slow. I can’t overstate how nice it was to see everyone. We did take a few day trips to take in a little history, we saw one of the major ports in the slave trade. Saw things like old tree’s the sold slaves would have to walk around as a sign of cleansing( the tree had medicinal elements to it used for cleaning wounds) their lives of Africa. It was pretty shattering. We have a pretty messed up history, and I always wonder what I would I have done if I was there, and what will my great grand kids look at in my life with disgust. We spent new year’s there, which was fun, we spent the whole time on our balcony watching all the little firework demonstrations around us.
GOAT…. I killed a goat. I won’t go into details other than a feel like a little of my inner child has died, but I feel like I’m one step closer to that ever elusive standard of “man”…. Maybe at least I’ll grow in some of the patchier areas of my beard.
Summation: Chad is great; I’m starting to really find some of the charm here. I still find things that make me double take, but I was talking to my mom on the phone and (and after one of her usual screaming fits in which she told me she was going to sell our cat just to upset me) I said that it is starting to feel like I’m living here. Not like I’m spending time here until I go home, but that I need to prepare an exam for my 6eme(one perk of teaching high school in the French system is that everyone calls me prof, I feel important) class and I want to see some of the people i would almost call friends. (I haven’t had the “define the relationship” talk yet, but soon…. Soon.) It’s good, thank you for all of your prayer and support.
Friday, 16 December 2011
A lovely trip to Moundou
Ok, so I start another blog by noting that there has been a fair lapse between entries and again I say I’m sorry. I know that there are some people that read this blog and that it’s an easy way to track along with my trip. On the other hand it’s pretty well the only way I’m going to remember what happens here, and well gosh golly I’m going to be really peeved with my past self in the not too distant future when I start to forget about this trip. But this entry is my attempt to remember every detail of the events I shall now share. Behold: the story of my very first kidney stone!
So Naomi, Hannah (in country service workers with MCC, my own personal consulate) and I were travelling for a little vacation with another SALTer(service and learning together, it’s the program I’m here with (how many people are reading this and don’t know this already? A lot? In which case I feel like a jerk now)) working in Moundou. Moundou is about 6 and a half hours by bus and it’s one of the most interesting 6 and a half hours I’ve ever spent. I may even upload a pic (sceptical, I’m super tired right now and need to go to bed, so I press on). The bus it’s self wasn’t in horrible condition, it’s a pretty tight fit with everyone (5 across in each row) but it’s not bad. They have the little fold down half a seat that they use in every row that looks like it could really ruin your six hours. So we left pretty early in the morning, just before 7 when the day is still quite cool.
The road between hither and yon is much more the Africa I had anticipated, or at least the Africa you see in a magazine. Plains, not a single hill or bump, just straight horizon with the odd tree populating the grassy view. After we had passed a river and traveled further we then passed these little shanty towns that were incredible. Round mud walls with thatched roofs, all built round with thatched walls as barriers. And they’re so form the towns, it’s mind boggling. Yeah, I was just looking for a pic and realized that I took video’s cause they pass by the van too fast for me to get a decent picture timed. Sorry, I’ll have a big upload pictures day soon, not today, but soon. Today is almost over.
SO we arrived in Moundou around 230 (with stops and everything) and get our luggage from the top of the bus (people will carry anything on a vehicle if they have to, amazing, so interesting. There are people that cruise around with a goad in their lap while driving a moped, or a 20foot boat balancing on the roof of a flatbed truck… stack it up, or just hold on to it, but it will work) and walk to where we expect to find a ride. After we discover there has been some miss communication we are left to observe some rural life. This is the time when the president was in town (huge deal) and cops were driving around singing songs and such. They are usually so intimidating but that day they were so happy and a few waved at us, it was pretty much the coolest interaction I have ever had with an officer of the law (not that I have a lot of them or any more severe than some form of traffic violation), so needless to say we were happy to wait a bit and take in Moundou. Our ride did finally come and we found our way to the place we were staying. Dropped our bag in our rooms, and started planning the rest of our day. Naomi had an hour meeting so me and my other MCC peeps (Hannah, and Lisa) watched some Dr. Horrible (great musical, watch it…). Naomi finished, and we started planning dinner options when I decided that would be a sometime for one of my famous movements. I sat down, and within seconds started to feel this brutal pressure in my back. It’s crazy how fast the pain set, and shortly thereafter we had called for a doctor, found none, and instead called a local friend to drive us all to the doctors home.
Let me say that our driver was awesome. He was trying to get my there in the best time he could, but the roads there are dirt road and a roller coaster at 40kph. We were flying, all of us bumping off the doors and seats, all of which don’t agree with an angry kidney. We arrived at the doctor’s, but before we could even exit the car we were told that the doctor was not there and that we would have to try something else. Back across town, like a rally car we made it to another doctor’s home. We were ushered inside where someone told us that this doctor was also unavailable. To the hospital, another joyous drive across town.
We arrived at the hospital and were led to a room. Where I was greeted by a nurse who told me I’d have to wait, the ONLY doctor they had working was currently in surgery and… well, the other patient had priority. By this point I was unable to keep myself from displaying my discomfort. Really looked stupid. Anyhow, I was wheel chaired across the grounds to a private room. I’m not sure how long I actually waited for the doctor, but it felt like forever. MCC has some sweet emergency care systems set in place and were ready to have me medevaced out if it was deemed necessary. It was not. But through all of those wires crossing we heard about an American doctor who was in the area. Really kind guy who drove out and prescribed some medication (he later returned to check up on me, really nice guy). This was a source of tension when the incredibly overworked surgeon showed up. I felt bad that we went around him, but at the time I wasn’t really considering his reaction.
The next three days were a lot of fun, off and on again pain, a ton of IV and good times. After I passed the MICROSCOPIC(SO anticlimactic) stone it got easier. There are a TON of bathroom stories, but I’ll save those for face to face convo’s. There was one point then a nurse came in to drain the blood out of my IV ( I was standing too much) and chose to drain it into my bed pan. As he did so he dropped the line into the pan, and proceeded to try and put the line back in my arm without cleaning it. I am glad Naomi was there for that, she would have started throwing first before shed let that happen. I don’t kow how beig of a deal that actually was, but I was a little thrown by it.
SO we were ready to leave on the third day, the end of our trip. We left in the afternoon after the doctor gave me the green light, and I spent the evening enjoying a lovely meal with my now very well acquainted friends. The next morning we were up early and caught the bus back home. We were a bit late and suffered the midday heat all the more this time. Just to add to the experience on the ride home Naomi was stuck behind a very large woman in the half-a-seat and shoulder to shoulder with a breast feeding mother who did not stop feeding her child for the entire trip and our driver was Muslim, which meant we stopped several times for prayers, which was actually pretty cool. Saw mosques in different settings, different gatherings. They were pretty short.
After we had gotten well into the middle of nowhere we popped a tire. I started to run through the lion attack in my mind, but in no time at all the driver and friends ( in know a car like I know open heart surgery, I’ve seen some general actions modeled on TV) had the tire changed and we were on our way. After another half hour the bus dies completely. SO far from town I start to get uncomfortable, but we wait. I am looking out my window when I see our driver on the back of a moto driving the direction we had just come from. A brief wave of panic flushed over me but I realized that there is no danger, just inconvenience, so we waited for his return…spark plug I think, new one worked fine. We arrived after a little over nine hours a little stiff and pretty tired.
That is my kidney stone story, sorry it was so long, if you read it all you’re incredible, if you didn’t that cool, I wrote it all out to remind me of any details I’ll forget with time. It is night and I’m bagged. I’m getting baptized this Sunday which will also be a huge event, deserving a blog and photos and yadda yadda. Sleep.
So Naomi, Hannah (in country service workers with MCC, my own personal consulate) and I were travelling for a little vacation with another SALTer(service and learning together, it’s the program I’m here with (how many people are reading this and don’t know this already? A lot? In which case I feel like a jerk now)) working in Moundou. Moundou is about 6 and a half hours by bus and it’s one of the most interesting 6 and a half hours I’ve ever spent. I may even upload a pic (sceptical, I’m super tired right now and need to go to bed, so I press on). The bus it’s self wasn’t in horrible condition, it’s a pretty tight fit with everyone (5 across in each row) but it’s not bad. They have the little fold down half a seat that they use in every row that looks like it could really ruin your six hours. So we left pretty early in the morning, just before 7 when the day is still quite cool.
The road between hither and yon is much more the Africa I had anticipated, or at least the Africa you see in a magazine. Plains, not a single hill or bump, just straight horizon with the odd tree populating the grassy view. After we had passed a river and traveled further we then passed these little shanty towns that were incredible. Round mud walls with thatched roofs, all built round with thatched walls as barriers. And they’re so form the towns, it’s mind boggling. Yeah, I was just looking for a pic and realized that I took video’s cause they pass by the van too fast for me to get a decent picture timed. Sorry, I’ll have a big upload pictures day soon, not today, but soon. Today is almost over.
SO we arrived in Moundou around 230 (with stops and everything) and get our luggage from the top of the bus (people will carry anything on a vehicle if they have to, amazing, so interesting. There are people that cruise around with a goad in their lap while driving a moped, or a 20foot boat balancing on the roof of a flatbed truck… stack it up, or just hold on to it, but it will work) and walk to where we expect to find a ride. After we discover there has been some miss communication we are left to observe some rural life. This is the time when the president was in town (huge deal) and cops were driving around singing songs and such. They are usually so intimidating but that day they were so happy and a few waved at us, it was pretty much the coolest interaction I have ever had with an officer of the law (not that I have a lot of them or any more severe than some form of traffic violation), so needless to say we were happy to wait a bit and take in Moundou. Our ride did finally come and we found our way to the place we were staying. Dropped our bag in our rooms, and started planning the rest of our day. Naomi had an hour meeting so me and my other MCC peeps (Hannah, and Lisa) watched some Dr. Horrible (great musical, watch it…). Naomi finished, and we started planning dinner options when I decided that would be a sometime for one of my famous movements. I sat down, and within seconds started to feel this brutal pressure in my back. It’s crazy how fast the pain set, and shortly thereafter we had called for a doctor, found none, and instead called a local friend to drive us all to the doctors home.
Let me say that our driver was awesome. He was trying to get my there in the best time he could, but the roads there are dirt road and a roller coaster at 40kph. We were flying, all of us bumping off the doors and seats, all of which don’t agree with an angry kidney. We arrived at the doctor’s, but before we could even exit the car we were told that the doctor was not there and that we would have to try something else. Back across town, like a rally car we made it to another doctor’s home. We were ushered inside where someone told us that this doctor was also unavailable. To the hospital, another joyous drive across town.
We arrived at the hospital and were led to a room. Where I was greeted by a nurse who told me I’d have to wait, the ONLY doctor they had working was currently in surgery and… well, the other patient had priority. By this point I was unable to keep myself from displaying my discomfort. Really looked stupid. Anyhow, I was wheel chaired across the grounds to a private room. I’m not sure how long I actually waited for the doctor, but it felt like forever. MCC has some sweet emergency care systems set in place and were ready to have me medevaced out if it was deemed necessary. It was not. But through all of those wires crossing we heard about an American doctor who was in the area. Really kind guy who drove out and prescribed some medication (he later returned to check up on me, really nice guy). This was a source of tension when the incredibly overworked surgeon showed up. I felt bad that we went around him, but at the time I wasn’t really considering his reaction.
The next three days were a lot of fun, off and on again pain, a ton of IV and good times. After I passed the MICROSCOPIC(SO anticlimactic) stone it got easier. There are a TON of bathroom stories, but I’ll save those for face to face convo’s. There was one point then a nurse came in to drain the blood out of my IV ( I was standing too much) and chose to drain it into my bed pan. As he did so he dropped the line into the pan, and proceeded to try and put the line back in my arm without cleaning it. I am glad Naomi was there for that, she would have started throwing first before shed let that happen. I don’t kow how beig of a deal that actually was, but I was a little thrown by it.
SO we were ready to leave on the third day, the end of our trip. We left in the afternoon after the doctor gave me the green light, and I spent the evening enjoying a lovely meal with my now very well acquainted friends. The next morning we were up early and caught the bus back home. We were a bit late and suffered the midday heat all the more this time. Just to add to the experience on the ride home Naomi was stuck behind a very large woman in the half-a-seat and shoulder to shoulder with a breast feeding mother who did not stop feeding her child for the entire trip and our driver was Muslim, which meant we stopped several times for prayers, which was actually pretty cool. Saw mosques in different settings, different gatherings. They were pretty short.
After we had gotten well into the middle of nowhere we popped a tire. I started to run through the lion attack in my mind, but in no time at all the driver and friends ( in know a car like I know open heart surgery, I’ve seen some general actions modeled on TV) had the tire changed and we were on our way. After another half hour the bus dies completely. SO far from town I start to get uncomfortable, but we wait. I am looking out my window when I see our driver on the back of a moto driving the direction we had just come from. A brief wave of panic flushed over me but I realized that there is no danger, just inconvenience, so we waited for his return…spark plug I think, new one worked fine. We arrived after a little over nine hours a little stiff and pretty tired.
That is my kidney stone story, sorry it was so long, if you read it all you’re incredible, if you didn’t that cool, I wrote it all out to remind me of any details I’ll forget with time. It is night and I’m bagged. I’m getting baptized this Sunday which will also be a huge event, deserving a blog and photos and yadda yadda. Sleep.
Saturday, 5 November 2011
a less than satisfactory quarterly report
So in my now established just-write-it-down-and-hope-it's-readable fashion I feel obligated to really dig down and give you a taste of how I am feeling. First I have to say that I am healthy. I have some bacterial intestinal issue, but it's effects are far less severe now and I'm hoping to have an antibiotic in hand by midweek. I am thankful to hear of all the support from my family at the meeting house. It's humbling to know that so many people are following me in my trip.
SCHOOL
School has been getting better, with the departure of another missionary has come a bit of cover work that looks a bit daunting. But i'm very encouraged after meeting the teacher who will be filling the other english teacher position. She was away due to some medical reasons but is now returning, I am hoping that she does not over exert herself in the next few weeks as to avoid further injury and recovery. She will be starting in 2 weeks, meaning I am taking the classes for the two weeks, it's about 30 hours in class and I'm not really sure how it will go. But I know I have my church, friends and family's(not mutually exclusive lol) prayer and support. I am also actively reforming my disciplinarian profile. I have been a pretty slack authority figure, I don't like, like really don't like, punishing, or seeming like the bad guy. But almost every voice of experience I have spoken to has told me that severity is essential for an effective teacher in a Chadian classroom. I have begun to see that many of my students don't respect me as an authority figure. Initially my french was too weak for me to really work through some issues, like students not bringing books to class or needing to leave the class for some complicated reason. I have since grown as a French speaker and am not letting things I don't understand immediately pass. I have also had a hard time keeping my students quiet in class. The school here has an awesome system set up to help teachers with such issues.I haven't really known how to effectively access this resource, but I am gaining confidence in progressive action against, and reaction, to students not participating or disrupting the class. On Thursday I sent my first student out of the class due to disruptive behavior, my second student followed shortly after..
COMMUNITY
The church I am attending here has just celebrated it's dedication. It was quite the party. The choir and worship has been incredible to witness and be a part of. I don't understand all of the songs, but anyone can understand the message. EVERYONE dances in the pews, I have a video(it's really common for some one to just walk up in the middle of the service and take a picture of the pastor, choir or congregation)of the choir and the ensuing dance party. It's great. I'm not going to try to upload it, you'll just have to wait for my return. I'll upload it them then. I have to say that entering the community here has been a bit different than what I expected. I will say this before I say anything else, any and all difficulties in establishing an intimate sense of community here has been my responsibility, the people here are very welcoming and interested in my presence here. They are open and hospitable. I think the greatest hindering factor has been my own linguistic limitation. It is hard to really have a meaningful conversation when I am unsure to ask them how to ask how their day was. I have however really connected with the two boys I am living with here. They have been my most prevalent French teachers and have really allowed me to laugh at myself and enjoy life here. I really think that there are enough potential friends here that I just need to really test my French and make a more conscious effort of seeking people out.
EMOTION
I have started to become irritable. I think it is due to the increase of work load aided by the constant cultural abrasions.(always minor and slightly humorous at time. but ever present and ever so slightly discouraging)I also think that I have been shutting myself in my room too much. I'm going to try to spend less time reading or watching tv shows on my laptop, and more time just being around people. I think that will really help. Other than that I'm doing really well, I'm feeling more confident as a teacher and as French speaker, two huge obstacles I'm sure I will struggle with through my entire trip, but I am feeling encouraged and optimistic at the moment. I am feeling really glad to have been blessed with the opportunity to be here and be exposed to such a different and jovial community.
STORIES OF THE WEEK
I think one of the really neat moments I had here was the other day talking to some visiting family from Nigeria. My host father (Dingamyo)’s brother was talking to me about how hard it is for him to leave the privileged lifestyle of Nigeria to see the poverty of Chad. I have also had a conversation with a family here; the wife told me that she cries every day for the poverty in Kenya. I’ve really begun to feel that there is some significance to perspective more than anything else. That people we would consider to be horribly impoverished sit and talk about how horrible the poverty is in some other country blows my mind. Early in my stay I saw a man in his office supply store in the grand market. I thought that he must be very proud of his store as it was one of the biggest in the market. I thought of him becoming incredibly vain and proud of his possessions. I then thought of how humble he would be if he knew about staples. How in his world he is the top dog; that he takes such pride in what he has, but that it would be laughable by any employee working. I then thought of how God must look at our pathetic accumulation of material here, and how he must see our pride as such a joke.
Other story, less important but way more fun, I found out that leopard geckoes are indigenous here. This is awesome because my family almost bought one in Canada. Turns out that people here are petrified about them, there are roumers that if you boil water with one in your drink you will gain the ability to walk through walls, and there are other fears that their skin gives off a potentially lethal oil. It’s true there is an oil, and it can lead to some very light skin irritation, but nothing serious at all. SO I picked it up and handled it a bit. This is when I remembered that when a leopard gecko feels threatened it will drop its tail.(it stores all of its body fat in the tail to distract predators) I have some pretty sweet videos of him and me scaring my host brothers SO badly with it. Again, when I am home I will try to post that video too. It’s hilarious that a house pet for kids can scare some one soooo badly here. It was not what I expected at all.
Other story, there was a massive fire here the other night. Some oil drums went up and burned an entire mini market to the ground. No one was seriously hurt, but the financial toll is beyond what I can imagine. There were vehicles that were completely destroyed by it, and apparently explosions that woke other members of my family up in the night. (I guess I’m a very deep sleeper) We went by the next morning and I took a few pictures (SUPER sketched about it, I have to have a photo permit there and have already had people yell at me when I pulled out my camera (tried to take a picture of guys repairing a power line, NO safety standards) the guy walked towards me all angry, I thought he was going to try to take it) hiding my camera from the army personal walking around. It was really brutal to see the devastated shop owners sifting through the ash.
Let me know if you have any questions, this is really long and I am done with this computer for the day.
Thanks for all your support!
SCHOOL
School has been getting better, with the departure of another missionary has come a bit of cover work that looks a bit daunting. But i'm very encouraged after meeting the teacher who will be filling the other english teacher position. She was away due to some medical reasons but is now returning, I am hoping that she does not over exert herself in the next few weeks as to avoid further injury and recovery. She will be starting in 2 weeks, meaning I am taking the classes for the two weeks, it's about 30 hours in class and I'm not really sure how it will go. But I know I have my church, friends and family's(not mutually exclusive lol) prayer and support. I am also actively reforming my disciplinarian profile. I have been a pretty slack authority figure, I don't like, like really don't like, punishing, or seeming like the bad guy. But almost every voice of experience I have spoken to has told me that severity is essential for an effective teacher in a Chadian classroom. I have begun to see that many of my students don't respect me as an authority figure. Initially my french was too weak for me to really work through some issues, like students not bringing books to class or needing to leave the class for some complicated reason. I have since grown as a French speaker and am not letting things I don't understand immediately pass. I have also had a hard time keeping my students quiet in class. The school here has an awesome system set up to help teachers with such issues.I haven't really known how to effectively access this resource, but I am gaining confidence in progressive action against, and reaction, to students not participating or disrupting the class. On Thursday I sent my first student out of the class due to disruptive behavior, my second student followed shortly after..
COMMUNITY
The church I am attending here has just celebrated it's dedication. It was quite the party. The choir and worship has been incredible to witness and be a part of. I don't understand all of the songs, but anyone can understand the message. EVERYONE dances in the pews, I have a video(it's really common for some one to just walk up in the middle of the service and take a picture of the pastor, choir or congregation)of the choir and the ensuing dance party. It's great. I'm not going to try to upload it, you'll just have to wait for my return. I'll upload it them then. I have to say that entering the community here has been a bit different than what I expected. I will say this before I say anything else, any and all difficulties in establishing an intimate sense of community here has been my responsibility, the people here are very welcoming and interested in my presence here. They are open and hospitable. I think the greatest hindering factor has been my own linguistic limitation. It is hard to really have a meaningful conversation when I am unsure to ask them how to ask how their day was. I have however really connected with the two boys I am living with here. They have been my most prevalent French teachers and have really allowed me to laugh at myself and enjoy life here. I really think that there are enough potential friends here that I just need to really test my French and make a more conscious effort of seeking people out.
EMOTION
I have started to become irritable. I think it is due to the increase of work load aided by the constant cultural abrasions.(always minor and slightly humorous at time. but ever present and ever so slightly discouraging)I also think that I have been shutting myself in my room too much. I'm going to try to spend less time reading or watching tv shows on my laptop, and more time just being around people. I think that will really help. Other than that I'm doing really well, I'm feeling more confident as a teacher and as French speaker, two huge obstacles I'm sure I will struggle with through my entire trip, but I am feeling encouraged and optimistic at the moment. I am feeling really glad to have been blessed with the opportunity to be here and be exposed to such a different and jovial community.
STORIES OF THE WEEK
I think one of the really neat moments I had here was the other day talking to some visiting family from Nigeria. My host father (Dingamyo)’s brother was talking to me about how hard it is for him to leave the privileged lifestyle of Nigeria to see the poverty of Chad. I have also had a conversation with a family here; the wife told me that she cries every day for the poverty in Kenya. I’ve really begun to feel that there is some significance to perspective more than anything else. That people we would consider to be horribly impoverished sit and talk about how horrible the poverty is in some other country blows my mind. Early in my stay I saw a man in his office supply store in the grand market. I thought that he must be very proud of his store as it was one of the biggest in the market. I thought of him becoming incredibly vain and proud of his possessions. I then thought of how humble he would be if he knew about staples. How in his world he is the top dog; that he takes such pride in what he has, but that it would be laughable by any employee working. I then thought of how God must look at our pathetic accumulation of material here, and how he must see our pride as such a joke.
Other story, less important but way more fun, I found out that leopard geckoes are indigenous here. This is awesome because my family almost bought one in Canada. Turns out that people here are petrified about them, there are roumers that if you boil water with one in your drink you will gain the ability to walk through walls, and there are other fears that their skin gives off a potentially lethal oil. It’s true there is an oil, and it can lead to some very light skin irritation, but nothing serious at all. SO I picked it up and handled it a bit. This is when I remembered that when a leopard gecko feels threatened it will drop its tail.(it stores all of its body fat in the tail to distract predators) I have some pretty sweet videos of him and me scaring my host brothers SO badly with it. Again, when I am home I will try to post that video too. It’s hilarious that a house pet for kids can scare some one soooo badly here. It was not what I expected at all.
Other story, there was a massive fire here the other night. Some oil drums went up and burned an entire mini market to the ground. No one was seriously hurt, but the financial toll is beyond what I can imagine. There were vehicles that were completely destroyed by it, and apparently explosions that woke other members of my family up in the night. (I guess I’m a very deep sleeper) We went by the next morning and I took a few pictures (SUPER sketched about it, I have to have a photo permit there and have already had people yell at me when I pulled out my camera (tried to take a picture of guys repairing a power line, NO safety standards) the guy walked towards me all angry, I thought he was going to try to take it) hiding my camera from the army personal walking around. It was really brutal to see the devastated shop owners sifting through the ash.
Let me know if you have any questions, this is really long and I am done with this computer for the day.
Thanks for all your support!
Saturday, 22 October 2011
ca-va
SO I would like to apologize for the gap between posts, but would also like to say that I’m thinking this is about as frequently as I will be able to post. (Do you REALLY want to read more anyhow? The more frequently I write the less interesting the posts will be( nothing really crazy has happened these last two weeks, can you imagine this post stretched into TWO posts?))
First thing to talk about it the teaching I guess, it is what I’m here to do right? The class room is very different. I think that the teacher is much more respected and revered by students here. But I think I’ve missed my moment to establish fear. The class sizes average around 50 so trying to keep them all on task is proving difficult. I was really struggling with talking in class and a general disinterest in what I was teaching initially. But believe I am starting to make some progress. I have leaned pretty heavily on grammar so far. I think it’s easy to feel like we’ve made progress but also requires little creativity. Sad but honest confession…
I can’t say my social network has really expanded much. This is of course my fault. I come home at the end of the day and do some prep for the following classes, and by the time the day is done I just want to read a book and implode. I’ve never been an introverted person before, but I find myself retreating to solitude far too often. Perhaps a subject for prayer and encouragement. Funny stories are limited this week. I’m writing this in my bed which means several things, the bug net keeps all of the incredibly large grasshoppers out, we have power (my family tries very hard but we do spend the odd night without power due to difficulties with the generator. They bought a new one shortly after I arrived and it’s been a lot of effort for them (I have no small engine skills, no skills concerning any size of engine… I am man)). YUP bug story, spiders of death!! (Do I have your attention?) ps I’m totally exaggerating, I don’t think they’re lethal. They’re huge and the local teachers have told me that a bit will really hurt and flare up, but I think most people survive (like all). Trying to find the particular type. Look up golden orb spider and you’ll see a bunch of different types, there’s one kind I keep seeing that is TERRIFYING to look at. He hangs out at the school a lot and I’m hoping they all just die when the rain stops. Think I found the name “golden orb spider” or “Yellow Argiope”. It’s my closest effort. So my limited research would imply that they float like a monster but sting like a bee…
My audio jack has stopped working, so now if I want to watch a movie or listen to a show everyone can hear. My window is metal slabs and there are aaalways people out and about, and I feel guilty when I try to watch a show alone, it’s a way to recharge for me, but now I have to broadcast my entertainment. Probably will curb it a bit.
I’m thinking I’m going to get baptized here, there’s a three month course that I’ve heard is REALLY intense that I will have to work my way through. The people here really connect with the Old Testament; I think he lifestyle here really provides a better understanding of old testament and the motivations, and significance of events.So I think I’ll have my OT knowledge tested pretty savagely. But yah at the end of it they have this massive baptism with thousands of people in the river. Pretty excited about it!
More news to come. My power is almost gone and so is my internet so I’ll wrap this up by saying that I miss you all at home and if you want to send me any pics via mail or email that you think would make me smile I’d appreciate that. I tried cruising facebook to grab some pics but the internet is SOOOOO slow, I’ve given up on skype and trying to be more intentional about what I want to accomplish with my time online.
Thanks for reading and sending encouragment.MUCH love... Stay classy
First thing to talk about it the teaching I guess, it is what I’m here to do right? The class room is very different. I think that the teacher is much more respected and revered by students here. But I think I’ve missed my moment to establish fear. The class sizes average around 50 so trying to keep them all on task is proving difficult. I was really struggling with talking in class and a general disinterest in what I was teaching initially. But believe I am starting to make some progress. I have leaned pretty heavily on grammar so far. I think it’s easy to feel like we’ve made progress but also requires little creativity. Sad but honest confession…
I can’t say my social network has really expanded much. This is of course my fault. I come home at the end of the day and do some prep for the following classes, and by the time the day is done I just want to read a book and implode. I’ve never been an introverted person before, but I find myself retreating to solitude far too often. Perhaps a subject for prayer and encouragement. Funny stories are limited this week. I’m writing this in my bed which means several things, the bug net keeps all of the incredibly large grasshoppers out, we have power (my family tries very hard but we do spend the odd night without power due to difficulties with the generator. They bought a new one shortly after I arrived and it’s been a lot of effort for them (I have no small engine skills, no skills concerning any size of engine… I am man)). YUP bug story, spiders of death!! (Do I have your attention?) ps I’m totally exaggerating, I don’t think they’re lethal. They’re huge and the local teachers have told me that a bit will really hurt and flare up, but I think most people survive (like all). Trying to find the particular type. Look up golden orb spider and you’ll see a bunch of different types, there’s one kind I keep seeing that is TERRIFYING to look at. He hangs out at the school a lot and I’m hoping they all just die when the rain stops. Think I found the name “golden orb spider” or “Yellow Argiope”. It’s my closest effort. So my limited research would imply that they float like a monster but sting like a bee…
My audio jack has stopped working, so now if I want to watch a movie or listen to a show everyone can hear. My window is metal slabs and there are aaalways people out and about, and I feel guilty when I try to watch a show alone, it’s a way to recharge for me, but now I have to broadcast my entertainment. Probably will curb it a bit.
I’m thinking I’m going to get baptized here, there’s a three month course that I’ve heard is REALLY intense that I will have to work my way through. The people here really connect with the Old Testament; I think he lifestyle here really provides a better understanding of old testament and the motivations, and significance of events.So I think I’ll have my OT knowledge tested pretty savagely. But yah at the end of it they have this massive baptism with thousands of people in the river. Pretty excited about it!
More news to come. My power is almost gone and so is my internet so I’ll wrap this up by saying that I miss you all at home and if you want to send me any pics via mail or email that you think would make me smile I’d appreciate that. I tried cruising facebook to grab some pics but the internet is SOOOOO slow, I’ve given up on skype and trying to be more intentional about what I want to accomplish with my time online.
Thanks for reading and sending encouragment.MUCH love... Stay classy
Saturday, 1 October 2011
a day in the life... perhaps more eventful than most
SOOOO I have alot of other things to say, a few things that I want to reflect on, teaching and such (it's going well, i know that's not a satisfactory update but i promise to elaborate in my next post.
But lets just talk about today.I'll mention a family after i figure out what I should say about them. (Speak to some people about my blogging etiquette But don't worry, today was eventful enough to keep slightly entertained. The morning started off with hopes to visit a Chadian hospital. I have mode some fantastic friends at the weekly volley ball game i attend on Sundays at a bible translation complex. Some of these friends are doctors and pharmacist assistants. They were kind enough to invite me out promising that i could be useful at any time i could get out there.( It's a pretty far cab and i'd have to go in the early am so i'm thinking a bike is my best solution) But due to several factors we were unable to go into the hospital today and ended up going into the grand market for some supplies.
Side tangent. I live in the sticks, in the country where the driving is easy and the population is sparse. I can walk (side side tangent, i'm writing this at night in the dark with the little battery i have left on my laptop. it is the only source of light and there is a bug in the room with SIGNIFIGANT mass flying around. but i'm totally fine and maintaining composure, i'll let you know if the situation develops) down (bug update. it's the largest grasshopper i've ever seen= not dangerous and kindda cool) my incredibly long road (20km, probably a bit less) without seeing another person. So i don't do well in tight situations, rubbing shoulders makes me cringe and the grand market is a chaotic ocean of bodies moving ins a seemingly random dance that one has to stop thinking about. you just have to start moving and go with it. (major bug development. grass hopper to the face)
So i'm am in the market testing out me totally partial but kind of awesome french skills talking to people in the market about really trivial things, like where can i but a metal pole (gunna make my own weights using powdered (breaking bug news, i'm not making this up, this is a write it in one run and just ramble blog, grasshopper landed on my head. still super cool about it. it's not like the dark gets to me...) milk cans and cement).We (my medically inclined friends and I) started to make our way into the makret and saw a little ally shooting one sides(the market is outlined by a massive square building (like a castle wall) filled with vendors. (think this is my last bug update, he's really active and it sort of ruins the flow, but he landed on my hand and i have him my best beyonce shouldda put a ring on it evasive maneuver). we went into this dark alley only to find that it is where they do alot of the actual butchering. the ally was probably about 100 yards in length. The amount of walking space down the middle was limited, maybe 5 feet. and on either side where these 10 by 10 butcher cubicles, all identical, all with a section of some animal, beef goat and lamb is what i'm thinking. there were meat hooks and crazy looking knives, people shouting at us to look at their meat, and a ton of people all squeezing through. I saw cuts of meat that i honestly don't know where in the body they could have come from. some looked like different types of a coral reef or something. we emerged only to find that we had walked into the fish section. so of course we investigated, same idea, but filled with fish, some super large, most normal looking. there were none that seemed incredibly abnormal. thus concludes my description of the fish market.
after we found the food we were looking for we started to make our way out, and then it happened. I saw him from about 5 feet away. crash collision course. this happens every few feet in the market so i side stepped to avoid, but he kindda side stepped with me rendering contact inevitable.It was heavy and high up, his shoulder to my collar.BOOM (me slowing down time) I feel alarmed and confused, the impact was avoidable... intentional i realize. and then i feel him reaching into my pocket. with all the skills a yellow belt in karate can teach an 11 year old (yo i'm a weapon) i swatted his hand away and yelled at him really loud. he didn't run like i kind of wanted but he made a sharp 90 and walked away pretty quick. I was so stoked, first thought: bloggable!! quick times wrap up for the market today, no metal pipe.Oh i also walked there, about an hour walk, fantastic experience. the homes and people and everything are so interesting when you take the time to really look at them.
After a jog at the school (on the field next to some crazy talented students playing soccer, i mean crazy talent. like i should be charged admission) i received a phone call from Samson. he goes to my church, speaks english like any friend you'd find in Canada, and just so happens to be really nice. He has told me in the past that he's working on some movie. So he's inviting me to be a small part in the film( the film is about prostitution and the risk that is poses to both parties involved). could i say no. so no dinner, back out the door, meet Samson a short walk from the house. (walking at night, different experience) The production of this hole thing is WAY more than expected. they've got a ton of equipment, lights and everything powered by a generator kept in the back of a van. it's pitch black out (7PM is DARK yo) we're on the side of a major road, like as major as a road can get in rural Chad. and i would say that half the bikes that rode by stopped to see what was going on. the crowd got crazy big, and then i felt really anxious about my cameo( this is also my frist interacion with the police, they stopped by because they thought we were actually trying to sell the girls, not the only people. pretty sure at least 2 early passerby's made a move on our actresses) . lights are on, bugs burning on them. leaving a constant tail of smoke. crowd has assembled and is waiting expectantly. Samson walks over and explains that i'm going to go over and attempt to purchase a prositute, (SIDE NOOOOTE fully saw a "night market" where a guy was selling girls while we waited for some crew to show up to help make movie about how "night markets" are horrible) She doesnt' speak English and I don't speak french. I offer her 15 thousand franks for a night's rental, she wants 5 but thins i'm offering 3, insists on 5 i hear 50 and leave. that was the extent of my explanation, I think it went well, the crowd didn't boo me so i'm thinking if the teaching here doesn't work out, maybe there's some need for a white man in chadian day time television. It was done quick and i walked home. I then sat in a very buddy room with the only source of light and stayed up way past my bed time. GOOD night
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