One month update

July 11, 2010
Salaam a le kum! Peace be upon all of you!

I am filled with joy to be able to greet you from Sudan. Arabic lessons commenced in the city of Malakal three weeks ago with my tutor, John (name changed), a missionary from the Nuer tribe who speaks five languages. We are concentrating on greetings, common vocabulary, marketplace phrases, faith related terms and medical terminology. We meet for one hour daily M-F. At the time of my departure for Doro in about a week, I hope to be more comfortable in the marketplace, be able to conduct simple conversations, and know enough medical terms to accurately assess/question patients and to teach them a bit about their heath. I will build on it in Doro.

My heart is drawn to the Sudane ladies, almost none of whom speak English. For the first few days they did not seem interested in interacting with me and this weighed heavily on my heart. Then, to my delight, I had the opportunity to begin assisting one of the missionaries with her beginner English classes for women. As the ladies began to know me they warmed up a great deal and we enjoy fellowship several times a week with my limited Arabic and their limited English. They are less inclined to approach us as they have more a language barrier with us than do most of the men. In general, men are more educated and have more opportunities to learn in school and after school.

I am very grateful for the opportunity to befriend two groups of unreached refugee ladies from Darfur. One of the other missionaries here has continued a friendship with them begun by a previous Malakal missionary. We visit them in their work places and homes. They are wonderfully receptive of our desire to know them and amaze me with their hospitality, generosity and easy laughter. My heart is full as I sit with them, try to communicate, build friendships and share laughs. These women don’t have Jesus but have a lightness of heart in their difficult daily work and sparse living conditions. They make me think of the hope and perseverance in this Zimbabwean Proverb. “If you can walk, you can dance. If you can talk, you can sing.” I can learn much about attitude from them. My desire is for lasting friendships and for them to learn about my Savior from me. As I do what God has put on my heart --my spirit soars!

My temporary Malakal home is a safari style tent under a bamboo structure that gives insulation from the sun. However, it is rainy season and I have seen far more cloudy days than sunny ones. The weather at present is “cool” in the 90s. I have learned that lizards are my ally in the battle against bugs in my tent. Lizards are everywhere and usually at least a couple are in evidence on the walls inside my tent every time I enter. We’ve surprised each other a few times—me by their proximity and them by my involuntary shrieks. We are coming to an understanding and mutual appreciation for each other. I attract the bugs and they eat them.

My first two weeks in Africa had me bustling about the much Westernized city of Nairobi, Kenya. There I learned the rhythm of the city, received orientation to the Sudan team, and purchased and shipped supplies to Doro. The most challenging task was selecting enough non-perishable food items for three months. If I didn’t get enough supplies I’ll have a limited, but culturally appropriate, diet of rice, lentils, bread, tea, peanuts and pumpkins (available at the market near Doro) for the remaining days or weeks of my first term. I will return to Nairobi for two weeks every three months for rest, continuing education and supplies.

I am currently recovering from possible cases of typhoid fever and malaria which knocked me down quite hard earlier last week. Our team physician diagnosed me via satellite phone and I began treatment with three medications, TLC, many naps and much prayer. We will probably never know for certain what I contracted, but I am responding to treatment –and to prayer, and well on the way to recovery.

Praises:
o Safe arrival
o An excellent Arabic tutor
o Good communication with family back home
o My mother’s forward progress in gaining strength since heart surgery
o Relative good health while adjusting to food and a host of new insects, bacteria, protozoa and viruses.

Prayer requests:
o For quick acquisition and retention of Arabic
o For God to send more workers to Doro this fall/winter
o For heart connections with the Maaban women
o For team building with entire SIM Sudan team (about 40 people in three locations)

I apologize for the poor quality images. We have limited Internet bandwidth and cannot upload larger, non-compressed photos. In late September I’ll have unlimited Internet for a couple of weeks in Nairobi—will upload lots of photos to Facebook and try to catch up better with you then.

We practice Arabic with Mary in her tea shop. When she allows us to pay, it costs less than the equivalent of $.40 for a cup of tea or coffee. Yes, we are standing in the tea shop—put the coffee shop image far from your mind…

Some of the ladies we visit once or twice weekly. The lemon held by Hawa on the far right was just for laughs. These ladies are a remarkable testimony to the resilience of the human spirit. We laugh more when at their compound than we do on most other days.

My home with the lizards. We enjoy electricity from 5p to 5a so I get to sleep with a fan. : ) It reduces the sweating and drowns out some of the city sounds—donkeys hee-hawing, greetings between the many people walking at any time of day or night, rickshaws bouncing through the ruts, goats baaing, tea shops opening at 5:30, etc.

Angelina (one of the English students), Gail, me and Heather in our lawas while visiting Mary’s home (tea shop friend). A lawa is a Shilluk tribal draped cloth that most women wear when outside their homes, especially when visiting others homes.

Thank you for your prayers, financial support and encouragement, without which I would not have the privilege of being here. Please keep in touch with me via email. I love hearing from you and want to know how I may pray for you.

In His Grip,
Sheila