The "New Normal"

My teammate and I have consistently used the phrase “This is the new normal” and the other phrase we use quite a bit, complete with a smirk, is “My, look how far we've come!”

Would you like some examples of our new normal??!

* Going to the latrine with more than 10 cockroaches in it. *Before, if I saw one, I would run away* Well, sometimes you just can't run…

* Walking around in gum boots in the rainy season.  After returning from the latrine, Melinda warned me, “It’s kinda wonky to squat with the gum boots on.” Soon it was my turn to use the gum boots, and when I returned to the room, I said “Yes, it was a bit wonky. Agreed. BUT, they are much bigger than my flip flop, so I can kill more bugs when I step!!” It’s the little things in life that bring us joy…

* Since January my teammate and I have been living in a small room with most of our possessions. And we are just so hospitable, that we also allow mice to live with us.

* I purchased a stool which has proven to act as a great table (we put a bucket cover over it to be the ‘top’) and we sit on the floor on our mats (one of which the stupid mouse ate a big hole in!! I was NOT happy!) Who needs chairs and tables?

* Popcorn is a great meal.

* Having the desire to throw my phone across the room because the connection is so bad.

* Self diagnosis for medical problems. Everybody has monkey pox. Watch out ;)

*My watch broke, and I tried to repair it with electrical tape. 3 times. I finally gave up and have made peace with not knowing the time.

*Any road which is ‘passable’ is considered ‘not bad.’ It doesn’t matter if the average speed is 15 mph for 7 hours. The road is good if we made it. Agreed.

*Beans in a ‘to go’ plastic bag is a great meal. Beans in a bag. Someone can market that, come on!

*I believe that having an extra 10 pounds on you is good because you never know when you will get sick. Those extra pounds really help you when you are sick and not able to eat or keep anything in you. If you are already thin and you get sick, things can go from bad to very bad much quicker…

*Lukewarm drinks aren't awful. I used to not enjoy anything that wasn’t uber cold. Now I don’t mind. Of course, given the choice, I choose cold, but I don’t scorn the room temperature drinks.

* Land mines blowing up (controlled)  in town is normal. As are rocket launchers.

* Driving in the rain on the awful roads. I never wanted to drive at all, nonetheless in the rain in NA. Not a big deal anymore.

* When reading Romans 8, the part that now speaks the most to me is 18-39. Before it was 1-18.

But, thankfully, our new tukuls will be ready soon! We will actually have a tables and chairs. It will be like a palace ;) 

"What?! It's been 6 months??"

Why, hello!

So, yes I do realize that it has been about 6 months since I have posted anything. Shame on me! I am sorry. The good thing is that silence in this case has meant that the Lord has been doing so many things that it is hard to keep up! I have decided that I will do a "Year in Review" as is appropriate at the end of a year (only I am few weeks late with that...oops!). I will present you with the highlights of each month!

And then I will go in to more detail in the next posts...hopefully :)

Mode of Transport to the Capital

January:  Began the New Year biking to an MK village and preaching. Attended a “Trauma Counseling” convening meeting in the Capitol. There were specific funds to start up programs in areas heavily affected by the LRA. My town is one of those areas, and I was designated as facilitator for this new program. We also sent 3 Youth to a Vocational Training School in my area.

February: Began the hunt for 3 Nationals with whom to work on the Counseling Project (this was quite the adventure!) Sent them to Rwanda for their first round of training. Visited a remote MK village with the Bishop and met many new people; spoke and encouraged them. Continued to spend time with the refugees; the young girls taught me how to cook some of their dishes.

Distributing new MK Books!

March: Attended the MK language conference; distributed 4 new MK Books: Matthew, I John, James, and a Song Book!!! This was very exciting and encouraging for the people. Contacted the UNHCR to do an Emergency Assessment of the Refugees in my area. Met with my counseling team to plan our projects for the year!! Journeyed to the Capital for Administrative work - it was SOO hot!

April: We had our "Convening Session" for the Counseling Program. This means we invited the leaders from the Government, Churches, Schools, and other Community Associations and introduced the program to them. It's purpose was to show the need for Counseling in North Africa (Awareness) and it was an invitation to send their employees to the training. Rainy Season begun and I was able to sleep at night again ;) My colleague arrived and my days of being the only staff member in NA ceased!!

UNHCR meeting with the Refugees

May: The UNHCR made several visits to my town to begin work with the refugees; we partnered with a local church to help facilitate these meetings. We began our first training of counselors; we had about 18 people from numerous organizations attend. I visited one of our literacy classes in the bush to encourage and support them. 

June: Completed the First Step (a workshop) for Training Counselors!! The second step is field training and mentoring. Work continued with translating counseling materials into the local Arabic. We prepared for our first visitors from the States!

July: We welcomed our visitors!! They met all of the people I love in North Africa and were such a blessing :) We celebrated the country's First Birthday. I got malaria for the first time, bleh!! 

August: The refugees were officially registered with the Government; we partnered with local church to provide assistance to some of the refugees, as their number had more than tripled. We began planning our first "Trauma Counseling Group." It was decided to work with a group of Orphans at a school and also a village attacked by the LRA several times. We    finished the editing of an MK Storybook!

Europe- can you guess where?! 

September: We traveled to Uganda for Branch Meetings; we welcomed 3 new members to the country! We transitioned leadership within the Branch and I was asked to be the Assistant Director. I traveled to Europe to visit my family for my "One Year Anniversary" in North Africa! We also welcomed visitors from our Regional Africa Team to my town and they helped with many projects!!

October: Our "Counseling Groups" began!! We met with school administration, guardians, chiefs of villages, etc and everyone was very eager to begin!  This is the Second Step in training people- we had a group of about 7 people helping whom we were mentoring during these groups. I got a new roommate!

Activities with the Orphans Counseling Group

A Chief sharing his thoughts in the Counseling Group

November: Started working a lot on local Arabic translations of counseling materials. Began directing the writing of a "Counseling Storybook' for children in Arabic. Continued mentoring and working with the 2 "Counseling Groups." The MK Storybook arrived!! We planned literacy efforts in conjunction with the new book. 

Group of Young Women at the Camp

December: Our Counseling Groups finished!!  The participants were very receptive and I am excited to plan our follow up with them :) Traveled to the Refugee camp up North for new counseling projects with a team of people from SIL, the Seed Co, and the Bible Society. Spent some time in the Capital to try and get registrations complete. Spent Christmas with teammates in Kenya!

Whew!!! I imagine that you are exhausted after reading all of that. I am exhausted after living all of that ;-) 

But, my oh my!! This has been, hands down, the best year of my life. Praise the Lord for how he works in the heart of his people. 

"Sing a new song to the Lord! Sing to the Lord, all the world! 

Sing to the Lord and praise him! 

Proclaim every day the good news that he has saved us.

Proclaim his glory to the nations,

his mighty deeds to all peoples." Psalm 96