Robin's Missions

What a week—having all the activity from the visitors and celebrations was a lot of fun!

Thank you to everyone who was concerned about the cow’s transportation- I’m sure they’d say thanks as well, only I’m sure we’re all still digesting them! I’m sad to say I missed seeing the cows get loaded onto the big truck—I’m even sadder to say that Bishop didn’t put them inside the cab of his truck with seatbelts like he’d threatened to do! Ha! Wouldn’t that have been a great picture! But I saw the cows in the truck and billions of other things get loaded in with them- and I saw photos of the cows falling out of the truck when they attempted to get them out—what a production!

Two days before the celebration I was summoned to Bishop and AnnGraces piot (spelling? Basically it’s a nice hut designed for relaxing, hosting guests, and letting the breeze through)—they had a task for me- I got to decorate 30 plastic jars that we later filled with homemade peanut butter! The peanut butter (made from ground nuts and lulu oil) was a demonstration of all the ways you could use the lulu nut to make various items- For example you can also make soap, lotion, and use it to make cookies—did I mention if you put it in your yard it scares away termites? The lulu oil is pretty awesome- Back to the peanut butter jars, I forgot to mention I got them after work and they had to be done so we could fill them and stick them in the truck with the cows by the next morning- It took time but I enjoyed it! Technically I had help—one of the Nadus guys designed ONE jar for me- I only let him create one—let’s just say that AnnGrace laughed and said it was funny when she saw it. I rest my case. *grin*

Friday’s Women’s Bible study was small because of the preparations for the celebration—so I helped make cookies (again with the aid of lulu oil) and the women sang and prayed! Very nice! Oh yes, to clarify, it’s an outdoor oven that you heap coals on the inside and the top; it’s amazing how well it works!

The celebration at Lora was fun. On the way the whole caravan of vehicles were stopped to wait for demining- So we had a fun time of fellowship on the roadside with about 20 people from church! They’d created a large shelter out of long branches and tarps that we sat under. The kawajas (that would be “white people”) sat on the side and at the front was Bishop, AnnGrace, Pastor Jackson, and a lot of various government officials. Honestly, if I never hear another speech for as long as I live that’s ok with me. A couple of the speeches were good, other’s not so much—some seemingly had the same several sentences repeated, in various ways, over and over for minutes on end! I don’t feel too bad about losing concentration, half the audience was asleep it seemed. The kids were fun though- They sang their hearts out. What energy! What joy! I’m amazed at the kids there—they can sit still for so long! As adults we were squirming in our seats, but they patiently sat. It amazes me. One of the kids recited a poem about the war; part of the poem thanked Bishop, AnnGrace, and Vernon (of His Voice for Sudan…see link on the side!) After all the presentations, we feasted! We ate the cow—at one point I took a bite and five minutes later, maybe more, I hadn’t finished chewing! Yikes! Before we left I danced with the mama’s at Lora—then they tried to feed me more posho…I made a run for it… hid out with AnnGrace in the piot. Overall it was amazing and quite a kick off!!

Monday night we had a farewell celebration for Nadus and Stonegate, just a small meal together—it was lovely. After the meal we all gathered to watch the Nadus short films (about a minute and a half each…seriously go to their website and watch them! I know a lot of the people you’ll see!)—and when they were done everyone was still sitting- AnnGrace leaned over to me and said, “there’s your stage, go perform!...dance!”

Tuesday morning we said goodbye to all our visitors and it’s been a quiet but busy week- It’s been very pleasant- Chrissi, one of the short term German missionaries, is leaving tomorrow and we had a goodbye/happy birthday party for her yesterday at one of the other German missionaries homes. What a feast- I learned I LOVE cabbage salad—cabbage, tomatoes, pineapple, cucumber, onion, and lemon juice—I inhaled it. We also had bbq goat—not Texas style bbq, but still amazing and tender…wow… with fresh mango slices on top…mmmm…. Not to mention German potato salad! Delightful—I’m still full!

Well, it’s time to put the final preparations on my homemade flannel graph (ha!) presentation of Jacob showing up to his uncle’s and getting tricked into marrying the wrong girl. My favorite part is the conga line of sheep—I think I’ll be the only one tickled by that but that’s ok!

Cheers mates!
Robin