I can't believe I have been here for over a week! I have been talking with the other SLM's a lot this week about how it feels like we have been here for months- that is mainly due to the hospitality of the Salesians and neighboring community! It has been great to receive so many warm welcomes, refreshing smiles, and open arms everywhere we go. Things have been progressing very nicely as I am getting more and more into the rhythm of life in South Sudan. I have continued learning Arabic and started doing some accounting work in the planning and development office. And of course, there are plenty of kids to play basketball and soccer with every night! I start teaching English in the secondary school tomorrow and am so excited!
This weekend has been one of many travels! On Saturday, we went to a nearby village of Mobi to get a closer view of the Nile River (there are some pictures in the pictures section). It is such a quaint little village that has beautiful views of the Nile and a very mild climate due to the tall trees towering above. We walked around and allowed the scenery to soak in, played a game with the young people, and headed back to our home in Gumbo. Later that morning, we introduced a few lucky children to American football. We passed the ball around to each other, and worked on counting in both Arabic and English as we successfully passed and caught each one. It was amazing to see them progess as they were initially hesitant to play with this odd shaped ball but by the end of it they were pros! In the afternoon, we headed into town drop off our Spanish friends at the airport and get the groceries for the week. It was great to be able to see more of the town and how everything worked together. The cars are always so close together, there are no street signs or lights, and people are crossing in front of and between cars all the time. You have to watch out for the goats and dogs that suddenly decide they want to cross the street!
Today, a group of pre-novices, sisters, and volunteers went with a priest to celebrate mass in Mogili, a village about an hour and 15 minutes away. On the journey there, we passed some monkeys, lots of people bathing in small creeks as we crossed the bridge, and a sign that read "de-mining in process...please be patient". Many reminders to be thankful and count my blessings. Before we left, we were told that it is a "hanging church that has natural A/C!" It turned out to be a large shade tree in the middle of the village! The altar we used was essentially a coffee table and all of the people brought their own plastic lawn chairs. The "child care center" was two blankets laid down on the dirt, one made of cloth and the other one was made of straw. They rang the bell- a small, blown up part of an old bomb they struck with a hammer to signal the beginning of mass. All of the music was sang a cappella. There was no huge gathering space. No organ or other musical instruments. No stained glass windows, large crucifixes, or elaborate fountains. No walls surrounding us. It was just a group of people (and goats and chickens that joined in the celebration!) that were overjoyed to be able to come together as a community once a week (this is the only time of the week a priest is present) to pray, give praise and worship to the God they love and adore so much, and celebrate in the most Holy Eucharist. It didn't matter what songs were played. It didn't matter what the priest said for the homily. It didn't matter who was or who wasn't there. All that mattered was the community came together to celebrate the Eucharist. It was such a blessing and absolutely beautiful to see and be a part of the love and joy that was in everyone present.
I pray that God continues to bless each and everyone of you and you find joy and happiness.
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