Normally, meals at Pan Dor are served indoors in the dining hall, but when a conference is going on, we have the luxury of eating outside under the circular covered open-air "gazebo," which is the case today. I had the place all to myself shortly after 6:30 this morning, and enjoyed simple breakfast fare in solitude - cool breeze, birds chirping, roosters crowing. Not a bad way to start the day, which was extremely busy!
We started with a 9:00 a.m. meeting with Minister of Agriculture, Philip Job. The $3,000 amount Baylake provided to complete the Patient Shelter was accepted by the contractor and the money given to Mr. Job to deliver.
From there we drove to Rumbek U. for a brief meeting with Marco Marjon in the Education Department. Nine RU students did their student teaching at Abukloi recently. It is hoped that as Abukloi expands, RU students will be hired. Marco and I were simply solidifying the relationship between RU and Abukloi, which we agree is mutually beneficial.
Philip Job arranged for Justin and me to meet his replacement at Relief and Rehabilitation Commission - RR &C - Maker Makur, Angelo's cousin. Nice man - about twice as tall as I am. So is Marco Marjon, by the way.
Justin and I confiscated a table and chairs and sat outside the Catholic diocese building where we could work on some computer business.
Lunch was a little late because of the conference - twice as many people needing to be fed in two locations. No time for a nap.
For some time the Abukloi board has wanted to foster interviews of students - human interest stories - for raising awareness of situations and needs with regard to Abukloi. Four students have been selected for interviews - two males and two females. I met with the first one this afternoon.
Gabriel Wade - 18 - is in his first year of secondary school. I won't go into details here except to say that he walks an hour to school - an hour back - and eats one meal a day in the evening. One thing he likes about the Abukloi school is that he can check out books to bring home and read - and there are precious few of them. Physics and math are his favorite subjects, and he dreams of being an engineer - a seemingly impossible dream for someone in his circumstances, but "A man's reach should exceed his grasp, or what's a heaven for?"
Blessings!
Ellen
Transfer of $3,000 in Baylake funds for completion of Patient shelter to Minister of Agriculture Philip Job
Marco Marjon at Rumbek University
Front part of Rumbek University
Gabriel Wade in front of his tukel
Gabriel Wade and the bed he shares with two others
Maker Makur - Director of RR & C
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