Tomorrow Stephanie and I fly to Juba so today is my last full
day in Rumbek. I went to the school and
talked to the students and said my good-byes.
They are so appreciative and bestowed many blessings on me and the
people who help support their school. I
also met with the teachers and we worked out a few more understandings. There is such a huge learning curve – so much
more to learn. Just when I think I
understand something here, I find out there is much more to know and
understand.
I had hoped to do some internet, buy some panties for the
female students, and watch a football game this afternoon but plans
changed. Justin is the captain of the
state team and they had a big game today.
He was needed elsewhere. And then played the game starting at 4:00. I ended up staying at Pan Door, packing and
reading. Around 5:00 Rev. Elijah, who is
the chairman of the Community Development Committee, came to meet with me. It is the CDC who is allowing us to use the
school facilities for free and the group to whom we will eventually turn over
responsibility of the school. So our
connection with them is critical. We had
a wonderful conversation, a really amazing man and leader. He will work with our Director and current
Head Teacher to select the next Head Teacher.
He will also work to get national funds to provide a water system and
then housing for the teachers. That
isn’t likely until 2020 or later.
Stephanie returned this afternoon from her overnight stay
with Helen, a family member of Angelo.
It was a good experience. She
then was beckoned to return to see the rest of the family to say her
good-byes. They have really embraced her
as one of their own. And she has opened
herself to being accepted and included in this lovely but quite different
family culture.
Some little gifts came to me this afternoon. For some reason the generator was on much of
the afternoon. This meant I could stay
in my room and be relatively cool due to the fan. Mary, the woman who manages Pan Door, made
both fresh vegetable salad and fresh fruit salad for dinner. I had commented positively each time she
served one of those dishes. Knowing this
was my last meal here, she made both!
This is a place full of hospitality and I will miss that.
BTW, Justin’s team won 2-0 and they received a
certificate. Go Zalan!
-Marg
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