Tuesday November 24, 2009
For the past day and half I have been calling and talking to people trying to figure out what to do about this health project and working with some international organizations. Also I’ve been on the phone again and again calling to get my internet connection fixed, it really takes forever to get one thing done here. (Hence my 3 updates uploaded all at once instead of one at a time!) I think this is what’s called island living! Coming from a place where multiple things get done fast and efficiently, it’s a little frustrating at first knowing you have to spend one whole day going back and forth contacting a million different people just do one simple thing.
As for the health project, things are expensive. Prices have doubled if not tripled for basic necessities, all I can do is pray and give this whole entire project into the Lord’s hands. Even though I am breaking it down into a much more simpler project due to some government, religious, and financial restrictions it is still much bigger than myself but it’s just a matter of figuring out an affordable but effective approach. Right now I’ve contacted people to do a project for children in a poorer area, these children are so in need of help, they are mal nourished. After some more thought, we are planning to get some food products that we can afford on a tight budget and give it out to the children and their parents. I am trying to get a presentation together on nutrition and sanitation that will be captivating and informative for both kids and adults. If you have any ideas write it in the comment box below. J Life is interesting just when you get comfortable something comes along to stretch you to do more, I never thought I’d be able to do a health project right now at this time of my life and even though it is definitely something new, stretching, and different it is both a good experience and one that I will develop and learn a lot from.
Coming back to Sri Lanka is also a slightly emotional experience because the last time I was here in 2006, my father passed away from non Hodgkin’s disease lymphoma. I had to quit my job in the US, move here for a couple of months to help my mother get things organized and settled in the ministry and work.
Memories surround me of my childhood, my father, mother, sister, and I all living, learning, and enjoying life under one roof here in Sri Lanka. Walking into our home when we first arrived our family photo frames were everywhere a picture of Jessica and myself when we were about 9 and 10 years old in Baton Rouge, Louisiana immediately caught my eye. The picture is cute and funny; Jess and I, hugging tightly with our excited, happy, content faces grinning widely back at me. I look around each nook and cranny and specific memories of relaxing as a family in front of a natural environment scene from the balcony, studying at 4am for exams in that one room. Walking upstairs it’s as if I can vividly see daddy sitting in the room reading His Bible commentaries preparing for a sermon or standing outside in the garden flying his pigeons. Then going into the rooms I see in my memory Jess half sitting half laying down with a book in one hand and tipi tip (a Sri Lankan version of cheese puffs) in the other! Oh the precious memories! Even though getting things done here in Sri Lanka takes forever, too many insects bugging me, and going places take a crazy amount of effort, I still really do love Sri Lanka!
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