Amsterdam Airport
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Praise God for a great adventure filled with learning and serving! There are many memories I am already churning withing the crucible of my mind.
I just finished the first eight hour leg of my flight back to America. I now am in the airport with a five hour layover before another long flight, probably nine hours, to Minnesota where I will get another five hour layover before a final four hour flight into Albuquerque, NM.
I already started reflecting on my time in Tonj. When I arrived in Nairobi, my first thought was, “Wow! Everything is so... complex.” When in Sudan I watched “The Gods Must Be Crazy.” It was a really funny movie and in the beginning it mentioned how when we improve our lives with technology it just means we have to learn how to use the technology, learn how to build it, learn to live with it, and all kind of other life-complicating detriments. This was especially obvious to me since I came from a place where gifts are not given for Christmas to a fairly westernized city where “Christmas” was on the prowl for green. I do not remember seeing anyone smile while running around town. I was at a supermarket with a man (I will call him Joseph) so he could buy a new phone since he dropped his in a barrel of water. While waiting in line, the lady next to us was complaining to the salesman that he was not doing his job correctly. There were four other people at the register being helped by one man, and we were still waiting. I saw this and didn't find a problem with it. I figured that once the salesman was finished with the over-abrupt and needy woman, he would help us. We waited for about five minutes before Joseph got annoyed and said, “He doesn't want to help us. We will come back later.”
It was so strange to come from a place of slow and simple to fast and complex. The traffic is insane. People are pushy. Life is expensive. Television and cell phones are NEEDS. I don't think it's reverse culture shock, I think it is a deeper understanding of a thought I already had. Or maybe it is just a re-realization of something I already understood. Who knows. But what I am saying is that life is quite intense and acclimating is going to be with a little apprehension.
On the other side of things, I am looking as how to continue ministry when I get home. I don't know what is next but I bet that I will bake a couple loaves of bread *reminisce*. I will try and continue to tell stores once I get home. There is a lot I have not told due to time or desire. But I have an abundance of photos and plenty of stories. I will try and keep you informed. KEEP ME ACCOUNTABLE if you want to hear any stories.
Joshua
