Sunday, February 24, 2019

Simple Joys in Juba

At the end of each day we often reflect on the day and share something that we are grateful for – an event that stood out and gave us joy. I wanted to share a few glimpses of some of those joys from daily life that we have enjoyed in the last week or so.
1. Plants – Our language teacher brought us two new plants this week to add to our collection in the hallway. As Bob watered them one night, he exclaimed “if we can’t have pets, at least we have plants!”

2. Seeing our friends laugh, and laughing with them. We were at the tea shop in our neighborhood, and some of the ‘regulars’ were very intent on teaching us some Bari phrases. We all had a good laugh at our mispronounciations as we tried to imitate them and pretend that we knew what something meant. Just after Mary shared about the struggle to meet the expenses of a new term at school, she could joke with her friends with her full-bodied infectious laugh—great medicine!

Bob with Mary and her son Mogaa at his kindergarten graduation

3. Rain! After two months without rain during the dry season, the first rains were very refreshing. We pray that this will be a good season of rains and planting for South Sudan.

4. Language – On my 10-minute walk to the produce market, I usually greet several people along the way. There is Alan from Rwanda, who sells car-parts and is amused that I speak Kinywarwanda, there are the Burundian moto-taxi drivers parked on the corner who love to use their Kirundi or French, then always some South Sudanese who give greetings in the local Arabic or Bari, Bedradiin and Anwaar at the shop from Khartoum who like to teach us obscure phrases, and finally the sellers at the market who are from Uganda or South Sudan. By the time I get to the market I often feel so confused about which language is which, but I love trying to connect in various languages. Juba is a polyglot’s paradise!

5. Moonset and sunrise – this week we went for a jog one morning, and noticed the bright full moon setting as we left. Before our jog ended, we were also enjoying the big orange sun rising over the horizon. In the middle of a city, we are very grateful for the beauty of the sky!

6. A good movie – We pulled out a movie that we’ve had for a few months called “Brother Sun, Sister Moon” about the lives of Francis of Assisi and Claire. It was inspiring and refreshing, and a rare treat for us in Juba.

7. Greeting a new baby that we have prayed for. Our language teacher, Charles, has a new baby in his family, and we were excited to meet him and reconnect with their family. Joshua had to be treated for malaria at just a few weeks old, but seems to be recovering now.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever! (Psalm 107, 118, 136, etc.)

2 comments:

Jim B said...

Thank you, Kristi, for sharing these joys. What an encouragement to look and see God's goodness expressed in so many varied ways. Love, Mom

Jim B said...

Thanks for celebrating the little things in life where God has put you... you WILL be ready for the big celebrations..