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5.16.2005

work

so here are some new developments since i last stopped by...if you dont have time skip to the last paragraph, it is by far the most important, the rest is just random thoughts and experiences [but do read it all if you have the chance.

i'm not in Colombo anymore, which is a relief. i'm in Trinco where i'm going to be positioned full time. life here is quite simple, well outside of work i must say. its a small town that has a large fishing population, great beaches, decent tourism, and a scorching sun. i now know what the ants must have felt when i toasted them under a magnifying glass. katie, who is with me for a while helping get the water department off the ground and established, would agree. around three o'clock it hits you and its hard to do anything but think of the calm crystal blue water that temps you from a block away. dirty! its terrible, nothing like having to work in the heat when you know heaven is so close. ok, i guess its not that bad but it does get hot. mid to upper 90's with 90% humidity. but who wants to know about weather anyways...now to the good stuff

even though its tough at times [the office and water department were quite disorganized and unmotivated upon our arrival] the work in Trinco is going quite well. i am pleased with the hard work that the water techs have put in and their willingness to work again. i say again because for a while they were unable/unmotivated to do much. there were 'leadership and management issues' one could say. all the more fun for those of us who have to break old habits. i have some idea of what it must be like to be a parent with a teenager. sorry mom and dad for all those years...haha

work is great at the office. but its even better on the field. as the water department we have the privilege of working with 50 kms of coast line, all which have very little shade and that tempting ocean. makes the weekends glorious...when i dont have meetings and additional work to do. :) but the communities we work in are filled with different stories, each family has theirs, whether affected from the tsunami or idp's [internally displaced peoples, as they like to call them here] from the ongoing civil war. many of which are quite sobering. i'm am blessed to work with them.

something crazy that has come along recently. i've taken on sorta the position of interim permanent housing coordinator for the Trinco district. i love it i get to make up my own titles, its really cool. that gets added to my primary position as district water hygiene/sanitation coordinator and the work i'm doing at organizing and developing the office. endless work here in sri lanka...anyone want to help? just let me know...

if you did come and help you could ride the motorbikes with me. sorry mom, she hates em. but their pretty fun and the logical way for me to get around these days. they should be sending us a vehicle which will be nice cuz we've dropped a lot of money in renting vehicles for the work out here. $35 a day adds up. especially when you have nothing to show from it.

blah blah blah

i know you all come to see pictures. hahah, well i'll have some up soon. of the work in the office on the field, the gnarly motorbike, and the beaches! but quickly one serious request!

PRAY for sri lanka. this country struggles with knowing Christ our Savior. this is seen in their bondage to the evil ones lies. the Lord is working and continues to amaze but continual prejudices and hatred cripple the country. there has been some political unrest and although there is a peace treaty in place there are growing tensions. it is possible that the war could resume if issues arent addressed. so pray for peace, but not just political peace...but there might be a spiritual peace and that the church might unite and take leadership in bringing communities together. thank you all for listening and taking the time to wear out your knees before the Throne of Grace.

5.06.2005

visas

so our team had to go to immigration and get visas today. i was a lil surprised by how quickly the whole process went, but then again i did walk out feeling a lot poorer. for a two month extension it was 17,400Rs which is $174. the sic thing about it is that i can fly to india or the maldives for about $100. so next time i think i'll plan on exiting the country for a weekend. i heard the maldives have great snorkeling and diving.

besides being robbed in getting our visas life is good. it takes most of the day to achomplish one errand depending on where in town it is cuz traffic can be vicious. hopefully i'll have a bike soon so that will help in the transportation means. otherwise you get lil tuk-tuks to drive you all over.

my schedule is to head back to Trinco early next week. it'll be about time to roll up the sleeves and get down to business. before that have a couple dinner meetings [i love how going out for dinner can be a meeting] and a bunch of laundr. which reminds me....gotta hang it all up to dry.

5.02.2005

explanation

so to explain these some of these pictures. hahaha sri lanka is great. especially if you like to be hot, sweaty and constantly sticky. reminds me much of the philippines and childhood.

yea, i cant really explain this picture. i was really hot and thirsty so i bought some concentrate mango juice. but i was to lazy [well not really, i was showing how i didnt need a pitcher] to mix it down. so yea, i'm not completely sane, we all knew that though. it didnt quite work out the way i planned....

mcdonalds is a nice retreat from the heat...well any airconditioned resturant is. ronald always seems to have a great lap to sit in. well at least for meredith. like usual, trying to be crazy and enjoy the youthfulness that the Lord has blessed us with. i think my smirk comes from eating to many chocolate sundays. they were really good though...and ice cream has been my biggest craving of late.

i never ceased to be amazed by God's creation. the beach and ocean are beautiful. i love them...like many of you know. its been neat to connect with the ladies on my team by spending some time walking the beach and enjoying the always beautiful sunsets. the locals are extremely gracious and friendly with us. we've had the opportunity to talk [through broken english] and share in their lives, play with their children, and in my case help push out their fishing boats.

as we look to what the Lord will bring us this next week. and more specificly myself. its exciting to see things come together. the Lord has blessed us with a wonderful staff to work with as we labor alongside our brothers and sisters in Christ. pray for the people of Sri Lanka, that the Lord will continue through the Spirit to bring many out from darkness and into the light.


mixed drink? Posted by Hello


the team... Posted by Hello


on the beach Posted by Hello


gotta love mcd's Posted by Hello


helping the local fishermen Posted by Hello

5.01.2005

trinco

well i just got back for a half week assesment of the water program in trinco....it needs a lot of work. i'll write more about this when i feel more interested in it. i just submitted a three page report to my father so i'm a lil burnt out on this issue. hahaha, both katie and i look forward to the challenge ahead of us and we will both need the Lord's help. who could expect to be succesful otherwise. fun times, eh?


the navy fixing our broken vehicle...fun times Posted by Hello


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