reedster

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.

posted by reedster @ 16:48