Day 3

Today, Saturday, 12/20/08, started really early -- at 3 a.m., to be precise, when a newly bereaved woman went shrieking and wailing from the hospital compound around our compound's fence and down the road. At first I lay under my mosquito net frozen in shock, and gradually her repetitious chant grew more distant, but when it got louder again, I got up and latched the door. Later I was ashamed of myself for wanting to protect myself and Tammy more than I wanted to help a sister in distress.

We all had to get up early so we could shower and eat in time to travel to Mundri for the big celebration: a 6-hour extravaganza to dedicate the new offices of the diocese there. We rode in a big van with some of our Moru friends, including Christina and Francis, priests of Lui Parish. When we arrived, we sat in the payat (big tukul for eating) with Archbishop Daniel Deng Bul, his wife Deborah, and Mama Salome, the president of the Mothers' Union for the whole of ECS. The Archbishop immediately brought up his speech at Lambeth and emphasized to us that he has never said he wants to sever ECS's relationship with TEC, and that his words were those of Sudan, not his personal views. He talked with me a bit about his dreams for Sudan; he is anxious to spread an understanding of stewardship and to keep education in the hands of the church. Health and clean water remain priorities.

The dedication started at the office and involved lots of processing and singing and praying. I was outside, but the clergy were inside, so maybe another team member will write about that part. Then we rested for a while and drank some Fanta or Coke. After that we went down to the cathedral, where Bishop Bismarck spoke about the projects of the diocese, the treasurer gave a full and transparent report of contributions and expenses, and the archbishop gave a speech about his dreams and projects. Bishop Bullen also got to speak as he is the head of the cluster. After that, we at a big meal with lots of meat, linya (porridge-like stuff that goes under stew), and rice. It was a great day of visiting with old and new friends, and the pomp and circumstance surrounding the dedication of an office gave us a clue what a big deal office space is here!

We were happy to have something to do today after mostly hanging out yesterday -- to some large extent we seem to be a team of Marthas. Tomorrow Bishop Bullen returns to Lui as soon as the archbishop leaves Mundri. We will be glad to have him with us to put into action the plans Vasco has hinted at.