I had the time of my life...

Unlike last time, when a day off and a packet of drugs was enough to have me back fighting fit, this dose of malaria (despite my lack of medical knowledge I have decided that is definately what I had) was deeply unpleasant. I tried to fight it for a few days, you know the kind of thing, power through, keep working (at heights, despite the dizziness) but all this succeeded in doing was making things worse. To the extent that I spent the majority of my last day in Sudan lying under a tree feeling like crap.

We did have a visit from a plane that day, and as one of our number was flying off to the bright lights of Malakal I dragged myself out to say goodbye:


Now I know, my face bears a look somewhere between disgust and disdain, but I can assure you it was more just discomfort (mixed with a little disdain..towards whatever happened to be annoying me most at the time). On the way home, a journey that takes all of 5 minutes on foot, some of the local kids took pity on me and held my hand. On another day this might have been heartwarming but not today. All I could think was "If you give me some crazy tropical disease I'm coming back for you..."

Fortunately, I was able to make a bit of a recovery before I left. Even by the end of that day I was feeling strong enough to kill a chicken, a gift I'd recieved the previous day which we enjoyed for my farewell meal, an occasion followed by the chance for each member of our team here to say somehting nice about me. History has never known a longer or more awkward silence...

I'm kidding of course, everyone had something nice to say, and this time the heartwarming intentions worked a treat. There were even some tears, but not from me...I am a man after all...

And so, my friends, that's it. At 9am on Friday morning a plane arrived to whisk me away to Kenya for the last time, and it was all over.

I really did have the time of my life, for the most part. And I learned a good few valuable lessons..

I learned that managing a building project in Southern Sudan is far from a walk in the park, and leave with a strong sense of having unfinished business. This is probably mostly due to the fact that I do have unfinished business, with the new clinic building being in a state that is some way from readiness.

I learned that no matter how worthwhile the building project may be, it is not nearly as worthwhile as investing in the people in Mabaan county, and sharing the love and truth of Jesus with them. Probably my biggest regret is not being able to do that more. Whilst my biggest satisfaction comes from being able to a little bit...

I learned that no matter how hard I tried, and wanted, I could not become like one of them. it's impossible. I was routinely ashamed of how much stuff I had, and my life was all packed into a rucksack. Cant imagine how ashamed I'd be if they came to visit me in Scotland.

I learned that when people are struggling to survive the line between right and wrong becomes complicated. I repeatedly came up against things I would previously have said were wrong but when you understand where they were coming from you kinda understand. I'm glad God has perfect wisdom in arbitrating these things. I certainly don't...

I'm sure in time there will be a lot more to add to that list, but you'll have to ask me about that yourself, because you wont find it here. With my departure from Africa this evening I'm intending to mark the end of my blog. And so, my friends, until my next African adventure this is goodbye. May God bless you all...

Happy Days...

Day 224 (of 228 in Sudan)...stupid malaria again. Great...

Maybe thats why my post yesterday was so lacking in positive outlook. A fact noted with some frustration by some of my American colleagues here. With their sunny dispositions...

Legacy...

And so it would seem my lasting legacy in Doro is to be represented by two things, at least in the eyes of my fellow missionaries here. First, a new dog proof fence for our compound:


My efforts concerning which bought me endless grace in my lack of pulling my weight in other more mundane chores.

Secondly, after over two years of functioning, the Doro clinic now (almost) has some toilets. I've been actively involved in this process from start (finding people to dig the holes - 4 m down in case you are interested) to finish, providing whatever expertise I deemed appropriate. Unfortunately, I didnt really know what I was doing...


On the day when we were preparing to pour the concrete for the floor, I was somewhat alarmed by the space left for the holes by Peter, our now lone Kenyan builder. When I suggested he make them a little bigger he duly obliged before letting me in on a national secret: "You know Kevin, in Kenya we are fearing to make the holes big because children fall into them" Can you imagine anything worse...? I don't think I can. Didnt stop me getting him to make them bigger though.

As for my legacy in the eyes of the Sudanese, that is somewhat more difficult to judge. I hope I've achieved more than just making them think I'm a nice guy...failing that I hope I've just made them think I'm a nice guy...

In other, equally fascinating, developments, I have made the fifth and final move of my time at Doro to the most basic abode yet, a grass house:


Or 'Kurnuk' as they are called here. I never thought I would view living in a mud hut as a luxury. This move is part of an overall effort by some of the team here to connect with the local community more effectively, a move which I wholeheartedly support. Or at least, I did wholeheartedly support until I got woken up at 7:30 this morning by a friend who was looking for some keys..."Hey Kevin, are you asleep?" Not any more.

That being said, there are positive aspects to living a bit more basically, not least the reduction in the shame I feel when I have Sudanese people in my house. Even the (relatively) little I brought out here with me now feels ludicrously extravagant. Lesson duly learned.

My time here is now painfully short, with a mere 4 days remaining. This is a fact that I am not savouring. And I'm trying to figure out just how exactly to 'end well'. I'm beginning to wonder if I should just tell people I'm going to be back sometime soon so they aren't too indignant with me. Actually, forget 'beginning to wonder', I've already done that with several people. Maybe now I'll have to make good my claim...