Our new Charge' d'Affaires, Alberto Fernandez, is quite popular with the Sudanese press, and they continue to publish pretty much anything he does. The headline says, "The American Charge' d'Affaires enters the Shura Council of the National Congress Party, visits Shendi, and spends the night in the Kuthar hotel."
Friday, August 24, 2007
Our popular leader at the embassy
Our new Charge' d'Affaires, Alberto Fernandez, is quite popular with the Sudanese press, and they continue to publish pretty much anything he does. The headline says, "The American Charge' d'Affaires enters the Shura Council of the National Congress Party, visits Shendi, and spends the night in the Kuthar hotel."
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Her grandmother said sometimes a soul is too big for one person
. . . so God divides the soul between people, and they share it.
I met a new friend today. She told me that her grandmother was a very wise woman and that I would love her. Then, she told me that we might share a soul.
You could say we hit it off.
From the first moment we knew there was something special. You know how that happens? When you can just be your authentic self in the presence of others? It's not every moment of every day, so when you meet someone you can be really real with right from the start, it stays with you.
Some of us are lucky enough to marry people we have that connection to. (I know I am . . . E and I celebrated our anniversary this week . . . on the same day my parents celebrated their 40th . . . and my brother turned 24). Other times those kinds of meetings can shape a particular decision we're facing, blossom into a deep friendship, and/or simply leave an indelible mark on us. We are changed.
If there's one thing in life that's unavoidable, it's change. Last week I returned from an inspiring gathering in Caux, Switzerland, called Tools for Change, hosted by Initiatives of Change. I went for professional development, guidance, and organizational outreach. I left with a long list of contact information for new friends and colleagues, a soaring spirit, and about 20 lb. of chocolate in my suitcase (not kidding).
I spent a lot of time that week thinking about change. Who needs it? What about myself needs to change so that I can go on making way for larger systemic changes? Will it be scary? Is it the right time? Why are others so afraid of it?
All the world's religions teach us ways to change, and they remind us that the very nature of our living means that we are changing . . . ever growing . . . ever dying. But we have the choice to decide whether we experience these changes as positive or negative - whether we are changing for the better, for the greater good, or not. It can be hard, very nearly impossible, to see all changes as for the good, but we do have the power to affect the ways we adapt to changes . . . how we react.
Today I am struck by how much I needed to meet this new friend. How she said things I needed to hear. And how grateful I am to have the opportunities to accept, welcome, adapt, interpret, integrate so many changes and to try to make them changes for the better. I guess only time (and those really honest friends and family!!) will tell . . .
I met a new friend today. She told me that her grandmother was a very wise woman and that I would love her. Then, she told me that we might share a soul.
You could say we hit it off.
From the first moment we knew there was something special. You know how that happens? When you can just be your authentic self in the presence of others? It's not every moment of every day, so when you meet someone you can be really real with right from the start, it stays with you.
Some of us are lucky enough to marry people we have that connection to. (I know I am . . . E and I celebrated our anniversary this week . . . on the same day my parents celebrated their 40th . . . and my brother turned 24). Other times those kinds of meetings can shape a particular decision we're facing, blossom into a deep friendship, and/or simply leave an indelible mark on us. We are changed.
If there's one thing in life that's unavoidable, it's change. Last week I returned from an inspiring gathering in Caux, Switzerland, called Tools for Change, hosted by Initiatives of Change. I went for professional development, guidance, and organizational outreach. I left with a long list of contact information for new friends and colleagues, a soaring spirit, and about 20 lb. of chocolate in my suitcase (not kidding).
I spent a lot of time that week thinking about change. Who needs it? What about myself needs to change so that I can go on making way for larger systemic changes? Will it be scary? Is it the right time? Why are others so afraid of it?
All the world's religions teach us ways to change, and they remind us that the very nature of our living means that we are changing . . . ever growing . . . ever dying. But we have the choice to decide whether we experience these changes as positive or negative - whether we are changing for the better, for the greater good, or not. It can be hard, very nearly impossible, to see all changes as for the good, but we do have the power to affect the ways we adapt to changes . . . how we react.
Today I am struck by how much I needed to meet this new friend. How she said things I needed to hear. And how grateful I am to have the opportunities to accept, welcome, adapt, interpret, integrate so many changes and to try to make them changes for the better. I guess only time (and those really honest friends and family!!) will tell . . .
Friday, August 17, 2007
Nubian Photos
Here are some of the photos from the Nubian wrestling that we saw a few weeks ago. You can read Molly's impressions in a couple of earlier postings.
Saturday, August 11, 2007
Sunday, August 5, 2007
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