It is dark. I-can’t-see-my-hand-in-front-of-my-face kind of dark. I-must-be-blind kind of dark. The light has escaped, swallowed up by blackness. My soul writhes, grasping for any flicker or any spark it thinks it sees. Only there are no flickers. There is only the black hole where my heart used to be. A vacuum that sucks all … Continue reading After…
Dear Teachers
Dear South Sudanese Teachers, I regret to inform you that we may have to cancel the May teacher conference. We had planned to come, as you requested, to continue the literacy training we started in January. I know it is difficult to teach your children to read when you hardly read well yourselves. Keep practicing your … Continue reading Dear Teachers
Sisters
A year ago, the cherry trees were in full bloom. We wheeled my Aunt Betty into her front bedroom to see her tree, at her request. Her question to us was, “Is my tree blooming yet?” She was enamored with the petals which were frosted in all hues of pink. The ancient trunk reached toward … Continue reading Sisters
What Do You Get…
What do you get when you have 8,600 grounded flights, 10,000 feet altitude, and 74 people on a mission trip in Ecuador? A very interesting Parent Vision Trip. When we were settling into our seats in Atlanta, our pilot came over the intercom saying there was a problem with our plane. They were going to … Continue reading What Do You Get…
A Collaborative
Collaborative- involving two or more people working together for a special purpose. The dictionary says the word collaborative is an adjective, but the Greater Hope Project uses it as a noun. It is people, a place, and a thing. Numbers of organizations coming together for a common purpose, to help the South Sudanese refugees. It … Continue reading A Collaborative
Cleansing Tears
I was in Africa when Bill’s Alive Day came around this year. It seemed a bit odd to be so far away of marking such a significant event in our lives. We celebrate the day each year on Feb. 2nd, when 31 years ago the accident that should have killed my husband, didn’t. It was … Continue reading Cleansing Tears
Shake, Rattle, and Roll
As far as I can tell there are not many traffic laws in Uganda. It seems to me, the walkers have the outer edges of the roadway, then the bikes are right beside them. Just inside the bikes are the bota botas (motorbikes), and next to them the cars. The closest to the middle of … Continue reading Shake, Rattle, and Roll
The Children Are Watching
How do you lead a literacy conference without books? That was our question going into our second teacher workshop at Hope Primary School. Last year’s conference brought with it evidence that the teachers themselves were not very strong readers. In fact, the illiteracy rate in South Sudan is over 80%. Remember, most of these conference … Continue reading The Children Are Watching
Humble Prayers
There is something about hearing a refugee pray which humbles my heart. Their prayers are so genuine, so heartfelt, that sometimes my eyes tear up. I doubt that if I was in their place I could be as grateful as they are. They thank God for their safety, and I wonder if they are safe … Continue reading Humble Prayers
Why Have You Come?
My eyes are wide and deep as pools. When you look at me they are the first thing you see. They have wisdom beyond my years, because I have seen much in my short life. They have seen more than I can understand. War makes no sense to me, only running from war. Now I … Continue reading Why Have You Come?
Michelle's Mosaic 