Ben Tshin

Here are pictures from the NFI distribution in Pajor.

And more pictures from my first trip on the Nile to do an assessment in Khaldak, 40 minutes up-river from Malakal.

Here are some more pictures of Malakal from February.

Excellent news for me: I’m heading to Yei to do a SWAT (Surface WAter Treatment) system installation. The charter leaves Malakal tomorrow morning!

I’m counting 7 weeks into my field rotation right now (6 weeks since Loki), and the only change of scenery has been Juba for 5 days. I’m getting tired of the heat (40-45C depending on the source), tired of the same rice and stew, and tired of sitting around without any work.

So Yei is way down south near the Uganda border. Apparently it’s very green and lush. I can’t wait. But the best part is that it won’t be so hot. I can’t imagine setting up the system in 40C heat, lugging barrels, gravel, sand, etc.

The 7 weeks of this field rotation have been almost an eternity. The usual rotation is 8 weeks, so I’m starting to feel my mind slip away. Unfortunately, some friends are visiting Uganda in April so I’m extending my pain for 11 weeks in the field. I hope I get back to Nairobi in one mind. I feel like Dieter Dengler in Rescue Dawn, slowly losing my mind while I imagine what delicious items fill the shelves in my imaginary fridge.

Last week was my first change of scenery since arriving in Sudan. I was one of 7 lucky contestants sent to basic security and safety training in Juba. Juba is the new capital of South Sudan and it’s literally a gold rush boom town. The gold rush here is from NGOs setting up offices all over Juba and bringing in Dollars, Euros, Pounds, etc. The longest tarmac road in South Sudan is also there, all 10km of it!

Medair has very good security policies, plans and protocols that everyone is drilled almost endlessly, since on arrival in any new location, you’re given a 30 minute security briefing. It’s good, it’s thorough, and most of all, it’s especially necessary in Sudan where fighting can break out between anyone and everyone at anytime. Ironically, I encountered my first security incident right before I got my security training. A bit of bad photographic timing, and I was seriously afraid of my near future.

That’s right, my first brush with the authorities. My intention was to capture the text on a sign: “Our Land, Our Peace, Our Oil, Our Liberty”. But picture taking apparently is not allowed from the tarmac. At least in Juba. I had done it in all the other airports (Loki, Malakal, Rumbek), and it was an innocent enough. But I looked to be some sort of Chinese agent. Chinese oil companies and by extension, Chinese people, are not looked highly upon here. He glared at me as he demanded my passport and details. It only got worse when he saw that I was missing a Sudanese entry stamp. I plead that I wasn’t checked my first time. Instead of explaining my circumstances, that only provoked a discussion (one-sided, albeit) about taking immigration and customs seriously.

Upon discovering that I was legitimately Canadian (ethnically Chinese, but not nationally), he let me off. I deleted all the pictures I had, and he was pleased that I at least took him seriously. Of course I did. I had heard stories firsthand of passports being confiscated for missing those entry stamps, and that was only part of my problem. I got out of it with a scare, but with some lessons that I took into my formal security training.

Security training was interesting. Lots of theory on the first day, but really “hands-on” the rest of the way. The best part is learning to deal with aggression. I wish I had that lesson 3 days earlier since it would’ve helped me deal with that official/guard/guy. It’s amazing how effective tension control works when you’re in high stress situations. There’s only three things: focus on your posture (show relaxed but confident body language), focus on your breathing (deep slow breathes from your belly) and recognizing and releasing any tension in your body.

Perhaps it’s only simulation, but when someone is yelling at you, manhandling you around, those three things might be a life saver. It might get someone else killed too.

We did a hostage scenario. At one point, the hostage taker asked for information, but hen no one volunteered information, one person was taken out to be shot (so we were told). Sadly, no one said anything. Me, I was too focused on my breathing, and making sure my arms didn’t go numb from holding them up. I thought that if I even spoke up that I’d be singled out for extra punishment. Even worse was when they choose me next. Again, no one said anything. You can run your imagination on what would’ve happened in real life.

It was only a simulation, but it got me thinking: “What would I do?” Would I try to speak out and save a colleague, to the risk of my own life? All hypothetical, but at least it got me thinking. I know how to placate someone with frustration aggression and someone using aggression as a tool for showing power, etc. I know all the security procedures, and what to do when things go bad. I just hope I’ll never have to use it.

1 Corinthians 13 re-interpreted by Edgar Stoesz, former chairman of Habitat for Humanity International and former director of MCC South America

We may speak the language of sacrifice and of service, but if we have no love in our hearts for those whom we seek to help, our efforts will have no more effect than a noisy gong or a clanging symbol whose influence fades away with the clamour.

We may emphasise the urgency of development, comprehend all the urgent problems and needs of the world, and have absolute faith and determination that we can imagine the masses living in prosperous communities at a respectable standard of living but have no love for the people, it is all in vain.

We may distribute the aid we possess. We may give our lives to save the needy masses, but if love is not our motive, the world will not be better for our effort.

With love we will be very patient as we confront a foreign culture with change.

With love we will not feel boastfully righteous as though we have all the solutions to all the worlds needs.

With love we will never inflate our ego at the expense of the failures and weaknesses of others.

With love we will not be resentful when our service is taken for granted.

With love our efforts will hit the mark.

Love never gives up. As for teaching, it will be superseded; as for agencies of development, they will cease. For our technology and planning and our institutions are incomplete but when our actions are guided by love and justice, then they will be complete.

We are limited in our understanding, we see in a mirror dimly. We are baffled by problems and the lasting solutions elude us. But we are learning bit by bit and we long for a day when love shall rule the world.

Thus faith that God has a plan for the world, hope that seeks the full life for all, and a love that knows no boundaries – these 3 endure, but the greatest of these is love.

Make love your goal.