Ben Tshin

Bad news, although not entirely depending on the perspective. If you’re guessing I should either be on a flight to Nairobi or already in Nairobi.

I’ve been waylaid in Switzerland for an additional week. The situation in Kenya is still very uncertain with the opposition planning to hold rallies against the government on Wednesday through Friday.  I received the notification to postpone barely 28 hours before my flight was to depart Geneva. It was definitely a surprise although I knew there was a possibility of change since the situation in Kenya has been brewing since December.

I’m getting a bit restless in Switzerland. I’ve already seen most parts of Geneva and also Lausanne. Museums have been visited, vistas absorbed, delicacies enjoyed and every last thing done. It’s definitely frustrating to be stuck here when there is work waiting for me in Sudan. But I think this is another aspect of God’s timing and His plan. I’m learning to deal with this impatience and frustration.

So tomorrow I will be heading back to Lausanne, to the Medair HQ. I’ll start looking into WatSan (Water & Sanitation) books and information to start my professional preparation. Also, it’ll be easier to spend my extra week at HQ and absorb by osmosis from everyone around me.

As prayer points, please pray for:

• the situation in Kenya
• my managing frustrations and disappointments
• my other team members who are laying low in Nairobi

I’ve arrived in Lausanne. Tired and exhausted. I didn’t expect to be so tired, but there was barely enough time to sleep on my flights. The flight from Toronto to London (YYZ-LHR) took only 6 hours. There was only 3-4 hours of napping after meal times and watching my obligatory movie.

Since departing from Canada I haven’t had much time to process the emotional, mental and spiritual weight. While I was waiting at the Toronto Airport about 15 friends and my family were on hand to send me off. There weren’t any tears, just good-bye hugs and last words of good safety, good luck and God’s blessings. It wasn’t until I stepped through security that the reality of the next year struck me. I won’t see any of those friends or family for a whole year. I didn’t realize how much my community meant to me, and how much I’ll miss them.

My entire journey to Switzerland was quite lonely. I was lugging all my bags including everything I need for the next year up and down the Geneva airport and through the railway stations. But it’s a relief to finally see familiar faces from my last visit when I attended Medair’s ROC. They aren’t my close friends or my family, but there are three who will be going to South Sudan with me. They will be my new community for the next year.

I hope to get more time to reflect on my own. This week will be super packed learning about what I’ll be doing in Sudan, and meeting all the HQ staff.

It’s now the countdown: D-day minus 14. Two weeks.

My preparations to leave have been harried. I returned from Medair’s ROC in November and two weeks later I accepted a Water & Sanitation (WatSan) position in South Sudan. Total days from acceptance to departure was less than 60 days. But there is much to do.

Being voluntarily unemployed since May has settled me into a slower pace of life. My decision to take a break from work was to give time to go on vacation in Italy, visit my sister in Florida and apply to the CIDA internships. But then I didn’t land any internships or Humber.

My to-do list seemed unending to begin. My briefing pack contained 16 different documents that needed reading, filling, or signing. And then the drugs and vaccinations. In total I’ve received 6 shots for infectious bugs ranging from Hepatitis A and typhus to rabies. Beware: the rabies inoculation cost a ridiculous $510 (3 x $170). There’s also a packing list the length of my arm. And all the things I need to organize before I leave.

It was overwhelming and some days paralyzing to think about the long to-do list. I didn’t know where to start and what to do next. But the list is slowly dwindling. Tick off one task at a time. And now the list is down to less than 10.

With all the preparations, I haven’t had the chance to get excited about going to Africa. But I’m really glad that everyone I’ve talked to is really encouraging and excited for me. And then it rubs off onto me. So now I’m excited and also slowly getting things done. *whew* The right balance.

Founded in 1988, Medair is a humanitarian non-governmental organization (NGO) independent of any political, economic, social or religious authority. Its international headquarters are based in Lausanne, Switzerland.

The work of Medair is compassionate and practical, providing life-saving care and support which upholds the dignity and independence of every person, regardless of race, religion, or politics. Medair brings life-saving relief and rehabilitation in disasters, crises, and conflict areas by working alongside the most vulnerable. Its mission is to seek out and serve the most vulnerable people affected by crisis, particularly the forgotten men, women, and children who live in difficult-to-access regions in Africa, the Middle East, and Asia.

Although the name ‘Medair’ implies medical relief, the organization also works in many different areas including: emergency response, medical services, nutrition, psycho-social & reconciliation, training, water sanitation, food security, infrastructure & rehabilitation and capacity building.

(more about Medair)

Mission Statement

The mission of Medair is to respond to human suffering in emergency and disaster situations by implementing multi-sectoral relief and rehabilitation projects, in a compassionate and serving attitude inspired by its Christian ethos.

Medair’s Task

1. The Humanitarian Imperative Comes First
2. Remembering the Forgotten Crisis
3. A Multisectoral Organisation so as to Answer Varied Needs

(more on Medair Mission Statement & Charter)

ICRC

Medair is a signatory to the “Code of Conduct for the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement and NGO’s in Disaster Relief”. The ICRC’s Code of Conduct is especially marked by:

• neutrality
• impartiality
• universality

Links

Medair website: www.medair.org

NOTE: This website is neither sponsored nor promoted by Medair. The content herein does not reflect Medair’s views, opinions or philosophy, but rather that of author. Medair can therefore not be considered liable and will not take any responsibility for its content.

Here’s some information about Sudan:

• the largest country in Africa, the tenth largest in the world by size
  • equivalent to area of Ontario and Quebec combined
• country’s name derives from the Arabic Bilad-al-sudan, literally “country of the blacks”
• gained independence from UK in 1956
• embroiled in two civil wars spanning 1955 to 1972 and 1983 to 2004
  • latest conflict between Arab, Muslim north where capital Khartoum is located and black animist or Christian south was fought over oil money, political powers and religious issues
  • the conflict killed 2 million people and forced 4 million from their homes
• population: 39 million (2007 estimate)
• life expectancy: 49.11 years
• official languages: Arabic & English
• Southern Sudan gross national income: $90 per capita

Links

ReliefWeb Updates: Sudan

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Aid (OCHA) IRIN Updates: Sudan

Reuters AlertNet Crisis Profile: South Sudan fragile peace

Medair’s Programme in Southern Sudan

CIA World Factbook: Sudan