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.