They went thataway....


Viewing Sudan-style



Sunday 13th June

Only went up to the hospital for the internet today, but have just heard that another of our patients has died of HIV. That is two in 5 days, people are really starting to believe it now, and it is touching every one. At the hospital, now that we have the HIV clinic, it is a dawn of realisation for them, but the feeling here amongst the medical staff is that it is too late for this generation. Perhaps with more education in the schools, the next generation may be more prepared, let’s hope so.

Great excitement today in the market near Mapuordit, one of the Dr’s had found some apples for sale, one pound each (50c), and we bought 10 - what luxury!! I think they are Granny Smiths. The entire compound was on the move to the market. When you all think of a market you think lots of fresh fruit and vegetables. Forget it. In the food line, they sell beans, coffee beans, rice, salt, sorghum, flour, powdered okra, tins of tomato paste, small packets of plain biscuits, onions & garlic. Last year I did see fresh tomatoes once.

The rest of the things for sale are washing powder, long sticks of soap, material for wrapping around you, woven mats, plastic buckets and bowls. That sort of thing, so not a lot of variety.

Four of us decided to go into one of the ‘restaurants’ for lunch yesterday; it is called ‘the free and easy’. For 2 pounds (A$1) we got 3 bread rolls and a bowl of beans in some very nice gravy. If we had booked (!!), we could have had chicken with beans and 3 bread rolls. That will have to be next Sunday. Our cook has a day off on Sundays, so we have to fend for ourselves on the Sabbath.

The problem with all these beans....... well you can imagine (not looking forward to Ian coming!!!), but there is another problem. The cook is only given 5 lts of kerosene a week and she has been using too much, as the beans take so long to cook; to resolve this, I have to remember to soak them over night so reducing fuel usage.

It has been a very late night - I decided to go back to the cathedral to watch Australia play Germany - wish I hadn’t, what happened 4-0 and 10 players only???

The screen tonight was 2 mosquito nets fastened to the back-drop of the alter; the problem was it was very pixillated, so you could not make out the faces of the players - all looked a bit dull. Then, when the insects started settling on the screen, it looked like the teams had gained extra players!!

The bats were quite active too, as there is a colony that hangs in the roof of the cathedral so they were busy flying in and out (bit like watching the antics of the seagulls at the cricket at the SCG!). All in a nights viewing in Sudan.