* before anything, know that I'm not one of those people who goes on a 'mission trip' and gets all attached and emotional about 'the babies' or anything like that... not my style.
Anyways, 10 days ago I was worried about Peacemaker (sweet name), James and Bright. For whatever reasons, they've been orphaned and now live on the streets of Vic Falls, Zimbabwe. 
(Peacemaker, left. Bright, right. James, top.)
You might be aware that Zimbabwe is in a huge economic crisis. If you weren't, now you are. People there can't afford to buy anything... and because they, like so many other countries, have become dependent on commercial farming/food production... they don't know how to farm on their own.
That being said, about 10 days ago I was fully consumed with thoughts of how I, we, humanity, could help these people. And now I'm fully consumed with thoughts of sound systems, lighting, video and order of service for a church plant. And by fully consumed, I mean partially, because I'm also thinking a lot about a new pair of boots, working at Starbucks, working on my spanish, wake boarding, and camping... and the list goes on.
There are a couple of folks from Rose of Charity that have moved to Vic Falls to work with the street kids. One of their goals was to provide adequate schooling for 8 of the boys-- they've hired a part-time teacher, bought the kids pencils, paper etc and drive them to their lessons three times a week. I asked Bright if I could take a picture of one of his journal entries-- he said sure... here it is:
-----
p.s. if you're keeping up at all with the 'power sharing talks' going on between the current Zimbabwean government (ZANU-PF) and the primary opposition (MDC), here's an article I missed... maybe you did too: http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2008/08/2008814115357679670.html
View Larger Map
So I'm back in Johannesburg, waiting for a plane to Amsterdam. So much has happened in the last week+ that I don't really know where to start. So here's a short rundown of the last 3.5 days.
- Thursday: supposed to get on a train to Bulawayo, but the train was fully booked because of a big holiday in Zimbabwe that weekend, luckily I found 1 ticket left in first class for Friday. Pulled up www.couchsurfing.com and found a lady in Bulawayo and sent her a message asking if I could stay on her couch Saturday.
- Friday: Went to Livingstone (in Zambia... which means crossing borders, and everything that goes along with that) to get some $USD so I could pay for the room I'd been using the last 5 nights. Found out that I had 'insufficient funds' on that card, but happen to have an old debit card to a bank in Kansas that had a few funds available. Great. Went back to the backpackers lodge in Zimbabwe around 10:00 am and realized that the power was out... a regular thing in Africa (load shedding). So I anxiously sat around waiting for the power to come back so that I could 1) check to see what was up with my card, 2) see if the woman in Bulawayo had responded. Around 1:00 the power came on, but no internet. Sat some more. Around 4:00 the internet finally warmed up and that's when I realized my debit card had been on a spree in Nemibia. But on the bright side, I also had an email back from Lanis in Bulawayo and she said she'd be happy to put me up for a night. Shortly thereafter, I headed for the sleeper train and was asleep by 9:30 p.m.
- Saturday: Woke up around 1 a.m. and realized the train had been stopped for an unknown reason somewhere between Victoria Falls and Bulawayo. Woke up around 4 a.m. and we were still stuck. Finally, around 6 a.m. a new engine appeared and we were on our way ( 6 hours behind schedule). Around 1:00 p.m. we arrived at the train station and I soon found Lanis just outside the train station. She took me by the veggie market, which was interesting. Everything was ridiculously price, but we picked up a couple potatoes, carrots and a head of lettuce. She then gave me short tour of the city, and then headed back for her house. She lives alone with her two dogs... but has a maid that's been with her for over 20 years who lives in a small house in the back... they're kind of like sisters now. Anyways, had a great time with her, talking about the old days of Rhodesia and the way things were before Mugabe.
- Sunday: Lanis drove me to a gas station and I found a guy on the side of the road who was headed to Johannesburg. He said for $250 Rand he'd let me hop in the back with the 5 other Zims... deal. On the way to Beitbridge we saw all sorts of animals, including a giant cobra slithering across the road... gross... but it stopped for a sec and lifted/flared its huge old head... cool. On the way to the border we paid off police at 4 different stops to let us through. At the Beitbridge border there was about a 2 hour line... but because our driver knew some people, we made it through in 14 minutes and 36 seconds. Then there was the Messina border into South Africa... nightmare. Again, there was a huge line, 8 hours, but our driver got us through in 2. We continued to press on at 120km... two people in the front of the truck and 6 in the back. The 5 Zims in the back were from the Ndebele tribe... they speed Ndebele, which is one of the 'clicking' languages... They're also pretty aggressive speakers as well... which became super comical (to me) when they all started sucking on hard candy and speaking Ndebele... lots of clicking. Anyways, I asked them to ask the driver to drop me at a hotel near the airport...driver said no problem... and after 10 hours of sitting in the back of a truck they dropped me off at the Formula 1 Hotel...where in the first 2 minutes I had killed 3 roaches, and left one alone in the bathroom. Talked to my mom and sister on Skype. Read some facebook message and hit the sack.
- Monday: Woke up at 6:45 a.m. to a large black man knocking on my door. I cracked the door and said hello. He introduced himself as 'Power' and said he'd be taking me to the airport. I told him that I didn't depart until 11:30 p.m....and he said he'd be back at 10:00 a.m. to fetch me. Power was interesting, and somehow, through his Afrikaan/English accent he sounded exactly like Marlon Brando in The Godfather... werid.
- Now: So now I sit on the second floor of the International Departure wing at the JoBurg airport, having mixed feelings about going back to the States and blogging.
Welp, two nights and one full day of traveling brought us back to Gaborone. I'm not gonna lie, it feels sooo nice to be here. You could basically take Gabs and put it in any American state and it wouldn't be out of place... it's comfortable, clean, chain restaurants (minus starbucks) and great public transportation.
Anyways, this blog is going on hold for a few days. I've started another and if you'd like to be able to read it, email me and I'll set you up with a login name/password. And if that sounds like too much work, I understand... one more thing to sign up for ... one more thing to log into... gross.
In 10 days I'll be on a flight from JoBurg back to the States. My time in Africa has been... so much more than I ever imagined. It's going to take a long time to really unpack everything I've learned/experienced. I'm so thankful and grateful for everyone who has been supporting me. God is good.
I'm absolutely loving it here. The people are so nice. The Victoria Falls are amazing... I'll try to post pictures later tonight or tomorrow.
I read this article in the paper yesterday. Worth the read.
Here's another from the AP on inflation... and here's a quote
"Authorities last week released a new 100 billion dollar bank note. By Sunday it was not enough even to buy a scarce loaf of bread in what has become one of the world's most expensive — and impoverished — countries".
I've gotta make this really quick, but we're in Zimbabwe, staying at a backpackers lodge. Had a heck of a trip getting here... caught an overnight train, super long bus, weird time at the Zimbabwe border... but here. Long story short, things here are so terrible. Inflation is soooooo high right now. Today one US dollar = 100,000,000,000 Zimbabwe Dollars... that's right... ONE HUNDRED BILLION. People here can't afford to buy anything... and even when they do pull some money together, there isn't any food to buy. Grocery stores are empty. Like... empty.
Things are great and I love being in Zimbabwe... thinking about staying longer.
We've spent the last three days in the village of Gamadubu (sounds like Hom-a-dubu). Anyways, Jess and Ana have been helping a woman named Shirley feed ~130 children every Saturday, and pay for their schooling Mon-Friday. It's a really neat program, and they've got some really great plans for 'The Project' in the future. This morning (Sunday) some folks from Gaborone came to donate blankets... but only 70... so from the 130, the most 'at risk' children received blankets first... beginning with HIV/AIDs children, then orphans, then children whose parents don't take very good of them... and so on. (ps, blankets because it's been getting down in the 40s at night... it's winter here). While it was unfortunate that the people donating blankets didn't bring enough, 70 children will be sleeping warm tonight.
In this picture you can see the first children in line to receive blankets (far right, back)...
(what are Sam and Ana doing?)
And on a funny note, when the folks showed up to give out blankets, all the children lined up and sang the song 'God is Good to Me' for about 2 minutes... and this yellow piece of paper is what was attached to each of blankets... :) 
(God is good to me, God is good to me, He holds me stead and holds my hand, God is good to me)
Anyways, tonight we're catching a train to Francistown, and from there taking a taxi into Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe is going through some awful times right now-- to get the run down, click here and read what's up on the International Crisis Group's website
It's hard to believe how quickly the last six weeks have gone by-- how many adventures, and day after day seeing the Lord at work.
I'm still processing the time Sam and I spent in Sudan. I'm still not sure how to feel about the country (plural). If you're up on your history of Sudan, then this is old news, but here a basic rundown:
- won independence in 1956
- borders Egypt to the north, Uganda to the south (borders other countries as well, e.g. Kenya)
- the north is mostly inhabited by Arab Muslims
- those in the south are mostly non-Arab sub-Saharans (black) who are either Christians or practice traditional African religions (see wiki for more info)
- the north and the south have basically been at war since 1956
- beginning in the mid 80's through 2005 Sudan went into a full-on civil war... with a twist
- the north was using those from the Darfur region to do their bidding in the south
- with the Sudan's second civil war, the SPLA (Sudan People's Liberation Army) was formed to protect those in the south from the Darfurians being used by the north.
- long story short, in 2005 a peace treaty was signed by the north and the south, standing until 2011
That being said, by 2005, most of the people in the south had all moved to refugee camps in neighboring countries (particularly Uganda and Kenya). A few moved up north to Khartoum before the south realized the north was using the Darfurians.
Soooo... three years after the peace treaty, Sam and I went to Turalei, S. Sudan... located near the north/south border. Everyone living in the town/village had within the last two years moved back from refugee camps, as it had been wiped out during the war... which means every person we met, over the age of about 16 remembers fleeing from the enemy... they remember homes being burned... people being hacked up... women being raped... and their entire world being torn to pieces.
I still don't know what to think.
Below are a few pictures I took around the village, and then in one of the schools we visited (yeah... they don't have buildings... they meet under trees). I'm uploading more to Facebook as we speak... and if this internet connection keeps up, Sam is gonna upload some of his pics to Flickr (he's took a ton of sweet pics).
-------
10 hours later...
-------
Other news, left Kampala, Uganda yesterday morning-- flew to Johannesburg and caught a bus to Gaborone, Botswana. South Africa/Botswana have been a completely different African experience, thus far. It feels like America here. Tomorrow we'll be out in a village, visiting an orphanage... I hear we're washing 200 school uniforms by hand... And on Sunday we'll be heading for Zimbabwe. That's it for the moment. -- John
I've been in Jinja for the last three days. No internet access where we were. Tomorrow = Sanyu Baby Home and then visiting another super sweet ministry. Tomorrow I'll hopefully have a chance to upload pics/videos etc etc... things have been so busy (and great). xoxo
So I just took a 4,000 shilling Boda ride to an internet cafe so I could upload some pictures/videos from Sudan, but when I got here I realized I left my camera cable back at the place I'm staying. (longest sentence ever)
And I didn't even need to say anything... but know that the effort was made. Until tomorrow
I've gotta keep this super quick, but I promise pictures and videos tomorrow.
Few highlights from Sudan:
- lived in a mud hut with a grass roof for 10 days
- on the 4th day we were in Turalei, the Bol family killed a cow for us... with a spear.
- we ate the cow over a period of four days... and they don't have a fridge... or power for that matter.
- after filming in a larger school (700 students, 6 teachers) in Ajak, we were 'raided' by the SPLA and our film was confiscated... totally crazy.
- almost didn't make it back to Wau because of rain
Anyways, crazy trip, but totally worth it. Today I've been working in another orphanage, and filming there tomorrow. I'll mos def have videos up soon.
-- John
PS: this orphanage is completely supported by 'random' donations. If you're interested in paying for some x-rays, meds, food or anything for the cuuuuuutteeest little kids, I'll have that info up tomorrow as well. PS: a set of x-rays run around $7 ... so cheap.
Just a super quick post to say that against all odds we're back in Juba... should be back in Uganda by tomorrow evening.
Picture this, 105 degree weather, red desert spotted with trees, a small hut with a 27" flat screen TV, wireless Internet and John blogging from his iPhone. This isn't normal.
All is well in Juba. Sam and I left Kampala this morning and had an uneventful flight into lovely Sudan. We're staying in Juba for (hopefully) tonight only, and flying West to Wau in the morning. From there a 5 hour-ish drive to the village where we'll be filming.
If the Internet holds up, I'll blog some thoughts. But for now, Mom, don't worry about a thing (not that I think you are)-- we're here and things are great :)
--------------
Sudan has felt much more like I imagined Africa (minus the wireless Internet). Juba is the capital city of S. Sudan... only one paved road, UN vehicals everywhere and not one place in the entire country accepts a Visa card. So far, the people here really havent been very friendly. It seems like everyone wants to keep to theirself (sp?). Sam and I ventured out of our little guarded compound area and walked about 100m down the road. Nobody waved or smiled... I quickly filmed, as we walked by, a goat that was dying from what I can only imagine, the heat and lack of water. There's a guy staying in our compoud that looks like he's straight out of National Geographic... tall, super dark skinned and his face is completely marked up with tribal scars. I was told from the owner of the place that the man is from a village in the north, Noor. Who knows.
It appears that Sam and I didn't exactly plan the Sudan leg of the trip out very well and it looks like finances here are going to be tight. They only accept $100 bills minted in 2006... so we bought 5kilos of rice that should last us a while... we also brought 40 liters of water from Uganda... So as long as we aren't partying it up, and we're not hit up with anymore $100-200 surprises (as we have been for the last few days) things will be juuuuuust fine :)
All day, any time we mentioned that we are headed NW to film in villages that need schools, everyone has expressed how much schools are needed and how thankful they are that we are here to help-- So again I thank you all for the way you've supported Sam and me in this adventure. You are helping to make a difference for the people of S. Sudan.
1 a.m. on Tuesday the 1st of July, six of us found our seats on the most packed out bus, headed to Kigali, Rwanda. The ride there was fairly typical of any bus ride in a developing country-- full seats, people standing in the isle (for 9+ hours), and zero personal space. The drive from SW Uganda and into Kigali was actually worth the trip in itself-- Green, terraced mountains with acres and acres of tea fields in the valleys between... beautiful. Our trip was actually only two days, but it seems like we were there for a week... so here's a quick rundown of both days
Day 1
- arrived in Kigali and checked into the Mille Collines Hotel (the in Hotel Rwanda)
- took about a 3-4mile walk around the city
- had a terrible French/African dinner :)
- hung out at the Mille Collines and listened to live music etc... amazing
Day 2
- visited the Genocide Memorial... very intense... I've journaled a lot about that experience and will hopefully find time to share some reflections
- hung out in Center Town
- found an amazing Mexican food restaurant (one of the few in Africa)
- hung out on the roof of our (gross) hotel [Hotel Kigali... $8 per person, per night... and you get what you pay for).... and this was also a very special moment... looking over the city, and trying to imagine how war torn and horrible things were just 15 years ago... wild.
Anyways, we're back in Kampala for a few days... and had to do some work on our Sudan trip... so we'll be leaving Sunday evening now and returning on Tuesday the 15th...
I might have time to upload some pics/videos later today, but I'm about to pass the computer over to Sam...
So this is it for now -- John
I didn't have time to put a video together, but here are a few pictures from our trip upcountry:
This picture is for Ben W. -- He loves giraffes and this giraffe loves Ben.
Here's a lion. 
We found a driver that knew how to get into the Congo without going through customs (should I have said that?). So we hiked around for a little while... took some pictures of kids and that was about it.
Crossing into the DRC there's a little creek/river with naked kids that marks the border. Here the river is... and the kids.
-------
So none of these pictures have anything to do with Nebbi, really... Maybe read Sam's blog to find out more about the trip. I'll try posting more later tonight?
This post is basically to say that I've returned from Nebbi. It was an amazing trip to the mountains... worked in an incredible medical center- spent lots of time with one of the revs from the Nebbi diocese. Wonderful experience-- God is certainly working in the mountains of Uganda.
Later tonight I'll put together some pictures and videos from the last week and upload them tomorrow morning.
I can't say thank you enough for your prayers.
This morning/afternoon was spent at an awesome HIV/AIDS clinic. It's the Mildmay Hospital of Uganda... they test visitors for hiv/aids and give palliative care for those who test positive (treating more than 450 per day). Before today I had never been to an aids clinic... it was pretty wild. I'm still not sure what feelings I felt when looking at a group of 100 people waiting in line for their test results-- parents/adults looking so nervous, ashamed and sad, and little kids running around laughing because they had no idea why they were there. Overall, the clinic was amazing-- wonderful facilities and great staff. Another observation-- when tickled, little kids with HIV/AIDS laugh just as much as those without :)
We ended up not being able to film, because very few children at this clinic have consent from their parents to be photographed/filmed.
Soooo... that was my day today. Tomorrow we leave to go up country (Nebbi) and live in the sticks for a few days. No power or running water etc...We'll be back to Kampala on Sunday afternoon/evening.
God is good.
---------------------------------------------
Hey Mary (sister), I saw some awesome stuff that I was gonna tell you in a Facebook message, but decided to show you...
p.s., I'm not really spending any time at all making these videos... and I'm a little embarrassed putting stuff up that's so poorly edited/put together... buuuut, here it is anyways :)
---------------------------------------------
Last edit on this post... and last post until Sunday. Just wanted to share an interesting experience I had tonight... So apparently grasshoppers are a delicacy in Uganda. So naturally when I heard this I ran outside, found a boda boda and we looked for 20 minutes around the city of Kampala for someone selling them. After lots of searching, we scored at Cabalagaba (red light district...no pun intended... bad joke, sorry) and rode off with 1kilogram of g'hoppers. Back at the house we warmed them up over a charcoal grill and ate them like popcorn shrimp. I'm not sure how to explain the taste... Maybe like crunchy Long John Silver? -- I've only eaten there once, but from what I remember, grasshoppers taste like LJS. Aannnnd... that's it... I need to get my pack packed and get some sleep (I also need to floss, because I have grasshopper shell stuck between my lower back molars... gross)
Things have been soooo busy!
I've gotta keep it quick, so here's the deal:
1.) Finished with the Sudanese visas process...I'll post pictures tomorrow... it's sweet
2.) Spent lots more time in the prisons. We bought and delivered everyone in the Ramand and Women's prison soap... often they go 3-4 months without soap.
3.) Went to Jinja
a. Took us 2.5hrs to go 30miles in a taxi.. sweet
b. Went to the point where Lake Victoria turns into the Nile River
c. Boat ride around the Nile
d. Watched some Africans ride down some SERIOUS rapids, only holding (1) little water jug
e. Bungee jumped over the Nile (150ft)
4.) Went to a 3 hour African Anglican church service today-- we led worship... weird.
5.) At lunch with the my host family... beef liver, goat, pineapple, matoke, rice, avocado and a peanut sauce. p.s. Africans call peanuts 'G-Nuts' ... as in 'ground nut'
Tomorrow we'll be in an aids clinic all day, and they're letting us film and take pics... and that's it-- thanks for your prayers
I've been thinking about this post for the last few days. I'd like to... enlighten/expose/share with? those who haven't spent time in Uganda with the three primary means of transportation in Kampala (capital city).
From most expensive to least:
Special Hire - the special hire is basically the taxi that we're all familiar with. The only difference is that you call one in advance to pick you up, rather than flag one down on the side of the road. It's a pretty big to deal to hire a personal taxi here and most don't do it.
Boda Boda - This is mos def my favorite means of transportation in Kampala. Everywhere you look there are motocycles dodging in and out of traffic, carrying 1-3 passengers (not counting the driver). The principle of the boda is very similar to the American taxi... flag one down, haggle about the price a bit and get from point A to B as fast as possible. I used my little point and shoot (SD750) to take a few quick shots on the Boda on my way here to the café. And know that this is LIGHT traffic:
(sorry for the lame quality... I'm keeping things as simple as possible and super small files)
Taxi - the taxi system here is basically like public transportation. 15 passenger vans everywhere, on route with cheap fares. on every taxi there's the driver, of course, and a 'conductor'. The conductor opens and closes the sliding door and also takes your money. During the day when there are 'traffic police' standing on the roads, Taxis generally keep it 1 person per seat... however, at night they'll pack 'em in.
and that's it for now... I'm gonna go find a boda boda and see if I can track down Sam.
* the previous post has the Sudan updates etc
--------------------------------------
Sooo... went into the prison today... i t w a s n u t s. We had to get rid of everything on us, watches, money etc, so I obviously don't have any pictures or anything to show you... The mens prison was amazing, but the womens blew my mind. The lady who led the service is in the 'condemned to death' section for killing her husband... she was the most glowing, wonderful person in the world. Side note-- I've never been one to go on a mission trip and get all sappy about things, but the ladies blew my mind... their singing, their dancing, their testimonies... amazing. Another crazy thing is that if you come into prison pregnant, you keep your baby there until he/she is old enough for primary school. Wild. It was such a blessing to see so many women filled with joy, in such a terrible place.
Another side note, in the mens prison the housing is built for 300 inmates, but houses 1,200... just to give you an idea of how crowded and crazy it is here.
So here's the rundown for the Sudan trip... leave a comment and tell me how awesome my hair looks... joke.
Hey mom, I'm guessing this whole Sudan business might be a little... well... I understand if you're worried :) But I want you to know all is well. All of our travel plans have pretty much been finished up and everything looks pretty legit. I made a little video for you and map that I'll put online tomorrow morning. I'm sitting at the bomb internet cafe that I told you about and there's about 20 people here with their computers... so things are slow. Love ya and I'll talk to you soon!
* Meant to post this on Sunday..
We just moved into our host family's home. Sam and I totally lucked out and have a sweet place for the next few weeks. The mother and father of the family are wonderful people (I was told their name when we first met, but have no idea what they are now)-- The father was involved with parliament a few years ago and now works for some international grain consulting business or something... and the mother was once a computer programmer-- she and I have actually had a few nerdy conversations about programming and computers... odd. They have six children-- four who are living and working in the UK and then two still in Uganda. Andrew is the oldest at home- he's 23 and is at Bugolobi University, and is on winter break right now. Trevor is the youngest... he turns 13 tomorrow. Sam and I will mos def be getting him a present he shouldn't have... like a knife, or a gun or something?
So we went to church this afternoon. In short: The Service = Anglican + Country+ African. And after 3.5 hours, I've had enough church for the afternoon. However, the sermon was bomb and I thoroughly enjoyed it... just no more right now, please.
Tonight we'll be going downtown to some sort of local art show... should be schweet... pics/video to come.
Annnd... it's been amazing meeting new people and seeing how the Lord is working in across the globe. There's a lot more on my mind about the Lord etc... but I'm not sure what or how to write about just yet. Sooooo... peace :)
-----------
Couple updates:
1) we started working at Luzire Maximum Security Prison yesterday... mos def one of the craziest places I've been to. (Side note: at a crime scene, it's very common for the police to arrest 50+ people surrounding and take them to prison-- and generally they keep suspects in prison between 4-6 years)
2) our travel arrangements for Sudan are almost complete... we're working with a cousin of a friend, of someone we met at a 'travel office' to get our Sudanese visas... I can't say more than that, but it's totally sketch... but it's all gonna work out :)
I'm super tired... so here's the run down:
Over the last few days we've been spending time with Uganda college students who are involved with the Anglican Church of Uganda. Great people. I'll hopefully have some pictures/videos up soon.
Today we moved in with our host family. Sam and I are mos def staying with the bombest family in Uganda for the next month.
Tomorrow we'll be going to church-- a good 3 hours of church and still getting to know our host family. And beginning on Monday we'll start working in a local prison.
I'll have decent internet access now every night, and I have to keep this post short. Buuut, tomorrow... expect big things.
Ok. Quick video post of where we've been staying for the last couple of days. Not a quality video, but, bah, whatever, I have 2 minutes left of internet access... so here it is:
So here's my first attempt in putting a video online from Uganda. Took about an hour to upload on YouTube and I have no idea how the quality will be. So if it's awful, sorry... they'll get better. With that, and for your viewing pleasure, here's a few minutes from our brief stay in the Amsterdam airport:
---------------
We arrived to Entebbe, Uganda around 8:30 p.m. last night. Seven others from our group showed up around 11:00. For the first three nights we're staying in a 'Guest House' which is basically someones home who rents out their extra rooms... has maids to clean and cook and provides a safe place to keep our things.
Today we met up with some Ugandan college students who we'll be working with over the next few weeks. Very nice folks. I'll have pictures and or videos up tomorrow.
We also purchased cellphones and airtime... and when I figure out how to use the phone etc, I'll put contact information.
This post is such a tease... but it's confirmation that we made it to Uganda safe and sound. Thanks for all your prayers!
P.S. for other, cooler? updates on what's going on here, follow me on Twitter. Just go to www.twitter.com and search for 'jnunnally'
So we're off. We're sitting in MCI, terminal C, waiting for our sweet NW flight to Minneapolis. Between the two of us, we have over 150lbs of luggage... sick. Anyways, all is well... should be able to post something of substance later today or tomorrow evening.
This evening, Sam, Josh and I spent some time down at the Sudan Sunrise office, interviewing Manute Bol. Long story short, he's working to raise money in the States to build schools throughout villages in Southern Sudan... Sooo, Sam and I will be packing into the bush, filming/photographing the students, teachers etc-- the goal being to connect people in the US with what's going on there. I'm about to head out and get some dinner... so more later.
Picture to prove it:
This is a great piece from Current on gold mining in the Congo... definitely worth the watch
"Galatians 5:14 states that the greatest command of all is to love our neighbors as ourselves. But does it take an F5 [tornado] before we decide that the 90 year old woman, or the single mom, or the happy family with 3 kids next door really matters?"
A few months ago, Northland Christian Church, Central Park (both from Topeka) and Westview Community Church asked our band from UCC to lead worship for their Junior High retreat in Colorado. So, monday morning, those pictured above, and I, headed for Westcliffe, Colorado. The trip was uneventful, but a good time, nonetheless. The week, thus far, has been a blast-- I've uploaded a few pictures to Facebook-- and will hopefully have a set up on Flickr pretty soon.
On Thursday I had a meeting with some folks from Sudan Sunrise in Kansas City. I arrived at their office a few minutes before the scheduled time and met the wonderful Janis Ricker. She's been lining Sam and me up with contacts so that we'll be able to get into Sudan. Anyways, shortly after Janis and I sat down and began talking, a short white man, followed by a regular sized Sudanese man came walking into the room-- and behind them came the tallest man I've ever seen. His name is Manute Bol... I had never heard of him, but apparently he's a known NBA player. Check him out here:
Sooo, it looks like we'll be staying in his village, Turalie, with Manute-- his uncle is apparently the chief of the village?
Following that adventure, I headed back to Manhattan and had dinner with the Nordts... wooonderful people. Unknowingly, they helped me fulfill a dream I've had for the last 8 years-- riding 4-wheelers on the Flint Hills. That's right. Look at this picture and imagine riding a 4wheeler at about 150mph all over the place:
I just got back from a wonderful party at UCC-- what a mix of emotions. I'm so blessed and thankful for the UCC family... for the relationships that have been built over the last five years... for the amazing/loving people who the Lord has put in my life.
I have so many thoughts going through my mind... and I'll post again later tonight after I've sorted some of them out. :)
I just returned to lovely Manhattan, Kansas. The last 3 days have been spent in Birmingham, Alabama, where my little sister graduated from Samford University. I'm still not sure how I feel about her graduating from college (I still dont even know how I feel about her going to college in the first place) -- she's too young... she's my little sister. Regardless, I'm super proud of her. She's an amazing person with an exciting future ahead.
----
While in AL, I received an email from Gene (Lead Pastor of Lakeshores Church) ... lots to be said, but for now, know this: on August 24, Marble Falls, Texas is gnna be the place to be.
Also, more email from our connections in Sudan.... I can't say much, but its going to be quite the trip.
Thanks for your prayers and support!
Quite the day, quite the day. There are so many things I could tell you about, but I think I'll keep it simple and say the following 5 things:
1) I spent over 10 hours in the office today, and I didn't go in until 2:00
2) Went to Mountain Mud Coffee for the first time today (with Jessa)...
3) Went to my last 'Board of Elders' meeting tonight. bittersweet.
4) Filmed a number of things
5) Put up a draft/test video on Vimeo... you can watch it here... but if you want to really see it in HD, download it from the vimeo page:
Eye Grass from John Nunnally on Vimeo.
A few weeks ago (maybe a month), I was driving down Carnahan Road and witnessed a bona fide prairie fire. This is exactly the kind of thing you read about in Little House on the Prairie (or didn't). Here's a picture I took, while driving, from my phone... pretty intense.
------
In other news, the Africa trip is approaching quickly. Still working on getting a travel visa for Sudan. Getting into Sudan isn't as easy, as, say, Canada.
List of (a few) things accomplished today:
-- Talked to Sarah about going traveling to Sudan and Rwanda. Everything seems good to go. And more on Rwanda later...
-- Looked at some proofs of 'the pamphlet' at Copy Kats today. I'll have 100 printed and folded by tomorrow afternoon. Amen
-- Went to Pathfinder and got fitted for a Dana Design Terraplane pack... thanks Don.
-- Went with Ben to DQ:
... and we certainly did make it happen. Best part was watching Ben try to get out of his seatbelt while holding 6 cones...
-------
last time I looked at the time, it was 12:20. I swear there's a time warp that happens around 11:30-12:30...
It's so strange to have actually announced my resignation from UCC. Part of me thought this day would certainly come-- and at the same time, part of me thought I could live in Manhattan forever. UCC has been such a wonderful place. Manhattan has been home for 8 years.
Spending some time out of the country is exactly what I need to do. I know He has opened this opportunity to provide a place to get away and reflect on life, gain a global perspective and to 'get my hands dirty' serving.
--------
On a completely different note, we'll be refilming the video on our main page here in the next few days... Sam and I didn't know what we were doing... we look angry... but go watch it anyways: http://www.WhatDoTheyNeed.net
Just put up a video on the welcome page to WhatDoTheyNeed.net
WhatDoTheyNeed.net from John Nunnally on Vimeo
I'm a starter. I love new projects, big ideas and looking to the future.
Going to Africa was at one point a new project, a big idea and it was far off in future.
In 5 weeks I'll be in Kampala, Uganda. -- which seems like a long time, still... but between today and then, I'll be traveling to Texas twice, Colorado and Alabama... moving apartments... and leaving the town I've lived in for 8 years for who knows how long (probably forever...).
That being said, Africa, the new project, the big idea, the thing in the future, is becoming a reality... quickly.
Today, yes today, Sam and I put down the bucks and secured two tickets from Kansas City to Detroit, to Amsterdam, to Etebbe Uganda, to Johannesburg South Africa and back. I'm not nervous about traveling, or being in a foreign country at all... but something is making feel nervous, and I'm not sure what.
Two great things happened today:
1) found enough folks to play in our handbell choir for this coming weekend. And if you don't know what I'm talking, then know this: Ben and I borrowed a four octave set of handbells from Manhattan Christian College... and we're going to add it to our 5 piece rock band... and a string quartet. Making it a... 21 piece band. Chaos.
2) Thursday night Sam came by and we created a tri-fold pamphlet, brochure thing (page1 page2). Tonight we tried to print it. Didn't happen:
Anytime someone who's aspirations lead them in a creative, risking-taking, entrepreneurial direction, people say 'Oh, I'm so happy for you...' /sarcasim. However, when that risk-taking person has a degree in, say, history, or has a teaching certificate, the 'encouraging' person will say, 'Oh, I'm so happy for you... and if it doesn't work out, you've always got something to fall back on.'
Now... I have a degree in Biblical Studies, and I work for a church. Great. But what if that doesn't work out? A degree like mine and a profession like mine isn't exactly risky or anything... so why would I need a fall back? And if I did, what would it be?? agony.
Ok, that being said, I think I've found a wide-open market that I could use as a 'fall back' in case of emergency. The idea is this: I could email all the overseas scammers that write those ridiculous "I have a lot of money that I need to keep in your bank account for a while" letters, and offer to clean them up and make them half-way believable... and in return, I'd like at least 5% of the money they scam. ... think about it.
I looked through my inbox and found two snippets of scam-lit. that could use some attention.
Example 1:
" Just in case you are concerned about how i got to your contact,it
was
through the "American Chamber of Commerce"
for trust worthy individuals.i was also directed on how to make
online
search."
Example 2:
"I got your address from a business directory in Johannesburg Chamber of Commerce and Industry. And, I, on behalf of my widowed mother Mrs.MONICA SANKO decided to solicit for your assistance to transfer the sum of US$45.8 Million (Fourty-Five Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars), which my father deposited in a safe box to a private security company in Johannesburg, South Africa. In fact, my father said, and I quote:My son, I wish to draw your attention to US$45.8 Million (Fourty-five Million Eight Hundred Thousand United States Dollars). I deposited the box containing the fund in a security company in Johannesburg, South Africa as valuables."
You get the point. Don't steal my idea... but if you want to borrow it, make sure you give me at least a 2% cut.
Read this post:
http://ugandascarlettlion.blogspot.com/2008/04/how-not-to-help-malaria-infected-girl.html
This is exactly why I'm going to Africa-- to find out what people really need and how to meet it.
In t-minus 30 minutes, I'll begin my fling with Hale Library. Ibhave 15 pages due by 2:00 a.m..
On a completely different note, MySpace has crept back into my life. And in that, I've been finding so many old friends from high school. Its so strange/great/sad to see where people are and what they've been doing (or haven't been doing). In many ways, I feel like I completely ditched out on a number of people by moving to Manhattan... But if I hadn't, I guess I wouldn't be where I am now... and most likely nor in the position to share any sort of hope with them...
So, cheers to change.
It seems like there's a lot of pressure for one who blogs to write profound, pithy etc etc posts... Well... forget that. I'd just like to share that a few moments ago I realized how happy I was/am that I can type my first name with only my right hand... John.
So there ya go.
Ps: Know the longest word in the English language you can type with only your right hand? ... and for that matter, the longest with your left, and then the longest alternating hands?
Right: lollipop
Left: stewardesses
Alternating: skepticism
I'm working on an MA from Hope International University in Fullerton, California. Part of the degree program requires weekly posts to an online forum, per course. In that, this week's online discussion for one of my classes was posed this question: How do you want to be remembered? Are you making daily or weekly incremental progress toward creating that legacy?
I've been discussion this with a number of other students on the forum, but I'd like to share my most recent post.
----------
It's after 1:00am and I'm lost in Radiohead - In Rainbows... and I'm thinking out loud here...
It seems that most of the posts I've read here (mine included) are about how we all want to be remembered by our character etc.... but of all the historical people I can think of, very few are remembered for their character. It seems like the most 'remembered' people out there are remembered for what they did, rather than who they were. Nobody knows (or cares) if George Washington Carver was a great father/husband... but everyone knows he invented peanut butter (... maybe you didn't know that... but you should... and he figured out over 300 other uses for the peanut). Same with... well, anyone-- name 'em... George Washington, the First President of the US-- John Smith... dated a girl named Pocahontas.... You get my point.
Then we have people like Jesus, Ghandi and a few others who are remembered for both.
So what I'm wondering is this... is it shooting too low to only want to be remembered by something as... simple as being a great friend, or someone who smiled a lot?
Shouldn't we have greater goals as well? How do you define a 'selfless' legacy?
....
... and the deal with John Smith... I think that was just in the Disney movie... either way, great story ;)
Im sitting in the Riley County Health Department lobby. Its an awkward place. Its a square room, with circle tables and chairs strewn all over the place, outlined with random couches and single chairs. A few random plants stand against each wall-- some very canned watercolor painting prints on the walls. There's a 30 something mother who reeks of cigiarette smoke, pretending to pay attention to her cute 3 year old-ish daughter who is wearing snow boots (its March 27th...).
I'm sitting in the Riley County Health Department waiting for a Yellow Fever vaccination. Sam is receiving his now, and within 3 seconds of him walking out into the lobby I'll know how painful the shot is/isn't. Anticipation.
In the same way that the secrets of the island on Lost will never be discovered, no person will ever be able to explain what happens to time between 11pm and 1am. I think it has to do with gravity and quantum physics or something. I was just looking at my computer clock, reading a few blogs and before I knew, it was now... is now. And now it is precisely 2hrs and 2 minutes from the time it said 11:00. Anyways..
Today was a 'zero caffiene' day... which means a couple of things:
- less energy
- less motivation
- irritable
- pessimistic
However you look at it, when there's an absence of caffiene, my cognitive abilities are impaired. I unfairly approach people and situations slanted and my initial thoughts to anything are generally negative. I'm by no means pawning off responsibility for anything... just explaining the situation. In that, scripture is very clear that we are to use wise judgement and to be sober minded. We generally just assume that means not to drink too much alcohol (which it certainly does mean), but I dont believe we can compartmentalize what substances we allow to affect our cognition. Meaning, because caffeine is a socially acceptable addiction, that doesn't make it right. In the same way, 'puppy love' encourages irrational decisions, anger promotes words best left unsaid etc etc etc ... I think Paul has it dead on where he tells us to beat our body and make it our slave... And... that's all I've got.
__________
I wrote all this last night on my phone and forgot to publish it. So this is a day late... and there will be a new post tonight.
Early to Mid-90's anyone? Remember all the commercials about starving children in Somalia? You couldn't get through an episode of Where In The World Is Carmon Sandiego without seeing Sally Struthers chubby little face, holding 2 year old with flies all over her face, talking about the need to support/feed the hungry in Somalia. And amen for that.
I in no way am praising Sally Struthers in her humanitarian efforts, but she and whatever organization she was with certainly did one thing well: create awareness.
Awareness in and of itself isn't much, but it's the first step in creating action. And action saves lives, feeds people and changes the world.
Never before has communicating to the masses been so possible, as it is today. Thanks to YouTube, Flickr, Twitter and social networking sites like Facebook, anyone with a camera and computer can share with the world any thing she/he pleases. And in effect, I feel somewhat obligated to be a Sally- creating awareness... but for the purpose of action.
What a day. For most people in the church programming world, the Monday after Easter Sunday is much like the day after Christmas-- amazing. relaxing. relieving. etc.
I, however, am not a part of the aforementioned 'most.' Buuut, I'd just like acknowledge the fact that while most people are worried about how they'll look in their Easter dress, or dapper searsucker suit... those in the ministry, particularly church programming, have been planning this day/weekend for weeks, if not months, and feel more pressure to perform than any other time of year. So hats off to you, Mr. Church Programmer... xoxo.
That being said, today was great. The music & media went smoothly at UCC. Amen for great musicians and techies.
Sam prepared a HUGE Easter lunch dinner. It was fantastic. Thank you, Sam.
Anyways, that's about it. Be sure to check out www.WhatDoTheyNeed.net and look at the Journey page... we're working on it... should be up and finished by tomorrow evening.
time is a funny currency. Something that might be worth my time, certainly might not be worth yours. And this is a wonderful thing. Its the reason one person won't watch TV at all-- because its a waste of time. And its the reason I'll watch 3 hours of videos on YouTube. If there were absolutes in valuing time, we'd all be doing the same things, and not sing the same things. Anyways, something to think about.
In that, today Sam, Josh, and I drove to Edmond, Oklahoma to visit LifeChurch. 9 hours of driving time for a 1 hour service... and it was worth my time.
And one more thought... If you have a minute, read through Luke 15. After reading the first two parables, try putting yourself in the place if the shepard and the widow and ask yourself if you'd say looking for the sheep or coin is worth your time.
I feel obligated to post, but I'm too tired.
I woke up this morning and forgot to ask myself "What are you going to do to serve someone else today?" -- and more importantly, I didn't do anything for anyone else. Lame.
This will not be the case tomorrow. My alarm is set for 8:00 a.m., and after I hit snooze a couple times, I will be asking the above question. -- and more importantly, I will do something for someone else. Sweet.
.... and not "sweet," as in, "wow, it's hip to serve people and to do something selfless for humanity," but sweet as in "we're supposed to serve the people around us [period]"... and we're supposed to do what we're supposed to do.
Meh, I'm completely rambling. It's so late right now.
So I'll leave you with the question I'll be asking myself in five hours: How are you going to serve someone else today? (or tomorrow?)
ps: time stamp says something like 1 a.m., but it's really 3:17 a.m.
So about this time change... I love 'falling back' in November, and I love the long days in the summer. I don't, however, appreciate, enjoy, or cope well with 'springing forward' in March. I'm a wreck.