The Best 2 Weeks of My Life - Vol. I: FAQ

Future Volumes to follow include but are not limited to:
- "Oh man, did I have fun!!"
- Pictures Galllery
- "So, explain how it was life-changing!"
- Now what? The needs still exist there. What comes next?
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Introduction
So, now what? Here we go!  How do you put, in a posting, ADEQUATELY, an experience that was literally THE BEST 2 WEEKS OF MY LIFE!

Now wait - before I get in trouble - the birth of my 3 children and 5 grandchildren, and my marriage (up!) to my wonderful wife Christine, are the best events of my life.

But this was for 2 weeks - an experience.  So, I am going to meet the challenge by sharing the 2 weeks in a series of postings. Pictures will come in future postings.
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Vol. I: FAQ
Q: "Mark, what surprised you most in the South Sudan?"
A. Two things.  First, the poverty.  I expected to see poverty from one of the most impoverished nations in the world.  But, wow!
Second, the character of the people - children and adults - is one of strength, hope and resolve.  They are excited to be free, to be Christian, and to be their own nation.  Their hope is very high!

Q: "What was the biggest adjustment for you?
A: Easy - no Diet Coke.  Thus, I kicked caffeine.  I do not drink coffee.  And, so far (8 days later), I have stayed soda-free.  For those who know me, this is huge!

Q: "So what did you do?"
A:  Each week day:
6:00 a.m. Devotions with the orphans (approximately 155 live at this orphanage, established by Harvestors Reaching the Nations (hrtn.org).
7:00 a.m. Breakfast
8:25 a.m. Devotions with the teaching staff at the school on the orphanage compound.
8:45 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. The first week I observed all classes for the school, grades preschool - P7. (Secondary-age students go to Nehemiah High School just down the "road".)  The school consists of the children living at the orphanage and children in the surrounding area, and has an enrollment of approximately 550 students.
The second week, I was given the opportunity to teach lessons provided by the teachers for all classes except preschool.  Wow.
5:00 p.m. Go on "home cells" with secondary and older primary students.  These were out in the surrounding community, and were Bible studies led most of the time by the secondary students.  (I say "most of the time", because I got roped in to doing some of them. Again, wow!
6:30 p.m. Supper (By myself - it was served at 5:00 p.m., and they saved me some.)
7:15 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Tutor Primary and Secondary students living in the Orphanage in the lunchroom.
Bedtime. Exhausted.

Q: "So when are you going back?"
A:  If it is God's will, I will go back.  I loved it.

Q: "How was the food?"
A: It was an adjustment.  Beans and rice every lunch and supper.  A kind of meat once a week.  Pineapple, cute little bananas, avocados. Oatmeal for breakfast.

Q: "Were you safe? Really, were you safe?"
A:  We stayed on a large gated compoun, patrolled by armed guards.  I could hear monkeys running and bobcats fighting outside my "window" at night, so I did not go outside then.  I stuck with the kids and felt safe on the walks in the bush for the "home cells".  So, yes, I always felt safe.

Q: "Did you get sick?" 
A:  No.  We were on anti-malaria drugs, and I took "cipro". Cipro? Google it - I prefer not to talk about it.  Temps were 65-70 at night, 85-95 during the day. Fahrenheit.

If you have questions, just ask, and I will include them in future volumes.  Let me know if you like the format and plans.  THIS WAS THE BLESSING OF A LIFETIME AND I GIVE GOD THE GLORY!