Archive for January, 2011

We’ve been back in Lospalos about a week now and a lot has happened already. Just after we got back the General Secretary of IPTL’s father died and that has been a huge deal. A funeral is a multi-day event in Timor. Family and friends are expected to come no matter from how far so dozens to hundreds of people gather for several days in a ceremony called “uma mate” (death house). The coffin is in the house which is cleared of all other stuff. Friends and family hang out, pray, talk, and generally socialize for several days. Yesterday we had a actual funeral in the church then everyone goes to the graveside which is again a multi hour affair with specific actions, prayers, etc…

Monica is back to work in the clinic. She’s also starting again doing some teaching after patients are finished in the afternoons. Most of it is focused on basic medical science and health eduction stuff.

We’re slowly (everything is slow in Timor) getting going again on our rural visitation work and working on the implementation of programs at the Synod level (another slow process) and trying to work in some English training too.

All that said, we’ve also been thinking a lot about America these days. Our trip home gave us kind of a unique opportunity to think about a lot of things in a different light having been gone for a while. The tragedy in Arizona is particularly saddening for us having lived in AZ for 5 years. Not sure what to think about all that heated political rhetoric and young men shooting people (actually I am but I’ll spare you).

I remember one time when I was in the Philippines around the time when the Virginia Tech one happened and my friends there were in shock that “anyone can have a gun” leading to people like this guy who shot last Saturday legally buying a semi automatic weapon and then going on a shooting rampage. Yep thats America I said. I couldn’t explain anymore than that.

We join you in praying for the nation at this sad time in its history and for the families of all shot and injured. We will also follow Jesus’ example by praying for the young man who shot all those people his family.