update

hello there, it has been a few days since I am back from the trip to the north I was talking about. We left on Sunday the 18th and came back on Sunday the 25th, and in between we had a great time of serving the people up there. I was together with two pediatric surgeons and a few other people who could help the surgeons do their work. 58 cleft lips were repaired and a number of other general surgeries were performed. In all of this very busy work schedule, like 12 hours in the operating theater, we were able to form very good relationships. During the times in theater we had still good time to get to know one another and talk about all matter of things including heavy stuff like how one can get to paradise or how one can get his sins forgiven. I really appreciated the opportunity to go to that land which Dorothy and I wante to visit more than 17 years ago for the first time. I was really surprised about the peace and friendliness of its people. Even though we couldn't move even one step outside without 5 armed guards we felt there was absolutely no hostility towards us. It is only that a few years ago a few white people were killed in the town we were in and that is why the government is extremely careful not to have another incident like that. They really need all the help they can get and therefore do whatever they can to keep visitors from harms way.
That land is in such a stark contrast to the land further south which I have described many times here in this blog, as a country which has totally disintegrated and is only a fraction of its former self. The land which I visited enjoys peace and stability and the other part of the country is rocked by mortar attacks every single day. Unbelievable.
Somehow the visit last week showed me that there is still a hope and a future for that nation. If one part of one nation can establish a government and infrastructure why shouldn't the other part be able to do the same.
I am tempted to upload some pictures of two eight year old boys from southern Somalia who had their faces destroyed by bullets. They are here now with us so that their faces can be restructured. I may do it later.
You all have a great week, Thomas