I have about 8 months left in my time working in the refugee camp. The previous two + years have been . . . have been. Let’s leave it there. It’s a mix; it always is here. The highest highs and the lowest lows. That’s what continues to draw me back – 10 years, on and off, I’ve been working in West Africa. And I love it. But, these past 2 ½ have been supremely draining, exhausting, frustrating, and rewarding. And the first three adjectives are the most definitive.






I have about 8 months left. And I’m making a change. I’ve made a change in how I approach things. I’m slowing it down. I had been running – constantly, day after day – maybe 4 – 5 (at least) 12 hour (at least) days, followed by another 5 or 6 hour day, followed by a seventh day also of a few hours of work. For these last few months left to me here I’m beginning a different approach – a slower approach. I don’t want to leave Africa forgetting – not feeling – what it is I love so much about Africa – the mix, the aliveness of it – the feelings that all these pictures and so many other sensations here evoke in me. The past 2 ½ years haven’t quite been like that – mostly it’s been those first three adjectives that have dominated my feelings and emotions – and drained my spirit and energy.

Anyway, things have been nice lately. I’ve slowed things down. I do the 40-minute walk to the school on the camp, rather than driving. I get a chance to walk, to think, to be alone sometimes and with people other times, to see people on the way, to smell the smells (some fabulous, others . . . uh . . . YIKES!!), to see the sites (vibrantly colored birds and sunsets), and to sweat the sweat (this is the tropics, after all).

It’s been good.





I’m hoping and praying my love of Africa will completely return and be here in full force upon my departure in 8 months. I’m hoping and praying my recently renewed daily positive outlook will remain with me and even be strengthened. I’m hoping and praying that my faith will continue its evolution, only now in the positive direction to which it’s recently shifted. I’m hoping and praying that when I see people coming my way I will no longer cringe (inwardly and sometimes even, so very ashamed to say, outwardly), but will have a genuinely pleased smile on my face to see them.










And I’m hoping and praying that when I leave Africa early next year, I’ll have a renewed and stronger love for all of it, rather than the cynical, pessimistic outlook that has threatened to overtake me the past couple of years.

There can be a lot of crap – but life can be a lot of good when I allow myself to see it.