5k Kate

Today was a big day! As the women came back from Malam just two days ago and the entire village will be returning to Malam to head to Wim in just a few days, we had only a few days to do a few big community events. And since events keep the village from doing other important work, we fit them all on the same day.  First up was the much anticipated anti-violence march, followed by a celebration of Diwa Nägäm, Wäli Wäziag, Dipa Nägäm, and Mangkol Sobam, the first Ende pastors and the stars of the documentary, Ende Tän e Indrang, then the closing of the technology class, which made this documentary, then some goodbye words for me, and finally the premiere showing of the movie.  The anti-violence march accomplished exactly what it set out and thus was a success I think. Mostly I wanted a forum in which I could tell the entire community exactly what I think about the domestic violence in Limol, support the women, and not enrage the men but push them to do better. I wanted this for ...

Last night, we had front row seats to an amazing lunar eclipse! We sat around campfires at the community hall to watch the moon. We started an hour early because my timing was off but at exactly 9:48 the first hint of a shadow emerged front the lower right of the moon. When the moon is full, it’s possible to walk around the village at night without a light, just soaking in the moonlight and trailing a moon shadow behind you. As the shadow started to creep up the moon, the face of the moon was clearly visible, like a serene old woman. Language abounded as people chatted about the moon. I caught a fresh Wagiba-ism “If you keep looking at the moon like that, one of your eyes will fly up there!” This is something she said her grandparents would say when they were around. I guess there were some dreamy moon gazers in Old Limol 🌝. The shadow moved quite quickly and soon the moon was half, then a quarter, then a sliver, then just a dull yellow glow behind a dark mask. We walked home crowded ...

New year! Sisor pazi! I’m laying in my sanctuary in my room: a sleeping bag on top of a thin air mattress in a miniature mosquito tent in a room about twice my beds size, floored with woven pandanus, walled with woven tree bark and roofed with woven leaves. Sounds of solar powered boom boxes fill the air, punctuated by loud booms, cracks, and cries of “2017 yawo! (bye!) 2018 sebor e! (welcome!)” Our last day of 2017 was spent happily. Three young women joined me on my run this morning! I hope it becomes a regular thing. It was fun to run and walk together, then do some stretches and go to the bathing hole. I wish I had some more tennis shoes or shorts for them to wear too... I just brought one set. I went to church again this morning since people were so happy to see me there last week. It was a packed house and the message was “God wants us to be happy today so be happy and peaceful (and don’t do anything bad)”. I brought my translation work and glossed a part of a text during the ser...