Stranded in the Village

Ok, so that title is a bit misleading. we're not really stuck or stranded
here. But many times it feels that way. Maybe "cut off" or "extremely
isolated" or even "totally out of the loop" would be just as apt
descriptions.

It's just hard to go for a month or two at a time, with little contact with
the outside world. We do get emails from family and friends occasionally,
and that is a major highlight of those days. But except for emails we
receive, sometimes I think that the world could end, or the US be wiped off
the map or who knows? And we would never know! Maybe that's too extreme.
But when life feels like it has ground to a halt here in the village, where
day after day pretty much looks and feels exactly the same, it's hard to
know that exciting things are happening elsewhere, or issues arise that we
wish we could be more involved in, and we can't.

This is a totally different blog than the one I started out this morning
intending to write. But then the emails came in, and along with them, a
total change of feelings and emotions. It's bad enough to be in Ukarumpa,
thousands of miles from home, when things are going on back home we wish we
could be there for. But at least there, in Ukarumpa, we have fairly
consistent email, instant messaging, skype and phone calls. Here in the
village we have only somewhat flaky email and have to be constantly watching
our use of power on gloomy days, such as today.

So just this morning, we found out that Matt's grandpa has passed away. It
wasn't completely unexpected, but (especially for Matt) it's hard to be so
very far away from family, and not able to be there for the funeral, etc.
And another family member is in the hospital, and there is nothing we can do
to help out their family.

I'm not trying to say that I hate life here. I actually don't! And I love,
love, love being in Ukarumpa and the community and environment there and
raising our kids there. But when family events and issues arise, it's just
especially hard to be so very far away, and so very cut off.

Ok, time to conserve power and spare the rest of you from my rambling! =)

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