A Franciscan Benediction

May God bless you with discomfort
At easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships
So that you may live deep within your heart

May God bless you with anger
At injustice, oppression and exploitation of people
So that you may work for justice freedom and peace

May God bless you with tears
To shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger and war.
So that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.

And may God bless you with enough foolishness
To believe that you can make a difference in the world,
So that you can do what others claim can not be done.
To bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.

Shared by our boss at our management meeting, I'm definitely at the point of life of 'foolishness' or maybe it will last a long time.

Two break throughs

1. Cappuccino comes to Sudan, well Darfur actually! I took a moka express percolator pot from my brothers house while home and have been successfully making latte’s the last few days. With a little bit of Italian espresso it makes a wonderful treat even using powdered milk/water.
2. I’ve finally after 13 years of driving learned to drive a stick shift! Without too much bunny hopping and only getting stuck in the sand once, and to the great entertainment of the children outside of the WFP office as I forward and reversed several times. I drove our small little group of expats to the office today. Now I just need the advanced skills of successful driving of a Landcruiser through a wadi (seasonal river) and the whole starting up on a hill thing which I practiced once on a small dune but strangely there was a strong burning smell from the brake after that – but truthfully it’s rather flat here.