tuesdays

I haven’t exactly figured out what to do about Darfur yet. For over a year now, I haven’t been able to keep it out of my head. And the sickening thing is that every time I happen to remember it as a problem, I remember that for about 2 million people, its life…and they don’t have to be reminded.

Being in Cairo throws in a whole new element though. I’m so much closer now… like, next door neighbors with Sudan. Egypt may have enough problems of its own, but is the primary destination for hundreds of thousands of Sudanese refugees that hope to somehow start their lives over again. The city provides a more secure environment, possible jobs, and distant hope to win big on a dream lottery—being selected to receive a visa to Europe or America. I have a friend that has a wife and new baby in Kansas. He’s been sitting around for over 6 months hoping for whatever people to eventually get to some paperwork so he can see his baby for the first time. I get asked if there are any strings I can pull because I’m an America. I really, really wish there were. And that’s all I can say to them while they look away and nod, all too familiar with that answer. I really do though.

Egypt is definitely well aware of the entire crisis, both as a bordering nation and part of the Arab Muslim world. I have been able to meet with several important officials during my time here and have brought it up each time, asking specifically what in the world they are doing (or more like the rest of the world, what they plan to do) about Sudan. The answers have been less than direct and sprinkled with politics and finger-pointing, which I’ve found to be nothing but rehearsed cop outs for ineffectiveness. In fact, international rhetoric is trying to wish the raping, killing, pillaging, and displacing away, while absolutely nobody can agree on what to do, revealing the paralysis of the UN and leaving any efforts of the AU hanging out to dry, and oh, let’s not forget about the very people suffering from unceasing violence.

I’m also confused about another aspect of the conflict. It is Muslims killing Muslims. What happened to the great umma of Allah that shoud trump any other loyalties? Why do nations of the Middle East come together in outspoken support for their fellow Muslims dying in Lebanon, but cannot find the time or resources for a war in which Muslims are dying on both sides?

ahhh… its so frustrating. I really feel like I hardly know much about it and can’t offer any solutions, so I’m doing the only thing that I know I can do. I’m trying my best to find some things to do here.

Tuesday’s are one of the highlights of my week because I teach Sudanese students at a special refugee school downtown. I show up around 9am, just in time for English class. I help out the teacher, Adam, a 25 year old guy that escaped from Darfur. He has one of the largest and most rambunctious classes in the school and definitely needs the most help. Sometimes that means just standing in the back and crowd controlling… sometimes that means coming up with something to teach for science or a game to play. Today we had some free time, so I tried to draw a world map on the marker board and teach the students some important places in the world. I got to point to where I live and where they used to live. During break time, I go out for a game of street football with them—which gets pretty intense…and the girls always kick the guys’ butts.

It’s hard sometimes…like when the kids are more focused on hitting the kid next to them than on what Adam or I may be saying. The education system here is in terrible shape, and I can’t help but feel like there students getting left behind in the lessons, so I try and spend extra time with them and then do some one-on-one tutoring after the classes. I try my best and keep in mind that these are just kids and they have been through a lot. I try to love them.

I’m not an elementary school teacher or a therapist…or an international decision maker for that matter. But I do speak English. I do know how to point out continents and point out parts of the body. I struggle with how to do something about the huge crisis in Sudan, but every Tuesday morning my world collides with it when I see faces of people that live in its brutalities. So, next week when I walk in and everyone turns around with a big smile, I’ll just smile back and give some high fives and try to teach some more English vocabulary. And I keep praying for them. Please, please pray for them.