Streams of Life This is the river (wadi) running near the town but as you can see it is only sand. In two months the rains should start and then occasionally water will run along this path. - Majesty in Meekness

Remembering the least of these (finished uploading)

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Steve > Gueréda
April 20, 2009

On Monday morning I left Abéché and flew to Gueréda with UNHCR. This was so much better than the 6 hour bush taxi that left us all sunburned and sick 2 years ago. The flight was only 40 minutes though the single engine plane rocked back and forth as the rising thermals made for a bumpy ride.

Steve > Streams of Life

This is the river (wadi) running near the town but as you can see it is only sand. In two months the rains should start and then occasionally water will run along this path.

Steve > Putting Things Together
April 20, 2009

After arriving in Gueréda we went straight to work and started assembling the wheelchairs. An organization in America donates the chairs (each valued at $350) and then another organization paid for the transport to Chad followed by UNHCR transporting the chairs to Abéché and the refugee camps.

Steve > Looking Out

Looking out from our place of work this was the scene. I believe the tent is for the night guard and the town completes the backdrop.

Steve > Tanks & Protection

This was also part of our daily scene. I wanted to get more pictures but they said no since the places were military targets. I will tell you that when we went to the base they used then APCs to block the entrance and so the guy came out in his underwear to move the beast for us. I thought this was rather funny and made me envious. Not many people can simply walk outside wearing nothing but their boxers and drive something like this.

Steve > Moving to Kounoungou
April 21, 2009

On Tuesday morning we got up and loaded 12 of the 27 wheelchairs headed for Kounoungou. We waited for awhile and then with armed escorts we drove out to the camp for the distribution.

Steve > The Walk

After loading up the truck this was the scene and I can't help but pass it along. The photo is bleach processed which I feel captures the scene better than reality. The heat and coarseness of life in these difficult circumstances is hard to convey.

Steve > Camel Spider (Scorpion's Horse)

Imagine you're laying comfortably in bed talking when you hear something big fall on the outside of the screen door and then this big hairy thing moves very quickly under your friends bed. I'm OK at this point until it comes toward me and heads under my bed. I gently lift the cover to look under my bed as I'm laying on top only to realize that my bed is a solid frame and the spider could not have gone underneath but only up and in my sheets or around the bed. I try to stay calm and cool but as time continues to pass I become more and more agitated until I finally start ripping blankets and sheets off my bed. Sure enough this beautifully horrific creature was hiding in my sheets but met its end under my friend's foot. But he wasn't alone...

Steve > Kounoungou
April 21, 2009

When we arrived in the camp after a 40 minutes drive through the desert we were met by a delegation from the people, including the local Sheikh. Everyone gave a brief talk and then we began fitting people for the chairs.

Streams of Life

This is the river (wadi) running near the town but as you can see it is only sand. In two months the rains should start and then occasionally water will run along this path.

Camera: Nikon Corporation (Nikon D90) |

More details: exif |

Original size: 4288px x 2848px |

Current: 400px x 266px |

Other sizes: Small • M • L • O • save photo |

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