giving thanks

I've been grumpy the last couple of days. Feeling disillusioned, questioning professionalism and effectiveness and purpose in this place. I made it to Bangui and back. Spent a weekend half composing stories to record or share but not finishing. One about Bangui, first impressions vs more than a year later, conspicuous and/or thoughtless consumption. Another about the New Year's Day incident, holding down that boy while the technicians pronged for the bullet in his foot, picking through bone fragments.

A long flight with several bumpy takeoffs and landings later, I came back to the project, had a quick, maintenance bite to eat and went to my bed only to emerge what felt like two days later, having been the next in line to catch whatever that virus was going around. Still grumpy.

But tonight, frustrated, searching for the floss the cleaning lady must have misplaced in her sincere effort to dust the nightstand, I came across a handwritten letter I'd found laying on my bed on my return from Bangui. I'd skimmed it at the time but deeming it not of urgent importance I put it aside. I read it for real tonight.

Translated from French, it reads:
MOTION OF THANKS TO MSF
We, the people of the four camps in Zemio for internally displaced people, united in a general assembly on 7 Jan 2012.
We address our sincere thanks to MSF for their health care assistance and for our protection since 2010 to 2012.
Happy New Year and keep up the good work.
Signed in Zemio, 7 Jan 2012
The Displaced

I don't feel so grumpy going to bed tonight.