Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, June 16, 2004 - THREE
Letters to the Editor
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Tales from
Eastern Africa
[Editor’s Note: Kelly and
Laura Sager and their family
left their home in Lexington in
early 2004 to becom e
missionaries in the East African
co u n try
of
R w anda.
Throughout their time there,
Kelly will be sending letters to
keep us updated on life in
Rwanda. The following letter
was dated May 19.]
Greeting from Eastern
Africa. The Sager family has
settled into our house and
n eig h b o rh o o d . W hat an
adventure it has been and just
think, we have only been here
ten days.
Learning to negotiate
the highways of Kigali, the city
where we call home has been
terrifying at times. The second
day here we watched a person
get nailed by a car. Sadly, I am
not sure if he survived. The
driver of the taxi that struck him
ended up stopping and putting
him in the van and driving off.
The event didn’t seem to stir a
lot of excitement among the
locals. From my vantage point,
it appeared to be a daily
happening. Unfortunately, our
o ld e st daughter, D arby,
observed everything unfold
before her eyes. She did not
say a lot about the incident until
-
the next day when she pointed
out the pool of blood left from
the accident to her brothers
and sisters. We were told that
people are frequently hit while
crossing streets. I just hope I
don’t hit anyone. The rule of
the land is you are guilty and
must prove your innocence in
court. I frequently drive by the
Kigali prison on my way into
town. It is not somewhere I
want to end up. On top of that,
they make prisoners wear pink
jumpsuits. I look horrible in
pink.
Our home is more than
adequate. We even live on
one of few paved residential
streets in the city. Now, if we
could only keep the electricity
* running. The power is off more
than it is on and water must be
filtered before drinking.
Fortunately, we do have hired
help that assist us with the daily
chores of living here. Without
their assistance I am not sure
if we would get anything
accomplished.
Laura makes frequent
trips to stores and markets.
Stores here are similar to the
United States, but do not cany
, the inventory we are used to
seeing. Once we are able to
communicate in the local
language we will probably
shop more at the market, as
th e ir prices are m ore
reasonable. You can get most
things here but pay a big price.
We are still trying to get use to
sticker shock. Twelve dollars
for Com Flakes is a little steep
in my opinion. Prices are
inflated because of a tax
imposed by the government on
any imported item. And most
things in stores are imported.
The kids are adjusting
better than mom and dad.
They are already picking up
words in Ikenyarwandan. Our
formal language study begins
at the end of this month. We
ju s t
learned
that
Ikenyarwandan is one of the
hardest languages in the world
to learn. U gh... Oh well, I am
ready to communicate with the
locals. While transporting a
new stove home last week with
the assistance of locals I got
stranded downtown. They
suddenly pulled over and
abandoned me for good
twenty minutes. I was relieved
to see them finally come back.
I never did figure out what
they were up to. On top of
that, they attempted to charge
me more than we had agreed
because they assisted me in
getting the stove into the
house. In the end, I was happy
that I was able to get home
safely and with my stove.
We have met several
American families who are
living in Kigali. Laura is
cu rren tly w alking each
morning with two ladies from
the United Kingdom. They
have invited her to become
active in the International
Women’s Club. We also will
be swimming with Americans
at a local hotel on Fridays.
Over Memorial Day weekend
several American families will
be gathering for a potluck.
During the next month, we are
going to do a little traveling in
the country. We have trips
planned to the national
university city of Butare and
also to Cynagugu, which
borders the Congo. I was in
both cities when I was here in
November. The rest of the
family is looking forward to
seeing more of the countryside
of this country.
Kigali is an interesting
city. Poverty wherever you
look, with a lot of begging
downtown which is difficult to
get use to. For that matter, I
hope to never get use to it. My
compassion level must remain
alert to what is really around
me. It could be very easy to
insulate myself inside the walls
of my community and forget
the less fortunate. The other
side of Kigali is characterized
by the rich driving expensive
cars, wearing western clothing
and living in expensive housing
developments. It is a stark
contrast, but typical of African
nations.
The people have been
the best thing about being here.
For the most part, they are
friendly, open and loving. We
caused quite the stir last week
when the family went out for a
walk. Wherever we go we
hear a lot of comments and
people stop what they are
doing and w atch. They
especially enjoy the kids. Most
want to hug them. The children
want to touch their white skin.
Our kids seem to take all they
are observing in stride. Last
weekend we were in the home
of a Rwandan family. Just
getting to the home was an
adventure. After finding the
neighborhood, we had to hike
several hundred yards through
a
poverty
strick en
neighborhood unlike anything
in America. It resembled a
shanty town rather than an
actual neighborhood. The kids
were enthralled with the
experience.
Nightly, before going
to bed, we spend 15 minutes
debriefing the day. Each share
about what they saw during the
day that made them happy, sad,
scared, excited, etc. The most
exciting day was when a
m onkey cam e to our
backdoor and tried coming
into the house. The kids were
screaming with excitement as
the monkey sat on the window
sill looking in hoping for a
handout.
The primary worry
living here is malaria. All the
kids have been bitten. Tegan
especially is prone to the little
creatures. Today we put up a
couple of mosquito nets and
will purchase more before
long.
All in all God has been
good to us. We are truly
experiencing the joys and trials
of living in Africa and believe
this is where we need to be. If
you ever consider coming to
A frica, please c o n sid er
Rwanda. We would love to
see you.
(s) Kelly Sager
K igali, Rwanda, Eastern
Africa
State Forest
Management
Plan good for
Tillamook
To the Editor:
The S tate Forest
Management Plan is diverse.
The members who made up
the planning forum were also
d iv erse.
The
groups
represented are as follows:
Oregon Trout, North Coast
Land Conservancy, Coast
Range Association, Sierra
C lub, O regon Forest
Industries Council, Oregon
State University, Tillamook
County, Forestry Extension
Agent and Stimson Lumber
Company. The plan was also
peer reviewed by another
diverse group.
The planning effort
in clu d ed input from all
segments of our population.
This is a thoughtful forest
management plan that will
ensure predictable timber and
revenues for our schools and
local econom ics, diverse
habitats for wildlife and fish
and recreational opportunities.
The
R ain fo rest
Coalition is a special interest
group th at has a o n e
dimensional perspective of the
Tillamook Forest.
The
R ain fo rest
Coalition continually raises
money for the 50/50 plan.
Does the Rainforest
Coalition have a self-serving
motive for the 50/50 plan?
(s) Charles J. Hurliman
Tillamook County
Commissioner
Marriage
Licenses
Ju n e 1: Gary Allen
Krieger, 40, Heppner and
Valerie Jean Hasbrouck, 37,
Heppner.
June 8: Erick Juarez,
25, Hermiston and Erica Lee
Garza, 22, Hermiston.
DA’s Report
T helm a
Gay
Roubidoux was convicted of
Interfering with a Peace
O fficer,
a
C lass-A
misdemeanor. Roubidoux was
sentenced to 365 suspended
days in jail, two years bench
p ro b atio n ,
40
hours
com m unity service and
payment of $626 in fines and
fees.
Lyle Daniel Smith
adm itted to violation of
probation allegations for
Attempt to Elude. Smith’s
probation was provoked and
he was sentenced to six
months in jail and 12 months
probation.
WOU announces
2004 graduates
Matthew D. Shilling,
of Irrigon, graduated from
Western Oregon University in
Monmouth.
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I
O bituaries
Mary Chase of Portland; three
n ieces, Shari D allas,
Pendleton, Kristin Lindberg,
Shelia Kay Parks Pendleton and Stephanie
Shelia Kay Parks, 44, B reninger, Portland and
passed away Wednesday, nephew, Ronald S. Kearney,
June 1, 2004 at St. Charles McCord Air Force Base in
Hospital in
Washington state.
Bend.
Pete Cannon
A
memorial
Pete Cannon, 78, of
service will
lone, died Wednesday, June
be held
9, 2004, at the G ood
Saturday,
S am aritan
C en ter in
June 19, at
Hermiston.
2 p.m. at Shelia Parks
A memorial service
P a te ro s
was held June 12 at the lone
Cemetery in Pateros, WA.
United Church of Christ.
Parks was bom Oct.
Cannon was bom Jan.
24, 1959 at Soap Lake, WA 8,1926, at Heppner. He grew
to Mac and Bonnie Parks. up and attended schools at
She grew up in Ephrata, WA Burton Valley near Hardman,
and lived in O regon, then moved with his family to
W ashington and N evada lone w here he attended
before coming to Heppner in school, graduating from lone
July of 2000.
High School in 1944.
Survivors include her
On Dec. 12, 1948,
mother, Bonnie Parks of he married Laurel Palmateer
Heppner, her father, Mac at lone.
Parks of Austin, TX; brothers,
He farmed for a time
Mike Graves of Hood River before becoming employed at
and Dale Parks of Pateros, M orrow C ounty G rain
WA; and sisters, Donna Bliss Growers, retiring in 1990.
of Goldendale, WA and Corol
He enjoyed hunting,
Mitchell of Heppner. She was fishing and attending lone ball
preceded in death by her games. He also helped refinish
stepfather, ‘Tex’ Gates.
furniture for the annual lone
M e m o r i a l Auction as a member of the
contributions may be made to lone United Church of Christ.
the South Morrow County He was a member of the
Ministerial Association, PO. Heppner Elks Lodge.
Box 773, H eppner, OR
Survivors include his
97836.
w ife, L aurel o f lo n e;
daughters, Cathy Halvorsen
Jo Anne Milligan and husband, Frank, of lone
and Arlene Cannon of Las
Lutcher
Vegas; son, Terry Cannon of
Jo Anne M illigan
Pendleton; and grandchildren,
Lutcher, 67, a native of
Ryan Halvorsen and Allison
Pendleton, died Thursday,
Halvorsen. He was preceded
June 10,2004, at the home of
in death by a grandson, Jason
her daughter, Shawna Todd,
Halvorsen, by three sisters and
in Evans, GA.
one brother.
Funeral arrangements
M e m o r i a l
are pending at Platt’s Funeral
contributions may be made to
Home, 337 N. Belair Road,
the Jason Halvorsen Memorial
Evans, GA 30809.
Scholarship Fund, do Bank of
L utcher was born
Eastern Oregon, lone Branch,
March 16,1937, at Pendleton
P.O. Box 106, lone, OR
to John V. and G ladys
97843.
Milligan. She grew up in
Sweeney Mortuary of
P en d leto n and atten d ed
H eppner is in charge o f
Pendleton schools.
arrangements.
While in high school,
she was editor of the school Larry Ray Bell
newspaper, The Lantern. She
Larry Ray Bell, 62, a
attended the University of 15-year
resid en t
of
O reg o n , w here she was Boardman, died Wednesday,
president of the Delta Gamma June 9,2004, at his home.
Sorority and Mortar Board.
A memorial service
She was editor of the was held June 12 in the chapel
university newspaper. The at Bums Mortuary.
Emerald, and was a member
He was bom Sept. 2,
of Chi Delta Phi, a women’s 1941, at Bellflower, CA.
literary honorary society for
Formerly of Hillsboro,
creative writing.
he came to Boardman 15
She graduated from years ago.
the university with a degree in
He was a member of
journalism in 1959. In 1960, the Eagles Lodge.
she m arried Law rence
Survivors include
Lutcher, M.D., and moved to sons, Larry Bell and Joe Bell,
Augusta, GA, with her family both of Forest Grove, and
in 1970.
Randy Bell of Yamhill; a
She was a longtime daughter, Jody Bell of San
m em ber o f O ur Savior D iego, CA and seven
Episcopal Church, a freelance grandchildren.
jo u rn a lis t and an avid
Bums Mortuary of
horseback rider and gardener. Hermiston is in charge of
Survivors include her arrangements.
children, Larry Lutcher of
Heppner, Shawna Todd of
Open Your
Evans, GA and Derk Lutcher
Health Savings
o f Los A ngeles; five
Account
grandchildren, Dillon Lutcher,
William Lutcher, Brittany
at
Todd, Grace Todd and Lauren
Bank of
Eastern Oregon
Todd; siste rs, V irginia
Lindberg of Pendleton and
Member KDIC
Murray's Pharmacy would like to remind our
customers that the PHARMACY IS OPEN
WEEKDAYS ONLY from 9 a.m. -1 p.m. & 2 - 6 p.m.
If you are unable to pick up your prescription by 6 p.m.
Friday, please contact us to make pick-up arrangements \
THANK YOU!
We have information and enrollment
forms available regarding the upcoming
Medicare Discount Card. Hi? will be par
ticipating in the Community CareRs Pro
gram sponsored by NCPA (National Community Pharma
cists ’Assn.). This is the only Medicare discount card which
will be accepted at our stores. See us fo r more details!
217 North Main, Heppner
Phone 676-9158
1 Serving Heppner. Lexington A lone
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