I'm here in Sri Lanka for an Alpha Conference, so for just a few days, but have already decided I have to come back here!  It is so nice!  The people are friendly (perhaps it helps that we lost to them in the cricket the other night...  I think my Dad was actually cheering for SL since I was coming here!), shops are bright and clean, cool electrical storms every evening about 6pm (I can't remember the last time I saw rain!), the streets are orderly (it's all comparative) and generally there is a relaxed, friendly atmosphere about the place. 

I say that, but of course there is also a civil war raging.  Last night there were a couple of powercuts.  Now, I'm pretty used to these happening in India, so it was no big deal.  But this morning, the news explained that they were in fact blackouts, due to an unidentified plane flying in the city airspace.  It seems that that Tamil Tigers have managed to get some planes and dropped some bombs the other day, so the airforce were firing at the plane in the the Sri Lankan skies.  Ignorance goes a long way in a place like this!

However, to me the reality of war seems to be at odds with the people that I have met.  Last night a group of us were out at a trendy coffee shop, lounging around in sofas, laughing and having a great time.  People seem relaxed... 
Yet a journalist out with us talked about how six journalists turned up dead last year, with no investigation into how they died.  There is frustration at the political situation, but it seems that much of the nation is lethargic about corruption unless it affects them directly.  They say Colombo doesn't feel the war very much, then they point at potmarks in a wall beside the road where a carbomb went off a few weeks ago, killing three people. 

I feel like I am missing something.  I feel like there should be an undertone of stress and anxiety, yet all I've noticed is frustration and sadness.  Londoners showed a stiff-upper-lip after the underground/bus bombings.  But there hasn't been any talk of 'not letting it get to us'.  Rather this morning people were laughing at the thought that there was a UFO flying about!  I know they aren't naive about the effects of war - maybe they have lived with it for such a long time... 

Or maybe they have something to teach us (me anyway) about trusting God; about not being anxious about anything. 

I've decided to stay on an extra day.  We are going to see elephants tomorrow, which I am very exited about.  Then of course, come on Sri Lanka!!!