Melissa arrived in Rumbek, Sudan, two days ago. We took a twin-propeller plane from Juba and landed on Rumbek's dirt airstrip. James, our Kenyan colleague, met us outside the plane to start working with us on our assignment.

I was in Rumbek about three years ago and the changes are really striking. Then, the war had just ended, and there were a lot of bombed out buildings. Now, there are new shops, hotels, and even Internet cafe. People seem relaxed and a lot of people are out and about town on foot or on bicycles.

This morning, I was feeling a little queasy so I passed on the opportunity to go to church with James. However, I did make it out for a church choir competiton following the morning service. Six church choirs competing to sing the best Catholic liturgical music in the local Dinka language. I recorded some of the singing and I'm trying to figure out how to post it online. Later, we might get to hear some drumming that happens in the evenings in Rumbek's main square.

The assignment's going well and we're focusing on people who are returning after the war. Everyone is glad there's peace but people are frustrated with how many dire needs remain. One man told me about how there's not enough food and water in the area where he and his family returned to.

One interesting development is that tons of soldiers are active around town picking up unregistered weapons. Because of the war, people have a lot of guns. Now that there's peace, the guns are a threat to public safety. So, the day after we arrived, soldiers went from house to house seizing weapons.