SOS

Posted by Micky at Thursday, August 07, 2014

We got our welcome packet from the embassy in Luanda! Besides reiterating several times that it is literally the most expensive city in the world, it was also pointed out that although Luanda is an exciting place to live, this Post is considered a “critical crime threat Post.” “Foreigners are easy to spot targets for criminals and unfortunately car hi-jacking, break-ins, and armed robberies do happen.” What a welcome!

Luckily, the last few days I have attended an SOS class that they recommend for everyone to take no matter where you get sent—Security Overseas Seminar. Two whole days all related to security and safety. They touched on managing your own personal security, sexual assault, explosives, detecting surveillance, residential and road safety, fire safety, weapons of mass destruction, hostage survival, and evacuations. And the very last topic, was crisis and stress management. A good way to end. :)

It was all very ironic because on Sunday, I was talking with a new friend, Melissa, about what I had learned from my wonderful friend Janna in Alpine, about living life with less fear and more faith. Janna and I talked about this often, mostly related to raising our kids. She has a lot of experience (has nine children and she has an amazingly pure heart, trying to live only to please God and be in tune to what He wants her to do). Every time she opens her mouth, I wish I was writing or recording everything she says! So I was sharing with my new friend how I've really been trying over the last few years to live with more faith and less fear, and to trust in God and know that I can't control everything in my life or the lives of my loved ones. And then came...the SOS class. Can I just say that I my dreams that night were not sweet?! They were filled with these awful images of a car hi-jacking, explosives, and trying to escape from terrorists. :)

I understand the purpose of these seminars, and that is not to scare us (although they do), but to give us tools that we can use to prevent issues from happening or know how to deal with them when they do present themselves. For example, if someone is holding a gun to you and asking for money or a car, you simply give them the money or the car. End of story. You shouldn't try to drive or run away, etc. However, if someone is trying to kidnap or sexually assault you, you fight back and make them wish they never met you and you may have a chance of surviving. It all seemed very surreal though as I looked through my notebook that I was writing in, and saw the other entries I've made over the last few years. Things on parenting from my parenting class, missionary work, teaching and working with the youth, LDS conference talks, etc. And now here in addition to those, I had notes on detecting surveillance from terrorists along with hostage survival and explosives. I nervously laughed and said to myself, “Yep, this is my life now!”

The kids on the other hand, were in a Young Diplomats Overseas Preparation class down the hall for those two days. They learned about U.S. and World Symbols, Basic Manners, Safety, the Embassy Role and Structure, and Exploring New Posts. On my breaks, I would sneak a peek to see fun with hoola hoops and even the Bernstein Bears teaching about manners. They had a blast! They were so excited to go back the second day. It was nice that they even had kids in their class that they recognized from our apartment complex.

We all had a lunch break at the same time, including Briant. So it was fun to eat with Dad in his everyday element and do a little "lunch homework" that the kids had.