Things have been pretty good here in Sudan. The dry hot season has been going on for the last few months. I’ve been keeping myself busy as always. Doing whatever needs done here to keep operations going on the base. The clinic has been super busy lately. They see a lot of malaria cases this time of year. Yesterday they saw around 80 patients. And work at the nutrition village I hear is going well. Although they have had some rather challenging cases. Not all with desired results. But, God is good. His unfailing love stretches to the ends of the earth. From Alaska to Sudan. God is Love. And he never changes.
The Lord has provided our team here at Doro with a new couple from the UK. Rob and Emily Hinton. Rob is a mechanical engineer and Emily is a doctor. They are a breath of fresh air. With new perspectives and knowledge. Rob is here as the main engineer and project manager for a new primary health clinic that we’re building. They arrived about a month ago.
Construction has started on the new PHCU. Although not without TONS of challenges. Many of which had to do with community relations. From government, tribal, and church sides. There were all kinds of complaints and opposition. But some how in the last month it seems like most of them have smoothed over. We have gotten the foundation dug for one of the new buildings. Which is no small task mind you. Since it was dug by hand. With picks and shovels. By two local men who apparently specialize in digging. If you saw the work they did you’d be amazed that it was hand dug. I will try to post some pictures. But just imagine a 30mX8mX1m trench. Dug with shovels. Wow!
Also we have been able to get more supplies for the building project just this week from Raubak. Which is a town in the north. This was no small task. We sent our compound manager Nehemiah up to take care of the order and travel back with the supplies.
There has been tribal fighting here along the Dinka/Mabaan border (dinka being another tribe other than the one I’m working with now, the mabaan) . This is unfortunate because we have both Dinka and Mabaan students in our community health worker training school. This has of course created some tension and drama. As of now though we here in Doro have nothing to fear. The fighting is at least 5 hours drive from here. It is unlikely to come here. Especially since we’re neither Dinka or Mabaan. So SIMs presence should go unquestioned.
This violence is yet another round to add to what has already happened this year. I have not mentioned much of it. Because I am not worried about it. Nor do I want any one reading about it to worry. The Lord is my front and rear guard. I have nothing to fear. However, I choose to mention it now mostly out of a massive sadness. There have been several tribal conflicts already this year. As well as some other major militia dispute in Malakal. It seems as if the people want to tear their own country apart. No sense of national unity between the southern tribes seems to exist. Except in their hate for the North, and the oppressive government out of Khartoum. I would ask that you remember this as you pray for Sudan and for me being here. The Lords will be done here. But I personally would love to see a flood of Holy Spirit driven peacemakers come into this country. To begin the healing process from the many years of war.
This stretch of time in Sudan has been much more diffecult than the last one before January. For many reasons. The heat has certainly played a factor. But much of the last few months has been spent it many spiritual battles and struggles. Unlike anything else I’ve ever faced.
I am confident that God will bring justice to the earth and to Sudan. In his timing. It is not my job to improve on his justice. Or to say when he should do things. But only to do the things I can. As he tells me too. For his glory.
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging....
Come and see the works of the Lord, the desolation he has brought on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth; he breaks the bow and shatters the spear, he burns the shields with fire. Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.
The Lord almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress.”
Psalm 46
