Monday, April 27, 2009

In Atar Safe

In Atar safe everyone. I'm actually in Malakal tonight. I came here on a supply run for Atar. Might be able to get interenet again here in 2 weeks.

Just wanted you all to know.

Things are going well. I'm excited about the work in Atar. Lots of freindship building. Language learning. Some construction. And evengelizm in surrounding areas.

Ok.

Bye.

Wednesday, April 22, 2009

Leaving for Sudan today

Hey all.

I'm headed off to Sudan again today. I'll be going to a new place called Atar. It's a little ways southwest of Malakal. I'll be helping out with whatever is needed. And it sounds like they're trying to do a young adults conference there. Which many of you know is right up my alley. I really like working with young adults. It will be a exciting time. I'm expectant that God is going to invade earth. Which is... something the Lord has been teaching me.

I will only have a short stint in Sudan. 6 weeks or so. I come out on the 5th or 6th of June. Atar is a remote base. At least 4 hours from malakal by boat. No internet, power, or facilities at all. Should be fun. But again. An interesting challenge.

Pray that i can finish strong.

Pray that i have the faith to believe that God not only can do miraculous things. But WILL do them. And that i would walk in that place where heaven invades earth.

Pray for the breakdown of stereotypes that i will face as i work with a new people. I'm not exactly the stereotypical missionary the people are used to.

Pray that my Love for God grows. And that it is evident to the people. And that out of that love for God. Out of the overflow. I would love the people too.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Update From Nairobi

Hey Guys. Just a quick update here.

I'm in Nairobi now. Will be till the 23rd. Then i head back into Sudan.

Things are going well. I'm leading a group of five short termers over to Uganda for another rafting adventure. Should be fun.

I'm glad to be in Kenya for a break. Things in Sudan were getting really stressful for me. For many reason.

I would ask you all to pray for Rob Hinton and his wife. They both have an enormous responsibility put on them in Sudan. Especially Rob, because he is in charge of the building project for the new clinic. And unless you've worked in Sudan or Africa i don't think i would be able to describe to you how hard a job it is to get this project done. Especially on time and within budget. Pray that the goodness of our God is every before them. Pray for un-offend-able spirits. And continued good sense of humor. :)

I've been having a restful time in Kenya. I get to spend a decent amount of time with an old friend of mine i grew up with, matt dompier. And i got to see another old friend of mine that was one his own trip to Sudan, and i had diner with him. It has been a great encouragement to me to see them both.

Something the Lord has been teaching me lately is my need to bring my faith to maturity. Like it talks about in James ch. 1
This maturity is fostered thru trials of many kinds. My time in Sudan has certainly been trials of many kinds. Many of which, i will admit. I have not dealt with very well. But i am assured that God is bringing maturity thru these situations. I am very thankful for that.

Well, i'm out for now. Write if you wanna know more... Emails that is.

Peace.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

105 in the shade

Hey all.

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