PRAYERS ARE NEEDED!!!

I just received this from one of my team mates in South Sudan

Please pray for the people of Blue Nile State. I just came back from the clinic this evening, where I met a family with a weak, malnourished child. After they left, Benjamin (our health worker) told me what he had learned of their story:

The man had just returned from an excursion into Blue Nile, looking for lost family members (whom he could not find). He said that in one town, he found many chi...ldren just under trees, without people to care for them . . . some of them as young as a year old, some already dead, some crying for food and for their parents. In the midst of recent bombings, people had to run, and apparently some ran without their kids (for what reasons, we don't know; maybe they were in their fields and their kids were at home under the care of older children at the time of the bombings...we don't know). The man tried to connect some of the abandoned children with people who are still in the area, so that they can travel together when they flee the area.

The woman just came from a town on the border between Blue Nile and Upper Nile, and she said that there are 25,000 people on the way from that town coming towards Doro . . . people who have fled with nothing and have no shelter or food (and the rains have certainly come). Bombings continue in that area as well, pushing thousands more people into Mabaan County, and everyone here is already over-extended trying to help the thousands who have already come.

The situation is devastating and hopeless, from a human perspective. We turn our eyes to the One Who knows all and loves every one of the people from Blue Nile, as well as every person from Upper Nile . . . He knows each of their unique stories and sees every tear that falls. How long, O Lord, will this continue? When will hope be reborn? We need You!

Pray for peace for South Sudan and Sudan

The Peace of Sudan
What is the definition of peace?  Where you can live together without fighting, without having to run, without having to fear everyday for your life.  Well Sudan has never known that kind of peace.  The peace that has been in Sudan has been a very fragile human  peace. 

Since the celebration of their independence South Sudan has tried to move forward in rebuilding their country, however there has been many road blocks and hurdles they are having to go through and jump over. 

Can peace ever be between South Sudan and Sudan?  We continue to pray that peace will come between these two countries, will you join us in prayer that there would be spiritual peace between these two countries.  That God will be exalted in every nation, and that the peace that only comes from the Lord Jesus will rein.

There are over 100,000 refuges that have had to flee their homes.  There is not enough water or food, and they are living in make shift housing.  Blankets being held together by tree branches, some are able to live in tents provided by NGO's.  It is rainy season in South Sudan, and most of these people are living in areas of flooding, areas covered in black cotton clay soil, areas that will soon be breading grounds for many different kind of dieases.  Please pray for South Sudan and Sudan.

Kawangware

On June 1, 2012 I was given the opportunity to go to Kawangware to see what God is doing.  This is one of the biggest slums in Nairobi.

I meant a young man named Fred whom God has given the heart for the street children who are on the street due to parents who are addicted to alcohol and or drugs.  He took me down into Kawangware to meet some of the children.  When you first walk into Kawangware all you see is such need, such poverty, it is heart breaking, but then as you continue to walk with Fred and hear his story of how God brought him to Kawangware and into the lives of so many, you also see what God is doing.  I am going to let the pictures speak for themselves.

They live in poverty that most of us can't even imagine.  But when you talk with them and see their faces, their beautiful smiles, you say "why?"  I believe it is because they are hearing about Jesus, they are seeing Jesus' love through Fred, Washington, and many more.  God is providing shelter, food, and schooling.  But please pray for them, as the landlord has given them notice to vacate the housing they are living in.  They need another place to live, please pray that they will not be turned back out on the streets.

After spending time in Kawangware then drove about 45 minutes to where God has provided housing for a counseling and Rehabilitation center for people who have been addicted to drugs and or alcohol.  For those who have made a choice to want to break the addiction.  With the doors just opening on May 4th, the building and ministry were dedicated to the Lord on Saturday, June 2 2012.  What a blessing to be able to spend time here, to worship and praise the Lord together, and to hear some of their testimonies.  During my time with the ladies God gave Jesse and I the opportunity to share the Gospel with one who was not a beliver.  After sometime, she received the Lord.  What a humbling and amazing expierence to be a part of someone taking the step out of darkness and into the light, and life eternal.  Once again I will let the pictures speak for themselves.

 Please pray, the addiction world is an uphill battle, at this facility they hear God's Word, they are counseled in lifeskills, how to change their lives, they are discipled and mentored in God's Word, they are prayed for daily.  For most of us who have had to fight this battle, we have had the choice to not return to the place we lived during that time.  These women and men don't have that option, once they complete the program, they will return to the area they came from.  Pray that they will be strong, pray that they will stand on the Word of God, pray that they will be able to reach out and help others, pray for their children, and pray for their health, many of them are fighting other dieases.   Please also pray for God's provisions for funding.

So what now

     May has seen surgery on my knee, with rehab in full swing.  I thank God for His provisions for this to be done in Nairobi Kenya.  I continue to assist in the logistics room.  God continues to bring opportunities my way, and I watch in total amazement as He continues to build relationships.  He has entrusted to me several spiritual daughters and sons, and has even given me the priviledge to be sho sho (grandma) too 3 beautiful little girls and two handsome little boys. By God's grace I will be able to give them a strong foundation in the Lord. 

      My desire is to be able to return to South Sudan sometime in early July .Until then I want to see every opportunity God brings my way, and I know there have been many I haven't seen.  There is nothing more exciting then to be used as His vessel for His glory.
     But one thing I have learned (actually continue to learn) is no matter where I am  I can still testify to the gospel of God's grace. 
     "However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me, the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace." Acts 20:24

Wedding

Also in the month of April, I was able to attend a wedding of one of our team.  It was the first Kenya wedding I have been to, oh what a blessing.

We continue

February, March,April 2012;

Once I returned from Sudan, meetings were held, purchasing started as there were things that needed to be put into place for me to return to Thiangrial and live with the people I love.  However it was not going to be in the timing I thought it would.  AFter about a week, I started having problems with my right knee, after a while I had our team doctor look at it, but we didn't think it was anything serious.  Well after about two weeks it was getting worse.  Once again I was put into a situation where I was ready to go back to Sudan but my body wasn't. 
    "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD.  As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." Isaiah 55:8-9
     As I reflect back on this time (it is now June) I realize that had I been in South Sudan when this knee pain started, it very well could of gotten worse and worse until I couldn't walk, and that would of meant and emergency evac.  "He knows the plans He has for me, plans to prosper and not to harm, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11.

     During these months,I have had the opportunity to join the logistics staff again, and help them through the many trials they face in getting this team in and out of Sudan.  I thank God for this time of renewed relationships.  Meet once again the logistics team for SIM Sudan 

 I have had the opportunity to be with all my team mates.  April SIM Sudan had their Spiritual life conference, which is a time of refreshment, being together as a team, spiritual renewal and worshiping our Lord and Savior.  What a blessing.  It can get pretty cold in Nairobi and I think when the photo below was taken it was 58.  That is cold for people who normally live in South Sudan.

                                             Susan, Karissa, Debbie, and Christiane  
I thank the Lord for all that He has allowed me to be a part of.  Even though I am not back in South Sudan, I know without a shadow of a doubt I am right in the middle of His will.

The story continues

February 2012:  Once I got settled into Nairobi again, I started making plans to return to Sudan, specifically Thiangrial.  I lived at Thiangrial in 2008-2009.  The base was closed down in 2009, so this trip was a survey trip to assess the condition of the base, and to spend time with the Thiangrial community.  Oh what a blessing to be back in Sudan, and to be back in Thiangrial, to greet people I had not seen in three years.  Thank you Jesus.

Once into Malakal we traveled by road to Mulet, then onto Thiangrial, it was a very long ride, on rough roads, but oh the joy in my heart as we reached the village.

                                          Above were some of the roads we traveled on

       The village, it was good in one way to see that nothing had changed, but sad in another.

   So my tent that was left at the base in 2009 is still standing and still in pretty good shape.  Praise the Lord.
    There was going to have to be quite a bit of work done, before the compound was livable again.  But oh how my heart filled with joy, as I saw Peter the guard again, and so many others in the village.