The Stories that Pictures Can Tell

Pictures from my time in S. Sudan;  Thanking God for this time!!!!

Gina, Rasala, Beka and children

Simoni and his family

Joy and Hannah

Leah and I outside the fence in Malakal

Leah in the plane and on her way to S. Sudan, Doro, Malakal and Juba

Sunset on the White Nile River Malakal

Leah resting after a long day in Juba

 Cooking in Juba brings joyful memories of cooking in Thiangrial and Doro

God's beauty, sunset in Juba

God's children

On our way from Juba to Nairobi at 30,000 ft in the air. 

 

Our God is an Awesome God!!!

Uzima Children's Home

Uzima Children's Home.  The Children's Home flooded in October of this year, and God has provided a house for them to live in.  Fred and his wife Regina and their three girls gave up their house so that the children would have someplace to live.  We thank God for that.  There are 31 children (the least of these) who live in the house with an average of 5 bunk beds per room.

“Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.” Ephesians  3:20-21

I thank God for all of you and all of your prayers this year, and the way the Holy Spirit impressed me on the hearts of so many to pray for things I didn’t even know I was dealing with and for all your help financially.  I have so much to be thankful for, and if I tried to put it all in the update it would go on for days.  Below are some of the things I am thankful for:

God’s faithfulness:  God has opened the door 3 times for trips into S. Sudan, and given clarity in my return to S. Sudan.  He gave clarity through the length of time it took for my body to recoup after the second trip.  I have just returned from S. Sudan with the blessing of being able to take Leah (our logistics coordinator with me,) she has been with us since 2008 and never has gone into S. Sudan.  It was a great trip, as the Lord showed her so many things, and I was able to reconnect with the ladies in Doro whom I miss and love so very much.  (See pictures below).  In the 10 days we were in S. Sudan we were able to visit 3 locations, Doro, Malakal, and Juba, this involved 5 flights and quite a bit of road travel.  Praise the Lord He sustained this body.
 

Ministry:  Things have changed at the Uzima drug and alcohol rehab center, so I am spending very little time out there.  The last lady to be in the program Susan, graduated on Sunday, December 16^th   and received the Lord!!!!!.  I am seeking the Lord on how to come along side these women (who live in so many different places) and disciple so that they can grow in Christ.  God has given me many opportunities to speak and teach in churches. I thank Him.

Uzima Children’s Home has found a new place for the children (as most of you know the place they were in flooded in October).  It has been a long and hard road, to find someone who was willing to let 31 street children live in their house.  My time at the Children's Home on Christmas Eve was a blessing.  To be with all of the children I love, to see how God has provided for them, and to be able to share gifts that were provided from a dear friend in Oregon.

Bible Study:  With my Kenya staff in the logistics room we are reading the African version of Pilgrims Progress called: “The Journey”, what a blessing and a privilege it is to study God’s Word with them.

Kenya Family:  All of my Kenya families were able to come together in November.  For most of them this was the first time to meet.  God has blessed me with many spiritual sons, daughters, and grandchildren.  What a blessing as we prayed together, worshiped our Lord together in 4 different mother tongues, and shared a meal together, traditional Kenya food, as well as western food.

Sharing the Gospel:  Oh how I love this.  He has given me the privilege to see some come to the Lord.  What excitement when He opens up an opportunity to share the Gospel of His grace, to someone driving a taxi, to someone who professes to be a believer, but has never received Christ, to those who have been taught it is by works, or those who have heard from false teachers.  Thank you Father.

God’s calling into more of a leadership position in Nairobi: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name, you are mine.  When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you.  When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.  For I am the LORD, your God the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.” Isaiah 43:1b-3

God’s promises; His Word, His strength, His faithfulness, His grace, His mercy.   There has been a lot of trying to figure out what, where, and how; trying to learn another culture and how it looks in an office.  Figuring out relationships, saying things that were not taken the way they were meant.  Logistics, oh for the chance for all of you and all of the SIM-Sudan team to spend a week with us.  There is no way to describe what a day or a week in the logistics room is like.  So many challenges, knowing God wants us to plan, but also understanding that we need to hold everything with open hands.  Asking Father everyday and sometimes moment by moment to fill me with His grace as I read emails, or hear words that hurt.  God is faithful and He has shown me many times as long as I keep my eyes on Him this is doable.   I was reading my devotional and I share with you what God showed me. “When you are plagued by a persistent problem – view it as a rich opportunity.  The learning possibilities are limited only by your willingness to be teachable.  In faith thank Me for your problem, ask Me to open your eyes and your heart to all that I am accomplishing through this difficulty.  Once you have become grateful for a problem, it loses its power to drag you down.” Jesus Calling

His Word is what gives me (us) the strength to go on.  His Word reminds us of His promises.  Father help me to keep my eyes on you, and would you open my eyes and my heart to all that you are accomplishing through this difficulty.  I want to glorify you through this storm.

Praises:  For the safety in all of my travels.  For the time in S. Sudan renewing and continuing to build relationships, For God’s provisions to take Leah into S. Sudan, For all the trials and frustrations.  For the opportunities to share the Gospel, For who HE is!!!!!!

Prayers:  For Uzima Children’s Home.  For God’s continued leading in the ministries He wants me to be involved in.  For Njoki (from the rehab center), who is HIV positive and needing a place to live, For Kenya, as tensions and fear rises as they move closer to the national election in March 2013.  That I would see every opportunity God has for me and ever divine meeting.  For S. Sudan as they continue to build this country, for honest people, God fearing people, for unity, healing, forgiveness and for peace to hold (there are many pockets of unrest).  For more opportunities to return to S. Sudan and share the Gospel, and to train up Timothy’s.

Please Pray

"Please be in prayer for the situation of SIM's compound in Khartoum as together with the church leaders we face up to a takeover attempt. Although it is not possible for SIM to be registered in Sudan as a Christian organization we have enjoyed many years of freedom. Please pray that the seven churches which meet on the compound will stand united. Praise the Lord for Christian leaders from three denominations who are now standing together."

The day in the life of SIM Sudan logistics

I think of the things we go through when we make plane reservations whether they be in the US or International and I thank God for how easy it is.  I wanted to share with everyone just one day in the life of our logistics department and team and how fast things can change. 

Proverbs 16:9 says, “In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.”


The Faders made all their plans; Visa’s (check), Passports (check); cargo sent to Juba (check); Commercial airline tickets to Juba (check); bags packed (check); food purchased (check); communication with Leah on the MAF charter flight (check). Excited and ready to start their journey back into South Sudan and Melut.

Leah: Confirmed charter (check); transported cargo to Juba (check); communicated with Moses in Juba concerning additional items to be purchased (check); communicated with Nate, and Tom to be at the airstrip to fly to Doro (check); all is in place and ready to go.

How fast can our plans change: This morning Faders at Jomo at 5:30am awaiting their flight to Juba, and connecting flight to Paloich and their transition back to South Sudan and Melut. Jomo airport closed at 4:30 am due to a disabled airplane on the runway!!! No flights going out.

Waiting to see if Jomo will reopen, and the flight to Juba will go forward, MAF contacted of the situation. Everyone is in a wait mode. Finally the time is getting late to late for the Faders to connect with the MAF charter flight. Leah on the phone with MAF, canceling the flight to Paloich, and trying to see if they have another flight tomorrow, no MAF doesn’t have anything available until Saturday, OH that won’t work, there are people in Melut that need to get to Doro to connect with a flight on June 8th. On the phone with Tim at AIM, do they have anything, yes they have a flight we can use tomorrow (Thursday) PTL. Okay communicating with MAF please off load cargo and take to the AIM hanger, in the mean time the Faders are still at the airport waiting to see if they can get to Juba today.

SIM team mates waiting at the Paloich airstrip for plane, communication is almost impossible due to the networks. People thinking they are leaving today for Doro, that Faders are arriving, and a lorry waiting to be loaded with all the Faders personal effects. Finally able to communicate with Melut team, no need to stay at air strip, no flight coming in today. God willing the Faders will arrive tomorrow on an AIM Charter, arrival time between 9am and 10am. Cargo and passengers for Doro will go on this flight.

Faders still at Jomo, but have been told they will fly to Juba today, now finding somewhere for them to spend the night. It is now 3:42pm Leah is on the phone trying to find a place for them to stay. MAF, full, SP full, SIL, full Lord help us to find a place for this weary family to lay their heads tonight.

We make our plans, but we need to hold them very loosely, because things can change, and most of the time it is out of our control. If we believe that God is Sovereign than we also believe that none of this day took Him by surprise. He knew exactly what this day would hold, the road blocks that would be put up, and exactly how it would all be worked out. For His glory.

We need to all keep in mind how fast things can change, and that we would all be ready to turn things loose and just roll the way we need.

“In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps.” Let’s all hold our plans with open hands.

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.