Final from Sudan

Well I have now left Sudan and am headed for Zimbabwe. Sudan was an amazing place to me with a complex history and interesting people. I will truly miss my quiet evenings in Kauda and our daily volleyball games. Now it is back to the unknown and new challenges. But I know that the Lord will guide me as He has in the past. It is by His strength that I move, and I pray that with each breath I take I am reminded that He is the Lord; it is through His mercy and grace that I have a new life in Him.

Here are a few last photos for you

Local Girl:



I went on a great hike north of Kauda in Heiban my last week:



Kauda is dry now with the crops harvested:



Thank you for all of your prayers while I was there. Please continue to pray for our brothers and sisters in Sudan. I would also appreciate your prayers as I head to Zimbabwe.

Happy New Year

Well I know it has been a while since I have posted. Our internet here as been very poor lately, one of the joys of living in the middle of the Sudan. It is still not good so no pictures or videos but I did want to let you know a few things happening here.

We had a great Christmas and New Year here, pretty low key but did have some good food and a few games of monopoly.

I had a really nice R&R with my friend Melanie around mid december. Just before I left on that, SP asked me if I could consider going to Zimbabwe and starting a new office. After praying through this I have decided to accept the position there and will leave next week. It is going to be a huge challenge there with lots of logistical and political challenges; I would appreciate your prayer for wisdom and discernment as I am stepping out in a bit of faith. Sudan has been a great place to me, allowing to me experience a lot of the country and have many different jobs.

Please continue to pray for the staff here as they go through a transition time. Also pray for the Christians and the peace process. Finally, remember our brothers and sisters in Kenya as the country as exploded with violence following the election.

I will update when I can with photos and information from Zimbabwe.

Church Opening

I was able to attend one of our church openings yesterday, it was a real blessing to be a part of. Here is a little video of the children's choir and some practicing outside.






Please continue to pray for the Christians of Sudan as they face many difficulties, pray that this new church would not just be a building but would be a place of hope and light in a world of darkness.

The last rain

In a few weeks I will be heading off for R&R, I am looking forward to the time away. Life in Nuba is good but it is also nice to have a break; have some good food and cooler weather. Things have been going okay here. The rain is ending, we had a nice heavy rain a few days ago, just enough to settle the dust, but it looks like it will be pretty dry from now on. It is fairly warm here, with it getting up to 100-110 in the daytime but this is the cool season and it will get warmer.

The work is going well. Everyday we face difficulties but we are moving forward. There was accident the other day up here but no one was hurt and we are sorting through the political quagmire. Our region continues to be in flux and doubt as the political powers 'discuss' how to settle things. Still one of the main issues is the oil around here and where the boundaries should lie. It has been peaceful here, that is truly a blessing; there have been too many years of war and too much suffering. Please continue to pray for the Christians in this area of the world as many continue to face persecution; homes destroyed, walking 45 days with little food or water, being shot, set on fire, chased from ones home while everything they own is set a blaze. As Thanksgiving comes next week, may we remember God's faithfulness, provision and salvation.

He has showed you, O man, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.
Micah 6:8

Photos

Here are a few photos for you.  Things are fine up here, by the grace of God we move forward.

Home sweet Home...here is where I live with another guy.

A local restaurant where she made some great lunch and a nice strong cup of real coffee.  Here they often add ginger to the coffee to give it a little extra kick.

Church under construction:

Some local kids:

Kauda

Well many of you don't know this yet but I have changed jobs a bit and have moved to the middle of Sudan.  I am still with the same program but have taken on the roll of program manager for the Nuba mountains.  We are doing lots of things here including church reconstruction, there is a technical training school, a nursery for plants, and a bible college.  

One of the great things is that I can now see my old friend Sergey.  Sergey and I know each other from Afghanistan.  He is from Uzbekistan and has worked for SP several years now.  Here is a photo of us...he is on the left, and Josh, a guy from Canada, is on the right.  It is also great to be working with Josh as we went through orientation together and he has a lot of experience.

 I am really enjoying the mountains here and am looking forward to some good hikes.  I will be putting more photos up later but here are a couple more.  Here is a local watering hole:

And today I went for a little motorcycle (Honda 200) ride to one of our projects...here is a photo:

More later....