Sudanese Sagas - January 2010
Way behind
I think this has been the longest stretch that we have gone without sending out a newsletter. Somehow this past year has just flashed by as if in a dream and here we are staring at 2010. As you will see we have been engaged over this past year with people, projects and plans. I will do my best to cram it all in this letter.
Starting out with a volunteer bang
In January we had a team come out from Dawson BC who did a terrific job of working alongside of our Dinka church folk and constructed a training center building out of two shipping containers, some wood, zinc and cement. Their work was so organized and speedy that the Dinka have not stopped talking about it until this day. We are now using the structure for training men, women and children in a variety of ministry skills.
Team
Our journeymen have continued to be a total joy with their “never a dull moment” personalities. They continue to make new friends, find, and/or create, new ministry opportunities, and bring joy to everyone they come into contact with. You really need to check out their blogs on our sudansouth.org website. They are great storytellers. This past January Jermaine joined them to re-complete the Sudan Six team and you would never even suspect that he wasn’t one of the originals. He was the final piece in a beautiful jigsaw puzzle.
The Lewises, with their three young boys, hit the ground a-running this past spring. They are now nestled into their new home in Taposaland and are making new relationships every day. They have already started a church in an area that none of us had considered before. Be praying for them as they continue to learn the language and culture through relationships that will bear fruit for eternity. Also pray that Carrie can find a good lady-friend that she can bond with and share heart thoughts with.
Training Projects
The Baptist Training Center has really made some great strides this past year. Our women’s training has gone great with about 20 women just about ready to graduate. Their second course will be starting early this year.
We have had several modules of our Bible school training during the year. This has been a testing ground to see if we are on the right track for the type of training that is indigenous and practical to daily life in Southern Sudan. We believe that it is and that it has been successful. We look forward to doing the full program this coming year.
We also have a primary school started at the BTC. There are about 60 children being taught daily under three Lulu trees. They are getting ready to put up some shelters for protection from the rains.
Plans for 2010
Beginning January 15th we will have eleven Fusion Team college students joining us for four months. They will be involved in a variety of ministries – from cattle camps to leper colonies, pastors training to women’s work, street kids to soap making. We will all be challenged during these months so be interceding when the Spirit moves you.
The week before Fusion arrives we have a volunteer team coming to head off into a cattle camp for HIV/AIDS prevention training. This is always a challenging time for those involved.
This summer we will be hosting two teams from the Nehemiah Teams – who will also be going into the depths of the cattle camp cultures. These young people will be challenged to the very nth degree of all their training. They will be here for 8 weeks of spiritual and emotional growth.
Cathy and I will go on Stateside assignment beginning in October for about five months or so. Home base will be in Merritt Island, FL.
Kids Korner
Our daughter Laura is still in Kazakhstan where she is teaching English for the Peace Corps. This past year has grown much easier as she learned more Russian, adjusted to the culture, and found her comfort zone amidst sub-zero temperatures.
Joshua is plodding along with school in Florida and still looking for a job. He really wants to move out on his own but without a steady income that plan is on hold.
This summer our family was able to meet up in Turkey for a sailboat cruise among the Greek and Turkish islands. It was an unbelievable time of being together, enjoying a part of the planet we hadn’t seen, and relaxing with friends. God abundantly blessed our family with this time.
The Future ?????
No one is quite sure what to expect in Sudan this year. In the south this year there were more people killed than in Darfur. Tribal clashes are on the rise, unrest is just below the surface, and there is growing discontent with the small amount of development that has taken place since the signing of the peace a few years ago.
National elections are scheduled for early April but no one is sure they will actually happen – or if they will in any way be accurate. The recent census was pretty much a disaster. Our team will covet your intercession this year.
Top Praises
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The Lewises have moved into Taposa land and are doing well.
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Jermaine joined our team and is really stepping up in leadership roles.
Top Requests
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Pray for our journeymen to “finish strong” and to leave behind a legacy that will glorify Christ for years to come
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For a team coming from Jermaine’s home church coming in May to train pastors and work with youth
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For the Fusion and Nehemiah teams to be glorifying to God in each challenge they will face and each task they take on
Huge thanks to John and Jane Canfield for their always valuable advice and assistance with the website and newsletters we put out. Check out the website at www.sudansouth.org anytime you get a chance. John is getting ready to redo it in a new format so this is something to really look forward to.
Hope you all have had a joyous holiday season, celebrating the King’s birthday with great cheer, and have moved into the new year with grateful and gracious hearts.
In His service,
Mark and Cathy
How did God bless us in 2009?
One of the things we teach in our pastors training is that each week they should ask their congregations, “How has God blessed you this week”, or “How has God shown you His love this week”. As I was thinking about that this past week down on the Kenyan coast I began remembering how God had abundantly blessed Cathy and I this past year and wanted to share some of this with you…who have been so faithful in interceding for our team.
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Jermaine Edwards joined our team and “completed” us
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Dawson BC came out with a team and constructed a structure for our Training Center
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Our women’s training program got started at the BTC (completed first year in December)
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Our family had an incredible get-together getaway in the Mediterranean.
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Jamie and Laura developed a wonderful program to help schoolgirls stay in school longer
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Whitney and Jennifer designed and implemented an indigenous HIV/AIDS awareness program that has already been used in other countries in Africa
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Andres and his church helped to get a local youth center up and running after being dormant for many years
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The Lewis family arrived on the field and are now having an impact in Taposa lives
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Our alliance of churches have united to work together for Kingdom work in S. Sudan
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I now have a new knee, thanks to modern medicine, and it’s doing well
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Two of our journeygals started a work among a leper colony outside of Rumbek
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Idlewild BC came out and trained pastors, women, did medical work and built relationships with local Dinka
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Forest Meadow came out and helped us begin the oral Bible school training program
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We started a primary school at our BTC with help for our alliance partners and our church leaders
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One of our newest churches in Rumbek baptized 24 believers
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Two of our journeygals completed their first woman’s literacy class
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We went into some cattle camps to bring HIV/AIDS training and to teach the Good News
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We traveled to some of our other work in Leer, Malakal and Nasir to encourage the leaders there and to make plans for the future
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We were able to chat with our daughter in Kazakhstan on Christmas eve – just by chance
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Our son finished another year of college
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Jermaine and Andres did a lot of training with the youth in Abinajok
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Cathy’s mom is slowly healing from her bout with shingles
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Kirby Woods BC came and did youth work and a sports camp in Rumbek
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Jess Jennings came and laid the groundwork for future Nehemiah Teams to come our way
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We had a great prayer retreat that reminded us of how good God has been to us and helped focus us on what was ahead
Obviously this list could go on and on but we wanted to remind you, and ourselves, of each of the prayer items you have interceded for on behalf of Kingdom work in Sudan. It has been you who have been our greatest blessing this past year and we thank you deeply. May God continue to be gracious to us as wee serve together in 2010. To HIM be the glory,
Mark and Cathy, for the Sudan Team
