Out mission to northern Bahr El Ghazel, Aweil, started on 13 June 2008, in Juba capital of the seat of government of Southern Sudan where we met with government officials as well as in Aweil with community leaders which has been successful.
Next Monday, 7th July we will be flying back to Juba and staying two days and then we leave Juba Wednesday afternoon on our way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. We will stay for a few days then I will leave to Australia and Pastor Steve wil spend some few weeks on his holiday until the end of August and he will join us in Adelaide.
Our discussion and deliberation with The Governor, The Deputy Governor and the Minister for Social Development, Culture and Sport have really paid back in fruitful outcome. In the grassroot level we have explored windows of opportunities and also the local community leaders of COC pastors and church workers and we have encountered Episcopal Church of Sudan pastor who is working amongst the refugees from Darfur. A positive relationship. This gave us a clear vision and a link with these groups.
We believe these have given us an opportunity to say we have created partnerships with them. And we have planted a seed which might last for a few years. Our mission has been so good and successful, but not you might think a road of roses - there are thorny issues we have encountered and have overcome them with prayers. These challenges give us a clear vision to coordinate and work with them in the future. Our misison is not a coincident - we believe God's hand is with us. We have faced so many challenges - some which broke our hearts and some we laugh over. But the demand is so huge and so great.
We feel these are the areas which are important now to oversee and think over them: Primary health care; Education in general, especially training of teachers, nurses and agriculture for full sustainability which demands a new technology for farming more than traditional farming in Sudan.
About Me
- Steve Blacket
- My connection with South Sudan began in 2004 when our church sponsored a refugee family, and my involvement in ministry amongst Sudanese grew rapidly from that time. My partner in this ministry from the beginning has been Rev Joseph Mawien, and it was his request that led to our first trip to Sudan in 2008 from which this mission has grown. The relationship with Bangladesh has also grown out of a friendship. Vana Bawm first contacted me in 2009 and we have worked closely together since. I consider myself incredibly blessed to have been given the opportunity to provide mission and development in these two beautiful countries. I am thankful to my two dear brothers, Joseph and Vana - wise and visionary Christian leaders. It is through them that I have been received as family even before entering their countries.
2 comments:
Great to get direct updates on blog. We are looking to have Sudan as a GMP project for 2007/2008.
We continue to pray for good things and contacts and partnerships in Sudan with South Australia
Graham
Thats encouraging. Thanks. There is much to be done and I feel confident we can find ways of developing a quite direct connection between your congregation and people here. Pass my best wishes to the church at Kadina. Blessings to you, Steve
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