40 years, 40 days, 40 hours...

The number 40 in our Bible has implications of testing and transition. Not that our 40 hours travelling to Sudan will go down in history with the Israelites 40 years in the desert or Jesus' 40 days of trial. Never-the-less, it has been a test, and we are on a journey. We were up before the sparrows yesterday, only to spend 9 hours at Perth airport. Ros worked her charm with the staff at Malaysia Airlines and we were upgraded to business class for the flight to KL. Here we are in Dubai, enjoying yum cha breakfast and watching a spectacular sunrise - which would be all the more enjoyable if we werent meant to be on a flight to Addis Ababa and then on to Juba! Customs took a while to clear all our medical equipment and we missed the flight. We plan to spend the night here and fly tomorrow, getting to Juba on Thursday and Aweil on Friday. We've had a few hours sleep between us in the last 2 days, so a comfortable Dubai hotel will be welcome - in spite of not being where we wanted.
Despite this change of plans, everything has been shaping up well for the work we hope to accomplish in Sudan. We will keep you updated.

Some very supportive businesses...

A few businesses have been exceptionally helpful and supportive of our coming trip to Sudan, and I want to publically express my appreciation to them here...

Firstly, Annabelle from Fulham Gardens Flight Centre is, in my opinion, the best travel consultant in the world! Arranging a trip to Aweil is quite complex, and not something many consultants have done before. Last year four travel agents I tried found my trip too difficult and simply gave up. Annabelle seemed to enjoy the challenge and after many hours worked out an itinerary which not only saved us thousands of dollars, but also has much better airport connections. When it was all finally done, and I apologised for how time consuming it had been, she presented me with gifts for myself, Joseph and Ros and wished us well for our work in Sudan. So thanks Annabelle. You're a champ!

Malaysia Airlines have also been generous to us by granting 60 Kg of free excess luggage. This will allow us to take birthing kits and a small amount of medical equipment to provide to primary health providers in the Aweil region. Thanks to Caroline and Steve in the Adelaide office for arranging this.

Virgin Blue have done the same for our domestic connection flight. Apparently they receive hundreds of requests for sponsorship each week, so I feel fortunate to have my request approved. So thanks Ashley and the sponsorship team at Virgin Blue. I appreciate your support.

I commend these companies to you and ask you to consider showing your support in return.

Going back...

The tickets are booked and preparations are being made. In January we will be back in Sudan. This time there will be three of us as Ros Stafford-Green joins myself and Joseph. We will have about three weeks in Aweil and then some time in Juba. It isnt very much time for the amount of work we have to do.

We will take with us birthing kits and medical equipment as requested by the midwives based at Aweil Civic Hospital. We also hope to visit camps where Darfuri refugees have settled and to establish a stronger channel of support through the Aweil churches. There have been requests to support the development of new churches in regions surrounding Aweil through a partnership programme with Australian churches, and so we hope to gather the necessary information and meet prospective partners in this ministry. In additon we plan to register an NGO, employ a project coordinator, open bank accounts and negotiate with leaders in government about other projects where they have invited our assistance.

The development of friendships is fundamental to all we do, and so of course there will be many hours sitting and chatting under mango trees drinking chai and swatting mosquitos. The way of getting things done is very different in Sudan - scheduled appointments and strategic planning may as well be left at the departure lounge. But we have a shared vision with local Christian leaders, and as my "brother from another mother" Pastor Ronald Ruay wrote in an email this morning "our faith will move mountains".

Photo: Aweil Town from the air. Catholic church is at the front right. Mother Adut Dit's home is on the main road just behind the open school ground in the centre.

Rapid Development...

Recently Deng Deng Akon was in Adelaide to spend time with his wife and family. Deng is Secretary to the Vice President of Southern Sudan and has been very helpful and supportive of our partnership with communities in Sudan. I met with Deng on several occasions and he provided advice on issues such as registration of NGOs, channelling finance, employment of a Project Manager, transport, freight and much more. Deng also has good insight into the needs of the community and the most effective way to work with local leaders.

Change is taking place at a rapid pace in Southern Sudan, and this will only increase as connections with the outside world develop. Tasks which seemed virtually impossible even a year ago, are now much simpler according to Deng. The President recently opened 18 bridges in Northern Bahr Al Ghazal and this will provide access all year to regions which were previously quite isolated. Freight through Mombasa has now been streamlined, avoiding the complications of the Kenyan customs system. And banks in Juba can now facilitate money transfer, and apparently an ATM has recently been added.

Of course long term development will be dependant on political stability in the region. The world will be watching with some anxiety as the referendum scheduled for 2011 approaches, as this will determine whether Southern Sudan remains in a unified Sudan or has independence from the North. Either option has the potential to spark renewed conflict and this remains the greatest threat to aid and development and also to our church partnerships. But for now there is relative peace and increasing opportunities for us to provide assistance to communities who have suffered so much.

Photo: With Deng Deng Akon at our hotel in Juba, June 2008

Pray for peace...

My friend Adub is the Director of Peace based in Aweil. He has asked that we pray for a Peaceful Co-existence Conference he is involved in next month. The conference will bring together people from two tribes which have a long history of conflict – the African Malual Dinka of Northern Bahr Al Ghazal and the Arabic Rezeigat from Darfur.

In the past the Rezeigat have been frontline soldiers for the northern forces against the Southern rebels, but even when not at war have formed raiding parties which have captured thousands of Dinka women and children to be enslaved. While in Aweil last year Joseph and I saw numerous fuzzy haired children whose mothers had escaped from their Arab captors. While the raids have decreased since the signing of the Certified Peace Agreement, it is still a source of conflict between these rival tribes. And as the Sahara steadily grows southward, competition for pasture and water increases the need for peaceful co-existence.

I remember Adub’s words of wisdom to me last year – that people first need to find peace within themselves before they can offer it to others. Please join together in praying for peace in this troubled region.

The Graduate From Sudan...

A documentary has been made on Dr Victoria Anip Achut and will be shown in Adelaide this Saturday afternoon. It tells the story of her life in Sudan and then settling in Australia as a medical professional. Victoria is a member of my medical advisory group. She works tirelessly for her community, both here in Adelaide and at home in Sudan. She is a strong advocate for women's health and education, and speaks out strongly against the practice of female genital mutilation. I encourage you to come along and be inspired.

The film will be shown at Mercury Theatre, 13 Morphett St Adelaide, at 2 PM. Entry is free, but over half the seats are already allocated. Contact me to obtain RSVP details - use the email link in my profile section. If you cant make it, it is scheduled to be broadcast on SBS on Wednesday 28th October at 8.30 PM.

A Spaceship to Sudan...

Spell-checkers on computer programmes are very handy - but they dont always get it quite right!

I have written to several airlines asking if they will provide assistance with freight of medical equipment on our next visit to Sudan. One airline executive wrote a very gracious letter of reply, commenting how inspired he was by our projects, but regrettfully couldnt assist with "spaceship". Obviously he meant to write "sponsorship", but with the aid of our innovative software it was changed into something quite different.

I resisted the temptation to reply that we werent going to Mars, and that a 747 would do the job just fine. (And I will continue to see what help we can get with transporting this vital equipment).

A message from Pastor Ronald Ruay...

A few days ago I asked Ruay for some information I could include in a newsletter article I was writing. It was only a brief article and I only used a small part of what he wrote -so I have included his full message here...

I did my training of Bible and Missions at Nairobi Great Commission College in Kenya. I graduated in 2003 after completion of 2 years training and 6 months serving in churches and Ministries in Kenya and Uganda. During my training years, i started a ministry of preaching to my sudanese brothers and sisters living in Adjumani refugee camp. I served in the camp but i felt my heart calling to go back home in aweil. I first came back to Aweil in 2005 before the Peace deal and searched God's will for me to my people who were facing all kinds of suffering and hardships. Before the peace, insecurity was high in the region and there was lack of all kind of basic services. Nonetheless, i felt touched by the needy faces of my fellow brothers and immediately knew this is where my Lord wants me to be.

I chose to start a new ministry in Malek Alel, with the help of Pastor Yournew i established an undertree church and run a small church clinic which served that community's greatest need, which is still as of now Health care. Our health clinic created a big impact as we served with a christian heart and counselled/ prayed for the sick. We converted many of souls and baptized many thousands. The peak of my ministry was in 2006 when we started Aweil Bible College, as we discovered that the harvest was plenty and laborers were few. As Director of the college we trained the first graduates of preachers and sent out 18 men in 2008 into ministry service.

In end of 2008 i took a study leave and handed over the ministry works to pastor Yournew Wol my mentor and brother in christ. In the same year, my state governement formed by the historic peace deal called me to join in serving my people in a different cpacity as Director of Planning and Budgeting in the ministry of finance. This is the work i am currently serving in Aweil.

In 2009 March 24th i married Awien Majak Autiek as my wife and lifetime partner.

Thank you very much.

Ruay

Communication...

I find it difficult to explain the challenges we have in communicating with our partners in Sudan. Maybe this picture will help. This is the Aweil Post Office. Or at least it used to be. Now it contains a few hundred bats, a telegraph machine (which would look very impressive in any museum - especially if 50 years of dust and bat faeces were cleaned off), and a wooden table where a couple of men sell mobile phones. The building is a relic of British ambition and stands as a reminder of what most of the world takes for granted - communication.

Magdalene explained to me how the "modern" postal service in Aweil works. When she worked as a Postal Officer in Aweil she would be called to an office, handed a letter which had just been typed, and then proceed on foot to hand-deliver it to the recipient - who of course she would know by name. If the person wasnt in town they were dependant on someone travelling to the relevant location to deliver the letter.

This is the same method available to us if we want to "post" anything from Australia to Aweil. If I hear of someone travelling home to Sudan from Adelaide I will ask if they can deliver letters or photos to particular people. Of course dozens of others will make the same request, loading the traveller with clothes and gifts and many instructions. And its not very effective when you want a quick answer to a simple question.

But I mentioned men selling mobile phones. Surely the advance of modern technology has made communication quite simple. Last year there were four mobile phone carriers in Aweil, and another one about to begin. But only one of them could carry international calls. Even then, the coverage is limited to the centre of the town and could drop out completely for months at a time. The Internet is similar - for those who have access it can provide easy communication via email or Skype, but recently the whole network was down for about three months. The Government and NGOs rely on satellite phones for reliable communication, but few people have access to this service.

This week I spoke on the phone to Deborah, the midwife at the Aweil Civic Hospital - having made dozens of unsuccessful attempts over the past year. She told me she thought I had forgotten her requests for assistance. I reassured her I have tried dozens of time to get messages to her and that we are working to provide the help she needs.

The development of a strong ministry partnership is dependant on communication. Currently we are exploring the use of mobile satellite modems which linked to a laptop computer would provide consistent access to email, phone and possibly video conferencing. In the mean time I continue to send emails and try the phone, aware that it is likely to take several attempts before my message gets through.

The Malual Kon Church of Christ...

This video is a bit longer than the short greetings I have posted recently - about 6 minutes. It is about a year since I filmed it, and within a couple of weeks a flood brought about the inevitable collapse of the church building which you will see. Only a few days ago Philip told me his congregation is still meeting under the tree where it began ten years earlier. Minutes before filming I met a member of the church who pointed to where her husband had been killed by the militia. I dont know how many people lost their lives on this church property - but their relatives and neighbours keep coming together to pray. This video brings back memories which are both inspirational and heart-breaking.

A greeting from Pastor Ronald Ruay...

I've just checked my journal, and it was a year ago today that I first met Ruay and his sister Ang'er in Aweil Town. For the remarkable story of our meeting, click on Ruay's link under "Labels" on the side bar and go to the last two articles.

I continue to chat with Ruay regularly as we plan our work together. But instead of me telling you about it, you can hear his message first hand. I filmed this at Mother Adut's home near the end of our visit in July last year.

One year later…

A year ago today, in the very early hours of the morning, I met Joseph at Bangkok airport where we boarded a plane for Addis Ababa (Ethiopia), touched down briefly at Entebbe (Uganda) and then arrived at Juba, the capital of  South Sudan. I clearly remember stepping out of the plane and taking my first steps on Sudanese soil.

In some ways it was the natural development following several years of ministry, engagement, and friendship with Sudanese new arrivals in Adelaide. In another way it was a naive exploration of a ministry relationship with one of the most oppressed and neglected communities on our planet.

 As a result of that first visit we have been able to channel support to victims of the genocide in Darfur who have fled to Aweil, children in my church’s Sunday School have sent clothes, cards and a banner to a Sunday School at an Episcopal Church in Aweil, a medical task group is preparing medical equipment and training to support midwives at Aweil Civic Hospital, and the leaders of the United Sudanese Fellowship have prepared a proposal to develop a Church of Christ centre in Aweil Town. 

In a few months time we plan to return and lay the foundation for the next stage of our work together.

Joseph at Juba markets

A message from Yournew Wol...

I filmed this greeting from Pastor Yournew Wol in Malek Alel, Aweil South in July last year. The building is the Aweil Bible College which has been instrumental in the development of leaders in the church, government and community. Yournew Wol has been instrumental in establishing churches throughout the Aweil region, as well as in Nairobi and the Kakuma Refugee Camp on the Kenyan border. He is a gracious and wise leader, and deeply loved by his community.

Correction...

Recently I wrote that MSF (Doctors Without Borders) will be leaving from the Aweil Civic Hospital. In fact I had been told they had already left. However I have now been told they are negotiating to stay. This is great news. Lets pray they will be able to continue their critical medical relief.

A greeting from Ang'er...

Here is a message from my sister Ang'er, taken in Aweil last year. She had just returned from Canada where she completed a degree in community health. Ang'er works passionately for her community under very difficult conditions. Currently she has an educational role with young women addressing issues of health and sanitation. In addition to her other responsibilities with government and church she is the key person I consult with in regard to medical projects in Aweil and is a key leader in our partnership.

Please support Ang'er with your prayers.

From Magill to Awiel...

Late last year I showed our Sunday School at Magill Church of Christ some video of a Sunday School in Awiel, Southern Sudan where I had recently visited. Our kids got involved making a banner, writing cards and donating clothes to send over. One of my Sudanese friends recently took them over and presented our small gift as a symbolic link between the children in our two communities. Here are the photos...

With Pastor Tanya Nokes and children from our Cafe Service








And then at the front of our Chapel Service










To its new home at the front of the Episcopal Church in Awiel Town










The children holding cards they have received from Australia










With Rev Angelo outside their grass cathedral

The Political Situation in Sudan...

Several people have asked me if our work will be affected by the Sudan Government’s expulsion of aid agencies. From reports I have been given the Government’s policy will not be implemented in the South. Even if it were, we have not established an organisation in Sudan, so effectively there is nothing to be evicted. In fact we are working in the manner the Government is advocating Ie resourcing local leaders to deliver the required services.

There are however some indirect consequences for our work. One is that MSF (Doctors Without Borders) are in the process of leaving Aweil. I am told this is in response to the abduction of three of their doctors in Darfur. They have been the only ones providing quality medical care in the region. The other obvious impact will be on the increase of Darfuri refugees fleeing south into Aweil as the situation in Darfur deteriorates.

Rather than being an obstacle to our partnership with Christian leaders in Aweil, the expulsion of Aid Agencies has brought a greater urgency in both areas where we have commenced work - our support for those ministering to Darfuri refugees, and the development of the Aweil Civic Hospital. However the situation is volatile and future developments are hard to predict.

A medical task group...

You've probably heard the news. The President of Sudan has been charged with war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity and a warrant has been issued for his arrest. Rather than handing him over to the International Criminal Court the Sudan government has reacted by announcing the expulsion of aid agencies from the country. I thought this would only apply to Darfur and the northern regions but I have heard Medecins Sans Frontieres (Doctors Without Borders) are preparing to leave Aweil following the abduction of three of their doctors in Darfur.

Even though the MSF hospital looks more like a tent than a hospital, it is the only thing close to genuine medical care in the region. They provide excellent treatment to babies and children, including giving vaccinations. Soon it seems they will be gone.

This of course increases the sense of urgency in providing the medical assistance that Ang'er and Deborah, the midwife at Aweil Civic Hospital, have asked us for.
I have established a medical task group which is currently working towards sourcing the required medical equipment and supplies to resource the midwives and birthing assistants. When this is ready we plan to take a team to Aweil which will include an Australian midwife working with a Sudanese midwife to provide some basic training and establish a small maternity section in the defunct Aweil hospital. The task group includes Dr Victoria Anip, a Sudanese doctor based at Modbury Hospital, two Sudanese midwives - Asha Sulaman and Aderek Rieng - and Ros Stafford-Green who I introduced a few articles earlier.

It is hard to comprehend that a community that has so little appears to be losing the small amount of medical assistance it has received from the outside world. Please pray for our medical task group as we seek to respond to the ever-increasing need.

A gift for Darfur...

Today we have sent $1500 AUD to Pastor Yournew Wol Kuot which will be used by a team that have been caring for the Darfurian refugees in Aweil. While Joseph Mawien and I were in Aweil last year we met people from Darfur who had fled the genocide. And when we visited Malual Kon in Aweil East we visited the refugee camp (pictured) where the Darfurians were being fed by the World Food Program. For the past six years we have heard of the ongoing civil war in Darfur and the devastating impact it has had on the African tribes. But hearing about it on the tv news is very different to being there and meeting the victims face to face.

What touched me most was hearing Rev Angelo describe the way the churches in Aweil were caring for the Darfurian refugees. They provide them with food, shelter and clothing and with their limited resources were providing care for the sick and wounded. I was impressed with the way Christians were caring for Moslems. Angelo told me "now they have become our brothers".

I had no hesitation in telling Angelo we would support him. For so long I have felt totally helpless in the face of this disaster and it was a relief to know there was something we could do. I asked Angelo "Please tell the people of Darfur that they have sisters and brothers in Australia who know about their suffering and pray for them."

$1500 isnt a large amount of money, but a dollar can go a long way in Sudan. As well as being very compasionate, Rev Angelo is a discerning man and will enusre the money is used for the maximum benefit. And as he provides for their physical needs, he also shares the gospel of Christ. It's nice to know we can be a part of this wonderful ministry.

Let me know if you would like to get involved...